Twelve Indigenous groups receive formal territorial recognition, setting precedent for policy and sustainable governance.
NORTH LOMBOK, Indonesia — In a significant step for Indigenous land rights in Indonesia, 12 Indigenous groups in North Lombok Regency have received formal recognition of their ancestral territories, covering more than 51,000 hectares.
The decree, signed on December 17, 2025, by North Lombok Regent Najmul Akhyar, acknowledges 51,158 hectares of Indigenous land across the regency’s five districts. The recognition is rooted in participatory mapping and local collaboration, and it establishes a formal legal reference for future policymaking related to Indigenous Peoples in the province of West Nusa Tenggara.
For communities whose presence has long been known but rarely codified in government records, the move represents both legal certainty and a foundation for long-term protection.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
A Decree That Changes the Policy Landscape
North Lombok, bounded by the Java Sea and located in the northwest of Lombok Island, is known for its waterfalls, dense rainforests and Indonesia’s second-highest volcano. For generations, Indigenous communities have inhabited and protected these forests, rivers and jungles under customary law.
Yet formal recognition by national and provincial authorities has often lagged behind lived reality.
The new decree adapts a participatory map that documents the territorial presence of Indigenous communities and incorporates it into official government records. By doing so, it creates a spatial foundation for state protection and affirms the communities’ right to live under their long-held customary governance systems.
Najmul Akhyar described the decree as a critical policy tool.
This Decree on the Recognition of Indigenous Peoples is very important because it serves as a foundation for us in formulating policies,” he said. “Until now, even though Indigenous Peoples exist, if their issues are not internalized into formal policies, it becomes difficult for us to make decisions. With this decree, God willing, it becomes a formal reference point for the North Lombok Regency Government and relevant local government agencies in formulating government policies related to Indigenous Peoples.”
Participatory Mapping at the Core
The recognition follows the acceptance of a new participatory map prepared through collaboration between communities and civil society organizations.
The initiative was led by AMAN Paer Daya, the local chapter of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) in North Lombok. Using participatory mapping methods, community members documented their territorial boundaries and land use practices.
The project received support from the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) through its Strategic Response Mechanism, a flexible funding tool designed to help Indigenous and local organizations respond quickly to time-sensitive advocacy opportunities related to collective land rights.
Beyond the immediate legal outcome, the process strengthened AMAN Paer Daya’s institutional capacity. Through advocacy and collaboration with local and national civil society groups, the organization gained experience in financial reporting, program planning and participatory mapping — skills that supporters say will bolster future Indigenous rights efforts in the region.
Legal Certainty for Indigenous Communities
For Indigenous communities, the decree offers more than symbolic acknowledgment. It provides documented legitimacy within government systems and opens new pathways to assert land and resource rights without external interference.
Nikrana, customary leader of the Karang Bajo Community of Bayan Indigenous Peoples — one of the groups recognized — said the decree strengthens ongoing struggles.
“We still face many challenges in carrying out matters related to Indigenous Peoples, both internal and external,” Nikrana said. “With the issuance of the recognition decree by the local government through the Regent of North Lombok, we will be able to continue our struggles and work toward securing our rights as Indigenous Peoples in North Lombok.”
The recognition also sets a legal precedent for policymakers in North Lombok and surrounding areas, offering a template for integrating Indigenous rights into formal governance structures.
List of the Communities and Areas Recognized
No
Name of Community
Area in Hectares*
1
Baru Satan
1,201
2
Bayan
22,191
3
Bebekeq
5,140
4
Jeliman Ireng
1,089
5
Kuripan
650
6
Leong
2,288
7
Meleko
4,858
8
Orong Empak Panasan
718
9
Pansor
361
10
Pengorongan Amor-Amor
6,263
11
Salut
3,505
12
Sokong
2,894
A Precedent for Sustainable Land Governance
The recognition of 51,158 hectares signals a broader shift toward participatory, rights-based land governance in Indonesia. By grounding policy in documented customary territories, local authorities have created a mechanism that aligns environmental stewardship, legal clarity and community autonomy.
Supporters say the model demonstrates how collaborative mapping and local engagement can translate long-standing customary claims into enforceable public policy.
For a country where many Indigenous territories remain formally unrecognized, the North Lombok decree stands as a meaningful milestone — one that underscores the role of local leadership, civil society and community participation in advancing justice and sustainable land governance.
As Indonesia continues to navigate questions of land use, conservation and development, the experience in North Lombok offers a precedent rooted not in abstraction, but in mapped boundaries, signed decrees and communities whose presence is now officially recorded and protected.
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