Representatives from CIFOR and the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) recently accompanied senior members of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry to Aceh to make an initial assessment of the role forest-based initiatives may play in rebuilding the tsunami ravaged region.
Traveling with the Ministry’s envoy were David Kaimowitz and Yemi Katerere from CIFOR, and ICRAF representative, Per Rudebjer. The Ministry was represented by Hadi Pasaribu, Director General of the Forest Research and Development Agency (FORDA), Soetino Wibowo, Director General of Land Rehabilitation and Social Forestry, and Hari Santosa, Secretary to the Director General of Rehabilitation and Social Forestry. Also from the Ministry was Petrus Gunarso, the department’s official liaison officer seconded to CIFOR.
CIFOR and ICRAF’s visit to Aceh started with a helicopter flight over the tsunami damaged urban and western coastal areas. The main west coast road was severely damaged and all nearby fishing villages and fish and shrimp farms were destroyed. All vegetation up to 15 to 25 meters above sea level was swept away by the powerful tsunami.
Rice fields and irrigation and coastal drainage infrastructure were also destroyed. Villages located on higher ground were spared, but their rice fields were inundated by salty water, or covered by sand and mud.
The tsunami claimed the lives of more than 115,000 people in Aceh, with perhaps an equal number of people still missing. "Mr. Pasaribu said the local office of the Ministry of Forestry had lost 50 employees in the disaster — about 20% of its staff in the region. "We also lost our housing complex, and that has created another burden to these employees," Mr. Pasaribu said.
During the visit to Aceh the representatives from the Ministry expressed interest in hearing CIFOR and ICRAF’s views on how to implement rehabilitation activities using a strong livelihoods component. One of the rehabilitation initiatives under discussion is the establishment of a coastal strip of mangrove and other coastal vegetation.
According to Petrus Gunarso “Forestry officials are very interested in mangrove rehabilitation for the coastal greenbelt. The national assembly has already approved the funds for mangrove rehabilitation. Whether CIFOR will be involved in this is still being determined.”
According to Mr. Gunarso, the Ministry is keen to ensure any rehabilitation or re-planting programs are well-planned and implemented strategically. The Ministry acknowledges that one of the key issues will be dealing with privately-owned areas of land. It is keen to ensure local people play a key role in planning and implementing rehabilitation and recovery programs.
“Re-greening tsunami damaged lands in Aceh will require close liaison with local communities and stakeholders,” Mr. Gunarso said.
An additional rehabilitation project is planned for the capital city, Banda Aceh. Indonesia’s National Planning and Development Agency (BAPPENAS) is coordinating the preparation of an urban master plan, including a 400 meter wide green belt along the coast.
One of the biggest challenges in Banda Aceh is sourcing suitable materials to re-build houses and buildings. One possibility is coconut timber. FORDA is examining the milling techniques and chemical treatment needed to make use of the abundant coconut tree debris. But even this is not easy because, unlike other regions in Indonesia, in Aceh there is some cultural resistance to using coconut timber.