Jakarta, Nov. 17 -- Indonesia's Forestry Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the recognition of customary forests and expanding inclusive financing schemes for indigenous communities, a ministry official said Monday.

Silverius Oscar Unggul, a senior advisor at the ministry, said a Special Task Force for Customary Forest Recognition has been established to ensure faster progress. The body includes NGOs, academics, community representatives and government officials.

He said the task force was formed with gender balance and nationwide representation in mind, according to an official statement.

Unggul delivered his remarks during the "Forest Solutions: Action for Forests and Direct Access to Finance for Indigenous People...