Climate, West Papua & The Indonesian Food Estate

This webinar series, proposed by DTP’s Indonesian alumni, examines the threats posed by the rapid expansion of Indonesia’s Food Estate strategy in Merauke, West Papua, to the rights of Indigenous Peoples, to biodiversity and to the climate.

Promoted as necessary for national food security, the Food Estate involves large-scale deforestation, and has been described as the largest deforestation project on the planet. It conflicts with Indonesia’s international commitments on climate change, biodiversity and human rights, including standards on Free, Prior and Informed Consent. The forests of Papua have been called “the lungs of Asia”, and the impacts of their loss will extend well beyond Indonesia’s borders. Local communities, national and international NGOs and UN human rights experts have raised concerns, while Indonesia continues to restrict access to Papua for the UN and independent human rights monitors.

Across three webinars, Indigenous advocates, researchers, environmental experts and Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) shared their knowledge of the Food Estate and its impacts:

• Webinar 1: Food Estate in West Papua and the Impact on the Community featuring Laksmi Savitri and Budi Hernawan
• Webinar 2: The Food Estate, Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change featuring Dorthea Wabiser and Grant Rosoman
• Webinar 3: Indonesia’s Food Estate in Merauke and Its Impacts: Indonesia’s Climate Bomb featuring Dina Maria Danomira and Saurlin Siagian

The Project Brief provides more information on the series’ objectives, activities and outcomes.