Securing Rights, Protecting Nature: Indonesian Civil Society's Urgent Call for COP16

Read the full joint statement here.

Indonesia is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world and one of the largest archipelagic nations, with over 17,000 islands. Its expansive territory includes 190 million hectares of land and 327 million hectares of ocean. The country's territory, divided by seas, straits, and tectonic plates, creates not only a rich variety of natural landscapes, plant and animal life but also cultural traditions. Given this unique interdependence between nature and culture, managing biodiversity in Indonesia requires a comprehensive approach that recognizes the contributions of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs). These communities have long played a crucial role in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

During COP16 of the UN-CBD in Cali, Colombia, Indonesian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) call for the global community to strengthen its resolve and implement concrete actions in:

1. Recognizing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ Contributions to Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use:
   Indigenous and local communities are vital to protecting biodiversity. Their traditional knowledge and practices are integral to the sustainable management of ecosystems;
    
2. Halting the Drivers of Biodiversity Loss:
   Urgent action is needed to stop the ongoing destruction caused by destructive industries and
   unsustainable practices that threaten biodiversity both on land and seas;
    
3. Mobilizing Resources for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities:
   Adequate resources must be directed toward Indigenous and local communities to support their continued efforts in conserving biodiversity and managing natural resources sustainably.

CALL TO ACTION

We, the undersigned Indonesian CSOs, urge the global community and all Parties at COP16 CBD to take the following actions:

1. Ensure that efforts to achieve the 30 by 30 target are not conducted in ways that infringe upon the rights of Indigenous Peoples and result in "green grabbing," a common practice in establishing conservation areas.

2. Strengthen the recognition of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ contribution in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by securing tenurial rights and legally recognizing areas and territories conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities (ICCAs).

3. Facilitate the learning and intergenerational exchange of traditional knowledge as a collective form of advocacy.

4. Ensure participatory process and involvement of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups in the implementation, review and monitoring of KMGBF and NBSAP.

5. Help monitor and report harmful practices that threaten biodiversity in Indonesia, such as extractive industries, large-scale agriculture, mining, and wildlife trade.

6. Halt extractive industries that endanger biodiversity.

7. Halt funding, subsidies, and permits for extractive industries that threaten biodiversity and encroach on community-managed areas, and redirecting these resources to restorative activities.

8. Hold accountable those involved in activities causing biodiversity loss by requiring the restoration of degraded ecosystems.

9. Protect biodiversity-rich tropical ecosystems while upholding the rights and needs of vulnerable communities, including Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, small and traditional fishers, rural women, youth, and smallholder farmers that depend on healthy ecosystems to live.

10. Provide direct funding mechanisms for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, small farmers, small and traditional fishers, rural women, and youth who have contributed to global biodiversity protection and ecosystems restoration.

Supported by:

1. Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI)
2. Working Group ICCAs Indonesia (WGII)
3. Ancestral Domain Registration Agency (BRWA)
4. Perkumpulan HuMA Indonesia
5. Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) Indonesia
6. MADANI Berkelanjutan
7. The Indonesian Institute for Forest and Environment (RMI)
8. Action for Ecology and People Emancipation (AEER)
9. Yayasan EcoNusa
10. Auriga Nusantara
11. The Indigenous Peoples Alliance of The Archipelago (AMAN)
12. Sajogyo Institute
13. Indonesian Community Mapping Network (JKPP)
14. Yayasan HAKA
15. WALHI
16. The Indigenous Youth Front of The Archipelago (BPAN)
17. Perempuan AMAN
18. EcoAdat
19. The Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
20. Jaringan Pemantau Independed Kehutanan (JPIK)
21. Yayasan PIKUL
22. Greenpeace Indonesia

Thumbnail and header photo credits: UN Biodiversity