Leuser Ecosystem | Badan Pengelola Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser | BPKEL

BPKEL and FFI Collaboration on Aceh’s Forest Conservation

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:00:00 +0000

BPKEL and FFI Collaboration on Aceh’s Forest Conservation

Leuser Ecosystem Management Authority (BPKEL) and Fauna Flora International (FFI) have agreed to collaborate on efforts to conserve Aceh’s forest. This collaboration is supported by European Union (EU), which

has given a grant of almost two million dollars for improving human resource capacities for conservation agencies. BPKEL will utilize its share of the grant to recruit and train 60 forest rangers who will conduct monitoring and assist in law enforcement in the Leuser Ecosystem. BPKEL is committed to keep improving conservation of the Leuser ecosystem.

FFI will in turn focus on strengthening the capacities of forest agencies with a special emphasis on the forests of Ulu Masen, and in doing so will also provide gainful employment to people who have been left out of the mainstream development but who have good aptitudes in dealing with forest issues.

BPKEL and Aceh’s Spatial Plans

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:00:00 +0000

BPKEL and Aceh’s Spatial Plans

In order to support Aceh’s Spatial Plans, currently being drafted by Aceh House of Representatives, BPKEL has been involved in discussions with

Leuser International Foundation and Aceh Green, regarding the zoning of conservation areas within Aceh’s forests, especially the Leuser Ecosystem.

The results of these meetings have been delivered to Aceh House of Representatives, specifically to the Committee XI and Commission B who are responsible in developing the Law of Aceh Spatial Planning. The results have also been submitted to other agencies with roles in developing Aceh’s Spatial Plans.

The development of the Law of Aceh Spatial Planning will need to consider these inputs and must be able to accommodate efforts to protect Aceh’s forests.

Landslides Hit Roads within Protection Forest

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Landslides Hit Roads within Protection Forest

Landslides resulting in damage to remote roads in Aceh has reached an alarming level. Some of the roads are considered as vital links for serving people in the area, hence the landslide could impact on the economy of people who depend to these roads.

Some of the road’s, such as those that link Jeuram-Takengon, Geumpang-Meulaboh, and Geumpang-Takengon have been hit by landslides several times. Parts that have been affected are located inside protection forest of Leuser Ecosystem.

The government must start to shift their perspective in terms of road construction. By enforcing road constructions within unsuitable area (prone to landslide, flood, etc…) will only lead to problems. Besides, roads within protection forest are supposedly constructed by technology which will not disturb forest functions. The construction of roads that ignore the importance of forests functions will not last long, and it has now been proven.

Aceh’s Police Supports Leuser Ecosystem Conservation

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Aceh’s Police Department Supports Conservation Effort within Leuser Ecosystem

The Aceh Police Department has declared its support to conservation efforts within Leuser Ecosystem Area.

The statement was declared by the Head of Aceh Police Department Iskandar Hasan in a formal meeting between Aceh Police Department and Leuser Ecosystem Management Authority (BPKEL).

Related to the issue, the Head of Aceh’s Police had assigned some of his personnel to conduct field investigations into parties who have violated the law within Leuser Ecosystem, and to take necessary actions needed to apprehend them. The meeting also discussed about coordination enhancement between these two agencies especially related to field activities and process of data sharing.

Floods Hit Aceh Singkil . . . Again

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Floods Hit Aceh Singkil . . . Again

During the last few days floods have occured again in Aceh Singkil District, in Aceh. News from Serambi Indonesia (edition 3 February and 5 February 2011) stated that one house was destroyed, 19 houses and 200 meter of road were heavily damaged, and 50 hectares of rice field were destroyed.

According to the news, the flood was caused by the inability of Bulohseuma River to contain the overflow of its water which caused by the heavy rain in that area. But basically, the flood happens because the area is not suitable for settlement since the location is inside of Singkil Peat Swamp area. Furthermore, Singkil Peat Swamp is located inside Leuser Ecosystem area which supposedly functioning as conservation area.

Floods that have occurred in many parts of Aceh are often considered the result of heavy rain that that occurred in or near the area. In case of the flood in Aceh Singkil, heavy rain was only a trigger, while the main cause of the flood was destruction in the Singkil Peat Swamp ecosystem and the encroachment activities in the headwater area of Bulohseuma River.

Governor's Commitment to Aceh's Forest

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:59:22 +0000

Governor's Commitment to Aceh's Forest

Aceh’s Governor had restated his commitment to the management of Aceh’s forests by the Government of Aceh. This confirmation was issued in response to news from the media which stated Aceh’s government had agreed to surrender its management responsibility over its forests to the Central government. The Governor stated that this would be a violation to the Law No.11/2006 which gave the Aceh Government a high degree of autonomy over the management of its natural resources.

The rejection of a return to the old ways of management was also supported by the Head of Leuser Ecosystem Management Authority (BPKEL) Fauzan Azima. He doubts the validity on the letter from Indonesian Forest Ministry, and is also not convinced by the news about this matter. According to him, the governor’s policy such as the moratorium on logging, the Aceh Green vision and his active involvement in the Governors Forum on Climate Change has shown the Aceh’s government seriousness regarding local forest management.

2000 hectares of Illegal plantation in Aceh Tamiang had been Reclaimed

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:55:58 +0000

2000 hectares of Illegal plantation in Aceh Tamiang had been reclaimed

More than 2000 hectares of illegal plantations in the Aceh Tamiang District have been reclaimed during the year of 2010. The reclaimed land is inside Leuser Ecosystem Area and had been utilized illegally by eight plantations in the Aceh Tamiang district. The operation was conducted jointly by the Leuser Ecosystem Management Authority (BPKEL), the Aceh Tamiang Police Department, the district Forestry and Plantation Agency, local NGOs and also involved community leaders.

People involved in these illegal plantation activities are now being investigated by Aceh Tamiang Police.

Expose Review EIA of LADIA GALASKA

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Expose Review of Environmental Impact Assessment on LADIA GALASKA Road Project

On January 12th 2011, Bapedal Aceh (Body of Environmental Impact Control) held an expose review of Environmental Impact Assessment Ladia Galaska Road Project along Takengon - Ise-Ise – Blang Keujeren. This expose was held as first phase of re-construction of road that connects district of Aceh Tengah and district of Gayo Lues. The construction of the 141,7 km national road will be funded by Aceh Government through soft loan from Japan International Coorporation Agency (JICA).

The construction of the road was initiated by Grand Body of National Road Executive I supervised by Ministry of Public Works. The construction process will be divide in to 3 parts which are Simpang Kraft – Aceh Tengah border (length of 45km) as part I, Aceh Tengah – Blang Keujeren (length of 42 km) as part II, and Kabayakan – Simpang Kraft (length of 54,7 km) as part III.

Based on the contractor’s explanation Yachio Engineering, the construction site is being examined by Japanese consultants. The construction for part I and II will be improving the existing road. For part III, the contractors need to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment based on Environmental Impact Analysis Study which had been developed and agreed on 2007.

One of road expert, Tanthawi Ishak stated the main problem in this construction is landslide. For this matter, the need for information and technology related to landslide prevention is crucial, considering the construction area is vulnerable to landslide. The correct and effective method must be developed in order to avoid a waste to government’s budget. He also stated there were many aspects had not been explained clearly by the consultants in terms of its geometric, turns and slopes which raised his doubt whether this road will last or not.

Responding to Thantawi’s concerns, Grand Body of National Road Executive I stated the data needed for the explanation is not being fully acquired since the consultant team was still conducting field survey. The correct design for slope protection was still being developed. The Ministry of Public Works representative, Nurhadi stated the budget was originally allocated for road section at Geumpang-Pameu, but due to the road’s location is inside protection forest, therefore the budget was re-allocated to road section at Takengon-Blangkejeren. According to Nurhadi, JICA is ready to build the road, but the environmental permit is not being confirmed yet.

Finally, the chairman of the meeting Husaini Syamaun resumed the conclusions which are, the improvement of existing road in Part I and II will be conducted in accordance to Environmental Impact Assessment document which had been legitimized in 2003. Road section in part III needs to have Environmental Impact Assessment based on Environmental Impact Analysis Study which had been developed and agreed on 2007. Security and legal protection must be considered important, since this project was funded by international donor.

Civil Lawsuit of Illegal Plantation Throws Out

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:00:00 +0000

District Court Throws Out Civil Lawsuit Concerning Illegal Plantation in Leuser Ecosystem

On January 6th 2011, the judges of District Court of Kuala Simpang, rejected a civil lawsuit by Erlina Kecik against the Leuser Ecosystem Management Authority (BPKEL) concerning the removal of oil palm tress, conducted by BPKEL, after Kecik’s plantation was declared illegal.

According to BPKEL’s lawyers M. Zuhri Hasibuan and Helman Maldewa, the judges chaired by Fauzul Hamdi stated that the claim was rejected becaus of the Lawsuit Letter did not relate directly to its claimed objective. This case was registered in District Court of Kuala Simpang with Case Number 01/Pdt-G/2010/PN-KSP, dated February 18th 2010.

This case began in 2009 when BPKEL started to cut down oil palms in the illegal plantation within Leuser Ecosystem Area in Aceh Tamiang district. One of BPKEL’s findings was that 425 hectares area of illegal plantation owned by PT. Alur Putih Abadi (PT.APA) had been opened in a protection forest. Land clearing for the plantation was conducted without a forest release permit or a legal concession right.

On May 2nd 2009, the father of Erlina Kecik, who also claimed to be the owner of the plantation, had voluntarily returned the land to the government through BPKEL without any compensation. Hence, in June 2010 BPKEL started to restore the area of the plantation to original forest. But in February 2010, Erlina Kecik had claimed the plantation as her property and submitted a lawsuit claming Rp. 2,5 billion from BPKEL.

BPKEL responded positively to this result. This could act as a good precedent to law enforcement efforts and help conservation within Leuser Ecosystem. In 2011, BPKEL plans to restore further areas of illegal plantations within Leuser Ecosystem Area in Aceh Tamiang. The restoration will be conducted on 1000 hectares where plantation owners have already surrendered their concessions to the Aceh government.

Aceh Senators Visit to BPKEL

agungdwinurcahya@gmail.com (agung) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:33:35 +0000

Aceh Senators Visit to BPKEL

On Monday (January 3rd 2011), four Aceh senators made a formal visit to BPKEL’s office in Banda Aceh. This visit coincided with the parliamentary recess period. The four senators were :

- Dr. Ahmad Farhan Hamid, M.S (also Vice Chairman of Indonesian House of Representative)
- H.T. Bachrum Manyak

- Tgk. Abdurrahman BTM
- Ir. Mursyid

This visit was intended to gain inputs from BPKEL and also to discuss matters related to Leuser Ecosystem Area conservation. In the meeting, BPKEL also presented the achievements made during the year, followed by explanation about the future workplan. The senators expect BPKEL to involve the communities more while fulfilling their duties.

In the meeting, BPKEL also presented some key challenges that have been faced. One of the main challenges concerns over-lapping responsibilities among related agencies. This is an issue that needs to be solved in order to have a proper management of Leuser Ecosystem Area.

The importance of having environment-friendly development was also stressed. The meeting discussed solutions for infrastructure construction which would not destroy the forest area, in other words the development would be environment-friendly and in accordance to regulations.

And finally, both parties recognized the benefit of the discussion and plan to conduct more meetings in the future.