Three Companies Allocate Part of Their Work Area To Support Punan Batu Benau-Sajau Customary Forest

Three holders of Forest Utilization Business Permits (PBPH), namely PT Inhutani I Sambarata Unit, PT ITCI Kayan Hutani, and PT Rizki Kacida Reana, have agreed to allocate part of their work areas to be designated as a customary forest for the Punan Batu Benau–Sajau Indigenous Community (MHA) in Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan.

The agreement, signed in Jakarta on 27 July 2026, marks an important step in resolving overlapping land use and paves the way for the formal recognition of the Punan Batu Benau-Sajau Customary Forest. It also serves as a model for partnerships between business sectors and indigenous communities.

Director General of Social Forestry at the Ministry of Forestry, Catur Endah Prasetiani, stated that this agreement aligns with the government’s efforts to accelerate the handling and designation of customary forests in Indonesia.

“The government is committed to expediting the process of recognizing and establishing customary forests as part of the 1.4 million-hectare target across Indonesia. This agreement is crucial because it demonstrates that overlapping land-use issues can be resolved through dialogue and good faith among all parties,” said Catur.

The Punan Batu Benau-Sajau Customary Forest deserves recognition because the community relies heavily on it. This community is the last on Borneo to maintain a traditional lifestyle of hunting and gathering. For millennia, they have lived in the regions surrounding the Sajau River and Mount Benau.

Their current population is only 111 people, or 35 households. Most still live a nomadic lifestyle, moving according to the availability of forest resources, and reside in simple huts, tarpaulin tents, caves, or natural crevices.

According to an indigenous territory map validated by the Bulungan Regent’s Decree No. 188.45/319 of 2023, MHA Punan Batu Benau-Sajau’s roaming area covers 18,430 hectares. However, parts of this territory proposed for customary forest designation still overlap with other land uses.

Catur commended the three companies for their commitment. She emphasized that recognizing Customary Forests is crucial not only for safeguarding the indigenous community’s living space, but also for forest conservation. The governance agreement is built on mutual recognition and co-management, ensuring that all parties can participate equally and benefit without sidelining others.

The Journey Toward Customary Forest Status

The Punan Batu Benau-Sajau community received official acknowledgment and protection as an Indigenous Community through Bulungan Regent Decree No. 188.45/319 of 2023. This designation followed joint research by the Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology and the Santa Fe Institute, which revealed the community’s unique characteristics.

The research identified distinct traits, such as genetic differences from all Dayak tribes on Borneo, a song-based communication system, and the use of natural signs, specifically branch messages, for communication during relocations.

“Based on these findings, we grant recognition and protection to MHA Punan Batu Benau-Sajau. They are one of the rare indigenous communities that continue living as hunters and gatherers, maintaining a close relationship with the forest as their habitat,” said Bulungan Deputy Regent Kilat, who represented the Regent in Jakarta.

This recognition was further reinforced by the Kalpataru Environmental Award from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in 2024, in the Environmental Savior category. However, according to Kilat, it is essential to complement the recognition of MHA Punan Batu’s status with the designation of their territory as a customary forest.

Since June 2024, the Bulungan Regency Government, with support from Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), has been processing the application for customary forest recognition for MHA Punan Batu Benau-Sajau.

“Establishing the Customary Forest will provide legal certainty over the MHA Punan Batu Benau-Sajau territory, strengthen protection of their sources of livelihood, prevent illegal logging and unauthorized land occupation, and ensure the forest’s ecological functions for future generations,” said Kilat.

YKAN’s Senior Terrestrial Program Manager, Niel Makinuddin, added that recognition of the customary forest is crucial because the Punan Batu Benau-Sajau community relies entirely on forest resources. They roam the forest in search of food such as tubers, shoots, fruits, game animals, and medicinal plants.

“When food resources in one area begin to diminish, they move to another familiar location. This relocation usually occurs about once a week. However, their living space is now increasingly limited due to high pressures and forest encroachment,” explained Niel.

The customary forest governance agreement paves the way for the final stage of the customary forest proposal for MHA Punan Batu Benau-Sajau, which will later be formalized through a Minister of Forestry Decree.