Indonesia Backs Creation of Permanent Indigenous Peoples Body at COP16

Syahrul Fitra from Greenpeace Indonesia emphasized the importance of recognizing indigenous rights in international forums, highlighting Indonesia’s constitutional mandate to support these communities.

Cindy Julianti from the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples stressed the need for clear guidelines on recognizing indigenous contributions to biodiversity targets, linking it to national policies like the Indonesia Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP).

The formation of SB8j is seen as a historic achievement, positioning indigenous communities as crucial actors in biodiversity efforts. Civil society hopes this momentum will continue in future international climate negotiations, emphasizing the urgent need for the long-delayed Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Bill in Indonesia. (Uki Ruknuddin)