PURWOKERTO. Customary forest communities have urged the government to take measures to clarify firmly and clearly the legal status of customary forests. The Association for Community and Ecologically-based Law Reform (Perkumpulan HuMa) said that up to now the government had not shown willingness to implement an existing law that draws a clear separation between customary forests and state forests. The law is intended to have a positive impact on the prosperity of indigenous people living in the forest areas in question. The association further said that the government must protect indigenous people’s right to manage their constitutionally-protected forests without intervention from business interests, which have often had a harmful impact on forests.
Govt urged to take tougher on customary forests
PURWOKERTO. Customary forest communities have urged the government to take measures to clarify firmly and clearly the legal status of customary forests. The Association for Community and Ecologically-based Law Reform (Perkumpulan HuMa) said that up to now the government had not shown willingness to implement an existing law that draws a clear separation between customary forests and state forests. The law is intended to have a positive impact on the prosperity of indigenous people living in the forest areas in question. The association further said that the government must protect indigenous people’s right to manage their constitutionally-protected forests without intervention from business interests, which have often had a harmful impact on forests.