Leuser Ecosystem Management Authority (BPKEL) Areas of Aceh confiscated about 2000 up to 2500 hectares of oil palm fields owned by private and personal companies since they’re located within protected area of Leuser Ecosystem, Aceh Tamiang.

Head of BPKEL Fauzan Azima on Sunday (10 / 1) states, the seizure of the land was result of collaboration effort among BPKEL, Aceh Tamiang District Police and local Department of Forestry and Plantation, as well as NGOs.

Oil palm plantations located in the region of sub-district Tenggulun owned by three large companies, PT Darmasawita Nusantara, PT Tenggulun Raya and PT Nilam Wangi. These three companies are suspected opening the plantations within forest area which outside of lease rights areas (HGU).

There are also five private plantations with a very large area owned by Toko Laris, Toko Dunia Kaca, Toko Tanjung, belongs to Edy's / Supri and Amir, which made the total areas secured were around 2000 to 2500 ha.

Fauzan said the area is being calculated by the device of Geographic Information System (GIS) in BPKEL office in Banda Aceh. The border of the area that had changed is estimated to reach 10 kilometers.

"The length is not yet entirely calculated because there are other places which will be inspected, especially in the areas bordering with North Sumatra," he said. He states, this inspection were supported by the GPS tool Garmin 60 CSX which commonly used in determining the locations with high accuracy.

Furthermore, said Fauzan, the land owners will undergo the legal process conducted by Police of Aceh Tamiang district, in the near future. It was stated that thousands of hectares of land that had changed its function is planned to be marked by cutting down some of palm trees along the boundaries. Furthermore, the land will be restored / rehabilitated to its function after a handover of land occupation by the perpetrator or by the legal process.

BPKEL and Department of Forestry and Plantation Aceh Tamiang also had completed the measurement of forest boundary occupied by several companies such as PT Saudara Adi Megah, PT Rongoh Mas Lestari, a plantation owned by Ahon, Sakwan, and Danang in Desa Rongoh , Tamiang Hulu sub district. The length of lines had been measured is about four kilometers. In the near future, some of palm trees will be cut down along this path as the forest boundary markers.

BPKEL along with the government of Aceh Tamiang District will talk about the technical matters related to land rehabilitation previously occupied by the illegal planters. Some community groups and cooperatives had proposed to self-rehabilitate the occupied lands. “The area which had been secured reach to 2500 ha, previously owned by PT Alur Putih Abadi, PT Mitra Tamiang Utama, PT Ensem Sawita, ABon , and some other private owners illegally, he said”

Occupation of forest area in Leuser Ecosystem against some laws which are UU No.41/1999 about Forestry, UU No. 11/2006 about Aceh Government on article 149 and 150, UU 26/2007 about Spatial Jo PP 26/2008 about National Spatial Planning and UU 32/2009 about Environment Protection and Management

BPKEL is a body established by the Government of Aceh through the Governor Regulation No.52/2006 on the establishment of BPKEL and as the implementation of Law 11/2006, where the central government handed the authority to Aceh Government to take over management of KEL in Aceh. One of BPKEL authority according to Governor Regulation (Pergub) No. 52/2006 is to carry out management of KEL Aceh in the form of protection, security, preservation, restoration of conservation function and sustainable use. (Ant/Media Indonesia)