The Aceh Government's strategy for managing and organizing the leuser ecosystem area in Aceh

Abstract

The Leuser Ecosystem Area (KEL) is one of the most important conservation areas on earth. Located in the two northernmost provinces of Sumatra (Aceh Province and North Sumatra Province), it benefits both local and international communities and is known as the “lungs of the world.” In 2022, the Leuser Ecosystem Area (KEL) lost forest cover across 21 districts/cities. The largest deforestation occurred in South Aceh (1,883 hectares), Aceh Jaya (776 hectares), and East Aceh (753 hectares). The objective of this study is to examine the strategies and challenges faced by the Aceh government in managing and planning the KEL spatial planning in Aceh. The research method employed is a socio-legal/legal sociology approach, which focuses on studying the influence of society on the law. The research findings indicate that the Aceh government's strategies to reduce forest degradation have not yet been evident, as evidenced by the continued occurrence of natural disasters, with the adverse effect being an increasing number of ecological disasters. The challenges include the lack of a strong alliance with local civil society, the police, and local governments. The actions taken include: monitoring, protection, law enforcement, restoration, boundary demarcation, implementation guidelines, policy formulation, and resettlement.