In the Province of Aceh, we aim to protect the remaining natural forest on private, state and community land with a specific focus on the Leuser ecosystem. In partnership with the provincial and district governments, palm oil and other companies as well as NGOs, we will develop and implement a green growth strategy that will directly support the conservation of the 2,6 million hectares Leuser ecosystem, while supporting the sustainable production of palm oil and other commodities.
Aceh’s Leuser ecosystem is one of the most biodiverse locations on Earth, home to Sumatran orangutans, elephants, tigers, rhinos and sun bears and many others. It also contains large areas of peatland some up to 8 m deep. And the province overall has a forest cover of more than three million hectares that acts as a significant carbon sink.
An estimated 4 million people rely on the water provided by the Leuser ecosystem.
Aceh is increasingly becoming an important producer of oil palm, rubber, coffee and other agricultural commodities. This is critical in reviving economic development. Yet agricultural expansion is going hand-in-hand with deforestation and degradation of the Leuser ecosystem and other forests.
Together with the Achenese government, palm oil, rubber and other companies, we find a balance between large scale commodity production and maintaining natural forest and peat ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and use by local communities.
We currently focus on Aceh Tamiang and Aceh Timur districts. Our activities include:
- Developing a participatory, sustainable land-use plan at district level
- Creating financial incentives for sustainable production
- Developing green growth strategy at provincial level.
Publications
Title | Type | Year |
---|---|---|
Landscapes Information Brief: IDH’s approach to sustainable landscapes | Brochure | 2018 |
IDH Landscape program | Factsheet | 2018 |
Indonesia Landscape Factsheet | Factsheet | 2018 |
Conveners Guide for Building Landscape Coalitions | Report | 2017 |
IDH Landscapes Forum Report | Report | 2017 |