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When Seruyan District in Central Kalimantan committed to the jurisdictional certification process, it did so with a heavy burden of inherited problems. The district leadership had to confront a legacy of oil palm plantation licenses issued by previous administrations, most of them dating back to the 2007 period. Many of today’s social conflicts can be traced to these permits, which were often granted without proper consideration of community rights or environmental safeguards.

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Plantation companies were expected to manage their own relationships with local communities. In practice, however, communities were ill-equipped to negotiate with large companies, while many companies lacked both the capacity and the will to engage meaningfully. This mismatch created deep imbalances and left a trail of unresolved conflicts.

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Despite these challenges, Seruyan’s decision to embark on the jurisdictional certification journey was a bold signal: the district was ready to tackle the problem head-on. What Seruyan lacked in formal guidance on applying social principles to commodity production, it made up for with strong political will. Local leaders recognized that the high number of land and social conflicts was an obstacle to sustainable development. With little precedent to follow, they turned to best practices at the national and international levels, beginning with a thorough assessment of recorded conflicts.

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From there, Seruyan launched a range of initiatives designed to protect customary rights and prevent further disputes. A multi-stakeholder platform was established, bringing together representatives of oil palm producers, NGOs, and the district government. Several non-profit organizations were part of the working group, including CNV-International, HCVN, SPKS, and the Forest Peoples Programme (FPP). FPP served as a member from 2017 to 2020. Since then, its role has been continued by its Indonesian partner, Yayasan Masyarakat Kehutanan Lestari (YMKL).

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The multi-stakeholder platform has since convened regularly, producing significant results. Among its achievements are clear procedures for handling complaints, detailed guidelines for managing plantation conflicts, the creation of a cross-sectoral unit to manage conflict data, and a team dedicated to identifying community land claims within state forests. An online platform has also been built to register and track conflicts, providing greater transparency.

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These initiatives were reinforced by several key legal instruments, including Head of District Regulation No. 11/2021 on conflict complaint procedures, Regulation No. 48/2022 on guidelines for managing palm oil plantation conflicts, and District Decree No. 188.45/190/2023 establishing an Integrated Conflict Team and Secretariat. Together, these steps positioned Seruyan as a pioneer in district-level governance reform for sustainable commodity production.

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Yet progress has not come without setbacks. In October 2023, a protest in Bangkal Village escalated into violence and resulted in a casualty. Critics quickly pointed to the failure of Seruyan’s conflict-resolution system. The district government was blamed, often unfairly, without recognition of the efforts already underway. The Bangkal incident revealed an important truth: issuing regulations and building systems, while necessary, are not sufficient. True progress requires meaningful participation of local communities.

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Recognizing this, Seruyan launched *Gawi Bapakat* in December 2022. More than just a program, Gawi Bapakat is a community movement aimed at ensuring that villagers are active participants in the sustainability journey. One of its conditions for providing incentives is the establishment of paralegal teams at the village level. These paralegals are tasked with documenting conflicts, supporting mediation, and ensuring communities have a voice in negotiations. To date, 52 villages have issued decrees to formally establish such teams, giving grassroots actors a stronger role in conflict resolution.

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In 2025, these efforts were institutionalized further with the establishment of LBH Hatantiring, Seruyan’s district-level legal aid organization. LBH Hatantiring now serves as the institutional home for village paralegals, providing legal training, protection, and capacity building. It also strengthens partnerships with multiple stakeholders, ensuring that paralegals are recognized as legitimate actors within the Gawi Bapakat framework. Importantly, LBH Hatantiring provides access to state and district legal aid funds, securing the sustainability of paralegal activities into the future.

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Preventing future conflicts requires more than reactive measures. All new development activities in Seruyan are now expected to follow the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), particularly in relation to indigenous communities whose rights have too often been overlooked. Clarity of land rights and respect for customary claims are now seen as essential safeguards against conflict.

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The district has also broadened its agenda beyond land disputes. A sub-working group was created to address social issues more holistically, including labor rights, women’s empowerment, and community development. This expansion reflects a growing understanding that sustainability must encompass the full spectrum of social justice, not just the resolution of land conflicts.

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Seruyan’s journey toward jurisdictional certification is far from simple. The path has been marked by inherited problems, painful setbacks, and constant negotiation among competing interests. But it has also demonstrated the value of political will, community participation, and institutional innovation.

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From regulatory frameworks and online platforms to paralegal networks and legal aid institutions, Seruyan has taken significant steps toward creating a more accountable and inclusive governance system for its palm oil sector.

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The lessons are clear. Regulations provide the foundation, but communities must be empowered to participate meaningfully. Multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential, but it must be backed by real capacity at the village level. And while setbacks are inevitable, they need not derail the process if there is a sustained commitment to learning and adaptation.

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In Seruyan, jurisdictional certification is more than a technical process—it is a social contract, a promise that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated, and that sustainability will be built on justice, participation, and respect for rights.

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Ketika Kabupaten Seruyan di Kalimantan Tengah memutuskan untuk menjalani proses sertifikasi yurisdiksi, mereka membawa beban masalah masa lalu. Pemerintah daerah harus menghadapi warisan izin perkebunan sawit yang dikeluarkan sejak 2007 oleh pemerintahan sebelumnya. Banyak konflik sosial yang terjadi saat ini dapat ditelusuri ke izin-izin tersebut, yang sering diberikan tanpa memperhatikan hak masyarakat maupun perlindungan lingkungan.

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Dalam praktiknya, perusahaan perkebunan dituntut untuk mengurus hubungan dengan masyarakat sendiri. Namun, masyarakat sering kali tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk bernegosiasi dengan perusahaan besar, sementara banyak perusahaan juga tidak memiliki kapasitas atau kemauan untuk benar-benar terlibat. Ketidak-seimbangan ini meninggalkan banyak konflik yang tidak terselesaikan.

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Meski tantangannya berat, langkah Seruyan memulai perjalanan sertifikasi yurisdiksi menunjukkan keberanian. Meski belum ada panduan resmi bagaimana prinsip sosial diterapkan dalam produksi komoditas, Seruyan mengandalkan kemauan politik yang kuat. Para pemimpin lokal menyadari bahwa banyaknya konflik lahan dan sosial menjadi penghalang pembangunan berkelanjutan. Tanpa banyak contoh yang bisa ditiru, mereka belajar dari praktik terbaik di tingkat nasional dan internasional, dimulai dengan pemetaan konflik yang telah tercatat.

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Dari sana, Seruyan meluncurkan berbagai inisiatif untuk melindungi hak-hak masyarakat adat dan mencegah konflik baru. Sebuah platform multipihak dibentuk, yang mempertemukan perwakilan dari produsen kelapa sawit, LSM, dan pemerintah kabupaten. Sejumlah organisasi nirlaba juga terlibat dalam kelompok kerja ini, termasuk CNV-International, HCVN, SPKS, dan Forest Peoples Programme (FPP). FPP menjadi anggota sejak 2017 hingga 2020. Sejak saat itu, perannya dilanjutkan oleh mitra Indonesianya, Yayasan Masyarakat Kehutanan Lestari (YMKL).

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Platform multipihak ini secara rutin berkumpul dan menghasilkan banyak capaian. Di antaranya adalah prosedur yang jelas untuk penanganan aduan, panduan detail penyelesaian konflik perkebunan, pembentukan unit lintas-sektor untuk mengelola data konflik, serta tim yang bertugas mengidentifikasi klaim lahan masyarakat dalam kawasan hutan. Bahkan, sebuah sistem daring dibangun untuk mendaftarkan dan memantau konflik agar lebih transparan.

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Upaya ini diperkuat dengan payung hukum, seperti Peraturan Bupati No. 11/2021 tentang tata cara pengaduan konflik, Peraturan No. 48/2022 tentang pedoman penanganan konflik perkebunan sawit, dan Surat Keputusan Bupati No. 188.45/190/2023 tentang pembentukan Tim Terpadu Konflik dan Sekretariatnya. Langkah-langkah ini menjadikan Seruyan sebagai pelopor reformasi tata kelola di tingkat kabupaten untuk produksi komoditas berkelanjutan.

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Namun, perjalanan ini tidak selalu mulus. Pada Oktober 2023, protes di Desa Bangkal berujung bentrokan dan menelan korban jiwa. Banyak pihak langsung menyalahkan pemerintah kabupaten tanpa melihat upaya yang sudah dilakukan. Peristiwa ini mengingatkan kita bahwa regulasi dan sistem saja tidak cukup. Partisipasi nyata dari masyarakat adalah kunci.

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Menyadari hal itu, Seruyan meluncurkan Gawi Bapakat pada Desember 2022. Bukan sekadar program, Gawi Bapakat adalah gerakan bersama agar masyarakat menjadi bagian aktif dari perjalanan keberlanjutan. Salah satu syarat pemberian insentif adalah pembentukan tim paralegal di tingkat desa. Mereka bertugas mendokumentasikan konflik, mendukung mediasi, dan memastikan suara warga terdengar. Hingga kini, 52 desa sudah menerbitkan SK pembentukan tim paralegal, memberi peran lebih kuat bagi masyarakat akar rumput dalam penyelesaian konflik.

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Tahun 2025, upaya ini semakin diperkuat dengan berdirinya LBH Hatantiring, lembaga bantuan hukum di tingkat kabupaten. LBH ini menjadi rumah bagi para paralegal desa, menyediakan pelatihan hukum, perlindungan, serta peningkatan kapasitas. Selain itu, lembaga ini membuka akses pada dana bantuan hukum negara dan kabupaten, sehingga menjamin keberlanjutan peran paralegal ke depan.

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Pencegahan konflik baru juga kini lebih diprioritaskan. Setiap kegiatan pembangunan di Seruyan wajib mengikuti prinsip Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), khususnya terkait masyarakat adat yang selama ini sering terabaikan haknya. Kejelasan hak lahan dan pengakuan klaim adat dipandang sebagai benteng utama mencegah konflik.

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Agenda Seruyan juga semakin luas. Sebuah sub-kelompok kerja dibentuk untuk menangani isu sosial secara menyeluruh, mulai dari hak buruh, pemberdayaan perempuan, hingga pembangunan masyarakat. Langkah ini menunjukkan kesadaran bahwa keberlanjutan harus meliputi keadilan sosial, bukan hanya soal penyelesaian konflik lahan.

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Perjalanan sertifikasi yurisdiksi di Seruyan memang tidak mudah. Ada warisan masalah, kegagalan, dan tarik-menarik kepentingan. Tetapi perjalanan ini juga memperlihatkan nilai dari kemauan politik, partisipasi masyarakat, dan inovasi kelembagaan. Dari regulasi hingga platform daring, dari jaringan paralegal hingga lembaga bantuan hukum, Seruyan telah melangkah maju menuju tata kelola yang lebih transparan dan inklusif.

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Pelajaran yang bisa diambil jelas: regulasi penting, tapi masyarakat harus benar-benar diberdayakan. Kolaborasi multipihak dibutuhkan, tapi harus ditopang kapasitas nyata di tingkat desa. Setiap kemunduran harus dilihat sebagai kesempatan belajar, bukan alasan untuk berhenti.

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Di Seruyan, sertifikasi yurisdiksi bukan sekadar proses teknis. Ia adalah kontrak sosial—janji bahwa kesalahan masa lalu tidak akan diulang, dan bahwa keberlanjutan hanya bisa terwujud dengan keadilan, partisipasi, serta penghormatan terhadap hak-hak masyarakat.