Minister of Environment and Forestry at Syiah Kuala University Affirms Leuser Ecosystem

PRESS RELEASE

Number: SP. 262/HUMAS/PPIP/HMS.3/09/2022

Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK) Siti Nurbaya attended as Dies Reader at the Open Session, in order to commemorate the 61st anniversary of Syiah Kuala University (USK), in Banda Aceh, Thursday (15/9). Minister Siti also gave a scientific oration entitled Indonesia's Folu Net Sink 2030: Strengthening Governance and Conservation of Landscape-Based Forest Resources.

"Indonesia's Folu Net Sink 2030 is expected to not only achieve the target in reducing GHG emissions, but also be used as a momentum to accelerate the process of strengthening environmental and forestry governance in Indonesia, in this case landscape-based forest resource conservation," said Minister Siti.

Talking about the landscape in Aceh Province, it cannot be separated from the Leuser Ecosystem Area (KEL). The existence of KEL makes Aceh Province the only one with the highest and most complete natural wealth value of key wildlife. KEL is also the only forest area in Indonesia that is a habitat for four rare animals, namely tigers, elephants, orangutans, and rhinos.

KEL is a vast landscape consisting of conservation, protection, production, and community settlement landscapes. This confirms that KEL is not entirely a conservation and protection landscape, but also a production and community settlement landscape.

"The production landscape in KEL is intended for forestry economic activities that support the economy of local communities and indigenous peoples as well as the business sector," said Minister Siti.

Furthermore, Minister Siti explained that KEL with an area of ​​more than 2.5 million hectares is not the same as Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) which is a conservation area of ​​approximately 830 thousand hectares. TNGL is part of KEL.

"The KEL is like a watershed area, where in that area there are all activities with various land uses and Land Utilization Types or LUTs according to community traditions. So there are conservation LUTs, people's agricultural LUTs, even settlements. So the KEL is a living space that can provide welfare for the community. So it is no different from the Regional Spatial Plan," said Minister Siti.

In this case, the Gunung Leuser National Park is the backbone of the KEL's standing upright. However, the KEL which is included in the production landscape is not part of the conservation and protection landscape, so it can still be utilized responsibly and legally to support sustainable development in Aceh Province.

"There is no need to debate whether the KEL can be utilized or not, considering that the landscapes in the KEL are a complete unit, which support and strengthen each other," said Minister Siti.

Furthermore, Minister Siti said that the KEL is on a net sink balance, where the carbon released is much less than its absorption capacity. So that KEL will become one of the main examples of the implementation of Indonesia's Folu Net Sink 2030.

"Notes at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, that in general the forest ecosystem in Aceh is quite stable and quite promising in the actualization of carbon absorption," he said.

Meanwhile, on the same occasion, USK Chancellor Marwan said that since 2018 USK has declared itself as a green campus. Therefore, his party welcomes Indonesia's Folu Net Sink 2030 which was initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. To support this, USK took the initiative to form a Folu research institute.

Responding to this, Minister Siti expressed her gratitude for the affirmation of USK as a green campus. Minister Siti also welcomed the plan of the Folu Net Sink research institute for forest conservation.

"The Ministry of Environment and Forestry will follow up on the proposal, hopefully we can work together well and provide an example," she said.

Aceh Province with extensive forest modalities, and relatively stable forests, and has very high social modalities is expected to become the main advantage of the region. For this reason, Minister Siti invited all parties to jointly realize sustainable forest management in Aceh Province which has high economic value, is beneficial for the social community of Aceh and for environmental sustainability.

During her two-day working visit to Aceh Province, Minister Siti met with the Acting Governor of Aceh, Achmad Marzuki and his staff at the Governor's Pendopo, Banda Aceh, on Wednesday (14/9). In the meeting, Minister Siti conveyed various developments in the latest policies on forestry in Indonesia that can be implemented in Aceh. Also present at this meeting were Member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives, TA Khalid, and Member of the Indonesian Regional Representative Council, Abdullah Puteh.

In addition, Minister Siti also met with the Wali Nanggroe Aceh at the Wali Nanggroe Aceh Palace on Thursday (15/9), discussing the implementation of the Aceh Government Law which is the actualization of special autonomy.

During her working visit to Aceh this time, Minister Siti was accompanied by the Director General of Forestry Planning and Environmental Management, the Director General of Sustainable Forest Management, a number of technical directors, and the Heads of the KLHK UPT in Aceh Province.

Jakarta, KLHK, September 15, 2022

Responsible for news: Head of Public Relations Bureau, KLHK | Nunu Anugrah

Website: www.menlhk.go.id | www.ppid.menlhk.go.id

Youtube: Ministry of Environment and Forestry

Facebook: Ministry of Environment and Forestry

Instagram:kementerianlhk

Twitter: @kementerianlhk

Sources

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

We will try to get back as soon as possible. Please ensure your phone number/email is correct.

Thank You

Thank you for your interest. We are always looking for exceptional individuals to join our dynamic team. We are currently reviewing your application. If you are shortlisted, we will get in touch with you within two weeks.

Make a Donation Now

Your donation will go towards the ongoing work to campaign for the protection of the Leuser Ecosystem and strengthening community involvement and participation to protect this crucial landscape.

Donation in Indonesian Rupiah

For donations in Indonesia Rupiah, please scan the QRIS code below.

International Donation

Please scan the QR code below to donate through our trusted partner, The Orangutan Project website for donation through Paypal or Credit Cards.

Thank You

Hello! Thank you for contacting HAkA! Please let us know how we can help you.

Thank You

Thank you for your interest. We are always looking for exceptional individuals to join our dynamic team. We are currently reviewing your application. If you are shortlisted, we will get in touch with you within two weeks.

Hey there is a problem! Yeah this is really messed up, the error message is: