Timber Granted for Aceh
Tuesday, 09 January, 2007 | 17:37 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Banda Aceh: Two conservation organizations urged the use of timber granted from abroad via the Timber for an Aceh program for reconstruction of post-tsunami Aceh. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia and Conservation Indonesia also asked for an environment-friendly reconstruction.

WWF Indonesia Executive Director Mubariq Ahmad said the program aims at helping Indonesian people, especially Acehnese, in reconstructing their houses and supporting their life. The program, WWF Indonesia and Muslim AID, a UK-based non-governmental organization (NGO), facilitate wooden house construction for tsunami victims in Lhok Nga, Aceh Besar. “The timber grant was the result of forests managed simultaneously, said Mubariq when officiating at the houses yesterday (8/1).

Curretly WWF Indonesia and the Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Agency (BRR) Aceh-Nias have initiated much of the timber grant from abroad via organizations which participate in Aceh reconstruction. More than 45,000 cubic meters of timber was listed to be delivered to Aceh and Nias and the remaining 20,000 cubic meters is in shipping.

It is estimated that the amount of timber needed for Aceh reconstruction reaches more than 120,000 cubic meters, in accordance with the 120,000 houses construction plan. The construction of one unit of 36 square meter each needs at least 1.7 meter cubic meter of timber. “This program will minimize pressure over Indonesia’s forests whose condition continues worsening,” said Mubariq.

Deforestation and bad damage to Aceh forests occurred in the north, west, and east of Aceh and some areas in North Sumatra. More than 20,000 hectares of forests in Aceh suffer degradation every year. The biggest threat is from illegal logging with reconstruction as the cover.

WWF also asked residents and students to perform reforestation in Aceh coastal forests. The tsunami in Aceh caused around 33,240 hectares of mangrove forests from being ruined, plus coastal forest damage which reached 50,000 hectares.

The activity entitled ‘My One Earth’ was held in Cot Paya village, Aceh Besar and joined in by 112 students, teachers, government officials, NGO members and residents who together planted trees along the bay. The event was a first step to nurture good habits through entertainment and fun. “This activity and learning from nature for students does not only help to recover the local ecosystem, but at the same time also creates natural protection and advantage for the people around the bay living at disaster-sensitive areas,” said Mubariq.

Adi Warsidi