Project for empowering local communities economically while protecting their natural environment (West Papua)

Project for empowering local communities economically while protecting their natural environment (West Papua) is sponsored by Rainforest Fund (partnering with EcoNusa). This project in West Papua focuses on empowering local communities economically while protecting their natural environment, specifically increasing the protection of mangrove forests and supporting local communities in producing non-timber forest products.

Funding Cycle: Africa | Americas | Asia This project aims to assist Dayak Bahau communities in Long Isun, Datah Naha, and Long Pahangai in securing legal rights to their land and natural resources through recognition of Customary Law (Adat). A secondary objective is to empower women to manage non-timber forest products, thereby enhancing family incomes through the creative economy. RFUND has been supporting PNP since 2017.

PNP is a women’s organization dedicated to living alongside and safeguarding the DAYAK communities. They aim to uphold social justice and protect the human rights of the DAYAK people, offering assistance through regular discussions with the Long Lsun community. Their primary objective is to foster unity under the banner of “ONE VOICE, ONE GOAL” to preserve vital natural resources such as land, forests, and rivers.

They achieve this through village meetings, focus group discussions, and territorial management workshops, with a particular focus on engaging the village’s youth. Kalimantan, Indonesia (YMKL) The mission of this project is to secure Indigenous land rights in North and Central Kalimantan, focusing specifically on legal advocacy and land mapping.

The initiative targets communities in Nunukan District, aiming to secure legal recognition for their lands and advocate for the protection of forests, local seeds, and sustainable development. The project includes providing legal support, capacity building, and training on human rights and sustainable livelihoods to strengthen community-led efforts and ensure long-term protection of their ancestral territories.

This project aims to help communities on Indonesia’s Flores Island protect their rights, livelihoods, and environment from the potential impacts of geothermal development. While geothermal energy is promoted as a renewable energy source, communities have raised concerns about its effects on water resources, public health, and agriculture.

The initiative will conduct social and environmental assessments, strengthen collaboration with local organizations and institutions, and provide training on community rights, advocacy, and free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC).

Through community organizing, dialogue, and awareness-raising, the project seeks to ensure that affected communities can participate meaningfully in decisions about geothermal development and advocate for stronger social and environmental safeguards. This project focuses on securing land for indigenous communities and improving their livelihoods.

Key efforts include obtaining CADT certificates under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, implementing community-driven Sustainable Development and Protection Plans, and providing legal support against corporate conflicts. It aims to address livelihood needs through various initiatives like agricultural conservation, livestock dispersal, and aquaculture, alongside supporting indigenous students and healthcare needs.

The 2025 project aims to secure forestland for threatened Indigenous peoples and address their livelihood needs. We will continue advocating for the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) to process CADT certificates and support communities in developing their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plans (ADSDPPs).

Key objectives include submitting CADT applications, providing paralegal support to address conflicts, assisting Indigenous Environmental and Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs), and responding to community-driven livelihood needs. These may include aquaculture, potable water systems, poultry farming, landrace conservation, fishing nets, and mangrove replanting to boost food security.

EcoNusa is a newer partner, and Rainforest Fund is supporting a project in Papua focused on empowering local communities economically while protecting their natural environment.. The project focuses on increasing the protection of mangrove forests.

Its two primary objectives are to support local communities in producing non-timber forest products, such as prawns, within the mangrove areas and to facilitate market access for these products. Find us on our social networks! A Letter from Trudie Styler and John-Paul Davidson