At the end of December 2016, President Jokowi has declared 13,100 hectares customary forest of Indigenous Peoples, as a form of state recognition of forest management by indigenous community. West Sumatera Province is one of the provinces that have a local policy on Nagari and the recognition of communal right. These two policies serve as a pillar for the process of establishing indigenous people customary law and their rights. In the midst of many challenges faced, whether in the strengthening of regulations and in the implementation in the field, the recognition of customary forests as mandated by the Constitution and the Constitutional Court 35 should find the right space and momentum for the realization of forest recognition. However, CSOs who are members of Pokja Timbalun assess the commitment of Jokowi's government regarding the recognition of customary forest is still far from expectations. Together with Malalo Tigo Jurai Customary Law Community and local government of Tanah Datar Regency, Pokja Timbalun consisting of WALHI West Sumatra, Qbar Society (Perkumpulan Qbar), LBH Padang and FKMM organized Parimbo festival.

The Parimbo Festival is a medium for indigenous peoples in West Sumatra in encouraging the acceleration of recognition of indigenous people of Tanah Datar and Mentawai for the determination of customary forests and their customary territories, and an integral part of efforts to resolve natural resource-based conflicts based on local wisdom. This festival is also a momentum to further strengthen the synergy between community, government, and NGOs to expand access to manage and access to community living space in managing natural resources. In addition to public discussions discussing customary forest policies and resolution of natural resource conflicts, the festival also features innovations in the utilization of non-timber forest products and other forest potentials as well as various Minangkabau and Mentawai art and culture that are strongly related to local wisdom values in preserving and managing the forest. The long journey of conflict resolution of natural resources and the struggle of Tapan-Lunang indigenous community to agree on the rescue of joint management area from the threat of the expansions of oil palm plantation and mining is told in the film of “Hutan Terakhir” and “Cabiak”. http://www.wp_walhi.local/2017/06/05/pernyataan-sikap-pokja-timbalun-festival-parimbo/