Langsa, Ekuatorial – Aceh Tamiang people demanded on Friday (20/2) for Ministry of Environment and Forestry to revoke its decision letter related to the district’s spatial planning fearing that it will destroy remaining protected forests in the area.
The decision letter (SK) issued by then Ministry of Forestry in 2014 was blasted by local people and civil society as it would change protected forest area into mining sites and timber concessions.
Based on Aceh Tamiang spatial planning from 2012 to 2032, forest area covers 37.2 percent of the total area of the district. In 2010, it only covers 31.4 percent out of the total area.
Rudi Putra, conservation manager at Haka Foundation (Aceh Natural Forest and Environment Foundation), said that the forest coverage was still too small for the district located in Tamiang creek resulted to floods and landslides.
“Based on World Bank data, floods in 2006 cost Rp 1 trillion loss (US$ 77 million) equals to Aceh Tamiang district budget for 2.5 years. It was because of declining forest coverage significantly in Tamiang water catchment areas,” said Putra adding only 615 hectares of forest areas left from the total of 82,498 hectares.
In 2013, the Ministry of Forestry had already issued a letter approving land use changes which granted 2,048 hectares of Aceh Tamiang forest to become other land use change, such as for housing areas and plantations. He said that forest exploitation was not worth the risks for 282,226 people of Aceh Tamiang.
Tezar Pahlevie, coordinator at Haka Foundation for East Aceh and Tamiang, said that permits were given to companies conducting cement and iron ore explorations in Aceh Tamiang forest.
“Up to date, nearly 50 percent of the other land use change in Aceh Tamiang had been owned by HPH [forest concession holders]. [At least] 54 permits have been issued for 52,000 hectares or 24 percent out of land cover. In addition, three companies are in the process to obtain permits for 1,030 hectares. So, it means only less than 30 percent out of Aceh Tamiang land cover to support 282,226 people,” said Pahlevie.
Nevertheless, Aceh Tamiang spatial planning officials, Dedi Nurfadli and Agus Rinaldi, said that they were shocked and confused on the 2014 decision letter issuance. They said that Aceh Tamiang government had written the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to clarify on the regulation. Ivo Lestari