Enviro News Asia, Aceh — The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) continues to accelerate the removal of disaster-related timber waste and debris resulting from floods and landslides across several regions in Sumatra. Integrated operations are being carried out simultaneously in Aceh Tamiang, North Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, involving multiple ministries and agencies, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police, local governments, partner organizations, and local communities.
In Aceh Tamiang and North Aceh, cleanup efforts focus on the Darul Mukhlisin Islamic Boarding School area and the Langkahan subdistrict. Joint teams consisting of Kemenhut technical units, TNI, police personnel, and partners have deployed more than 200 personnel and 27 units of heavy equipment. As of Tuesday, December 23, 2025, cleanup progress at the boarding school site has reached approximately 40 percent.
Head of the Gunung Leuser National Park Authority, Subhan, stated that the operation targets not only timber piles but also education facilities and places of worship affected by flash floods.
“Beyond removing timber and mud, we prioritize cleaning classrooms and mosque areas so that educational and religious activities can resume as soon as possible,” Subhan said.
He added that opening water gates and drying flooded areas remain critical steps in accelerating environmental recovery around the boarding school and nearby settlements.
In Langkahan, North Aceh, joint teams from Kemenhut, the military, and local residents continued clearing access roads and disaster debris. Authorities have reopened one kilometer of main access road, followed by an additional four kilometers of village roads. Cleanup activities also covered public facilities, including State Elementary School 12 Langkahan.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, cleanup operations took place in Aek Ngadol Village, Garoga Village, and Huta Godang Village. Activities included removing timber debris around bridges, clearing flood-affected residential areas, constructing drainage channels, and reorganizing traffic flows around local markets.
Head of the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Novita Kusuma Wardani, emphasized that community involvement played a vital role in accelerating on-site operations.
“We work closely with local communities to ensure that vital access routes and public facilities recover quickly, allowing social and economic activities to return to normal,” she explained.
In West Sumatra, timber debris cleanup was conducted along the Padang City coastline by Kemenhut field officers, Manggala Agni, and the West Sumatra Provincial Government. Between December 20 and 23, 2025, approximately 5.6 kilometers of coastal area toward the northern section were successfully cleared through a combination of heavy machinery and manual community-based efforts.
Head of the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Hartono, stated that coastal cleanup was conducted in stages to ensure safety and effective handling of large timber debris.
“We prioritize the most heavily affected and high-activity areas. Cleanup efforts will continue toward the Penjalinan estuary to restore safety and cleanliness along the coastline,” Hartono said.
Kemenhut confirmed that all cleanup operations are conducted in a coordinated, safe, and sustainable manner, while also preparing agreed mechanisms for utilizing disaster-generated timber waste in coordination with local governments and law enforcement agencies. These efforts reflect Kemenhut’s commitment to accelerating regional recovery and supporting public safety and community activities in disaster-affected areas. (*)
