Leuser Ecosystem: Progress in Protection 2019-2020

The Leuser Ecosystem is the last remaining forest where Sumatran elephants, rhinos, tigers and orangutans roam wild together. Covering more than 2.6 million hectares in the province of Aceh and North Sumatra, it is one of the most biodiverse landscapes left on earth.

Our partners at the Leuser Conservation Forum (Forum Konservasi Leuser, or FKL) made major progress in the conservation of this incredible ecosystem in 2019. GC is proud to be a supporter of their work and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.

Project Site

Global Conservation supports FKL's work in the Bengkung Trumon Megafauna Sanctuary, a protected area that spans 400,000ha (more than one million acres) and borders the proposed 800,000ha Gunung Leuser National Park to the south. With GC’s support, FKL has been able to restore a major river basin in the Bengkung Trumon Megafauna Sanctuary through land acquisition and forest restoration interventions. FKL has been working to prevent further conversion that would significantly degrade biodiversity and ecosystem services. FKL will continue to manage this area sustainably in collaboration with the local community, and is working to secure more land for conservation and reforestation.

GC is also providing $200,000 to the Rainforest Trust to protect two major tracts of land in the Kluet watershed, one of the most vital areas for the survival of Sumatran Rhinos, Sumatran Elephants, Sumatran Tigers and Sumatran Orangutans. They are working to establish the 184,795-acre Kluet Wildlife Reserve (approximately the size of New York City), which will be adjacent to the proposed Gunung Leuser National Park.

Map of the Leuser Ecosystem (left) with the Bengkung Trumon Megafauna Sanctuary at its southernmost point; and a map of the BTMS (right), outlined in black.

Summary of Success

Thanks to the support of a number of donors from around the world – including GC - FKL currently deploys 26 Wildlife Protection Teams (WPTs) across the Leuser Ecosystem tasked to patrol the forest 15 days each month. Their mission is to search and destroy wildlife snares and traps, illegal logging, and encroachment, and record data on any biodiversity findings and forest crimes encountered. FKL operates Elephant Protection Teams (EPT) tasked with following elephant migration routes and supporting BKSDA Aceh (Natural Resources Conservation Agency) to mitigate elephant-human conflict in high-risk areas. 

FKL also worked with the local community to establish three Community Patrol Teams. To try to combat forest degradation around the Leuser Ecosystem, FKL deployed 9 Mobile Monitoring Units (MMUs) to record, monitor and investigate forest destruction and wildlife crimes in 2019. All data was reported to the government and law enforcement authorities each month and used to inform joint law enforcement operations.

The Leuser Ecosystem is the last remaining forest where Sumatran elephants, rhinos, tigers and orangutans roam together. Covering more than 2.6 million hectares in the province of Aceh and North Sumatra, it is one of the most biodiverse landscapes left on Earth.

Looking back to 7 years ago, when FKL was established by 10 Acehnese youth, these 2019 accomplishments have exceeded all expectations. Starting from just 10 people, FKL has now expanded to more than 300 permanent staff and volunteers spread across 13 districts in Aceh. FKL's field teams now cover 75% of the Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh. This growth in FKL's frontline defences has had positive impacts on the protection of this globally significant landscape: from a diminishing rate of deforestation to a drop in the number of poacher’s snares and traps set in the forest despite vastly increased ranger coverage.

FKL is now managing 2 research stations, 2 monitoring stations and 7 restoration sites. In 2019 they worked closely with the district government and communities in Aceh Timur and Aceh Tamiang to create sustainable alternative economies. Hundreds of farmers have become partners in their organic farming program and ex-loggers have turned to sustainable honey production. FKL has built conservation awareness among thousands of students around the Leuser Ecosystem. 

Moving forward, FKL aims to restore up to 30,000 hectares of degraded land in the Leuser Ecosystem; establish Leuser’s first Sumatran Rhino Breeding Center; continue to intensify field protection; and manage thousands of hectares inside and outside the Leuser Ecosystem through collaborative schemes with the community, Aceh provincial government, district governments, and the Gunung Leuser National Park Authority. 

FKL 2019 Success in Numbers

40%: Deforestation in the Leuser Ecosystem has dropped 40% since 2016

67%: Poaching has dropped 67% since 2017

241: FKL dismantled 241 snares and traps during 303 patrol missions across the Leuser Ecosystem

99: As a result of FKL’s collaborative law enforcement operations with government authorities, 99 forest and wildlife crime perpetrators were arrested and 29 of those were sentenced in the courts

356.61: Through active restoration, FKL restored 356.61 ha of degraded land across the Leuser Ecosystem by felling 11,167 illegal oil palm trees and planting 70,662 native tree seeds

4,909: FKL conducted educational visits to 4,909 students to raise awareness of the Leuser Ecosystem

120: illegal camps destroyed

275 poaching cases prevented

18 poachers escorted out of the forest

20,001 km patrolled

Community Patrols

FKL's community patrol teams have a total of 22 community rangers across three communities. These teams completed 30 patrol missions within 670 days in the forests around their respective villages. During those patrols, they dismantled 13 snares and traps, escorted 4 poachers out of the forest, and warned 12 fishers using illegal methods like poisoning, electrocution, and bombing.

Mobile Monitoring Units (MMUs)

FKL operates 9 MMUs across the Leuser Ecosystem to record, monitor, and investigate forest destruction and wildlife crimes in 12 out of 13 districts in the Leuser Ecosystem. MMUs collect data in the field to be compiled into monthly reports for related government and law enforcement authorities. FKL then coordinates with authorities to conduct collaborative law enforcement operations in the Leuser Ecosystem. 

In 2019, MMUs completed 112 monitoring missions and recorded: 

1623 cases of illegal logging 

820 cases of forest encroachment

16 cases of road access inside forest areas

19 cases of illegal mining

Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict

FKL is working to reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflict across the Leuser Ecosystem with a focus on saving the Sumatran elephant. Over the last 5 years, human-elephant conflict has been intense in Aceh Timur. 

This year, thanks to another donor, FKL installed 3 GPS collars on 3 female elephants. The government and FKL are now able to monitor the movements of three elephant herds that are at risk of conflict with the local community. The analyses of the movements of the elephants herds should greatly help the government and FKL in conflict mitigation efforts.

Elephant collaring efforts have helped to calm previously tense communities, as communities can now be alerted promptly and make necessary preparations when elephant herds are approaching. Furthermore, the presence of FKL's team on the ground has made the community feel safer and therefore reduced the tension that can lead to conflict.

After the installation of the GPS collar in Aceh Tenggara, the community from two villages in Leuser subdistrict established their own HWC Mitigation Team called 'Lembaga Batu Gajah' who collaborated with BKSDA Aceh and FKL on the ground to mitigate conflict and monitor the herd movements.

FKL has also constructed 24.46 km of elephant barriers in Aceh Timur and 2.5 km in Subulussalam where another 2.5 km is planned for next year. 

In an effort to connect two isolated elephant populations in Aceh Timur, FKL has secured 170 ha of land from local landowners to be designated as a wildlife corridor. This plan aims to halt fragmentation and restore the integrity of this degraded corridor. Furthermore, FKL supported 4 rescue missions for 3 elephants and 1 malayan sunbear in the Leuser Ecosystem. FKL veterinary staff also supported 3 rescue missions involving 4 sumatran elephants and 2 GPS collar installations on two elephants otuside of Aceh province. 

Lastly, the presence of the elephant barriers and bio-barriers completed by FKL with support from the district and provincial governments have been successful in reducing the number of wild elephant crossings into community plantations. In 2019, there was only one wild elephant death in Aceh Timur district, the lowest number of deaths recorded in the last 10 years.

Forest Restoration

FKL conducted seven forest restoration projects in four districts in the Leuser Ecosystem. FKL worked with local communities to remove illegal crops (predominantly palm oil and rubber) and then actively restore a forest border of native, highly economical, multi-purpose tree species along the edge of the degraded forest.

The remaining degraded area will be restored through a process of natural succession. FKL manages seed nursery camps in each restoration site. The matured seeds are distributed to farmer groups to be planted in restoration areas after the felling of illegal plantations. At one site, Sumatran orangutans have returned after 4 years of restoration efforts.

Photo courtesy FKL/Carter Kirilenko.

Forest restoration in numbers:

11,167 illegal palm oil trees cut down by FKL covering 131.84 ha

346.61 hectares successfully restored by FKL 

70,662 native trees planted in the FKL restoration sites

971.46 hectares secured for conservation through land compensation in strategic areas across the Leuser ecosystem

Two Sumatran orangutan nests spotted in FKL's restoration site in Tenggulun. In 2015, FKL started Tenggulun restoration project by cutting down illegal oil palm trees and replacing them with native trees. After 4 years, Sumatran orangutans have started to move in followed by many bird species.

Sustainable Economy

FKL supervises organic farming and beekeeping training in Aceh Tamiang to give green economy options for communities living on the border of the Leuser Ecosystem. 

Organic farming: FKL conducted green farming training with 310 farmers in 9 villages in Aceh Tamiang. Now, the farmers are able to produce their own organic fertilizers, pesticides and plant vitalizers. This training has greratly benefited the communities. For example, rice paddy farmers have been able to increase their yield from 1-2 tons/ha to 5-6 tons/ha.

The organic fertilizer and plant vitalizer have also proven to be more effective against rice paddy blast disease compared to chemical ones. FKL will support the communities to mass produce the organic fertilizer for the local market, and if successful, to wider markets. Following this work, the Aceh Tamiang district government has agreed to support the development of organic farming products through the district's Village Innovation Development program and Village Funds (Dana Desa) allocation.

Honey Beekeeping training:  FKL conducted beekeeping training for 95 people in 6 villages in Aceh Tamiang. The training covers knowledge on sustainable methods of harvesting and standardized and hygienic packing methods which has increased the sale price from IDR 80,000 (US$5.65) per kg to IDR 140,000 ($9.88) per kg. Furthermore, FKL also supported the establishment of a community cooperative that will help with the production and marketing of the honey.

Research Stations

Ketambe Research Station is managed by FKL and the Gunung Leuser National Park office. The first orangutan research station set up in the world, it was built by a Dutch researcher, Dr. Herman Rijksen, in 1971. Unfortunately, the station was burned in 2012, and rebuilt by FKL and the national park office in 2015. Since then, Ketambe has hosted both foreign and local researchers who have studied the flora and fauna of the Leuser Ecosystem.

In 2019, we hosted a foreign researcher from the University of Birmingham and 10 local students who were conducting thesis research. Ketambe received visits from 20 foreign tourists and 179 local tourists. Throughout the year, FKL also conducted two field trips to Ketambe for 17 elementary school students and 18 university students from the biology faculty of Syiah Kuala University. Ketambe also hosted a hornbill survey training by WCS and a forest monitoring and investigation training for FKL's MMUs.

Ketambe Soraya Research Station was built in 1995 on PT Hargas Industries ex-forest concession. In 2001, it was abandoned due to the armed conflict between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian army. When the conflict ended, the station remained empty until FKL made an agreement with the Aceh Forestry Agency to rebuild and reactivate the station in August 2016. In 2019, Soraya hosted two foreign researchers from Zurich University and 5 local students from Syiah Kuala University. It was also visited by 7 foreign tourists and 18 local tourists. Soraya hosted a field trip by 19 elementary school students from Banda Aceh, and hosted film crews from BBC UK, Wildspace Production and ASA Film Bali.

Youth Education

FKL’s mobile education unit conducts regular visits to schools around the Leuser Ecosystem to raise awareness among the younger generation. In 2019, FKL engaged 4,909 students from 127 schools on the value and the threats facing the Leuser Ecosystem.

The school visits have generated great interest with a few even initiating school field trips to FKL's research stations. Teachers and students alike have shown great enthusiasm to support conservation of the Leuser Ecosystem, showing just how important hubs for learning about the environment and conservation in situ can be.

Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary

In a bold effort to save the Sumatran rhino, the third sanctuary in Indonesia is planned for the Leuser Ecosystem, Aceh province, with FKL leading the process on the ground. The establishment of the sanctuary will be challenging but is believed to be the last resort to save the critically endangered species from extinction. The Leuser Ecosystem is home to the largest population of wild Sumatran rhinos and it provides the most viable remaining habitat for them. However, after years of conducting surveys on rhinos, FKL identified fragments of habitat in which rhinos are isolated from one another, making natural breeding impossible. 

After many years of roundtable discussions, the Indonesian government has agreed to establish a Sumatran rhino sanctuary and breeding center (SRS) in the Leuser Ecosystem. The aim will be to capture isolated wild rhino individuals from the pockets of habitat in the Leuser Ecosystem and facilitate breeding between them. 

2019 National Geographic Fellow, Rudi Putra

In 2019, director of FKL, Rudi Putra, was featured as a National Geographic Fellow in recognition of his conservation work. Rudi and FKL were selected as partners to support the Indonesian government to save the Sumatran rhino from extinction. From modest beginnings in 2012, FKL started with just two ranger teams patrolling key rhino habitat in the Leuser Ecosystem but today we operate 26 ranger teams and are restoring habitat all across the Leuser Ecosystem. 

National Geographic Fellow Rudi Putra. Photo courtesy FKL/Carter Kirilenko.

The Sumatran rhino has been close to Rudi’s heart since his undergraduate biology days. Now, FKL is embarking on an ambitious journey to start rhino breeding center project in the Leuser Ecosystem. It will be a challenging and expensive project, but after a lot of careful discussion and assessment, Rudi believes that we have to go for it if the Sumatran rhino is to have any hope of survival.

In Memoriam: Leuser Hero Hendri Syahputra

Rangers dedicate their lives to save the forests of Aceh with the goal of protecting clean water and air for people living in this ecosystem. Being a ranger is not just a job, it is a devotion. FKL was deeply saddened by the November 2019 loss of Hendri Syahputra, who passed away while on duty, swept away while crossing the river in Nagan Raya. Hendri joined FKL as a ranger in 2016, stating his love for the natural environment and the potential to have a positive impact on community.

Every month, he set out for tough 15-day patrols not only to protect wildlife habitat but also the ecosystem services that his community depends on. His positive attitude was one of the key attributes that his colleagues will remember him for the most. Hendri risked his life every month to protect the Leuser Ecosystem, and we will miss him deeply. His legacy will undoubtedly influence current and future rangers to protect the environment and forests for the betterment of everyone on earth.