Jakarta—In a historic move, the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-16 CBD) concluded with the establishment of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8j (SB8j), a permanent institution dedicated to recognising the contributions of Indigenous and local communities to the world’s biodiversity, the Indonesian civil society coalition for COP-16 UN-CBD stated in a statement on Sunday, November 3.
The formation of SB8j, which will provide critical guidance on implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), underscores the importance of indigenous knowledge, innovation, and practices for sustainable biodiversity use. Article 8j of the CBD broadly emphasises respecting, protecting, and promoting traditional knowledge relevant to biodiversity conservation. The new body is expected to advise member states on this goal, ensuring that indigenous and local communities play a central role in meeting biodiversity targets.
Among countries initially opposed to forming this body, Indonesia notably reversed its stance on the last day of the conference, pledging its support. Lu’lu’ Agustiana, Associate Expert Policy Analyst from Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, highlighted Indonesia’s commitment to recognising Indigenous peoples and local communities as integral to all documents developed under the CBD framework.
“As Indonesia acknowledges the contribution of Indigenous peoples and local communities, it now supports SB8j as a path to honouring these commitments,” said Agustiana. However, she stressed the importance of a transparent, effective mechanism to ensure the body’s success.
The formation of SB8j did not come quickly. Countries including Russia, India, Japan, and Jordan expressed concerns about the body’s role relative to other CBD bodies, the potential financial impact, and questions around state sovereignty in CBD negotiations. Yet, in the final hours, consensus was reached on a framework that accommodates diverse perspectives while prioritising indigenous rights and environmental justice.
The decision sparked celebration and optimism among Indigenous representatives, who had rallied throughout the conference with the call to “Act now!” For many, establishing SB8j symbolises a long-overdue recognition of Indigenous voices in shaping biodiversity policy.
The decision has garnered significant support from Indonesian civil society, which views this as a major step forward in protecting indigenous rights. Kasmita Widodo, Head of the Indigenous Territory Registration Agency (BRWA), emphasized that Indonesia’s support must align with its national biodiversity strategy, the Indonesian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP), launched in August.
“This commitment must translate into protecting indigenous territories and preserving their biodiversity,” Kasmita said. Other civil society leaders, including Auriga Nusantara Chairperson Timer Manurung, also called for practical measures to incorporate indigenous rights in conservation areas and policies.
Greenpeace Indonesia’s Syahrul Fitra highlighted Indonesia’s constitutional obligation to uphold Indigenous rights, as per Article 18 B of the Constitution, which recognizes Indigenous territories.
While establishing SB8j represents a significant milestone, experts underscore the need for actionable policies. Cindy Julianty, Program Manager of Working Group Indigenous Peoples and Community Conserved Areas and Territories Indonesia (WGII), noted the importance of clear guidelines for calculating Indigenous contributions to biodiversity targets.
Bimantara Adjie from Perkumpulan HuMa emphasized that domestic progress, including the stalled Indigenous Peoples Bill, is critical to fully realising this commitment. Adjie noted, “The Indonesian government must align its policy framework with indigenous rights to create a lasting legacy.”
As Indonesia and other CBD member countries look to the future, establishing SB8j is expected to resonate beyond biodiversity, potentially influencing other global forums, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Recognising Indigenous and local communities as stewards of biodiversity, the global community takes a bold step toward a sustainable and inclusive future. (nsh)
Banner photo: Protest to push for the passage of SB8j. Photo by: Earth Negotiation Bulletin
