| Abstract |
The Leuser Ecosystem, situated near the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, is the largest conservation area in Southeast Asia, and arguably one of the richest in biological diversity. Its wide range of habitats, ranging from coastal beaches and lowland forests to alpine meadows, together with its large size (almost 3 million hectares) makes it the best hope of conserving such rare Sumatran species as the Sumatran rhino, orangutan, tiger and elephant. The Leuser Ecosystem is also the focus of a new approach for conservation in Indonesia, in which the management of a given part, which lies in Aceh (about 90% of the total), is the responsibility of the Government of Aceh; more specifically, a professionally staffed management authority known by its acronym BPKEL. This highly dedicated team of about 200 people has shown its effectiveness in reversing the forest destruction caused by illegal palm oil development, illegal logging, and inappropriate infrastructure. The Leuser Ecosystem is also a major carbon sink and has a mitigating impact on local climate. Enhancing this service, along with other environmental services such as natural beauty (for tourism) and fast flowing water (for run-of-river hydropower). This project aims to strengthen the management and financing of the Leuser Ecosystem while making its financing more sustainable. |
