Enviro News Asia, Aceh — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has continued intensive post-disaster timber management operations in Aceh and North Sumatra following recent hydrometeorological disasters, with recovery efforts reaching their 46th day and focusing on public facility clearance, environmental restoration, and the construction of temporary housing for affected communities.
Senior Advisor to the Minister of Forestry, Rahmadi, said clean-up operations in Langkahan Sub-district, North Aceh Regency, and Aceh Tamiang remain ongoing through coordinated, multi-agency action.
“As of day 46, a total of 60 Ministry of Forestry personnel, supported by 40 heavy equipment units from the Ministry of Forestry, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, are still carrying out the cleaning of public facilities as well as the sorting of flood-deposited timber in Langkahan,” Rahmadi said.
He reported that approximately 15.5 hectares of land have been cleared, with 1,173 timber logs recorded, totaling 2,112.11 cubic meters. Around 70 tons, or approximately 100 cubic meters, have been gradually processed and utilized.
According to Rahmadi, all usable timber is allocated exclusively for community recovery needs, particularly for the construction of temporary shelters. To date, 23 temporary housing units have been built, with three already occupied, ten under construction, and ten nearing completion in Geudumbak Village.
In addition to area clearance, the Ministry has also restored one laboratory room at State Senior High School 1 Langkahan and conducted other social assistance activities in affected areas.
Separately, Senior Advisor Fachrizal Fitri accompanied a working visit by House of Representatives Commission IV to Muara Batu Sub-district, North Aceh Regency, during which 400 aid packages from the Ministry of Forestry were distributed to disaster-affected residents.
In Aceh Tamiang, teams from Manggala Agni and the Forest Area Stabilization Agency Region I Medan assisted residents in cleaning mud and flood debris from homes, while forestry law enforcement officers secured inventoried timber to ensure its lawful and non-commercial use.
Meanwhile, Head of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency of North Sumatra, Novita, reported progress in managing driftwood in several affected districts across North Sumatra.
“In Central Tapanuli Regency, driftwood management is being carried out in six sub-districts and is used in a limited, non-commercial manner for post-disaster recovery by local governments and affected communities,” Novita said.
She added that processed timber stockpiled at the Central Tapanuli Regent’s Office has reached 16.1727 cubic meters, while 11.0976 cubic meters have been utilized for flooring at temporary shelters in Kebun Pisang Village.
In South Tapanuli Regency, as of January 15, 2026, a total of 1,774 processed timber pieces, amounting to 25.2971 cubic meters, have been managed and largely used for the construction of temporary housing and public kitchens.
Beyond timber utilization, river normalization works along the Garoga River continue in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. Clearing of timber blockages has reached approximately 2.448 kilometers, or 46.18 percent of the total target.
The Ministry of Forestry reaffirmed that all post-disaster timber management activities are conducted in a controlled, transparent, and non-commercial manner, under cross-agency supervision, and are fully directed toward environmental recovery and meeting the basic needs of affected communities. (*)
