Aceh Has a carbon-absorbing forest

No Infrastructure Projects in TNGL

Banda Aceh - Aceh Deputy Governor Nova Iriansyah asserted that there are no infrastructure projects currently under construction by the Aceh Government in Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL).

The statement was conveyed by the Vice Governor, upon receiving a visit from policyholders of Tropical Rainforest Heritage from Rees Monitoring Mission (RMM) of Unesco's International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUCN) team and a team from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, in the conference room Meuligoe Vice Governor of Aceh, Friday (6/4/2018) morning.

"In accordance with the Aceh Regional Spatial Plan, there is no Aceh infrastructure development within the Gunung Leuser National Park area. There is no systemic effort by the Aceh Government to damage the TNGL and Leuser Ecosystem Area. Please IUCN Unesco RMM Team take a closer look, "said Vice Governor.

The vice governor even mentioned the geothermal development plan in the Gayo Lues area that has been busy discussing, "I can confirm that the plan has been canceled, I have spoken with the Governor, but geothermal in Jaboy, Seulawah and Burni Telong are still running."

Nova hopes today's meeting can formulate a good decision, especially in restoring the status of Tropical Reinforest Heritage Sumatra, which is currently categorized as a natural heritage in a state of danger.

"As the Head of Aceh Government, I certainly welcome the enthusiasm of this meeting, considering that TNGL is Tropical Reinforest Heritage Sumatera which has received recognition from UNESCO as World Natural Heritage. Hopefully through this meeting, conservation efforts can be improved, so that TNGL is no longer categorized as a natural heritage in danger or World Heritage in Dangered, "added Vice Governor.

On the occasion, the Vice Governor also urged the international community to continue to commit to preserve Leuser. Moreover, the international community is expected to give special attention to the people who in their daily activities are in direct contact with KEL and TNGL.

"The sustainability of KEL and TNGL is very important, but the sustainability of the community whose activities have been in direct contact with the region must also get serious attention from all parties," Nova added.

Azhari, as Head of Aceh Development Planning Board who also attended the meeting revealed, there is no road built by the Government of Aceh in the area of ​​TNGL.

"There is no road construction, there is an increase in roads that have long existed and used by the community. From the rocky dirt road, we upgrade to asphalt. The improvement in the way we are doing is to open access for people who have been isolated because of the poor quality of roads, so that their agricultural products that have economic potential can be well channeled, "he said.

Meanwhile, Assistant Deputy Cultural Heritage of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Pamuji Lestari, explained that the team will be active in several national parks in Sumatra for 12 days. Pamuji Lestari, quoted the Minister of PMK's message, said that the world heritage in Indonesia can be used as a potential.

"It is true that funds are spent on maintenance, but the national park should also be encouraged to be economic potential for the surrounding community, especially driving the tourism sector."

While Peter Howard from RMM IUCN Unesco said Tropical Reinforest Heritage Sumatra is one of 240 world heritage set by Unesco.

Since being designated as TRHS, the region continues to regress so that Unesco sets it in jeopardy. This impacts on the necessity of the government of Indonesia to conduct activities related to the repair of such damage.

"Five years ago RMM has also come to identify the problem and look for solutions to the problem. Now after 5 years running we will see how the improvement process of the recommendation is done, "said Peter.

"We will see if the targets we set 5 years ago are still realistic to achieve or should be changed. The team is ready to help if the target has not been reached, we are ready to ask the help of the international community to come and help, "said Peter again.

Leuser Ecosystem Area

To be known, based on the Decree of the Minister of Forestry Number 190 / KPTS-II / 2000, the area of ​​KEL reaches 2,255,577 hectares, divided into 26.72 percent of the National Park, 1.7 percent of Taman Buru area, 4 species of Animal Sanctuary, 54 percent, Protection Forest 41.75 percent, Production Forest 11.24 percent, and Other Use Areas (APL) covering 14.46 percent.
KEL is a tropical forest area that has a large role as a reservoir of water, microclimate, and carbon sink. At least 105 species of mammals, 382 bird species, and 95 species of reptiles and amphibians live in the region.

"KEL is the last place in Southeast Asia that has the size and quality to preserve the population of endangered species. Law Number 11 Year 2006 regarding the Government of Aceh affirms that the management of KEL is the responsibility of the Government of Aceh. However, the authority of Aceh is limited to protected forest areas and production forests, "Nova continued.

While TNGL, its management is under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry through the Center of Gunung Leuser National Park. TNGL should be clear of any activities that interfere with conservation activities.

"If there is an issue saying there will be road construction and power generation in the TNGL region, that is simply not true. Through the Aceh Green program, the Government of Aceh in 2017-2022 period again made the conservation of KEL as one of the priorities, as part of Aceh development with environmentally sensitive and sensitive disaster, "said Nova.

As is known, in order to prevent deforestation and forest degradation, the Aceh Government has established several strategic policies, among which 2,000 people are hired to secure forest contracts (Pamhut), which are responsible for maintaining the sustainability of KEL.

"Currently the number of Pamhut recruited by the Government of Aceh in 2007/2008 only left as many as 1,800 people. Some others have resigned after getting another job, "Nova said

Not only recruited Pamhut, through the Governor's Instruction No. 5 of 2007 on Logging Moratorium, the Aceh Government banned all logging activities in state forest areas, followed by the moratorium on mining and mineral licenses in 2015, and a moratorium on oil palm plantations in 2016.

In addition, there is also Qanun Number 19 of 2013 on RTRW Aceh 2013-2033, which further emphasizes the importance of forest prevention and protection in the region

This policy is also strengthened by the presence of Qanun Aceh Number 7 of 2016 on Aceh Forestry.

There are also Aceh Governor Regulation No. 20 of 2016 on Forest Fire Control and Aceh Land, and Aceh Governor Regulation No. 10 of 2017 on the Handling of Terunial Conflict in Forest Areas.

Meanwhile, in terms of animal protection, there has been a decision of the Governor of Aceh on the Establishment of Task Force for the Control of Human and Animal Conflict. Currently, the Governor's Decree is in the process of improving to become qanun

"With the various policies that have been done by the Aceh Government, it does not mean everything can guarantee that the protection and supervision of KEL runs perfectly. With such a vast territory, the Aceh Government is certainly incapable of carrying out the overall monitoring. No wonder illegal logging is still happening in the region, "said Vice Governor.

In 2011, Unesco placed TNGL in World Heritage in Dangered status. This status is a warning to pay more attention to conservation and surveillance efforts at KEL and TNGL.

"Hopefully, the process of monitoring and evaluation will be successful, hopefully through this meeting we can discuss the steps of conservation of ecosystem TNGL more comprehensive, so that the role of KEL as the lungs of the world still running well," concluded the Vice Governor of Aceh.