USU Researcher: Leuser Ecosystem Must Be Part of Regional Development Agenda

A researcher from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of North Sumatra, Onrizal, has stressed that the protection of the Leuser Ecosystem must be placed as an integral part of the regional development agenda. According to him, the Leuser Ecosystem can no longer be viewed solely as a conservation issue. “Leuser plays a strategic role in maintaining water availability, reducing disaster risks, protecting biodiversity, as well as supporting the economic activities of communities in North Sumatra and Aceh,” Onrizal said during a Policy and Governance Strengthening Workshop for the Leuser Ecosystem in Medan on Tuesday. Onrizal explained that the total area of the Leuser Ecosystem in North Sumatra reaches 346,340.56 hectares. This area is spread across four administrative regions, namely Langkat Regency, Karo Regency, Dairi Regency, and Deli Serdang Regency, with 63.07 percent of it being conservation areas. Given its vast and diverse coverage—ranging from conservation areas and protected forests to production forests—Onrizal believes that managing Leuser requires a comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach. The Deputy Chair of the North Sumatra Regional Forestry Forum encouraged economic development that aligns with environmental sustainability. He suggested activities such as agroforestry, the utilisation of non-timber forest products, environmental services, and community-based ecotourism as sustainable solutions. “The protection of the Leuser Ecosystem must be integrated into regional development planning documents, including spatial planning policies, infrastructure development, water resource management, and disaster risk reduction,” he asserted. Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of collaboration between the central government, regional governments, academics, the business sector, and civil society organisations. This synergy is necessary so that economic development and environmental protection can proceed hand in hand without negating each other. The workshop, organised by the North Sumatra Regional Development Planning Agency together with Green Justice Indonesia and the USU Faculty of Forestry, is expected to produce concrete recommendations. The main target is to strengthen the integration of Leuser Ecosystem protection into the Regional Mid-Term Development Plans of North Sumatra Province and the relevant regencies.