Gayo coffee, a variety of Arabica coffee, stands as a flagship commodity for Aceh Province. Alongside North Sumatra, Aceh is the largest producer of Arabica coffee in Indonesia. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s 2022 Coffee Commodity Outlook, Aceh on average produces around 66,000 tons of Arabica coffee every year, with production peaking at 69,000 tons in 2022.

Produksi Kopi Arabika di Aceh dan Harga Kopi Arabika di Dunia 2018-2022

The rise in Arabica coffee production in Aceh, particularly Gayo coffee from the Gayo highlands, is significantly influenced by the region's natural environment. The well-preserved forest cover in Bener Meriah Regency creates a cool, humid and stable climate, which helps regulate temperature, humidity and rainfall. These forests provide shade, organic fertilizer and soil protection from erosion and flooding, all of which are crucial for coffee cultivation.

The pine forests in the hilly areas and slopes add a unique flavor to Gayo coffee, distinguishing it from other Arabica varieties. Establishing a legal framework over the management of Gayo Arabica coffee as a specialty product, the Governor of Aceh issued a regulation in 2022 on the Management Guidelines for Gayo Arabica Coffee as Specialty Coffee.

Peta Tutupan Hutan pada Dataran Tinggi Gayo

In addition to coffee cultivation, Bener Meriah Regency has significant conservation potential. Of its 193,000 hectares, 62 percent is part of the Leuser Ecosystem, which helps maintain ecological balance. However, forest cover in this area is declining. According to Global Forest Watch, Bener Meriah Regency lost about 6000 hectares of forest cover, approximately twice the area of Yogyakarta, over the past two decades, decreasing from 110,000 hectares in 2001 to 104,000 hectares in 2023.

The vital ecosystem services provided by the forest for Gayo coffee production highlight the urgency of forest protection efforts in Bener Meriah. To meet the global demand for Arabica coffee, the forest ecosystem must be preserved. Effective monitoring systems are essential to protect forest ecosystems and reduce forest cover loss, ensuring future generations can continue to enjoy Gayo coffee.

Landscape Monitoring Initiative in Bener Meriah Regency

Since 2022, the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia has supported forest conservation in Bener Meriah Regency through the Landscape Monitoring Initiative. As part of these efforts, WRI Indonesia introduced Gayo Arabica coffee to synergize sustainable coffee cultivation with environmental conservation.

In collaboration with Forest Management Units (KPH) Region II Aceh, KPH Region III Aceh, the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Village Forest Management Institute (LPHD) Bale Redelong, WRI Indonesia initiated a collaborative forest monitoring program using advanced technology. This includes Radar for Deforestation Detection (RADD) from the Sentinel-1 satellite, a system developed by Wageningen University and WRI in 2019, which is freely accessible through Global Forest Watch or Forest Watcher platforms.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has designated around 62 percent of Bener Meriah Regency's area, approximately 120,000 hectares, as forest areas. KPH Region II and KPH Region III Aceh manage and monitor these forest areas, while LPHD Bale Redelong, as the holder of social forestry permits in protected forest areas, manages and monitors the forest cover within its permit area. The remaining 37 percent, covering 72,000 hectares, is designated as Other Use Areas (APL), with about 5000 hectares of forest cover.

WRI Indonesia collaborates with the Department of Agriculture and Food of Bener Meriah Regency to monitor forest cover in APL. The use of forests in the APL supports various sustainable non-forestry land-use activities, including agriculture, plantations, residential areas and infrastructure development, in line with local government policies. This collaboration aims to integrate environmental conservation with local economic development and promote sustainable land use.

Peta Fungsi Kawasan Hutan Bener Meriah

From Data to Real Action

A real challenge for forest sustainability in Negeri Antara Village, Pintu Rime Gayo District, Bener Meriah Regency, emerged in August-September 2022. The RADD system detected indications of about 1.97 hectares of land clearing in the production forest area managed by KPH Region II Aceh.

High-resolution satellite image showed that logging or timber harvesting activities were the cause. In November 2022, KPH Region II Aceh conducted field verification confirming the land clearing. The results confirmed logging or timber harvesting activities, with the estimated cleared area reaching about 15 hectares.

KPH Region II Aceh integrated the field verification results with efforts to socialize policies on forest area utilization to the local community. They communicated with the village head (Reje) to emphasize that logging activities in production forests violate Law Number 41 of 1999 on Forestry, which requires a permit for any forest area utilization. Additionally, the community was informed that the location is identified as a roaming area for Sumatran elephants. This socialization aims to raise community awareness about policy compliance and their role in balancing forest utilization with conservation, including protecting vital habitats for endangered wildlife like the Sumatran elephant.

 

jejak gajah
Elephant footprints found in Bener Meriah. Photo credit: Mirzha Hanifah/WRI Indonesia

In September 2023, ten months after the initial verification, KPH Region II Aceh revisited the priority location to monitor land clearing activities in their managed area. The follow-up investigation yielded three key findings:

  1. The site had been abandoned since the initial land clearing. The local Reje confirmed that the area had not been accessed since the first verification by KPH Region II Aceh. Continued monitoring is needed to prevent further land clearing and to promote the ecological recovery of the area.
  2. Pantan Lah Village initiated a Social Forestry (PS) application, but it stalled before official submission due to changes in regional government leadership. Resuming the application process is crucial for optimizing conservation and economic potential through sustainable forest management, supporting Sumatran elephant conservation, and preserving its habitat.
  3. There was a discrepancy in administrative boundary information. Initial analysis indicated that the land clearing was in Negeri Antara Village, but locals stated that the area actually belonged to Pantan Lah Village. This discrepancy hindered further information gathering on land ownership by local authorities.
Kunjungan ke hutan
Site visit to the forest in Bener Meriah. Photo credit: Mirzha Hanifah/WRI Indonesia

This case demonstrates the effectiveness of near-real-time data supported by quick response from KPH Region II Aceh, including direct visits, in halting forest encroachment. The incident highlights the importance of an effective monitoring system, stakeholder respons and follow-up actions in enhancing forest protection efforts.

Key lessons from this experience include:

  1. Land clearing is often detected only when it occurs massively. Early deforestation warning detection data can accelerate information flow to stakeholders, enabling faster responses to prevent further land clearing or forest damage.
  2. Enhanced cooperation between government agencies, non-governmental organizations and community groups is necessary for improving forest and land management governance and addressing on-the-ground issues.
  3. Social Forestry permits enable sustainable forest management, reduce potential conflicts between communities and the government and enhance community capacity and knowledge about sustainable forest and land management.

Since 2018, LPHD Bale Redelong has implemented social forestry strategies to preserve biodiversity, cultural heritage and the sustainability of Gayo coffee production. Beyond forest conservation, they strive to improve community welfare through honey and coffee cultivation. A forest security team proactively monitors threats, including illegal land clearing, in collaboration with Forest Management Units (KPH). Reforestation efforts are undertaken to ensure the ecological function of 823 hectares of forest, maintaining honey and coffee production and supporting the vital eco-tourism of Peteri Pintu Waterfall for Bale Redelong Village.