BANDA ACEH – Civil society groups are calling for the Leuser Ecosystem (KEL) to be explicitly included as a National Strategic Area in the Aceh Regional Spatial Planning (RTRW) Draft Law. This step is considered crucial to avoid potential regulatory conflicts.
“In accordance with spatial planning principles, KEL should be included in the KSN in the Qanun RTRWA,” emphasized environmental observer, Yakob Ishadamy, in a public hearing on the Aceh Regional Spatial Plan for 2025-2045 which took place at the DPRA building, Banda Aceh, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
He believes this is necessary to avoid regulatory conflicts with Law Number 11 of 2006 concerning the Governance of Aceh. Furthermore, various regional functions have been designated for the Leuser ecosystem.
“Therefore, in this spatial planning, it is necessary to complete all spatial planning cycles, starting from spatial planning, spatial utilization, spatial control, permit arrangements, even to funding sources and technology to avoid spatial conflicts,” said Yakob in the meeting attended by regional heads throughout Aceh, representatives of the Aceh Regional Police and the IM Military Command.
Furthermore, he said, the Leuser Ecosystem has been officially designated as a National Strategic Area in the National Spatial Planning Plan (RTRWN). Furthermore, Law No. 11 of 2006 concerning the Governance of Aceh (UUPA) explicitly mandates the Aceh Government to manage and preserve the Leuser Ecosystem.
Similar support was expressed by Aswita, Head of the Pante Kulu Forestry College (STIK). She emphasized the importance of making KEL not only a distinctive feature of Aceh, but also an ecoregional identity that must be protected and managed sustainably.
“I really hope the expert team will review the removal of the word KEL from the RTRW. I think there will be a regulatory conflict between the RTRW, the UUPA, and other policies in the future,” Aswita said at the forum, which was also attended by members of the Aceh House of Representatives (DPR) and the district/city DPRD.
This article has been published previously and read in full at: AJNN.net
