Declining Every Year, East Aceh Loses 1,096 Hectares Of Forest Covers

JAKARTA - Institutions that focus on environmental conservation of the Aceh Forest and Environment Foundation (HakA) noted that Aceh Timur Aceh Regency Aceh has lost 1,096 hectares of forest cover throughout 2024.

"East Aceh occupies the second position with a loss of 1,096 hectares. While the first position in the district that contributes to the loss of forest cover is South Aceh, which is 1,357 hectares," said GIS Manager of the HakA Foundation Lukmanul Hakim in East Aceh, as quoted from ANTARA.

Meanwhile, overall in Aceh Province, he said, the loss of forest cover reached 10,610 hectares. This figure has increased by 19 percent or 1,705 hectares compared to 2023.

"The trend of losing forest cover in Aceh Province continues to decline every year. In 2024, Aceh forest cover will remain at 2,936,525 hectares," he said.

Lukmanul Hakim said this was known based on monitoring conducted since 2015 using satellite imagery. As well as supported by tree loss early warning data from the Global Forest Watch (GFW). The results of this monitoring are verified in the field with the help of drones and high-resolution satellite imagery.

Significant forest loss, he said, also occurred in the Leuser Ecosystem Area (KEL) and Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL). The area is an important habitat for wildlife such as Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran rhinos, Sumatran elephants, and Sumatran tigers.

In 2024, said Lukmanul Hakim, the loss of forest cover in KEL will increase by 17.41 percent or 845 hectares compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, in the 2020-2024 period, the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Sanctuary has lost 2,181 hectares of forest.

"We regret the loss of forest cover in the area, considering that KEL is the last place in the world where key animals in Sumatran such as orangutans, tigers, rhinos, and elephants coexist in the wild," he said.

Therefore, it is necessary to anticipate an increase in forest cover loss in Aceh Province, especially in KEL and TNGL. Forest cover loss shows serious pressure on conservation areas and ecosystems that have high ecological value.

"Stricter mitigation and law enforcement steps are needed to protect forest areas, especially in the Rawa Singkil and TNGL Wildlife Sanctuarys, which are areas with important ecological functions," said Lukmanul Hakim.