Protect Customary Forests, Protect the Nature of South Kalimantan: Mapping of Customary Territories of the Balai Kaong, Balai Kinarum, and Balai Pangelak Communities

The Balai Kaong, Balai Pangelak, and Balai Kinarum communities are part of the indigenous people of the Meratus Mountains in Tabalong Regency, South Kalimantan. They live in a tropical rainforest area rich in biodiversity and home to a variety of flora and fauna. However, pressure from mining activities and land management policies that do not recognize the rights of indigenous peoples are increasingly narrowing their living space. In this condition, they focus on the issue of preserving indigenous areas through mapping areas and strengthening social data for Indigenous Peoples communities with the support of the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding.

The program aims to produce detailed maps of customary areas and social data that represent the overall condition of the community. The customary area mapping and community profile excavation program begins with an initial meeting at the community level. In the meeting, members of the Balai Kaong, Balai Pangelak, and Balai Kinarum communities jointly determine the agenda and schedule for implementing the program. In the meeting, they also discussed the spatial planning of customary areas, agreed on the boundary points to be verified, and formed a field team consisting of representatives of the indigenous community and expert technical personnel.

The next stage is data collection in the field. The process involves direct surveys to indigenous areas to determine geographical points of territorial boundaries. The field team, systematically measures with the help of GPS technology. During field activities, Indigenous Peoples also provide their local knowledge to ensure that each point taken has historical meaning and cultural relevance.

The collected geographic data is then verified through community deliberations to obtain collective agreement on the validity of the boundaries of the region. After the geographic data collection stage is completed, a sketch map is also made. In this stage, the collected data is processed into a visual map that reflects the spatial layout of the customary region. The final verification is carried out to ensure that the resulting map is in accordance with the reality on the ground and is accepted by all relevant parties.

Along with the mapping activities, community profile excavations were carried out. The stages include direct interviews with traditional leaders and community members to document social data such as population, traditional institutional structures, local wisdom, and resources owned by the community. The information is compiled into a community profile document that represents the unique characteristics of Indigenous Peoples and strengthens their identity in legal and social contexts. The results of the mapping of customary areas and the Indigenous Peoples community profile document are then presented to obtain final input.

From the activity, documents were produced including three maps of customary areas and three community profiles. The total mapped customary area is 15.269,37 hectares. Covering the areas of Balai Kaong (5.080,04 Ha), Balai Pangelak (6.511,54 Ha), and Balai Kinarum (3.677,79 Ha). The activity had a direct impact on 3.297 individuals, consisting of 1.605 women and 1.692 men spread across three villages.

Mapping of customary areas is a means of strengthening the capacity of Indigenous Peoples in understanding and managing their territories sustainably. Strengthening capacity also ensures that they continue to practice protection and management of customary areas based on local wisdom in maintaining harmonious relationships with the environment and protecting biodiversity. Documents of existing area maps and community profiles have been officially handed over to indigenous peoples to be used as a tool to strengthen advocacy efforts for recognition of rights to land and customary areas.  

Because customary forests are not only a source of life for indigenous communities but also a carbon sink, the spearhead of global climate change mitigation.