Indigenous land rights under pressure in IndonesiaCEFR A2
26 Jan 2026
Adapted from Arpan Rachman, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Vagamood Sundaze, Unsplash
At COP30 Indigenous peoples were highlighted as forest guardians, but in Indonesia many communities face pressure from state-backed climate and development projects. Some large projects named by Indigenous groups include a geothermal plant in Poco Leok and a bioenergy project in Merauke. Other projects involve dam construction and reservoirs.
Indonesia has many Indigenous groups, mainly on Borneo, Sulawesi and Sumatra. The government pledged at COP30 to recognize 1.4 million hectares of customary forest as part of plans to reduce deforestation.
AMAN reported the situation worsened in 2025. It said many communities lost land and some faced criminalization and violence linked to forestry, mining, energy, plantations and infrastructure. AMAN urged real Indigenous involvement and clear solutions to land disputes.
Difficult words
- indigenous — People who belong to the original local communities
- customary — Related to traditions or local community rules
- deforestation — The loss or removal of forest trees
- criminalization — Making a behaviour illegal and punishable
- geothermal — Energy that comes from heat under the Earth
- infrastructure — Basic public systems like roads and dams
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might recognizing customary forest help reduce deforestation?
- How can development projects cause problems for local communities?
- Have you ever seen a dam or reservoir? How did it affect the area?
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