Research shows that globally, Indigenous peoples are the most effective stewards of their forests and the massive stores of carbon and biodiversity within.
Yet in Indonesia, which harbors the majority of Earth’s species, Indigenous communities are increasingly sidelined from nature conservation efforts.
Activists say it is urgent for the Indonesian government to pass a long-awaited bill on Indigenous rights to ensure that Indigenous peoples can contribute to biodiversity conservation without fear of being criminalized or evicted.
This is especially important, activists say, in light of a new conservation law in Indonesia, which is criticized for not…