Regional Forum – The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Rights-based Sustainable Development

2^nd SouthEast Asia Regional Forum 2025

on Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Climate Change in a Digital Era

August 9-11, 2025 | Kesepuhan Guradog, Lebak, Banten & Bogor, West Java, Indonesia

The 2nd Southeast Asia Regional Forum on “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Climate Change in the Digital Era” participated in by Indigenous representatives and civil society groups, served as a platform for learning and exchange, aiming to consolidate ongoing discussions on the challenges Indigenous communities face. It also sought to generate policy recommendations, and to emphasize and recognize that Indigenous knowledge is key to addressing the climate crisis, and that their rights must be recognized, respected, and protected.

Participants

173

Countries

BOGOR CALL TO ACTION 2025

The resulting “Bogor Call to Action” contains the recommendations and appeals of Indigenous Peoples to fellow Indigenous communities and institutions, and to Governments and international platforms to take effective action on the issues they face. They also call out to address challenges arising from digitalization and artificial intelligence. They urgently call on Governments to further protect IP rights and resources, and respond to the need for shared prosperity based on the sustainability of Indigenous territories and identities.

SPEAKERS AND SESSION MODERATORS

Abdon Nababan

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)

Adrian Bannie Lasimbang

Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples

Albert Salamanca

SEI Asia - Adaptation Research Alliance

Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto

Mitra BUMMA

Annas Radin Syarif

Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN)

Cindy Julianty

Working Group ICCA’s Indonesia (WGII)

Deni Karanggulimu

KOPPESDA, Sumba

Dharmodip Basumatary

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)

Dr. Tawaja Ramzia Djangoan (Ibu Ona)

Presedium Nasional Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia Kelompok Kepentingan Perempuan Pesisir dan Nelayan

Femy Pinto

Non-Timber Forest Products -Exchange Program

Firdaus Sani

Orang Laut-Singapore

Florida Festin

Paraigu Kawataan, Calamian Tagbanwa Tribe

Hero Aprila

Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AIYP) and Barisan Pemuda Adat Nusantara (BPAN)

Jainno Bongon

IBON International

Jennifer Lasimbang

Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund (IPAS)

Karen Lee Hizola

Earth, Technology and Human Inspired Collaborations (ETHIC)

Khanu Pang Tain

Indigenous Peoples Partnership (IPP)

Leon Dulce

Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center - Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KSK)

Maimuna Renhoran

AMAN-Maluku

Nadia Hadad

Yayasan MADANI Berkelanjutan

Naree Wongsachon

Chao Lay Community

Pham Van Dung

Culture Identity and Resources Use Management (CIRUM)

Pirawan Wongnithisathaporn

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)

Pyrou Chung

Open Development Initiative (ODI)

Ridwan

Wallacea Association (Luwu)

Roeut Sochhat

Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA)

Romba’ Marannu Sombolinggi

AMAN

Roro Ardya Garini

Ranu Welum

Sadhana Sanjay

IT for Change

Saloni Mishra

IT for Change

Sandra Moniaga

Samdhana Institute

Songphonsak Ratanawilailak

Pwakayaw Association for Sustainable Development

Surti Handayani

Perhimpunan Pembela Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (PPMAN)

Syaharani

Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL)

Thata Debora Agnessia

Indigenous Journalist Association (AJMA)

Unggul Sagena

Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)

Venedio Nala Ardisa

Asia Indigenous People Pact (AIPP)

Welna Samulde

Lem Bulul Farmers Association

Wenki Ariando

KITLV – Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies

PROGRAMS

The digital era and digitalization – is it a bane or boon to IPLCs and to human rights? What are the emerging issues in Southeast Asia, a region that is home to most Indigenous peoples, vast biodiversity and resources? Among organization who work on these issues, there is one observation that there is a growing fragmentation between the environmental justice and digital rights movements. These intersecting issues are the current context in the region and provide an impetus for convening communities, organizations and civil society to discuss these concern that we all face, through the 2nd Regional Forum 2025.

Date and Time	Agenda
Day 1
Aug. 9, 5:00 AM	Travel to Kasepuhan Guradog
Aug. 9, 7:30 AM	HIMAS – Indigenous Peoples Day celebration Opening and cultural parade HIMAS Program Speaker: Rukka Sombolinggi – Secretary General of AMAN Book Launching by Mama Aleta Fund “Senjata Kami Adalah Upacara Adat” Launching of Indigenous Journalist Association (AJMA)
12:00	Lunch with HIMAS celebration
1:00 PM	Parallel events: Food Parade Public Policy Dialogue on Food Sovereignty with Ministries of Environment, Forestry, Land and Spatial Planning, and Human Rights Commission
4:00 PM	End of Day 1 for Regional Forum participants – Travel from Guradog back to Ibis Hotel
Day 2
Aug 10, 8:30 AM	Registration
9:00 AM	Preliminaries, acknowledgment and overview of the day Emcee: Tony Hutabarat, Samdhana Institute
9:30 AM	Session 1: Shaping Self-Governance and Staking Territorial Rights Plenary Key message 1: Our Current Framing on the Status of Indigenous Peoples, Our Gains and Emerging Challenges Session Moderator: Dharmodip Basumatary, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)Regional outlook: Mr. Abdon Nababan, Executive Council Member of AIPP Country testimonies: Mr. Khanu Pang Tain, Indigenous Peoples Partnership (IPP) Situation of Sea Nomads and coastal IPs Dr Wenki Ariando, KITLV – Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies The funding ecosystem Jennifer Lasimbang, Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund
10:45 AM	Health break
11:00 AM	Exhibit formal opening Facilitator: Sandika Ariansyah, Samdhana Institute
12:00 PM	Lunch break
1:30 PM	Parallel Session 1a: How Indigenous Peoples Protect Forests, Coastal and Small Island Ecosystems, and BiodiversityModerator: Sandra Moniaga, Samdhana InstituteLead Discussants Ridwan, WallaceaSongphonsak Ratanawilailak, Pwakayaw Association for Sustainable DevelopmentSurty Handayani, PPMAN & IPHRD Asia NetworkTawaja Ramzia Djangoan, Presedium Nasional Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia Kelompok Kepentingan Perempuan Pesisir dan NelayanDung Van Pham, Culture, Identity and Resource Use Management (CIRUM)Parallel Session 1b: Are Southeast Asia’s Energy and Mineral Transitions Just and Inclusive for Indigenous Peoples?Moderator: Syaharani, Indonesia Center for Environmental Law (ICEL)Speakers Mr. Adrian Banie Lasimbang, TONIBUNG, Malaysia; Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples Mr. Leon Dulce, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Philippines Erasmus Cahyadi, Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN)Parallel Session 1c: How our Indigenous Youth are leading us back to the futureModerator: Frilly Omega PantowSpeakers: Venedio Nala Ardisa, AIPP EC Hero Aprila, Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AIYP) and Barisan Pemuda Adat Nusantara (BPAN) Mr. Roeut Sochhat, Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA) Florida Festin, Paraigu Kawataan, Calamian TagbanwaTribe
3:30 PM	Health break
3:45 PM	Session 2: Climate Change and Resilience Parallel Session 2a: What is climate resilience among IPs?Session Moderator: Annas Radin Syarif, AMANSpeakers: Pirawan Wongnithisathaporn, AIPP Deni Karanggulimu, KOPPESDA, Sumba Romba’ Marannu Sombolinggi, AMANParallel Session 2b: Understanding Climate Financing, Carbon Offset and Biodiversity CreditsSession Moderator: Nadia Hadad, Yayasan Madani BerkelanjutanLead discussants: Jax Bongon, IBON International Cindy Julianty, Working Group ICCA’s Indonesia (WGII) Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto, Mitra BUMMAParallel Session 2c: Indigenous Perspectives on Non‑Economic Losses and Damages: Advancing Policy and AdvocacySession Moderator: Albert Salamanca, Adaptation Research Alliance & SEISpeakers: Femy Pinto, NTFP Regional Programme Ms. Naree Wongsachon, Chao Lay Community Ms. Maimuna Renhoran, AMAN-Maluku Mr. Firdaus Sani, Orang Laut SG
5:30 PM	Reminders
6:30 PM	Dinner -End of Day 2-
Day 3
Aug. 11, 8:30 AM	Registration
9:00 AM	Preliminaries and reminders Emcee: Tony Hutabarat, Samdhana InstituteSession 3: Digitalization and AI: Rights, Resilience and Justice for Indigenous Peoples in a changing climatePlenary Key message 2: Digitalization in our day-to-day: overview of state of digital technologies and its impactsModerator: Tri NugrohoSpeakers: Sadhana Sanjay and Saloni Mishra, IT for Change Reading of Indigenous Peoples’ statement on digitalization and AI Dharmodip Basumatary
10:30 AM	Health break
10:45 AM	Parallel Session 3a: Defending our civic rights and livingspaces – AI as a friend or foe?Session Moderator: Debora Irene Christine, TIFA Foundation Speakers: Roro Ardya Garini, Ranu Welum Pyrou Chung, Open Development Initiative (ODI) Debora Agnessia, BPAN Unggul Sagena, Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) Parallel Session 3b: Data Governance and Indigenous Peoples Sovereignty Session Moderator: Dharmodip (AIPP) Indigenous Knowledge and Data Sovereignty (IKDS) framework Speakers: Pirawan Wongnithisathaporn, AIPP Karen Lee Hizola, Earth, Technology and Human Inspired Collaborations
12:15 PM	Lunch break
1:30 PM	Session 4 – Networking and Linkaging Facilitator: Joan Jamisolamin, Samdhana Institute
3:00 PM	Session 5 – Plenary Reading of the 2nd Regional Forum Statement and setting of symbolic commitment Facilitator: Erwin Quinones, Samdhana Institute
5:00 PM	Acknowledgement and appreciation ceremony Rukka Sombolinggi, AMAN Steering Committee RepresentativesFormal Closing
6:00 PM	Dinner -end of Regional Forum