RI pledges inclusive financial partnership for indigenous communities

 Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the recognition of customary forests and expanding inclusive financing schemes for indigenous communities, a ministry official said Monday.

Silverius Oscar Unggul, a senior advisor at the ministry, said a Special Task Force for Customary Forest Recognition has been established to ensure faster progress. The body includes NGOs, academics, community representatives and government officials.

He said the task force was formed with gender balance and nationwide representation in mind, according to an official statement.

Unggul delivered his remarks during the “Forest Solutions: Action for Forests and Direct Access to Finance for Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities” forum held aboard Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior vessel in Brazil on Saturday.

He noted that the task force has been operating since March 2025 and is working to secure 1.4 million hectares of forest for indigenous groups in a process that is fair, transparent and timely.

Beyond formal recognition, Unggul underscored the importance of strengthening indigenous economies once their forest rights are secured.

To support economic growth, he said Indonesia has prepared two financing channels: grants to boost institutional capacity and low-interest loans with extended grace periods for communities deemed ready to manage funds.

He added that the government is also working to expand market access for indigenous products, citing a memorandum of understanding between Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair Anindya Bakrie.

In the same forum, Unggul reaffirmed Indonesia’s support for Brazil’s Tropical Forest Financing Facility (TFFF), a platform that brings together tropical forest nations.

He said Indonesia stands ready to cooperate closely with Brazil, emphasizing that tropical forests serve as a global climate shield while indigenous groups remain their frontline guardians.