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Leuser forest in danger
There is growing concern that Aceh’s economic development today could damage Leuser National Park.
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This picture taken on May 9, 2017 shows a team of Indonesian forest rangers making their way through the Leuser ecosystem rainforest, located mostly within the province of Aceh on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Scientists and conservationists consider the Leuser Ecosystem to be among the most important forests left in Southeast Asia, particularly because it is the last place of sufficient size and quality to support viable populations of rare species like Sumatran tigers, orangutans, rhinos, elephants, clouded leopards and sun bears. (AFP/Chaideer Mahyuddin)
H
ave you wondered about the extent of the Leuser ecosystem? The world’s third largest tropical rainforest houses four of the most emblematic species, namely the Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, orangutan and Sumatran rhinoceros.
Located mostly in Aceh, the tropical rainforest bordering North Sumatra was spared from deforestation happening elsewhere in Indonesia, thanks to years of civil conflict between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which constrained commercial activity.
However, following the peace agreement in August 2005, times have been rapidly catching up with Aceh. Today, illegal logging and encroachment areas are as rampant as in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
There is growing concern that Aceh’s economic development today could damage Leuser National Park. Land clearing for agricultural development, mining and infrastructure development have had a notable impact on Aceh’s forests, especially those in the lowlands. The loss of these forests areas would be devastating.
The water supply, natural beauty, biodiversity, climate and hydrological regulating functions of the Leuser ecosystem provide the basis for sustainable livelihoods for approximately four million Acehnese and other ethnic communities.
The environmental and economic benefits of the Leuser forest ecosystem include a regular supply of high-quality water, an optimal environment for fresh water and littoral fisheries, flood and drought prevention, an equitable climate for agriculture and plantations, the potential to distribute small-scale hydro-electricity, natural beauty for tourism and recreation, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, fire prevention, non-timber forest products and many more high economic environmental values.
With the disappearance of the forests, these vital ecosystem services also disappear. In addition, extractive unsustainable forest management and illegal deforestation negates the opportunity for natural forests to fulfill their critical role in fighting climate change through carbon sequestration.
