Deep within the lush rainforests of Saifi District, South Sorong Regency, Papua, a powerful movement is blossoming. It’s not led by bulldozers or official decrees, but by the determined voices and hands of over 100 Indigenous youth gathered at the Forest Defender Camp 2025. This unique event brought together young forest guardians from across Papua, united by a shared mission: to protect their ancestral lands and champion sustainable food sources like the sago palm.
The camp was much more than an educational gathering; it was a heartfelt political statement affirming Indigenous stewardship of Papua’s rich forests—a stewardship increasingly supported by Indonesia’s national commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable development.
Guardians of Customary Forests: Indigenous Stewardship in Action
Papua’s forests are more than just natural resources—they are sacred lifelines intricately woven into the social, cultural, and spiritual fabric of Indigenous communities. These customary forests, managed by ancestral wisdom rather than solely by statutory law, have been sustainably maintained for generations. The Forest Defender Camp 2025, organized by Greenpeace Indonesia alongside local Indigenous leaders and community organizations like Bentara Papua and Sadir Wet Yifi, provided participants with modern tools such as GPS mapping to help document and defend their territories against illegal land encroachments.
Indonesia’s government has increasingly recognized the vital role of customary forests in national conservation efforts. Initiatives to formalize Indigenous land rights are underway, reflecting a growing awareness that protecting Papua’s forests aligns with the country’s broader environmental and climate goals. By equipping youth with both traditional knowledge and modern advocacy skills, the camp exemplifies how government-supported programs and community leadership can work hand-in-hand to safeguard these critical ecosystems.
Facing Challenges Together: Navigating Environmental Threats
The reality on the ground remains challenging. Papua’s forests face threats from palm oil plantations, mining, illegal logging, and infrastructure projects. These activities, sometimes authorized without adequate consultation with Indigenous communities, have caused significant deforestation—estimated at over 700,000 hectares in the last decade.
However, the Indonesian government has demonstrated commitment to addressing these issues through a mix of regulatory reforms, enforcement actions, and development of sustainable alternatives. Programs targeting illegal logging, stricter permit reviews, and efforts to ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) are being enhanced. Moreover, government agencies are increasingly collaborating with Indigenous groups to foster transparent and inclusive forest management policies.
The Forest Defender Camp echoed these efforts by promoting youth mobilization and advocacy, fostering a partnership approach where local knowledge and state initiatives reinforce each other for lasting impact.
Sago: Indonesia’s Indigenous Superfood and Climate Solution
One of the most compelling themes of Forest Defender Camp 2025 was the spotlight on the sago palm—a traditional staple of Papua’s Indigenous diet that holds untapped potential for global food security. Unlike water-intensive crops like rice, sago thrives naturally in Papua’s swampy soils without the need for fertilizers or pesticides, making it an ideal climate-resilient crop that supports biodiversity.
Indonesia, home to over 50% of the world’s sago reserves, has begun recognizing the crop’s importance. Government-led reforestation programs have included sago planting as a sustainable alternative to monoculture plantations. National agricultural research agencies are also exploring ways to improve sago yield and processing techniques, reflecting Indonesia’s strategic approach to integrating Indigenous knowledge into modern sustainability goals.
Participants at the camp urged Jakarta to increase investments in sago infrastructure and promote its role not just as cultural heritage but as a critical pillar in Indonesia’s and the world’s food security strategy amid climate change.
A Clear Message to Jakarta and the World
The camp culminated in a Youth Indigenous Statement, a powerful manifesto delivered to the Indonesian government and international environmental leaders alike. The statement called for immediate recognition of customary forests, expedited passage of the Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU Masyarakat Adat), stronger enforcement against illegal logging and land grabbing, and greater inclusion of Indigenous voices in environmental policymaking.
This statement aligns closely with the government’s environmental agenda, which acknowledges Indigenous land rights as fundamental to effective forest management and climate mitigation. It is being shared at COP30 in Brazil, underscoring Indonesia’s role in global forest conservation dialogues and its openness to Indigenous partnership models.
The youth’s declaration reinforces a shared vision: Indigenous stewardship combined with government commitment can ensure that Papua’s forests continue to thrive, sustaining both local communities and Indonesia’s national ecological resilience.
Indonesia’s Environmental Commitments: Bridging Vision and Action
Indonesia has emerged as a global leader in forest conservation, climate action, and sustainable development. The government’s Papua 2100 vision emphasizes balancing development with environmental protection, aiming to preserve Papua’s unparalleled biodiversity while improving livelihoods.
Programs like the Governors’ Climate and Forests (GCF) Task Force and domestic reforestation initiatives, which include significant Indigenous engagement, demonstrate a proactive approach to conserving critical habitats. The Indonesian government has also increased budgets for forest patrols, satellite monitoring, and enforcement operations to curb illegal activities.
While challenges remain, particularly in ensuring policy consistency and equitable community involvement, the synergy between government frameworks and grassroots movements like Forest Defender Camp highlights a positive trajectory. The government’s willingness to collaborate with Indigenous communities signals a genuine commitment to building an inclusive environmental future.
From the Forests of Papua: A Beacon of Hope and Leadership
Forest Defender Camp 2025 represents more than a gathering—it symbolizes a movement where Indigenous youth actively shape the future of Papua’s forests in partnership with Indonesia’s national efforts. Their vision of thriving customary forests, supported by government policies and international cooperation, offers a model for sustainable development rooted in respect for Indigenous rights and ecological balance.
As Michael, a 21-year-old participant, shared,
“We are not waiting for others to save our forests. We are doing it now, with our own hands, our own stories, and our own strength.”
This conviction, supported by government initiatives and global advocacy, sets a hopeful path forward—one where Papua’s forests remain vibrant, its Indigenous peoples empowered, and sago becomes a symbol of resilience for Indonesia and the world.
Conclusion
As the Forest Defender Camp 2025 closed, the spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility echoed through the forest canopy. The camp’s success illustrates how Indonesia’s government and Indigenous youth can together face the twin challenges of environmental conservation and climate resilience.
Protecting Papua’s customary forests is not only an Indigenous cause—it is a national priority deeply embedded in Indonesia’s environmental policies and international commitments. The future of Papua, its people, and its forests depends on this partnership, paving the way for sustainable development that honors both cultural heritage and global ecological imperatives.
In Papua’s forests today, a new chapter is being written—one where tradition and progress, Indigenous knowledge and government action, unite to safeguard the planet’s lungs for generations to come.
