InfoSAWIT, WEST PAPUA — The West Papua Provincial Government has reaffirmed that any plan to release forest areas for the expansion of oil palm plantations must first obtain the approval of indigenous communities as customary land-rights holders. The policy is intended to safeguard indigenous rights while preserving forests across Tanah Papua.
Head of the West Papua Forestry Agency Jimmy Walter Susanto said indigenous aspirations are the top priority in all policy decisions related to forest utilization. He made the statement in Manokwari on Monday.
“West Papua already has standard operating procedures. Any proposal to release forest areas must be accompanied by a letter of consent from indigenous communities,” Jimmy said, according to Antara as cited by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (January 6, 2026).
He stressed that the provincial government places indigenous peoples as the primary subjects in decision-making across the forestry sector. This principle is applied to prevent social conflict and ensure that investment aligns with customary rights protection and forest conservation.
“If indigenous communities do not agree, the governor will not issue a recommendation, and we will not provide technical considerations. This applies to all forestry permits,” he said.
Jimmy added that since 2019, the West Papua Provincial Government has stopped issuing new oil palm plantation permits. The move aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target.
Under the FOLU Net Sink 2030 framework, seven priority programs focus on increasing forest-sector carbon absorption, including strategies to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and promote sustainable forest management.
“All oil palm plantations in West Papua are existing estates. There are no new permits for land clearing. Current plantations are located in Manokwari, Teluk Bintuni, and Fakfak,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of Committee III of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) Filep Wamafma urged the government to conduct comprehensive studies before moving forward with any oil palm expansion plans in Papua.
He said assessments must cover environmental, social, cultural, and indigenous livelihood sustainability aspects, noting that Papuan indigenous communities regard forests as a mother, a refuge, and a source of life.
“Papua has highly sensitive ecological characteristics. Any natural resource–based investment policy must not disregard indigenous rights,” he said.
Filep also warned the government to learn from forestry investment impacts in other regions that have triggered natural disasters. He even suggested that President Prabowo Subianto may not have received complete references regarding plans to expand oil palm plantations in Papua.
“It is possible that the President received incomplete input from expert teams on plans to add oil palm estates in Papua,” Filep said. (T2)
