Recognition of Customary Forests in Java is Constrained by Regional Boundaries and Legality

YOGYAKARTA, GARISBUMI.com – Accelerating the recognition of customary law communities and the establishment of customary forests in Java still faces problems with territorial boundaries, legality and intergovernmental coordination. Area mapping and local government follow-up are important steps to overcome these obstacles.

This issue was discussed at the Workshop on Accelerating Recognition of Customary Law Communities and Determination of Customary Forests held by the Yogyakarta Social Forestry Center on 1–2 October 2026 in Yogyakarta. This activity brings together the government, academics, indigenous communities and related parties.

Member of the Task Force Team for the Acceleration of Customary Forest Status, Prof. San Afri Awang, emphasized that territorial clarity is an important part of the process of establishing customary forests. The government also needs to involve the community in its arrangements.

"Customary forest areas must be mapped, the Government needs to invite the community to regulate Customary Forests," he said.

Mapping becomes increasingly important when customary territories intersect with forest areas, administrative boundaries, or other area management interests. Therefore, clarity of boundaries needs to be supported by reliable data and an understanding of the parties.

Different Challenges in Each Indigenous Community

Discussions in the workshop showed that each community faces different problems. The recognition process also requires handling according to the conditions of each region.

In Central Java, Jalawastu is an example of good practice because it has gone through the process of recognizing customary law communities and establishing customary forests. This experience becomes learning material for other communities that are still undergoing a similar process.

Meanwhile, Mount Sagara and Bonokeling still need to strengthen legality and resolve regional issues.

In East Java, the Osing, Tengger and Samin communities also face their own challenges. In the Osing community, understanding between stakeholders still needs to be strengthened to support the protection and recognition of customary law communities.

The Tengger community has formed a customary law community committee. The Samin community still needs further outreach regarding the provisions for recognition.

These differences in conditions emphasize the importance of assistance that suits the community's needs, starting from understanding procedures, strengthening documents, to resolving regional boundaries.

Local Governments Encouraged to Follow Up

The workshop formulated a number of further steps, including solving regional problems, strengthening documents recognizing customary law communities, mapping customary territories, as well as coordinating central and regional governments.

The parties are also encouraged to prepare a clear follow-up schedule. Issues that have been noted in the follow-up matrix need to be worked on immediately and coordinated so that the recognition process continues to move forward.

Regional government institutional support is an important factor. The experience of Central Java through the Social Forestry Acceleration Working Group and the Jalawastu recognition process were also discussed as lessons learned.

Recognition of customary law communities is related to legal certainty for communities that have historical relationships with their territory. The establishment of customary forests also needs to be accompanied by assistance so that management runs in the field and supports forest sustainability.