Farwiza Farhan Wins 2024 Magsaysay Award: "This Is The Result of Collaborative Work to Protect Aceh Forests"

Source: Mongabay.co.id

  • Farwiza Farhan, an activist and conservationist for the Leuser Forest in Aceh, has been honored with the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Emergent Leadership category. The announcement was made on August 31, 2024, directly from Manila, Philippines.
  • For Farwiza, this award is not just a personal achievement but also a recognition of the collective efforts to protect and save the Leuser Forest. She views it as a testament to the broader work being done in conservation.
  • In her initiatives, Farwiza actively involves women at various levels. HAkA’s programs for and with women are notably effective and inspiring. Women receive training in paralegal work and citizen journalism, engage in micro-entrepreneurship, and organize into forest guard groups. They also lead patrols to monitor poaching and illegal logging, supported by men who receive similar training.
  • On August 31, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced five recipients from five countries. Besides Farwiza Farhan from Indonesia, the awardees include Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong from Vietnam, Miyazaki Hayao from Japan, Karma Phuntsho from Bhutan, and the Rural Doctors Movement (RDM) from Thailand, a coalition of the Rural Doctor Society (RDS) and the Rural Doctor Foundation (RDF).

Farwiza was deeply shocked when she learned that she had been named the recipient of the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Emergent Leadership category. She was in her office when she received the news, and tears flowed as she was overcome with emotion.

"Honestly, I was very shocked and surprised... I felt confused, my heart was so full, deeply touched, and I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Am I dreaming?" she shared in an interview with Mongabay on August 29.

Born in Aceh, Farwiza has received several international accolades for her commitment to preserving the Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh through her organization, the Forest, Nature, and Environment of Aceh Foundation (HAkA). These include the National Geographic Wayfinder Award 2022, the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award 2021, TED Fellow 2021, Future for Nature Award 2017, and the Whitley Award 2016. She was also named in TIME 100 Next 2022.

This year, she also earned the title of 'Nobel Prize of Asia.'

For Farwiza, the award is a shared victory. "I am only a small part of this vast movement. This recognition belongs to all who fight on the ground and in the field. It is a shared honor."

The Magsaysay Foundation recognized Farwiza for her profound understanding of the crucial link between nature and humanity. Her unwavering commitment to social justice and civic responsibility, demonstrated through her dedication to forests and forest communities, has raised awareness of the urgent need to protect Indonesia’s and Asia’s rich and endangered natural resources.

Born in Aceh in 1986, Farwiza’s love for nature began in childhood, leading her to study marine biology and conservation. However, witnessing ongoing environmental destruction spurred her into action.

Her environmental advocacy began after completing a master’s degree in environmental management at the University of Queensland, Australia. She joined the Leuser Ecosystem Management Agency (BPKEL), an institution established by the Aceh regional government to manage the Leuser ecosystem.

Although the Leuser Ecosystem was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and a protected area in 2008, it remains threatened by deforestation, infrastructure development, and commercialization, exacerbated by weak law enforcement.

When BPKEL was disbanded in 2012, Farwiza and some of her former colleagues refused to give up. They founded HAkA, which continues to safeguard and preserve the Leuser Forest across 13 districts and cities in Aceh, Sumatra, covering approximately 2.25 million hectares. Farwiza was appointed as the chairperson.

Since its inception, HAkA has achieved several notable successes, including a court ruling that fined a palm oil company US$26 million for burning forests in the Leuser Ecosystem. The funds were allocated by the government to rehabilitate the damaged land. Another significant victory was halting the construction of a hydroelectric dam that threatened elephant habitat.

Another crucial, though less visible, aspect of HAkA’s work is its efforts to mobilize Acehnese communities to protect the environment. HAkA accomplishes this by educating communities about the importance of the Leuser Ecosystem, integrating it into local school and university curricula.

HAkA also employs geographic information systems (GIS) and other forest monitoring tools to assist local governments, communities, and universities in monitoring Aceh’s forest areas in real-time.

The foundation further advocates for community-based sustainable forest management to ensure more effective forest stewardship.

Working in Aceh, known for its conservative Islamic culture, poses significant challenges for Farwiza. She frequently encounters discrimination.

"For instance, I often receive comments about my hijab and attire. When we attend environmental impact assessment (amdal) meetings, instead of discussing the thousands of hectares set to be converted and deforested, they ask me where my hijab is, why my hair is showing. It’s frustrating."

Such incidents occur repeatedly, including when she was listed in TIME 100 Next 2022. On social media, many criticized her for identifying as an Acehnese woman while not wearing a hijab. Farwiza has faced these challenges with resilience, staying true to herself while continuing her mission to preserve the forest.

She understands that change doesn’t happen overnight. Patience is one of the key strategies she uses to cope with this pressure.

"I believe that sometimes, challenging and dismantling patriarchy requires a gentle and sincere approach. We try to understand their perspective, listen, and build bridges," she explained.

Farwiza feels fortunate to be surrounded by supportive people, including her family.

"I’m lucky to have a family that allows me to be myself. There are no questions when I don’t wear a hijab or when I remain unmarried. Now, my husband supports me as well."

She is becoming stronger on this path and even encourages other women to be true to themselves.

The Importance of Women’s Roles in Nature Conservation

In her work, Farwiza actively involves women at various levels. HAkA’s programs for and with women are highly effective and inspiring. Women participate in paralegal and citizen journalism training, engage in micro-entrepreneurship, and are organized into forest guard groups.

Women also lead forest patrols to monitor poaching and illegal logging. These women are supported by men who receive the same training.

According to Farwiza, women in Aceh play a significant role, though they are often underestimated. She notes that, culturally, women often work harder.

Similarly, in forest conservation efforts, women can contribute at every level, including in forest patrols.

"Imagine women patrolling the forest for days, carrying heavy bags. You might think that physically they wouldn’t be able to do it, but in reality, they play a crucial role in making this process more inclusive," she explained.

She believes that conservation needs to be a more inclusive effort, involving people at the grassroots level who deeply understand conservation values. These are the individuals who directly experience the impact of environmental degradation.

In the early days of HAkA, Farwiza was the only woman involved. Gradually, the number of women increased.

“We don’t impose a requirement that participants must be men. The process naturally expanded to include the community, which we also strengthened. Consciously, we initiated movements like providing legal training specifically for mothers. The goal is to empower their participation.”

Together with HAkA, she will continue to work tirelessly to preserve the Leuser Forest.

What are the future plans? “We aim to establish a conservation school in Leuser. We’re still conducting research and exploring fundraising options,” said Farwiza, who enjoys hobbies such as trekking, trail running, scuba diving, freediving, and open water swimming.

Strengthening Civil Society Movements

Farwiza believes that conservation and environmental work cannot be separated from the prevailing social, economic, and political conditions. She is deeply concerned about the state of Indonesia, particularly the extraordinary threat posed by the decay of the political and economic systems, which have significant environmental repercussions.

"Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their land rights due to national strategic projects driven by the government. And that’s just the impact on people. We haven’t even accounted for the number of animals, plants, and ecological functions lost in the process," she said.

Despite the challenges, Farwiza remains hopeful that change is possible. Although it’s difficult to rely on the government, she believes that improvements can still be made through the efforts of civil society, including the younger generation. By becoming more consolidated and working together, they can drive meaningful change.

"None of us can do everything alone. None of us can do it 100% perfectly. But if we are united and collectively push for important issues, I believe that change can happen."

2024 Magsaysay Award Winners

On August 31, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced five award recipients from five countries. In addition to Farwiza Farhan from Indonesia, the other awardees are Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong from Vietnam, Miyazaki Hayao from Japan, Karma Phuntsho from Bhutan, and the Rural Doctors Movement (RDM) from Thailand.

The award recipient from Bhutan, Karma Phuntsho, was recognized for her efforts in reconciling the richness of her country’s past with the challenges and opportunities of the present. She inspired the younger generation of Bhutanese to take pride in their heritage while confidently facing the future.

"Karma inspired the community to look back even as they move forward," stated the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation in their official announcement.

Miyazaki Hayao was honored for his lifelong dedication to the arts, particularly animation, which he used to illuminate the human condition. The foundation particularly praised his devotion to children, whom he viewed as torchbearers of imagination, passing on his light and spark to them.

Thailand’s Magsaysay Award recipients, the Rural Doctors Movement (RDM), were recognized for championing the rural poor and ensuring they are not left behind as the nation advances toward greater economic prosperity and modernization.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong was commended for her spirit of public service and her message of hope, which she continues to spread among the Vietnamese people. Phuong made it her life’s mission to seek justice for the victims of Agent Orange from the Vietnam War. She provided comprehensive support to those affected and conducted research showing that people in areas sprayed with Agent Orange experienced three times more birth defects than those in other areas.

She published this research and joined the Vietnam Association of Agent Orange Dioxin Victims (VAVA). With over 4,000 members, VAVA demands accountability for the damage caused by Agent Orange and provides assistance to its victims.

Cheche L. Lazaro, Chair of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation, said that this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award recipients are a reminder that the future is shaped by those who are bold and dedicated to turning this vision into reality.

“By addressing critical social challenges and pioneering innovative solutions in their communities, they show us that creating positive change is not only a possibility, but a shared responsibility,” he said.

This year, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards are in their 66th year.

“As we celebrate the 66th anniversary of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards, we recognize this year’s recipients whose tenacity amidst adversity embodies the essence of the award,” said Susanna B. Afan, President of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation.

For more than six decades, she said, the award has honored those who challenge the status quo with integrity, courageously confront systemic injustices, transform critical sectors through breakthrough solutions that drive societal progress.

“Addressing pressing global issues with unwavering resilience.”

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