I2 – Strengthening Indigenous People and Local Communities in Forest Area to Increase Economic Benefit

Session > I2 – Strengthening Indigenous People and Local Communities in Forest Area to Increase Economic Benefit

Indonesia Pavilion COP30

November 14, 2025 | 9:30 am - 11:00 am

About

A. Background

Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) play a central role in preserving forests and their surrounding ecosystems. They hold traditional knowledge, local wisdom, and natural resource management practices that have been tested for centuries. In Indonesia, many forest areas are located within or adjacent to IPLC settlements. However, the economic potential that can be gained from sustainable forest management is often underutilized due to limited access to markets, capital, technology, and supportive policies. In the context of sustainable development, strengthening the capacity of IPLCs is a key strategy for increasing economic benefits while maintaining the ecological function of forests.

B. Objective and Output

Objectives:

Identify challenges and opportunities for IPLCs in increasing the economic benefits of forest management.
Discuss strategies for capacity building, protecting tenure rights, and access to productive resources that support sustainable forest-based businesses.
Promote the integration of traditional knowledge with modern innovations in product development, environmental services, and green value chains.
Explore incentive and financing schemes, including payment for ecosystem services (PES) and carbon mechanisms such as REDD+, that can increase community incomes while maintaining forest cover..

Output:

Input for policy recommendations that promote the protection of rights and strengthen the role of IPLCs in forest management.
Identifying economically profitable and environmentally friendly forest resource-based business models.
Opening opportunities for equal multi-stakeholder partnerships between IPLCs, the government, the private sector, and civil society organizations.
Providing a roadmap for capacity building and market access for forest-based products and services managed by IPLCs.

C. Target Audience

This dialogue is aimed at policymakers at the national and regional levels, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, funding agencies, the private sector working in sustainable forestry, civil society organizations, researchers, academics, and international development partners. The discussion is expected to foster a shared understanding and concrete steps to elevate the role of IPLCs as forest managers and economic actors, so that forests can become a source of sustainable prosperity for communities and future generations.