Indigenous Peoples as a Fortress of Environmental Conservation and Food Security

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Indigenous communities are rich in values and practices that honor nature and manage various food sources. Therefore, indigenous communities must be protected as they serve as a bulwark for environmental conservation and food security.

However, violence against indigenous communities still occurs in many places. In fact, their role is increasingly needed amidst the massive environmental destruction and the threat of a food crisis.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) Mas Achmad Santosa stated that the world has now entered the Anthropocene era, where human activities have a significant impact on the Earth's ecosystems and climate. In fact, humans have the capability to devastate the Earth, including by damaging the environment.

According to Santosa, indigenous communities make a significant contribution in addressing threats in the Anthropocene era. Traditional practices over several generations have preserved biodiversity, optimized the role of forests in absorbing carbon, and prevented forest and land fires.

"The role of indigenous communities is very important because they may be the first community to pioneer the concept of sustainability in managing nature to support life," he said in the discussion 'Values and Practices of Indigenous Legal Communities in Saving Indonesia's Ecosystem', in Jakarta, Tuesday (18/2/2025).

Today, humans have damaged the natural system on a global scale, threatening the resilience of humanity, flora, fauna, and the ecosystem as a whole. The Earth is facing a triple planetary crisis, namely climate change, pollution, and the extinction of biodiversity. This condition threatens the stability of the ecosystem which is a prerequisite for the survival of humans and other living things.

Santosa highlighted the urgency of taking corrective measures to make environmental law more effective in addressing these three crises. Environmental law is considered insufficient to tackle the current planetary crisis. A legal system is needed that employs a perspective on the relationship between humans and nature, as practiced by indigenous communities.

IOJI Program Director Stephanie Juwana outlined several customary law practices in preserving the environment in Indonesia. Sasi lompa on Haruku Island, Maluku, for instance, uses a species and area-based conservation approach that includes coastal seas and river estuaries. The sasi lompa fish supports community food security, especially when fishermen are unable to go to sea due to large waves.

In Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, the practice of Pasang Ri Kajang is a principle of simple living (kamase-masea) applied by the Kajang indigenous community. This principle underlies all aspects of their lives, including managing the environment. For them, the forest must not be damaged because it is a source of water and a sacred place for their ancestors to live.

The practice of forbidden pools in Kampar Regency, Riau, also reflects the values of environmental conservation and food security. Several river points are temporarily closed and only opened once a year by the tribal chief. This practice aims to maintain the regeneration of river fish so that fish stocks are maintained.

"Customary values and practices recognize ecological limits in the use of natural resources. If ecological limits do not exist, it is only a matter of time before natural resources run out," Stephanie said.

However, the tranquility of the Kajang people living side by side with nature is disturbed by the threat of land confiscation.

The state is obliged to improve the protection of the rights of indigenous legal communities. This can be done by enacting the Indigenous Legal Community Bill, harmonizing laws and regulations that regulate provisions regarding the recognition of indigenous legal communities, and canceling policies and revising laws and regulations that can threaten the rights of indigenous legal communities.

Kajang traditional women's representative, Ramlah, said that customary law is the highest way of life for the indigenous people. The principle of simple living is a life guide to take enough from nature.

Customary sanctions will be given to violators of customary law. The sanctions consist of three classifications, namely heavy (IDR 12 million), moderate (IDR 8 million), and light (IDR 6 million).

"For those who destroy the environment will get the heaviest sanctions. In the past, before there was money, the sanctions were in the form of livestock, such as horses and cows," he said.

However, the peace of the Kajang community living side by side with nature is disturbed by the threat of land grabbing. Ramlah said that since 2003, the indigenous community has been in conflict with plantation companies that have seized their customary land.

Forest areas were converted into rubber plantations. "There was bloodshed. Indigenous people were shot, some even died," said Ramlah, crying.

Kewang (Head of Customary Law Institution) Haruku, Eliza Kissya, told about the practice of sasi lompa which has been practiced for years by the indigenous community there. Sasi implements a prohibition against taking natural resources before their time.

The tradition is carried out to preserve natural resources so that they can still be enjoyed by future generations. "If this is not maintained properly, one day we will be the poorest people in the world. Because if it is not maintained, we will not survive," he said.

In one harvest, opening the lompa sasi in Haruku can produce 45 tons of lompa fish. The harvest becomes a very useful food barn, especially when fishermen cannot go to sea due to bad weather.

KEHATI Foundation Program Director Ronny Megawanto said that customary practices serve to maintain food security. According to him, modeling of good practices of customary law communities needs to be used as inspiration for national-level policies.

"Indigenous legal communities show that to meet food needs, the state does not need to deforest or convert millions of hectares of forest to be used as food production land," he said.