How indigenous prosperity can save the planet | Bustar Maitar | TEDxAmazônia

Key Concepts

• Zero Deforestation: Agreements by companies and governments to halt forest clearing for commodities like palm oil and pulp & paper.
• Indigenous Land Rights: The crucial role of recognizing and protecting the land rights of indigenous communities as a key strategy for forest conservation.
• Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs): Goods derived from forests that are not timber, providing livelihoods for indigenous communities (e.g., fruits, nuts, resins).
• Carbon Sequestration: The ability of forests to store large amounts of carbon, vital for climate change mitigation.
• Sustainable Livelihoods: Providing economic opportunities for indigenous communities that are compatible with forest conservation.
• Indigenous-led Enterprises: Businesses owned and operated by indigenous communities, fostering economic independence and sustainable resource management.
• Supply Chain Development: Building robust and reliable supply chains for NTFPs to ensure market access and consistent income for indigenous producers.

Protecting Indonesia’s Forests: From Greenpeace to Indigenous-Led Enterprise

This presentation details the speaker’s journey from frontline environmental activism with Greenpeace to establishing an indigenous-led NGO and trading company in Papua, Indonesia, focused on forest conservation and community empowerment. The speaker emphasizes the critical role of indigenous communities in protecting forests and the necessity of providing them with sustainable economic alternatives.

The Fight Against Deforestation & Initial Successes

The speaker, initially known as “the tiger” for their aggressive advocacy against deforestation in Indonesia, began working with Greenpeace in 2005, concentrating on Sumatra and Kalimantan. Their efforts contributed to a 2010 agreement with the Indonesian president to temporarily halt deforestation, followed by commitments from Indonesian and global companies to adopt “zero deforestation” policies. By 2013, 75% of Indonesian palm oil and 80% of Indonesian pulp and paper production were sourced under zero-deforestation standards. However, deforestation continued despite these agreements. The speaker highlights that globally, only 36% of forests remain, with the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Indonesia holding the largest remaining tracts.

The Importance of Papua & Indigenous Communities

The speaker’s home island, Papua (also known as New Guinea, the world’s largest island after Greenland), is presented as a critical area for conservation. It boasts immense biodiversity – including unique species like couscous (tree kangaroos) and birds of paradise – and is home to over 500 different languages and indigenous communities. These forests are not “empty forests” but provide livelihoods through non-timber forest products and store vast amounts of carbon, crucial for climate stabilization. The speaker stresses that indigenous communities are the most effective protectors of forests, far more so than external actors. However, they are disproportionately represented among the world’s poorest 15%, lacking access to education and healthcare.

The Limitations of Traditional Conservation Approaches

After leaving Greenpeace in 2016, the speaker realized that traditional “victories” – like securing policy changes – did not necessarily translate into improved conditions for local communities. This realization prompted a return to Papua and the founding of a new NGO dedicated to directly addressing the needs of indigenous communities.

Revoking Palm Oil Concessions & Mapping Territories

The NGO focused on revoking palm oil concessions, successfully removing permits covering an area two and a half times the size of Los Angeles by 2022. This action is estimated to have prevented CO2 emissions equivalent to 160,000 single-engine jumbo jet flights from Rio to London. A key strategy involved working with indigenous communities to map their ancestral territories. This mapping process provides crucial legal documentation to defend against land grabs by companies or the government, who often falsely claim land is “empty” or unclaimed. However, the speaker emphasizes that land rights alone are insufficient without economic empowerment.

Kobumi: An Indigenous-Led Trading Company

To address the economic needs of the communities, the speaker founded Kobumi in 2021, an indigenous-led trading company owned by 10 indigenous cooperatives. The company’s structure ensures that indigenous communities control the direction of the business and benefit directly from its profits. Kobumi focuses on:

• Market Access: Identifying and securing markets for indigenous products.
• Quality Control: Implementing processing and quality assurance measures.
• Direct Payment: Paying indigenous producers directly for their goods.
• Supply Chain Reliability: Establishing a consistent and reliable supply chain to address market concerns about continuity.

Currently, Kobumi generates $2 million USD in annual trade, with all profits reinvested in indigenous community development. The goal is to reach $4 million USD in trade next year. This model aims to shift communities from relying on external aid to generating their own income through sustainable forest management.

A Call for Collaboration & Defending Paradise

The speaker concludes with a call for collaboration between Indonesia, Congo, and Amazon regions to defend their forests. They emphasize that empowering indigenous communities to sustainably manage their forests is the most effective way to protect these vital ecosystems for future generations. The presentation was delivered in the context of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, highlighting the urgency of global cooperation on forest conservation.

Quote: “If the indigenous community can make a living from their forest I believe at least and you also should believe that they will protect their rights they will protect their forest for our uh future uh generation.” – Speaker.

Technical Terms

• Biofuel: Fuel derived from renewable biological sources, such as palm oil.
• Carbon Sequestration: The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
• Concession: A grant of rights or privileges, often related to resource extraction (e.g., palm oil concession).
• NTFP (Non-Timber Forest Product): Forest products, excluding timber, that are harvested for human use (e.g., fruits, nuts, resins).
• COP (Conference of the Parties): An annual United Nations climate change conference. COP30 is being held in Belém, Brazil.

This presentation underscores the interconnectedness of environmental conservation, indigenous rights, and economic development, advocating for a holistic approach that empowers local communities to protect their forests and build sustainable livelihoods.