Enviro News Asia, Aceh — The Ministry of Forestry optimized the use of driftwood generated by hydrometeorological disasters to accelerate environmental recovery and provide temporary housing for flood-affected communities in Aceh and North Sumatra.
The recovery efforts focused on Aceh Utara Regency and several districts in North Sumatra, where large volumes of driftwood accumulated following severe flooding. The program aims to restore affected areas while ensuring that state-owned timber resources are utilized legally and effectively for public benefit.
In Langkahan Sub-district, Aceh Utara, the Ministry deployed 69 personnel supported by 38 units of heavy equipment. These included 30 units from the Ministry of Forestry—comprising grapple excavators, bucket excavators, and bulldozers—seven units from the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and additional excavators and dump trucks from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. The operation prioritized clearing residential areas and sorting driftwood for use in the construction of temporary shelters.
Head of the Gunung Leuser National Park Authority, Subhan, stated that as of 11 January 2026, joint teams from the Forest Area Stabilization Agency and the Aceh Environmental and Forestry Office had measured 938 driftwood logs with a total volume of 1,506.08 cubic meters.
The driftwood has become the primary material for the rapid and controlled construction of temporary housing. Thirteen temporary shelters have been supported through this initiative, with ten units under construction and three already occupied by residents of Geudumbak Village. Forestry personnel also conducted cleaning activities at village government facilities, including the Leubok Mane village office.
In North Sumatra, Head of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Novita Kusuma Wardani, explained that driftwood management in Garoga, Huta Godang, and Aek Ngadol villages has entered the administration and utilization phase. The processed timber is directed exclusively toward housing needs to prevent misuse and ensure transparency.
As of 11 January 2026, processed driftwood from the Garoga area reached 1,376 planks with a total volume of 19.5755 cubic meters. Of this amount, 752 planks—equivalent to 9.9373 cubic meters—have been transported to temporary housing sites in Batu Hula Village, Batang Toru District.
Environmental recovery efforts also include river normalization works along the Garoga River. Clearing of wood blockages and sediment in the upstream section has reached approximately 1.329 kilometers, or 25.07 percent of the 5.5-kilometer target, using seven units of heavy equipment.
The integrated post-disaster response reflects coordinated action between the Ministry of Forestry, local governments, and relevant partners to ensure that driftwood as a state asset is managed legally, safely, and delivers direct benefits to affected communities. (*)
