Baca postingan blog ini dalam bahasa Indonesia.

Bounded by the Java Sea and located in the northwest of Lombok Island, North Lombok is known for its striking waterfalls and Indonesia’s second highest volcano. Like much of the vast Indonesian archipelago, the jungles, rivers and rainforests here have been inhabited and protected for generations by Indigenous Peoples whose existence, while well-known, still awaits formal recognition by national and provincial government bodies.

On December 17, 2025, members of 12 Indigenous groups across the regency’s five districts joyfully celebrated a key milestone. Najmul Akhyar, the North Lombok Regent, signed a decree that officially recognized their territories, affirming that the state will now protect their right to live within their long-held customary laws and governance systems.

Adapting a new map that clearly illustrates the communities’ territorial presence, the decree acknowledged 51,158 hectares of Indigenous territory, documenting it in government records and creating a spatial foundation for future state protection.

The map’s creation and advocacy were led by AMAN Paer Daya, the local chapter of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) in North Lombok, which used participatory mapping methods in collaboration with local community members and civil society organizations.

The project was supported by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) through its Strategic Response Mechanism, a flexible funding tool to help Indigenous and local community-led organizations and their allies respond quickly to time-bound opportunities foradvancing their advocacy for collective rights.  

For policymakers in North Lombok and its surrounding region, the decree sets a legal precedent for current and future decision-making related to Indigenous Peoples. For Indigenous communities, it brings legal certainty, legitimacy, and new pathways to assert their land and resource rights and govern their territories without external interference. 

Najmul Akhyar, the North Lombok Regent, said: “This Decree on the Recognition of Indigenous Peoples is very important because it serves as a foundation for us in formulating policies. 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.”

Nikrana, the customary leader of the Karang Bajo Community of Bayan Indigenous Peoples, one of the groups that received recognition, said: “We still face many challenges in carrying out matters related to Indigenous Peoples, both internal and external. 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.” 

In addition to accurately mapping the territorial presence of the communities, the project also provided a valuable learning experience for AMAN Paer Daya, the local organization that led the mapping. It developed solid networks with local and national civil society organizations during its advocacy and gained practical experience in financial reporting and program planning, conducting participatory mapping with community members— skills that have strengthened its ability to grow its support for North Lombok’s Indigenous rights movement. 

List of the Communities and Areas Recognized 

*Totals are rounded to the nearest hectare.

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