Learning Conservation from Indigenous Communities at PCS 2026

The People's Conservation Summit (PCS) 2026, held in Yogyakarta from September 1-3, 2026, brought together indigenous communities, local groups, academics, researchers, and conservationists to share experiences in forest management. The summit shed light on the front lines of conservation efforts across Indonesia. Mikael Ane, from the indigenous community of Ngkiong Dora village in Lambaleda Timur, Manggarai Timur, East Nusa Tenggara, shared his experience of a legal battle over his ancestral land, known as Lok Pahar, which has been inhabited by his community for thousands of years. Although initially sentenced to one year and six months in prison by the Ruteng District Court for illegally utilizing forest resources, he was eventually acquitted by the Supreme Court. "Our ancestors lived there for thousands of years. Then they came and said it wasn't our right. I said no. Because I insisted and defended it, I was arrested," Ane recounted, referring to the legal challenges he faced alongside approximately 300 other families who continue to reside in the area. Sukinah, a farmer from the Kendeng Mountains in Central Java, shared a different but equally impactful struggle. In 2017, she famously participated in a protest in front of the Presidential Palace, her feet encased in cement, to oppose the construction of a cement factory in Pati. Known as "Kartini Kendeng" (Kartini of the Kendeng Mountains), Sukinah, whose livelihood depends on the land and water, stated, "If we don't have land, we can't farm; if we have land but no water, we can't farm either. So, they must be in sync. Let the mountains remain mountains." Her actions highlight concerns about the impact of large-scale development on local communities and the environment. The PCS 2026 served as a crucial platform for hearing the voices of individuals like Mikael and Sukinah, learning from their experiences, and exploring sustainable conservation approaches in Indonesia. It suggested that the traditional knowledge and deep connection to the land, cultivated by indigenous communities over generations, could be key to solving contemporary environmental challenges. Source: Mongabay Indonesia