Lore Lindu National Park

Last Updated
2026-05-23
Name of the Protected Area / Park / Reserve
Lore Lindu National Park

Lore Lindu National Park (LLNP)

LLNP constitutes the core area of the Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve, designated under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. The Biosphere Reserve covers approximately 719,425 ha in total, with LLNP (215,687.40 ha) as its core area, located in the districts of Sigi and Poso, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Country
Indonesia
Status of the Protected Area
In Operation
UNESCO Classified
Yes
UNESCO Classification Information

MAB Biosphere Reserve: Lore Lindu was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977 under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. 

World Heritage Site: LLNP is not inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Megalithic Cultural Heritage of the Lore Lindu Area (comprising megalithic statues and related cultural heritage in the LLNP region) is on Indonesia's UNESCO Tentative List (submitted 2015), but has not yet been inscribed.

Sources:

  1. UNESCO, Lore Lindu (Man and the Biosphere Programme) <https://www.unesco.org/en/mab/lore-lindu&gt; accessed 27 March 2026. The UNESCO WHC Tentative List entry for the Megalithic Cultural Heritage of the Lore Lindu Area (submitted 2015) cites 1977 as the biosphere reserve recognition year: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Megalithic Cultural Heritage of Lore Lindu Area (Tentative List) <https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6826/&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. See UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Megalithic Cultural Heritage of Lore Lindu Area (Tentative List, 2015) <https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6826/&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
Carbon Offsetting Project
No
Carbon Offsetting Project Information

REDD+ demonstration activities: The UN-REDD Programme Indonesia, a partnership between the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, FAO, UNDP, and UNEP, selected Central Sulawesi as a pilot province for REDD+ implementation. LLNP has served as a focal area for REDD+ demonstration activities. As part of this pilot, Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) guidelines were developed and field-tested in villages surrounding LLNP to ensure community participation in REDD+ activities.

No formally registered carbon offset project: There is no evidence of an officially registered carbon offset project within LLNP under mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). Academic research has explored the potential of carbon sequestration payments to incentivise forest conservation in the LLNP area, including through cocoa agroforestry and avoided deforestation strategies, but these remain research proposals rather than operational schemes. LLNP is not currently part of any formal carbon offsetting scheme.

Sources:

  1. UN-REDD Programme, Brosur FPIC: Model Penyelenggaraan Persetujuan Atas Dasar Informasi di Awal Tanpa Paksaan (FPIC) (UN-REDD Programme Indonesia, October 2021) <https://www.un-redd.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Brosur_FPIC_Model_P…; accessed 27 March 2026.

  2. UN-REDD Programme, Free, Prior and Informed Consent for REDD+ in the Asia-Pacific Region: Lessons Learned (September 2021) <https://www.un-redd.org/sites/default/files/2021-09/FPIC%20Lessons%20Le…; accessed 27 March 2026.

  3. Christina Seeberg-Elverfeldt, Stefan Schwarze and Manfred Zeller, 'Carbon Finance Schemes — Incentives for Forest and Agroforestry Systems' (2008) 3 Nature Precedings <https://doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2504.1&gt;.

  4. Christina Seeberg-Elverfeldt, Stefan Schwarze and Manfred Zeller, 'Payments for Environmental Services — Carbon Finance Options for Smallholders' Agroforestry in Indonesia' (2009) 3 International Journal of the Commons 108 <https://doi.org/10.18352/ijc.96&gt;.
IUCN category of the Area /Park / Reserve
National Park
Name(s) of the Impacted Indigenous People(s) / Community / Villages
Kaili
Kulawi
Behoa
Pekurehua
Bada
Masyarakat
Name(s) of the Support Groups/NGOs and Contact Details

Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN)

AMAN is an independent national civil society organisation whose members are Indigenous Peoples communities across the Indonesian archipelago, including representatives from the Sulawesi region.

Yayasan Tanah Merdeka (YTM)

YTM is a Central Sulawesi-based NGO that has facilitated community-park negotiations at LLNP, including assisting the Katu people and the Lindu community in asserting their customary land rights against park authority encroachment.

Lembaga Pecinta Alam Awam Green (LPA Awam Green)

LPA Awam Green is a Palu-based provincial NGO that implemented the GEF Small Grants Programme community-based conservation project at LLNP (2015) and has supported community advocacy on forest access rights.

Sources:

  1. Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Official Website <https://aman.or.id/&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Profile of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (English, 2021) 1 <https://aman.or.id/files/organization-document/24605AMAN%20Profile%20-%…; accessed 27 March 2026.
Information about Involved Institutions

UNESCO / Indonesian National Committee of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) — Implement the MAB framework for integrated management of the Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve, focusing on balancing biodiversity conservation with sustainable socio-economic development.

FAO — A 1977 FAO document first proposed the creation of a national park in this forest area, providing feasibility studies and an initial technical framework.

WWF — In 1981, WWF made initial recommendations to follow up on FAO's proposal, outlining the operational management plan and physical boundaries required to establish the park's legal and ecological infrastructure.

UN-REDD Programme (UNDP, UNEP and FAO) — Partnership with Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry to support Indonesia's efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; selected Central Sulawesi (including LLNP) as a REDD+ pilot province and field-tested FPIC guidelines in surrounding villages.

Sources:

  1. UNESCO, Lore Lindu (Man and the Biosphere Programme) <https://www.unesco.org/en/mab/lore-lindu&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. Marhawati Mappatoba et al., 'Acknowledgement of the Customary Land Right for Indigenous People Surrounding the Lore Lindu National Park Central Sulawesi, Indonesia' (2017) 4(5) International Journal of Innovation and Research in Educational Sciences <https://www.ijires.org/administrator/components/com_jresearch/files/pub…;; Samantha M Berdej, Agreements on Conservation in Lore Lindu National Park, Sulawesi Indonesia (MES thesis, Wilfrid Laurier University 2011) 61 <https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item?id=MR81525&op=pdf&app=Library&is_th…;.
  3. (n 20).
  4. UN-REDD Programme, Brosur FPIC (n 6).
Administrative Authority of the Protect Area / Park / Reserve and Contact Details

BBTNLL Official Website: http://lorelindu.info/

Address: Jln Prof Moh Yamin No 53, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Telephone: +62-(0)451-457623

 

National Conservation / Environment Agency or Ministry in Charge of the Protect Area / Park / Reserve

Balai Besar Taman Nasional Lore Lindu (BBTNLL)

Under the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE), Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan / KLHK), Republic of Indonesia.

Address: Jln Prof Moh Yamin No 53, Palu, Central Sulawesi

Tel: +62-(0)451-457623

You can find this information HERE: UNESCO, 'Lore Lindu' (Silk Roads Programme) https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/silk-road-themes/biosphere-reserve/lore-lindu

Major Public and Private Donors
USAID
The Nature Conservancy
Wildlife Conservation Society - WCS
Asian Development Bank
The Global Environment Facility/UNDP
Involved International Conservation NGOs, Foundations and Institutions
UNESCO
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations -FAO
The World Wildlife Fund-WWF
UNDP
The United Nations Environment Program-UNEP
Donor's Information

USAID — Funded conservation activities at LLNP through a grant implemented by The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) — Implemented a USAID grant at LLNP; undertook activities including building conservation capacity and community partnerships at the park.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) — WCS Indonesia Program (Sulawesi Programme, active since 1991): provides technical assistance for protected area governance, spatial planning, and biodiversity monitoring, and promotes collaborative management and community engagement in buffer zones.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) — Central Sulawesi Integrated Area Development and Conservation Project (CSIADCP, Loan 1605-INO): a USD 23 million loan linked to the establishment of LLNP, aimed at protecting park biodiversity and improving the livelihoods of surrounding communities.

UNDP / GEF Small Grants Programme — Funded 'Community Based Conservation Efforts on Moonson Forest in Lore Lindu National Park' (2015), implemented by LPA Awam Green: USD 15,000 grant plus USD 9,941 in co-financing for community-based forest restoration and sustainable livelihood development.

IMPORTANT NOTE!

The specific USAID project report (pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pdabw261.pdf) used to first identify USAID as a donor during research for this database could not be confirmed as accessible from outside the United States. However, the TNC-USAID relationship at LLNP is confirmed by multiple secondary academic sources: see e.g., Weber, Dongi-Dongi — Culmination of a Multi-dimensional Conflict (University of Kassel, 2004) <https://d-nb.info/980982006/34&gt; (referring to USAID and TNC grants to LLNP conservation and park authority strengthening).

Sources:

  1. The Nature Conservancy, Indonesia <https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/asia-pacific/indone…; accessed 27 March 2026 (stating: 'Lore Lindu National Park: TNC works with the local community to preserve the natural resources of Lore Lindu National Park, Indonesia').
  2. Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program, Protected Area Specialist — EPASS Project (Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve) (Procurement Notice, 2025) <https://indonesia.wcs.org/en-us/About-Us/Procurement-Notice/ID/22840/Pr…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  3. Asian Development Bank, Project Completion Report: Central Sulawesi Integrated Area Development and Conservation Project (Loan 1605-INO) <https://www.adb.org/documents/indonesia-central-sulawesi-integrated-are…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  4. United Nations Development Programme, GEF Small Grants Programme Indonesia, 'Community Based Conservation Efforts on Moonson Forest in Lore Lindu National Park' (Project Detail, 2015) <https://sgp.undp.org/spacial-itemid-projects-landing-page/spacial-itemi…; accessed 27 March 2026.
Historical Background

The Lore Lindu National Park was formed from the unification of three pre-existing protected areas: the Lore Kalamanta Wildlife Sanctuary (established 1973), the Lake Lindu Tourism Forest / Protected Forest (established 1978), and the Sungai Sopu Wildlife Sanctuary (established 1981). These three areas were formally unified and gazetted as a national park by Decree of the Minister of Forestry No 593/Kpts-II/1993, issued on 5 October 1993.

As Indonesia modernised, state forestry policies — primarily the Basic Forestry Law and subsequent legislation — converted customary areas (tanah adat) into state forests, marginalising Indigenous communities. The establishment of LLNP proceeded without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of the affected Indigenous peoples.

There are four main adat (customary) groups inhabiting villages in and surrounding LLNP: the Kaili, the Behoa, the Bada, and the Pekurehua, organised in customary territories (tanah adat). About 117 villages are situated in or adjacent to the park, and a further 64 villages are in the buffer zone. Rice and maize farming, and cacao plantation are among the main livelihood activities of the residents.

Promises at time of creation: Under the government's 'Resettlement of Isolated Communities' programme (administered by the Department of Social Affairs, Depsos, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s), communities — including those subsequently incorporated into LLNP — were promised two hectares of suitable agricultural land each. According to documented community accounts, these promises were not honoured. The ADB's CSIADCP also included community development and livelihood commitments as part of the financing for park establishment.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The source used for information regarding the formation of Lore Lindu, lorelindu.info sub-page (page_id=5005), is inaccessible as of March 2026. Formation dates of constituent reserves are confirmed by Weber (n 13) and Mappatoba et al. (n 20). Ministerial Decree No 593/Kpts-II/1993 cited in Mappatoba et al. (n 20).

Sources:

  1. Mappatoba et al. (n 20).
  2. Tania Murray Li, The Will to Improve: Governmentality, Development, and the Practice of Politics (Duke University Press, 2007) 123–130.
  3. UNESCO, 'Lore Lindu' (Silk Roads Programme) (n 12). 
  4. Mappatoba et al. (n 20); Berdej (n 20) 61.
Short description of the alleged violations

I. FPIC DEFICIT AT PARK CREATION AND MANAGEMENT

As Indonesia modernised its governance of natural resources from the 1960s onwards, the Forestry Law converted customary land areas into state forest, categorising Indigenous peoples as occupiers rather than rights-holders. According to documentation by Mappatoba et al. and confirmed by the ADB's own project completion report, LLNP was established over the customary territories of the Kaili, Behoa, Bada, and Pekurehua peoples without their Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). The Department of Forestry has itself acknowledged that nearly all national parks in Indonesia face such conflicts arising from the absence of community consultation at the time of park creation.

II. THE KATU COMMUNITY (1980s–1999) — DISPLACEMENT AND LAND RIGHTS DENIAL

The Katu people, residing in the mountain regions of what would become LLNP, historically relied on subsistence agriculture, hunting, and gathering on their ancestral lands. When these lands were incorporated into LLNP in the 1980s — a process carried out without consultation or consent — conservation policies were imposed that restricted the community's access to essential forest resources and prohibited traditional land use practices, including hunting and gathering. According to documentation by the Sajogyo Institute and other sources, LLNP park guards and officials enforced these restrictions against the Katu, effectively displacing the community from their customary lands.

In response, the Katu community engaged in prolonged negotiations with the government and international stakeholders, including the Asian Development Bank (whose CSIADCP loan was linked to the park's establishment). These efforts, facilitated in part by local NGO Yayasan Tanah Merdeka (YTM), culminated in 1999 when the customary land rights of the Katu people over a significant portion of their ancestral territory within the park were formally recognised by the park authority. This recognition is documented as one of the few cases where a community successfully asserted its land rights vis-à-vis LLNP management, though it followed nearly two decades of unlawful exclusion.

III. DONGI-DONGI (mid-1970s to 2001 and onwards) — BROKEN PROMISES, EVICTION, AND DESTRUCTION OF HOMES

Dongi-Dongi falls within the customary territory of the Da'a and Kulawi peoples. The community's difficulties began with the government's 'Resettlement of Isolated Communities' programme, administered by the Department of Social Affairs (Depsos) from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. This programme was conducted in a top-down manner without meaningful community participation. Dongi-Dongi residents allege that Depsos never delivered the two hectares of suitable agricultural land promised to each family under the programme.

As a result of land shortage — compounded by the subsequent enforcement of LLNP boundaries that enclosed their territory — many Dongi-Dongi community members were reportedly forced to become wage labourers. According to research by Mappatoba et al., approximately 60 per cent of the population across four villages lacked sufficient land, forcing multiple generations to live together in severely overcrowded conditions.

After decades of neglect by authorities regarding their resettlement proposals, the Dongi-Dongi community began occupying LLNP territory in 2001, asserting their right to the lands from which they had been effectively dispossessed. In response to this occupation, LLNP park guards destroyed the makeshift houses built by the Dongi-Dongi villagers. This action led to further confrontation between villagers, park officials, and NGOs over the community's right to occupy the area. The community subsequently alleged a pattern of intimidation by park personnel. 

Ultimately, under pressure from NGOs, the Dongi-Dongi area was proposed as an enclave village within the park, representing a partial compromise between conservation enforcement and community land needs — though the underlying customary land rights were not formally recognised.

IV. ACCESS RESTRICTIONS AND PROHIBITION OF TRADITIONAL LAND USE (ongoing)

More broadly, the establishment and continued management of LLNP have resulted in the systematic restriction of traditional land use practices for the communities living in and around the park. According to multiple documented sources, these restrictions include the prohibition of subsistence hunting and gathering, the limitation of traditional agroforestry practices (particularly in core and utilisation zones), and the denial of access to areas of cultural and spiritual significance. The primary perpetrators of enforcement actions are LLNP park rangers (polisi kehutanan) and park authority personnel, with occasional involvement of police and military units in joint enforcement operations.

V. MOA COMMUNITY — ACCESS RESTRICTIONS AND LAND ENCLOSURE (documented 2024)

A March 2024 Mongabay report documented that when the boundaries of LLNP were drawn in the early 1990s, approximately 85 per cent of the Moa indigenous community's customary forest (hutan adat) was incorporated within the park without the community's consent. This introduced legal jeopardy for the exercise of all traditional land use within this large portion of the community's ancestral territory. Moa women have led efforts to negotiate access to their traditional forest areas, citing the lack of FPIC at the time of park establishment as the foundational rights violation.

Sources:

  1. Centre for Transdisciplinary and Sustainability Sciences (CTSS IPB), 'Hutan Lore Lindu di Bawah Kuasa Masyarakat Adat: Antara Kearifan Lokal dan Campur Tangan Negara' (18 March 2021) <https://ctss.ipb.ac.id/2021/03/18/hutan-lore-lindu-di-bawah-kuasa-masya…; accessed 27 March 2026; BenarNews, 'Customary law preserves forest in Lindu' (15 November 2023) <https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/lindu-customary-law-p…; accessed 27 March 2026; Mongabay, 'Sulawesi community regains access to forest on which it depends' (9 January 2015) <https://news.mongabay.com/2015/01/sulawesi-community-regains-access-to-…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. Sajogyo Institute, 'Kopi Adat dan Modal Teritorialisasi dan Identitas Adat di Taman Nasional Lore Lindu Sulawesi Tengah' <https://sajogyo-institute.org/kopi-adat-dan-modal-teritorialisasi-dan-i…; accessed 27 March 2026.

  3. Inside Indonesia, 'The Occupation of Dongi-Dongi' (edition 80, April–June 2005) <https://www.insideindonesia.org/editions/edition-8027/the-occupation-of…; accessed 27 March 2026.

  4. M Mappatoba et al., 'Exploring Nature Conservation Problems at Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia' (2017) 6(2) International Journal of Air and Water Pollution <https://ijair.org/administrator/components/com_jresearch/files/publicat…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  5. Down to Earth Indonesia, Forests, People and Rights (Special Report, June 2002) <https://www.downtoearth-indonesia.org/old-site/srf1.htm&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  6.  Down to Earth Indonesia, 'Land Claims at Lore Lindu Result in Deaths' <https://www.downtoearth-indonesia.org/story/land-claims-lore-lindu-resu…;
  7. Mappatoba et al. (n 33) 283.
  8. Mappatoba et al. (n 20).
  9. Mongabay Indonesia, 'Fenced in by Sulawesi National Park, Indigenous Women Make Forestry Breakout' (18 March 2024) <https://news.mongabay.com/2024/03/fenced-in-by-sulawesi-national-park-i…; accessed 27 March 2026.
Categories of Human Rights Violations
Rights to land, territory and natural resources including access to means of subsistence, adequate food and adequate housing
Right to Consultation and Free and Prior Informed Consent
Rights to self- identification and self- determination
Economic Rights
Social rights-including access to public services
Civil Rights
Cultural Rights
Before Violations Overlapping Extractive Activities or Industries in the Protected Area / Park / Reserve

Tourism: LLNP initiates and manages tourist sites and launches tour packages centred on its natural resources, endemic wildlife, and the cultural and historical significance of the megalithic sites (granite megaliths estimated at 3,000 BC–1,300 AD) in the Napu, Besoa and Bada valleys. Multiple travel agencies provide package tours to the park.

Illegal gold mining: As reported by The Jakarta Post in March 2016, approximately 1,000 illegal miners were reportedly conducting mining activities in a 4-hectare area within the Dongi-Dongi area of LLNP. These activities were blamed for significant environmental damage to the park. 

Sources:

  1. <https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/908317f8816540109c2cbfc5931034ec&gt;
  2. Ikhwan Ridwan, 'Illegal Gold Mining Blamed for Damage to National Park' The Jakarta Post (3 March 2016) <https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/03/illegal-gold-mining-blam…; accessed 27 March 2026. 
National Court Decisions

Indonesian Constitutional Court, Decision No 35/PUU-X/2012 (16 May 2013)

AMAN — together with two indigenous communities (the Kenegerian Kuntu community, Riau Province, and the Kasepuhan Cisitu community, Banten Province) — brought a petition for judicial review of Law No 41 of 1999 on Forestry. The petitioners argued that the law's classification of 'customary forests' as state forests was unconstitutional.

The Constitutional Court agreed and ruled that Article 1(6) of the Forestry Law — which classified customary forests as a category of state forest — was unconstitutional. The Court declared that customary forests (hutan adat) are forests located in indigenous territories and must no longer be considered state forests. This potentially opened the way for a major reallocation of forest lands back to the indigenous peoples who have long occupied and managed them.

Status of implementation: Implementation of this decision has been slow and contested. Following the ruling, the Ministry of Forestry issued Circular SE 1/Menhut-II/2013, which asserted ministerial control over the process of determining customary forest status and required local governments to enact regional regulations (Perda) before customary forests could be recognised — creating a complex, costly, and time-consuming process. Civil society organisations, including AMAN, have criticised this response as undermining the spirit of the ruling. As of March 2026, implementation at the level of communities surrounding LLNP remains incomplete; no formal customary forest recognition (hutan adat decree) has been identified for the specific indigenous territories within LLNP's boundaries, though the national programme for hutan adat recognition has proceeded in other areas of Indonesia.

Sources:

  1. Indonesian Constitutional Court, Decision No 35/PUU-X/2012 (16 May 2013) (Judicial Review of Law No 41/1999 on Forestry), brought by AMAN, Kenegerian Kuntu community and Kasepuhan Cisitu community <https://en.mkri.id/download/decision/pdf_Decision_35PUU-X2012.pdf&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. Down to Earth Indonesia, 'A Turning Point for Indonesia's Indigenous Peoples' (2013) <https://www.downtoearth-indonesia.org/story/turning-point-indonesia-s-i…; accessed 27 March 2026; Forest Peoples Programme, 'Constitutional Court Ruling Restores Indigenous Peoples' Rights to Their Customary Forests in Indonesia' (2013) <https://www.forestpeoples.org/en/topics/rights-land-natural-resources/n…; accessed 27 March 2026.
Other Relevant Non-Judiciary Decisions

No specific international or regional human rights decision specifically addressing the situation of communities at Lore Lindu National Park has been identified. The following decisions and processes address the broader failure of the Indonesian state to recognise and protect the rights of masyarakat adat in the forest zone, and are directly applicable to the documented violations at LLNP.

Universal Periodic Review (UPR):

During Indonesia's 2nd UPR cycle (2012), several States — including Norway, Nepal, Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Korea — recommended that Indonesia take measures to protect the rights of indigenous communities and adopt specific indigenous rights legislation. Indonesia supported only recommendations using the term 'traditional communities' and declined to support those referencing 'indigenous peoples'.

During the 3rd UPR cycle (2017), AMAN and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) submitted a stakeholder report documenting continued failure to implement Constitutional Court Decision No 35/PUU-X/2012, the stalling of the indigenous peoples bill (RUU Masyarakat Adat), and multiple instances of dispossession of masyarakat adat from their lands and forests — including in conservation areas.

During the 4th UPR cycle (2022), the UN Country Team noted with concern the continued absence of the Bill on Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Peoples' Rights (RUU Masyarakat Adat); the lack of legal recognition based on the principle of self-identification; and specific incidents including the passage of the Omnibus Law, which was criticised for narrowing community participation rights and failing to adequately protect indigenous peoples' interests. The UNCT called on the government to support the passage of specific indigenous rights legislation.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD):

In its Concluding Observations on Indonesia (CERD/C/IDN/CO/3, 2007), CERD called on the state to review its laws — in particular the Plantation Law No 18 of 2004 — to ensure they respect the rights of indigenous peoples to possess, develop, control, and use their communal lands, and to secure the possession and ownership rights of local communities before proceeding with major land conversion projects.

In April 2021, CERD issued an Early Warning and Urgent Action communication (CERD/EWUAP/103rd session/2021) in the context of the Kalimantan Border Oil Palm Megaproject, recalling that states parties must ensure that no decisions directly relating to the rights or interests of indigenous peoples are taken without their informed consent. CERD further urged Indonesia to respect the way in which indigenous peoples perceive and define themselves, and to amend domestic laws, regulations, and practices to ensure that concepts of national interest and economic development are not used to override indigenous peoples' rights.

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR):

In its 2014 Concluding Observations (E/C.12/IDN/CO/1, para 38), the CESCR expressed concern at the absence of an effective legal protection framework for the rights of Masyarakat Hukum Adat and urged Indonesia to expedite the adoption of the draft law on the rights of Masyarakat Hukum Adat, in line with UNDRIP principles.

Sources:

  1. CERD, Early Warning and Urgent Action communication, UN Doc CERD/EWUAP/103rd session/2021/MJ/CS/Ks (30 April 2021). See Forest Peoples Programme, 'UN CERD Formal Communication to the Government of Indonesia Requests Evidence of Safeguards to Protect the Rights of Indigenous Peoples' (27 May 2021) <https://www.forestpeoples.org/publications-resources/press-releases/art…; accessed 27 March 2026.

     

     

National Legislation Links

Law No 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems

Establishes the legal framework for conservation areas in Indonesia. Articles 32 and 33 demarcate core zones, utilisation zones, and other zones in national parks; core zones are strictly restricted to all human activity, including that of long-resident communities. This zoning system is the primary legal mechanism through which the rights and livelihoods of LLNP communities have been restricted without consent.

Law No 41 of 1999 on Forestry

Regulates forest management and divides forests into Conservation Forests, Protection Forests, and Production Forests. Before the 2013 Constitutional Court decision (see Field 17), Article 1(6) classified 'customary forests' as state forests, effectively denying Indigenous peoples ownership of their ancestral forest territories. The law empowers the Ministry of Forestry to determine and manage Indonesia's National Forest Estate (Kawasan Hutan).

Law No 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction

Strengthens law enforcement regarding forest destruction. However, its application has disproportionately affected forest-dependent communities living within park zones, as their subsistence activities can be characterised as 'destruction' under the law's broad definitions, while the statute provides insufficient protection against rights violations by conservation actors.

Law No 6 of 2014 on Villages

Expands village authority over local assets, natural resources, and administration, and provides annual discretionary village funding. While potentially beneficial, this law has not adequately addressed the situation of villages whose customary lands lie within the national park zone, as those communities remain subject to LLNP conservation restrictions.

Law No 6 of 2023 on the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No 2 of 2022 on Job Creation

Amended several provisions under Laws No 41/1999 and No 18/2013, including criminal provisions. The law prioritises administrative sanctions (rather than criminal prosecution) for small-scale forest activities by local communities — a potentially positive development for LLNP communities — but was criticised for failing to adequately protect indigenous land rights.

Government Regulation No 23 of 2021 on Forest Maintenance

Elaborates the regulatory framework for the classification of state-controlled forest lands and the harvesting, processing, and marketing of forest products. Grants the Ministry of Forestry far-reaching powers over timber extraction and forest use, further entrenching state control over forest territories claimed by Indigenous communities.

Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No 8 of 2021 on Forest Management Plans and Forest Use in Protected and Production Forests 

Regulates inventory procedures, long-term business plans (RKU), and annual working plans (RKT) for natural forest concession holders. The regulation reinforces ministerial control over forest planning without equivalent recognition of community customary governance.

Sources:

  1. Law No 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems (Indonesia) <https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ins3867.pdf&gt;.
  2. Law No 41 of 1999 on Forestry (Indonesia) <https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ins36649.pdf&gt;.
  3. Law No 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction (Indonesia) <https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Law-18-2013.pdf&gt;.
  4. Law No 6 of 2014 on Villages (Indonesia) <https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ins161827.pdf&gt;.
  5. Law No 6 of 2023 on the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No 2 of 2022 on Job Creation (Indonesia) <https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/246523/uu-no-6-tahun-2023&gt;.
  6. Government Regulation No 23 of 2021 on Forest Maintenance (Indonesia) <https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/161853/pp-no-23-tahun-2021&gt;.
  7. Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No 8 of 2021 on Forest Management Plans and Forest Use in Protected and Production Forests (Indonesia). <https://silk.menlhk.go.id/app/Upload/hukum/20210617/42007beb6c60cfffa45605794733cbc4.pdf> 
Latest Developments

February–March 2024 — Moa Women and Ngata Toro (Mongabay): Mongabay Indonesia reported that the Moa indigenous community — approximately 85 per cent of whose customary forest was incorporated into LLNP when the park was established in the 1990s — continues to face severe restrictions on traditional land use. Moa women have led sustained efforts to negotiate access to their traditional forest under a community-based framework grounded in customary law. The report also documented the Ngata Toro community's continuing practice of community-based conservation using traditional knowledge, with community members stating they would continue to manage their territories sustainably regardless of the park's formal restrictions.

September 2024 — AMAN Constitutional Lawsuit Against New Conservation Law: AMAN and allied civil society organisations filed a constitutional lawsuit at the Indonesian Constitutional Court challenging Indonesia's new conservation law. The lawsuit argues that the law fails to protect indigenous peoples' rights to their territories within conservation areas, and introduces a new category of 'preservation area' that could further restrict indigenous activities and increase the risk of eviction. As of March 2026, the lawsuit remains pending.

November 2024 — Forestry Minister Acknowledges Community Exclusion Unsustainable: During a parliamentary hearing in November 2024, Indonesia's Forestry Minister, Raja Juli Antoni, publicly acknowledged the unsustainability of excluding forest-dependent communities from forest resources. The Minister stated that 'protecting forests is important, but due to limitations of human resources and budget, it's not possible anymore to prevent people from entering the forests', and that poverty on the outskirts of forests cannot be addressed by exclusion. While this statement represents a potential shift in official policy, it has not yet been translated into concrete legal recognition of LLNP communities' customary land rights.

June 2025 — Government Enforcement Operations (Satgas PKH): The government's Task Force for Forest Zone Enforcement (Satgas Penertiban Kawasan Hutan, Satgas PKH) conducted operations within LLNP in Sigi and Poso districts in June 2025, placing information boards in areas of the park and conducting enforcement operations. These activities, documented on the BBTNLL official website, signal continued state attention to encroachment within the park. They have not been accompanied by any formal recognition of customary land rights for LLNP communities.

Ongoing — RUU Masyarakat Adat Stalled: The Bill on Recognition and Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (RUU Masyarakat Adat) — the passage of which has been repeatedly recommended by Komnas HAM, AMAN, UPR peer states, and UN treaty bodies — remained unadopted by Indonesia's parliament as of March 2026. Its continued absence leaves the communities surrounding LLNP without a legal framework adequate to secure their rights against conservation-related dispossession, encroachment restrictions, or future park management decisions.

Sources:

  1. Mongabay Indonesia, 'Fenced in by Sulawesi National Park, Indigenous Women Make Forestry Breakout' (18 March 2024) (n 38).
  2. Mongabay, 'Indonesia's Indigenous Communities Sidelined from Conservation' (December 2024) <https://news.mongabay.com/2024/12/indonesias-indigenous-communities-sid…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  3. (n 61) (reporting Minister Raja Juli Antoni's statement at parliamentary hearing, November 2024).
  4. Balai Besar Taman Nasional Lore Lindu (BBTNLL), 'Aksi Nyata Pemasangan Papan Informasi di Kawasan Hutan TNLL' (25 June 2025) <http://lorelindu.info/&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  5. UNCT submission (n 50); (n 61). The Bill on Recognition and Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (RUU Masyarakat Adat) has been on parliament's legislative programme since 2009 and remained unadopted as of March 2026.
Sources

Primary and Official Sources

  1. Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Official Website <https://aman.or.id/&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Profile of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (English, 2021) <https://aman.or.id/files/organization-document/24605AMAN%20Profile%20-%…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  3. Asian Development Bank, Project Completion Report: Central Sulawesi Integrated Area Development and Conservation Project (Loan 1605-INO) <https://www.adb.org/documents/indonesia-central-sulawesi-integrated-are…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  4. Balai Besar Taman Nasional Lore Lindu (BBTNLL), Official Website <http://lorelindu.info/&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  5. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Concluding Observations: Indonesia, UN Doc CERD/C/IDN/CO/3 (15 August 2007).
  6. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of Indonesia, UN Doc E/C.12/IDN/CO/1 (19 June 2014).
  7. Indonesian Constitutional Court, Decision No 35/PUU-X/2012 (16 May 2013) <https://en.mkri.id/download/decision/pdf_Decision_35PUU-X2012.pdf&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  8. Law No 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems (Indonesia) <https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ins3867.pdf&gt;.
  9. Law No 41 of 1999 on Forestry (Indonesia) <https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ins36649.pdf&gt;.
  10. Law No 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction (Indonesia) <https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Law-18-2013.pdf&gt;.
  11. Law No 6 of 2014 on Villages (Indonesia) <https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ins161827.pdf&gt;.
  12. Law No 6 of 2023 on the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No 2 of 2022 on Job Creation (Indonesia) <https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/246523/uu-no-6-tahun-2023&gt;.
  13. Government Regulation No 23 of 2021 on Forest Maintenance (Indonesia) <https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/161853/pp-no-23-tahun-2021&gt;.
  14. Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve, 'About' <https://www.lorelindu-br.org/about&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  15. UNESCO, Lore Lindu (Man and the Biosphere Programme) <https://www.unesco.org/en/mab/lore-lindu&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  16. UNESCO, 'Lore Lindu' (Silk Roads Programme) <https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/silk-road-themes/biosphere-reserve/lore-…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  17. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Megalithic Cultural Heritage of Lore Lindu Area (Tentative List) <https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6826/&gt; accessed 27 March 2026.
  18. United Nations Development Programme, GEF Small Grants Programme Indonesia, 'Community Based Conservation Efforts on Moonson Forest in Lore Lindu National Park' <https://sgp.undp.org/spacial-itemid-projects-landing-page/spacial-itemi…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  19. UN-REDD Programme, Brosur FPIC: Model Penyelenggaraan Persetujuan Atas Dasar Informasi di Awal Tanpa Paksaan (FPIC) (October 2021) <https://www.un-redd.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Brosur_FPIC_Model_P…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  20. UN-REDD Programme, Free, Prior and Informed Consent for REDD+ in the Asia-Pacific Region: Lessons Learned (September 2021) <https://www.un-redd.org/sites/default/files/2021-09/FPIC%20Lessons%20Le…; accessed 27 March 2026.

UPR Submissions and Outcomes

  1. Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN) and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), The Situation of Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Indonesia (UPR 3rd Cycle submission, 2016) <https://www.aman.or.id/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/INDONESIA_AMAN_AIPP_U…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. UN Country Team Indonesia, Fourth Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia — 14th Session November 2022 (UNCT submission) <https://upr-info.org/sites/default/files/country-document/2022-10/Indon…; accessed 27 March 2026.

Academic Literature

  1. Marhawati Mappatoba et al., 'Acknowledgement of the Customary Land Right for Indigenous People Surrounding the Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia' (2017) 4(5) International Journal of Innovation and Research in Educational Sciences <https://www.ijires.org/administrator/components/com_jresearch/files/pub…;.
  2. Marhawati Mappatoba et al., 'Exploring Nature Conservation Problems at Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia' (2017) 6(2) International Journal of Air and Water Pollution <https://ijair.org/administrator/components/com_jresearch/files/publicat…;.
  3. Samantha M Berdej, Agreements on Conservation in Lore Lindu National Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia (MES thesis, Wilfrid Laurier University 2011) <https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item?id=MR81525&op=pdf&app=Library&is_th…;.
  4. Tania Murray Li, The Will to Improve: Governmentality, Development, and the Practice of Politics (Duke University Press, 2007).
  5. Christina Seeberg-Elverfeldt, Stefan Schwarze and Manfred Zeller, 'Carbon Finance Schemes — Incentives for Forest and Agroforestry Systems' (2008) 3 Nature Precedings <https://doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2504.1&gt;.
  6. Christina Seeberg-Elverfeldt, Stefan Schwarze and Manfred Zeller, 'Payments for Environmental Services — Carbon Finance Options for Smallholders' Agroforestry in Indonesia' (2009) 3 International Journal of the Commons 108 <https://doi.org/10.18352/ijc.96&gt;.
  7. Yance Arizona, Siti Rakhma Mary Herwati and Erasmus Cahyadi, 'The Role of Indigeneity NGOs in the Legal Recognition of Adat Communities and Customary Forests in Indonesia' (2019) 20(5) Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology 487 <https://doi.org/10.1080/14442213.2019.1670241&gt;.

NGO Reports and News Sources

  1. Asia Pacific Forum, 'Indonesia: Commission Inquires into Indigenous Peoples' Land Disputes' (2014) <https://www.asiapacificforum.net/news/indonesia-commission-inquires-ind…;.
  2. BenarNews, 'Customary law preserves forest in Lindu' (15 November 2023) <https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/lindu-customary-law-p…;.
  3. Centre for Transdisciplinary and Sustainability Sciences (CTSS IPB), 'Hutan Lore Lindu di Bawah Kuasa Masyarakat Adat: Antara Kearifan Lokal dan Campur Tangan Negara' (18 March 2021) <https://ctss.ipb.ac.id/2021/03/18/hutan-lore-lindu-di-bawah-kuasa-masya…;.
  4. Down to Earth Indonesia, Forests, People and Rights (Special Report, June 2002) <https://www.downtoearth-indonesia.org/old-site/srf1.htm&gt;.
  5. Down to Earth Indonesia, 'A Turning Point for Indonesia's Indigenous Peoples' (2013) <https://www.downtoearth-indonesia.org/story/turning-point-indonesia-s-i…;.
  6. Down to Earth Indonesia, 'Land Claims at Lore Lindu Result in Deaths' <https://www.downtoearth-indonesia.org/story/land-claims-lore-lindu-resu…;
  7. Forest Peoples Programme, 'Constitutional Court Ruling Restores Indigenous Peoples' Rights to Their Customary Forests in Indonesia' (2013) <https://www.forestpeoples.org/en/topics/rights-land-natural-resources/n…;.
  8. Forest Peoples Programme, 'UN CERD Formal Communication to the Government of Indonesia' (27 May 2021) <https://www.forestpeoples.org/publications-resources/press-releases/art…;.
  9. Inside Indonesia, 'The Occupation of Dongi-Dongi' (edition 80, April–June 2005) <https://www.insideindonesia.org/editions/edition-8027/the-occupation-of…;.
  10. Mongabay, 'Sulawesi community regains access to forest on which it depends' (9 January 2015) <https://news.mongabay.com/2015/01/sulawesi-community-regains-access-to-…;.
  11. Mongabay Indonesia, 'Fenced in by Sulawesi National Park, Indigenous Women Make Forestry Breakout' (18 March 2024) <https://news.mongabay.com/2024/03/fenced-in-by-sulawesi-national-park-i…;.
  12. Mongabay, 'Indonesia's Indigenous Communities Sidelined from Conservation' (December 2024) <https://news.mongabay.com/2024/12/indonesias-indigenous-communities-sid…;.
  13. Rights and Resources Initiative, 'RRI Coalition Supports Nation-Wide Inquiry into Abuse of Indigenous Peoples' Land Rights in Indonesia' (2014) <https://rightsandresources.org/blog/rri-coalition-supports-nation-wide-…;.
  14. Rights and Resources Initiative, 'Landmark Report Investigates Human Rights Abuses Suffered by Indigenous Communities' (2015) <https://rightsandresources.org/blog/landmark-report-investigates-human-…;.
  15. Sajogyo Institute, 'Kopi Adat dan Modal Teritorialisasi dan Identitas Adat di Taman Nasional Lore Lindu Sulawesi Tengah' <https://sajogyo-institute.org/kopi-adat-dan-modal-teritorialisasi-dan-i…;.
  16. The Jakarta Post, 'Illegal Gold Mining Blamed for Damage to National Park' (3 March 2016) <https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/03/illegal-gold-mining-blam…;.

The Nature Conservancy, Indonesia <https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/asia-pacific/indone…;.

Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program, Protected Area Specialist — EPASS Project (Procurement Notice, 2025) <https://indonesia.wcs.org/en-us/About-Us/Procurement-Notice/ID/22840/Pr…;.

State Non-Judicial Grievance Redress Mechanisms

Komnas HAM National Inquiry on Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Forest Areas (2014–2015):

The Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) conducted a landmark National Inquiry on the Rights of Customary Law-Abiding Communities Over Their Land in Forest Areas. The first public hearings of this inquiry — the first of their kind in Indonesia — were held on 27 August 2014 in Palu, Central Sulawesi, where six community groups presented their cases, making Central Sulawesi the opening location for the national process.

The inquiry was organised in partnership with AMAN and land rights organisation HuMa, and supported by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). It examined 40 cases of land conflict across Indonesia in forested areas. Komnas HAM travelled to seven provinces to hear cases, covering conflicts arising from palm oil plantations, mining claims, and national park establishment.

The Komnas HAM Inquiry report, released in March 2015, found that communities involved in land disputes in forest areas experienced displacement, intimidation, violence, and the takeover of traditional forests. Key findings included: the lack of legal certainty in recognition of indigenous territories; the absence of standard police guidelines for handling natural resource conflicts; and a state development agenda strongly biased towards protecting corporations and conservation interests over community rights. Policy recommendations included the passage of the Law on Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Peoples' Rights and the establishment of an independent Task Force on Indigenous Peoples.

No specific LLNP case has been identified in the public record of the Komnas HAM inquiry, though the Central Sulawesi hearings in Palu addressed conflicts in the wider region and may have included LLNP-related matters. Further research is required.

ADB Accountability Mechanism:

The Asian Development Bank's Accountability Mechanism (established 2003) provides an independent forum for people affected by ADB-assisted projects to raise concerns about ADB's failure to follow its operational policies. The mechanism is available to communities affected by the CSIADCP (Loan 1605-INO). No evidence has been found that any complaint relating to CSIADCP was registered with the ADB Accountability Mechanism.

Sources:

  1. Asia Pacific Forum, 'Indonesia: Commission Inquires into Indigenous Peoples' Land Disputes' (2014) <https://www.asiapacificforum.net/news/indonesia-commission-inquires-ind…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. Rights and Resources Initiative, 'RRI Coalition Supports Nation-Wide Inquiry into Abuse of Indigenous Peoples' Land Rights in Indonesia' (2014) <https://rightsandresources.org/blog/rri-coalition-supports-nation-wide-…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  3. Rights and Resources Initiative, 'Landmark Report Investigates Human Rights Abuses Suffered by Indigenous Communities Affected by Land Conflicts in Indonesia' (2015) <https://rightsandresources.org/blog/landmark-report-investigates-human-…; accessed 27 March 2026.
Non-State Actors Grievance Redress Mechanisms

ADB Accountability Mechanism: Available to communities affected by the CSIADCP. The mechanism operates through two functions: problem-solving (led by the Special Project Facilitator) and compliance review (Compliance Review Panel). No complaint relating to CSIADCP or LLNP communities has been identified in the ADB Accountability Mechanism's public Complaints Registry as of March 2026.

IUCN Grievance Mechanism for Protected Area Governance: The IUCN Grievance Mechanism exists to address concerns about IUCN-related governance of protected areas. No complaint filed specifically concerning LLNP governance has been identified in the public record.

TNC and WCS Internal GRMs: The Nature Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Society maintain internal accountability mechanisms for their project activities. No evidence of complaints filed against either organisation in relation to their LLNP activities has been identified.

Sources:

  1. Asian Development Bank, About the Accountability Mechanism <https://www.adb.org/who-we-are/accountability-mechanism/overview&gt; accessed 27 March 2026. 
Community/Indigenous Based Grievance Redress Mechanisms

The communities surrounding LLNP maintain functioning customary governance institutions (lembaga adat) that have historically regulated access to forest resources, managed land use disputes, and served as the primary source of social order for masyarakat adat groups in the area. These institutions operate in parallel with the formal park management system and, in some communities, have developed working arrangements with the park authority.

In Toro village, the customary institution (lembaga adat) has played a documented role in regulating forest use through a system of community forest zones — designating areas for conservation, limited use, and production respectively. The Toro community negotiated a community conservation agreement (CCA) with the LLNP park authority, formalising this arrangement, which has been cited as a model of community-based co-management at LLNP.

At Lake Lindu, BenarNews reported in November 2023 that the Lindu customary community continues to use traditional law (hukum adat) to preserve the surrounding forest. Customary prohibitions on certain forest uses, enforced by community leaders through traditional governance structures, have contributed to documented forest conservation outcomes — demonstrating the effectiveness of community-based governance in the absence of adequate formal protection of their rights.

Local NGOs, including Yayasan Tanah Merdeka (YTM) and LPA Awam Green, have facilitated dialogue between communities and park authorities, and have supported communities in formalising customary governance arrangements, mapping customary territories, and asserting their rights in negotiations with the state. YTM in particular has documented the role of the Lindu and Katu communities' customary institutions in resisting land dispossession.

Sources:

  1. BenarNews, 'Customary law preserves forest in Lindu' (15 November 2023) <https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/lindu-customary-law-p…; accessed 27 March 2026.
  2. Yance Arizona, Siti Rakhma Mary Herwati and Erasmus Cahyadi, 'The Role of Indigeneity NGOs in the Legal Recognition of Adat Communities and Customary Forests in Indonesia' (2019) 20(5) Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology 487 <https://doi.org/10.1080/14442213.2019.1670241&gt; (referencing YTM's role in LLNP community negotiations and Katu case).