Integrating Indigenous Governance into Nature-Based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity Resilience

Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

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Abstract

The accelerating climate crisis underscores the limitations of state-centric and technocratic approaches to environmental governance. Although Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly promoted as strategies for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation, prevailing frameworks often neglect Indigenous governance systems that have long sustained ecosystems through customary law, ecological knowledge, and cultural values. This article positions Indigenous governance as a pivotal dimension of NbS, emphasizing its capacity to integrate ecological stewardship with social justice and intergenerational equity. Drawing on the case of the Ammatoa Kajang community in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, the study illustrates how Indigenous forest classifications and customary norms safeguard ecological balance while reinforcing cultural resilience. Employing a mixed-methods approach, combining ethnography, geospatial analysis, and reflective narrative. The research demonstrates that Indigenous-led governance provides legitimacy and inclusivity frequently absent in state-driven conservation initiatives. The findings highlight the importance of legal pluralism and co-management models that recognize Indigenous rights, thereby advancing NbS that are ecologically robust, socially just, and culturally sustainable.