PRR Task Force Affirms Driftwood in Aceh Can Be Utilised

The Head of the Aceh Regional Command Post for the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Task Force for Sumatra, Safrizal Zakaria Ali, has stated that wood washed away by floods and landslides in Aceh can be utilised for various needs.

The former Acting Governor of Aceh explained that, to date, wood carried away by floods includes a category that has been 70 per cent processed. The processed wood consists of logs that hold economic value. The remainder consists of wood categorised as debris, which has not yet been processed by any party.

“So, 70 per cent of the wood has been processed. High-value economic logs have been processed. Only about 30 per cent remains in the waste category. However, it can still be utilised,” Safrizal said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Safrizal made these remarks while responding to questions from the Deputy Regent of North Aceh, Tarmizi (also known as Panyang), on Tuesday (9/6) during an Evaluation Meeting on Post-Disaster Recovery Achievements in Aceh. The event took place at the Multipurpose Building of the Aceh Governor’s Office.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, the Governor of Aceh, the Deputy Governor of Aceh, and second-level regional heads in Aceh.

On that occasion, Safrizal stated that the parties responsible for processing or utilising the post-disaster wood could be appointed by the government.

For further discussion regarding the management plan and handling of the remaining floodwood, Safrizal invited second-level regional heads to discuss the matter in more detail next week.

He noted that there are parties willing to process the wood debris for economic value.

Consequently, specific discussions are required with the regents and mayors of the areas affected by the Sumatra hydrometeorological disasters.

In managing the remaining floodwood, in addition to requiring letters from regents and mayors, assistance from the police and the prosecutor’s office is also necessary to ensure security and peace of mind while the wood is being processed by interested parties.

The legal basis for managing the remaining floodwood is regulated through the Decree of the Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, Number: 191 of 2026, concerning the Accelerated Utilisation of Driftwood Caused by Natural Disasters as a Material Resource for Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in the Provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

Based on this regulation, the utilisation of driftwood for post-flood recovery must be organised in an integrated manner between the Ministry of Forestry, relevant provincial government agencies, district/city governments, and law enforcement agencies.

Furthermore, there are three essential aspects to be understood collectively regarding the utilisation of this wood: for the construction of public and social facilities for affected communities, the construction of housing for affected communities, and other uses to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction process.