Environment Ministry Evaluates Sumatran Disaster Zones, Sends Spatial Planning Recommendations to BPN

The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has evaluated the flash flood disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The ministry has disclosed data on areas where development should be prohibited to prevent future disasters, along with spatial planning recommendations. This was revealed by the Deputy for Environmental and Sustainable Natural Resources Governance at KLH, Sigit Reliantoro, during an environmental meeting at the ministry’s office in South Jakarta on Tuesday (21/7/2026). Sigit stated that these recommendations have been submitted to the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN). ‘We then conducted a further evaluation. We provided these recommendations to ATR/BPN to evaluate and improve spatial planning. There are areas that must be avoided, where no development activities are permitted. There are areas to be minimised, where activities must not be excessive. And then there are areas that must be restored,’ Sigit said. Sigit detailed the data on areas that need to be avoided for new development. These areas are spread across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. ‘In Aceh, there are at least 88,000 hectares of cultivation areas that need to be avoided for new development. Then in North Sumatra, there are 172,000 hectares, and 61,000 hectares in West Sumatra,’ he said. ‘For areas that need to be minimised, there are 2.02 million hectares in Aceh, 4.55 million hectares in North Sumatra, and 766.99 thousand hectares in West Sumatra. These must be reduced,’ he added. Sigit explained that this is based on the fact that parts of the coastlines in Aceh and North Sumatra are already under severe pressure, which can lead to environmental damage. ‘The coastal areas in Aceh and North Sumatra have experienced such strong pressure that they have suffered damage in supporting food security,’ he said. Nevertheless, Sigit revealed that the three provinces still meet the population carrying capacity. ‘In terms of carrying capacity, the three provinces actually still meet the requirements. In Aceh, the quota is to accommodate 14.41 million people, while the current population is around 5.48 million. In North Sumatra, it can accommodate 23.65 million people, with the current population at 15.39 million. West Sumatra can accommodate 8.80 million people, and currently has 5.70 million,’ he said.