FSC Remedy Forum in Jakarta: Reflections on sacred balance between Forests and People

The FSC System Integrity Unit convened the Asia Pacific Remedy Forum in Jakarta, uniting diverse stakeholders to advance understanding of the FSC Remedy Framework.

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The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – System Integrity Unit hosted the Asia Pacific Remedy Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia, bringing together rights holders, Indigenous leaders, NGOs, companies, researchers, and government representatives to deepen understanding and engagement around the FSC Remedy Framework.

What is the FSC Remedy Framework?

The FSC Remedy Framework is a standardized system that guides how companies must address past environmental and social harms linked to forest conversion.

It promotes restoration through social and environmental remedy, ensures transparency in how FSC deals with non-conforming companies, and provides fair roadmaps for remedy. Its ultimate goal is to restore forests and communities, improve the integrity of the FSC certification scheme, and establish measurable conditions for potentially ending disassociation and rebuilding trust.

A New Chapter for Remedy

Since its entry into force on July 1, 2023, the FSC Remedy Framework has aimed to address social and environmental harms resulting from forestry operations. Indonesia, as the pilot setting for implementation, provided a vital case study on opportunities and challenges. The Jakarta forum served not only as a platform for consultation but also as a space for healing, dialogue, and reconciliation; highlighting the positive potential of remedy to restore forest ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and provide redress for affected communities.

Voices from the Forum

Representing the FSC Indigenous Foundation, Nicholas Mujah (FSC-IF Council Member), Praful Lakra (FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee PIPC Co-chair, Asia region), Minnie Degawan (FSC-IF Managing Director), and Dian Intarini (Indigenous Peoples Global Manager for Forestry and Certification) actively participated in the Jakarta Remedy Forum, bringing diverse perspectives from leadership, governance, and community engagement.

During the forum, attendees expressed that if rights are misunderstood, overlooked, or only superficially acknowledged, remedies risk becoming merely symbolic and may reproduce harm rather than repair it. Nicholas underscored this point, reminding participants how critical it is to understand right holders’ rights within the Forest Stewardship system.

Furthermore, Praful shared insights from his region, India, stressing the need to integrate Indigenous knowledge into the process and drawing lessons from the remedy of mining there. As Co-Chair of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC), Praful’s participation carried particular significance. Together with Marchus Colchester (FSC Board of directors and PIPC Liaison), who also engaged in the forum, their presence highlighted the importance of ensuring Indigenous perspectives are consistently heard in FSC processes. Having PIPC represented at the event created a valuable space for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and reflection that can help strengthen decision-making at the global level.

From left to right: Praful Lakra (PIPC Co-chair, Asia region), Marchus Colchester (FSC BoD), Nicholas Mujah (FSC-IF Council member), Dian Intarini (Indigenous Peoples Global Manager for Forestry and Certification)

From left to right: Isnadi from Riau, Kuspawansyah from East Kalimantan, Nicholas Mujah (FSC-IF Council member) and Minnie Degawan (FSC-IF Managing Director)

Moreover, Minnie reminded participants that for Indigenous Peoples, remedy is not a checklist of consultations or activities, but about restoring balance and safeguarding relationships: with the land, communities, and the unseen.

“Forests are our relatives,” she said. “They are the resting places of our ancestors, where we bury our children’s umbilical cords to connect them to Mother Earth. To sustain the forest is to sustain the Earth and the community. Remedy, for us, means restoring that sacred balance.”

Minnie stressed the need for clearer communication on what the Remedy Framework is, and what it is not. She emphasized that without this clarity, communities risk false expectations and further harm.

At the heart of her message was the call to reframe Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as a process of relationship-building rather than a procedural step, reminding participants that consent is rooted in trust, equity, and mutual understanding.

Finally, Dian Intarini suggested that remedy actions should be aligned with national policies on community empowerment and land rights, for example Indonesia’s Village Law, to support the long-term sustainability of these actions.

Key Observations

Over three days, the agenda moved from exploring solutions for accelerating remedies, to presentations on social and cultural healing in unresolved conflicts, to a closed meeting with rights holders reflecting on their concerns and expectations.

The forum succeeded in fostering open, constructive dialogue, though it also revealed a disconnect in how stakeholders understood the framework and highlighted tensions between Indigenous Peoples and migrant/transmigrant communities that require sensitive approaches. Amid these dynamics, the FSC Indigenous Foundation emerged as a trusted, neutral facilitator and willing to continually support the process.

Looking Forward

As the FSC Remedy Framework continues to take shape, the lessons from the Jakarta forum remind us that remedy must be intentional, inclusive, and rooted in respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and worldviews.

The work ahead will not be easy, but as Minnie emphasized: “We have survived genocide and colonization by moving thoughtfully and carefully. Let us not rush, but ensure that remedy truly heals.”

Brewing a Future: Daniel Maches and Jaymar Garcia’s Journey to economic sustainability rooted in Indigenous knowledge

How Two Indigenous Youth Are Cultivating Culture and Sustainability

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Forests regulate our climate, clean the air we breathe, and sustain the biodiversity that makes life possible. Yet every year, more than 12 million hectares of forests are lost to destructive practices.

The FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), together with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), works alongside Indigenous Peoples to protect forests and strengthen Indigenous-led nature solutions. At the heart of this vision are Indigenous youth like Daniel and Jaymar, who are carrying ancestral wisdom into the future.

How Two Indigenous Youth Are Cultivating Culture and Sustainability

On the forested slopes of Benguet in the Philippines, two young Indigenous entrepreneurs are proving that business can be both an act of cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. Daniel Jason Maches, of the ILias tribe, and Jaymar Garcia, from the Ibaloi, Kankanaey, and Kalanguya tribes, co-founded Banolmi Store PH to showcase forest-grown coffee and traditional cuisine rooted in ancestral knowledge.

For Daniel and Jaymar, entrepreneurship is not just about profit; it is about worth. In their language, Banolmi means “our worth,” symbolizing the heritage of mountains, rivers, rice terraces, and forests passed down by their ancestors “Our forests are life,” Daniel explains. “They give us water, food, and identity. Protecting them is not only survival: it’s honoring our ancestors.”

Their work challenges the dominance of extractive industries by offering sustainable livelihoods that restore biodiversity instead of depleting it. Through agro-ecological farming, they are reviving heirloom rice and native seeds, creating a seed bank for the future, and transforming coffee farming into a tool for conservation. Jaymar reflects, “Food is culture. When we save our Indigenous cuisine, we also save the native species that sustain our people.”

Beyond farming, Banolmi Store PH has become a seed bank of cultural memory, preserving flavors and practices that risk being lost. The impact extends to their community: families now look to coffee and native foods as sustainable sources of income, while traditional cuisine is gaining new recognition as both cultural identity and a tool for biodiversity conservation.

The journey has not been without risks. From navigating family obligations to facing red-tagging during their advocacy, Daniel and Jaymar have demonstrated leadership with courage, finding non-confrontational ways to defend their forests while building community trust.

Looking ahead, Daniel and Jaymar’s dream

These Indigenous entrepreneurs dream of expanding Banolmi into a model that can be replicated in other communities, showing that Indigenous-led enterprises are both viable and transformative. They envision not only coffee farms, but entire agroforestry systems that provide food, restore forests, and sustain cultural traditions.

To achieve this, they hope to build partnerships with organizations, businesses, and individuals who share their vision and collaborators who can help open markets, provide resources, and amplify their message. “Our goal is to show that Indigenous foods and products are not just heritage, they are the future,” Jaymar says.

On this World Entrepreneurs Day, Daniel and Jaymar’s story reminds us that Indigenous knowledge is innovation. Their venture is not only brewing coffee: it is cultivating a future where culture, community, and conservation thrive together.

Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence: Defending Rights through Principles of Respect and Consent

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we highlight how respect and consent must guide both engagement and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

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Today, August 9, the world comes together to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. From the rain forests of Latin America to the savannas of Africa, the islands of Asia, the mountains of Oceania, and the Arctic’s tundras, Indigenous Peoples continue to protect the world’s biodiversity, safeguard traditional knowledge, and uphold cultures rooted in deep connection to the land.

Indigenous Peoples nurture an extraordinary range of living traditions, from practices and skills to knowledge systems and expressions that embody values of respect, care, and reciprocity with nature. These traditions also strengthen understanding of the many worldviews and value systems that guide Indigenous relationships with the natural world.

By practicing and passing on this heritage, Indigenous communities sustain their vitality, resilience, and collective well‑being.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is more vital today than at any point in history because the challenges we face — climate change, biodiversity loss, and the rapid rise of new technologies — demand the wisdom, leadership, and rights of Indigenous Peoples at the center of global solutions.

Indigenous Peoples and local communities safeguard at least half of the world’s lands, which host the majority of its biodiversity. Their living heritage — knowledge, practices, and values rooted in respect, stewardship, and reciprocity with nature — offers proven pathways for addressing today’s climate and ecological crises. When forests are under threat, when species are disappearing, and when climate impacts intensify, Indigenous Peoples stand as guardians of balance between humanity and the natural world.

Authentic engagement, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent

This day also reminds us of the principles that must guide our actions when engaging with Indigenous brothers and sisters: respect, authentic engagement, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Just as Indigenous Peoples decide how their knowledge and culture are shared, so too must the world ensure that emerging tools, like artificial intelligence, are used ethically — amplifying Indigenous voices rather than appropriating them.

Our Managing Director, Minnie Degawan, provided insights on the principles of engagement with Indigenous People on a webinar with Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL). She reminds us that true engagement with Indigenous Peoples must be built on respect, trust, and consent. Entering Indigenous territories means entering someone’s home.

Minnie Degawan, Managing Director of the FSC Indigenous Foundation

Authentic engagement requires listening, co-creation, and collaboration — not one-time consultations, but continuous relationships grounded in dignity. For the private sector, this means building trust that leads to long-term partnerships, social license to operate, and more sustainable outcomes. For governments, it strengthens legitimacy, ensures policies are culturally appropriate, and supports effective climate and biodiversity action. In both cases, relationship-building is not just respectful — it is essential for lasting impact.

Consent is not a checklist. It is a living dialogue — a spectrum that ranges from “No” to “Maybe,” “Yes if,” and “Yes;” always shaped by cultural traditions and community voices. One way communities express this is through art and photography: choosing what stories to share, how to share them, and with whom.

ENGITOK – the Maasai woman, Photo contest, 2023

Indigenous Data Sovereignty: A Global Call for Ethical Technology

Just as photographs require consent and respect, so too must the use of new technologies like artificial intelligence. Indigenous Peoples must retain control over their knowledge, images, and voices and how and when these are used. Technology should amplify Indigenous self-representation, not appropriate it.

A powerful example comes from Aotearoa (New Zealand), where Māori leaders are shaping the conversation on artificial intelligence. At the Aotearoa Artificial Intelligence Summit, experts like Dr. Karaitiana Taiuru, Elle Archer, and Moka Apiti emphasized that Māori data must be treated as taonga — a treasure protected under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi). They reminded us that engaging with Indigenous communities in AI development requires relationship-building, long-term commitment, and respect for cultural protocols, from pronouncing names correctly to involving communities from the very beginning. Their message was clear: AI must not be a tool of extraction but a means to amplify collective wisdom, safeguard cultural heritage, and uphold Indigenous data sovereignty. This vision echoes the principles of engagement — respect, trust, and reciprocity — that are essential for all Indigenous Peoples worldwide. (Culture & Design Lab, 2023) ¹

During the 2025 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples virtual webinar, Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures, hosted by the Indigenous Peoples Development Branch, the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, powerful voices from Indigenous panelists echoed a clear message: artificial intelligence must be ethical, inclusive, and grounded in Indigenous rights.

As Aluki Kotierk, Inuk leader and Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, stated: “Without safeguards, AI risks a new form of colonization, coded in algorithms that shape our lives. To ensure that AI serves Indigenous Peoples, we must have a rights-based approach. Indigenous Peoples must guide AI development, and data governance is essential.”

During the webinar panelist Danielle Boyer, an Indigenous Ojibwe youth robotics inventor, expressed “People often forget that we, as Indigenous Peoples, have always been inventors, scientists, and engineers. Our youth are brilliant—my students are creating apps, founding organizations, designing robots, and building solutions. They already have the tools we need to shape the future.” Danielle explained that what’s missing are the opportunities—such as the ability to speak directly with large corporations and bridge the gap between them and Indigenous communities.

Closing remarks:

On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we are reminded that respect, trust, and consent are the foundation of ethical engagement. Whether in climate action, biodiversity conservation, or artificial intelligence, Indigenous Peoples must remain at the center as rights-holders and leaders, especially Indigenous youth as they are essential to this future — bringing innovation, knowledge, and commitment to their communities.

Now is the time to advocate, support, and share — so Indigenous voices lead the way forward.

Source:

Culture & Design Lab (2023). Engaging with Māori in Artificial Intelligence. Culture & Design Lab.

https://cultureanddesignlab.com/blog/article-145901

From the Ground to the Global Stage: Indigenous Women Prepare for COP30

A regional training co-organized by DGM Global, Conservation International, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation during Panama Climate Week 2025

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During Panama Climate Week 2025, a powerful gathering of Indigenous women leaders from across Latin America took place. The Capacity Building Workshop for Indigenous Women to Advocate in Climate and Biodiversity Negotiations—organized by the Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM), Conservation International, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation—created a space for dialogue, learning, and collective action. Participants from Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Brazil, and Guatemala came together to strengthen their technical skills, exchange experiences, and deepen their impact on global environmental governance. Whether already engaged in national advocacy or beginning their journey, they shared a common commitment: advancing Indigenous leadership in climate and biodiversity negotiations.

Reflections of Indigenous Women Leaders

Learning emerges not only through technical knowledge but also through intergenerational dialogue and the revitalization of ancestral wisdom. During the workshop, participants shared several reflections:

The COP began 33 years ago, but the commitments established have not progressed significantly over the past three decades. It was observed that many decisions remain concentrated in the hands of governments, and that it is necessary to integrate ancestral knowledge into climate policies to ensure progress that is both sustainable and collective.

Participants also recognized the complexity of climate issues and noted that these are often not communicated in ways that are accessible to communities. They called for technical concepts to be translated into more understandable formats so that communities can engage with them within their own contexts. Although these issues may seem new in international forums, they have long existed within Indigenous peoples’ ancestral practices, worldviews, and values.

“These issues are not new to us. What we need is for our way of naming them to be recognized,” mentioned one participant.

Young People Leading the Way

The new generations of Indigenous Peoples are prepared to confront the challenge of climate change from their own realities and perspectives. Among them are young professionals who are combining traditional knowledge with formal training to advocate for their communities on a global stage. One of the most inspiring moments was hearing from young Indigenous women, who voiced their concerns and aspirations to be agents of change within their communities. They spoke about bringing solutions and raising their peoples’ voices in international arenas.

Rosibel Rodríguez Gallardo, from the Ngäbe people of southern Costa Rica, shared:

“It is a privilege to participate for the first time in an international gathering of Indigenous women in Panama. I want to learn a lot so I can share it with my people.”

This generational shift—rooted in respect for and continuity of ancestral knowledge—is a sign of enduring commitment to the Indigenous struggle for environmental and climate justice.

A Partnership for the Future

The meeting also provided an opportunity to build support networks among Indigenous women from different countries, promote mutual learning, and strengthen each participant’s leadership. The young women demonstrated their commitment to their communities and to continuing to influence the climate agenda.

From left to right: Rosibel Rodríguez Gallardo and Yeshing Upún

Yeshing Upún, Maya Kaqchikel and a member of the Indigenous Women’s Network on Biodiversity of Latin America and the Caribbean, shared:

“It is a pleasure to exchange experiences and knowledge, but above all, to join efforts and raise our voices in response to the different proposals that will be developed in the framework of COP30 and the ongoing biodiversity negotiations.” — Yeshing Upún

At the close of Climate Week, Minnie Degawan, Managing Director of the FSC Indigenous Foundation, reflected:

“Climate Week should be more sensitive to the cultural aspects of the local people.”

Her words remind us that it is not possible to move toward a just climate future without active listening, deep respect, and genuine inclusion of those who have protected life in harmony with Mother Earth since time immemorial.

Sineia do Vale – Co-chair of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus

Climate Justice with a Voice: A Step Toward COP30

As the world looks ahead to COP30 in Belém, Indigenous women are not only strengthening their leadership but also building the technical knowledge required to engage in international climate negotiations. While the Panama workshop focused on capacity building, advocacy strategies, and peer learning, it was also part of a larger effort to ensure that Indigenous women are equipped to participate meaningfully in formal spaces like the 62nd session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) under the UNFCCC process.

Held in parallel with Panama Climate Week 2025, this gathering complemented other preparatory efforts—such as technical trainings hosted earlier in June by partners including the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change (IIFCC), the International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change (IIYFCC), DOCIP, Nia Tero, and the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples (UNVFIP). Those sessions focused on the structure and agenda of SB62 and its relevance to COP30, including key negotiation tracks like the Global Goal on Adaptation and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Together, these efforts underscore the importance of linking political advocacy with technical readiness, ensuring Indigenous women are not only visible in global climate spaces but fully prepared to shape the outcomes.

Closing Reflections

As the world moves toward COP30 in Belém, the voices, knowledge, and leadership of Indigenous women must remain at the center of climate and biodiversity negotiations. This workshop, made possible through the collaboration between DGM Global, Conservation International, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation, reaffirmed the power of partnerships in creating spaces where Indigenous women can build skills, share knowledge, and shape global agendas. Strengthening these alliances is essential to ensuring that Indigenous women are not only present in decision-making spaces—but are leading efforts to build a more just and sustainable future for all.

By Maria De Leon (FSC Indigenous Foundation) and Lidiane Castro (Conservation International)

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