Map of the Tarlawi, Boro, and Bumi Pajo Customary Areas in West Nusa Tenggara: Strategy for the Protection of Indigenous Rights and Territories

The Boro Indigenous Peoples in Bima Regency, Tarlawi in Sumbawa Regency, and Bumi Pajo in Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, have traditionally depended on the management of their customary territories for their livelihoods. However, in recent decades, the existence and rights of these indigenous peoples have faced significant pressures due to the seizure of their customary territories by the state for conservation purposes, overlapping land management permits, development projects, and the exploitation of resources within these territories without the consent of the indigenous peoples.

On the other hand, the lack of legal recognition of customary territories and the unclear boundaries of their customary territories leave Indigenous Peoples vulnerable to land conflicts, loss of access to their customary territories, and the weakening of the cultural identity that has long been a vital part of their lives. This has also impacted the weakening of local knowledge systems, environmental management based on local wisdom, and the community's cultural identity.

In this situation, the Boro, Tarlawi, and Bumi Pajo Indigenous Peoples then pushed for an initiative to conduct participatory mapping of their customary territories. This aimed to document and affirm their living space and produce accurate maps of their customary territories. This served as a means of rediscovering local knowledge, strengthening community capacity, and building a strong foundation for advocacy efforts to fairly and sustainably recognize and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

With the involvement of indigenous communities, this initiative has succeeded in creating spatial maps in three indigenous territories covering an area of ​​10,723,32 hectares consisting of the indigenous territories of the Boro Indigenous Community covering an area of ​​2.131,53 hectares, Tarlawi covering an area of ​​4.988,8 hectares, and Bumi Pajo covering an area of ​​3.602,99 hectares. This initiative has also succeeded in increasing Indigenous Peoples' awareness of the importance of maps as a basis for recognizing and protecting customary rights, while improving the technical skills of Indigenous Peoples, especially the younger generation, in the use of GPS for mapping, field data collection, and the use of GIS applications. In addition, the participatory mapping process also strengthens solidarity among Indigenous Peoples and increases the confidence of Indigenous Peoples in dialogue with the government and external parties, so that maps become an effective advocacy tool to fight for rights and maintain the existence of customary territories.

In the long term, this initiative has had a strong impact on Indigenous Peoples' sense of ownership, fostering a continued commitment to safeguard, protect, and promote recognition of their customary territories. Participatory mapping has enabled Indigenous Peoples to re-explore their forests, rivers, gardens, and other customary spaces. This process is not simply about establishing coordinates, but also about reinvigorating collective memory, history, and identity, further strengthening Indigenous Peoples' position in the face of the challenges of territorial dispossession related to developments that exclude them.