Enviro News Asia, Aceh — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has accelerated the utilization of driftwood generated by hydrometeorological disasters in North Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, and North Sumatra as part of ongoing efforts to restore affected communities and rehabilitate the post-flood environment.
In Langkahan Sub-district, North Aceh Regency, a total of 85 Ministry of Forestry personnel, supported by 10 members of the Saka Wanabakti, continued clean-up operations at public facilities and conducted on-site sorting of driftwood in residential areas and former river channels.
Head of the Gunung Leuser National Park Authority, Subhan, stated that driftwood sorting is carried out directly at disaster sites to ensure that usable timber can be immediately allocated for recovery needs.
“Driftwood is sorted in residents’ yards and inactive river channels so it can be utilized, particularly to support the construction of temporary shelters,” Subhan said.
A total of 37 units of heavy equipment were deployed, consisting of 30 units from the Ministry of Forestry, six units from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), as well as one excavator and one dump truck from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR). The equipment was used to clear debris, retrieve timber, and support safe sorting operations.
Timber measurements conducted by the Forest Area Utilization Center (BPHL) and the Aceh Provincial Environment and Forestry Agency recorded 652 logs with a total volume of 1,101.34 cubic meters as of January 7, 2026.
On the same day, timber utilization by humanitarian organization Rumah Zakat was estimated at approximately 7.15 cubic meters. With the use of four chainsaws and three mobile sawmills, total cumulative timber utilization from December 29, 2025 to January 7, 2026 reached an estimated 32.5 cubic meters. To date, three temporary shelters are under construction and one unit has been completed.
Additional activities included the cleaning of five rooms at SMPN 3 Langkahan—comprising two classrooms, one administrative office, and two library rooms—by 60 Ministry of Forestry and Saka Wanabakti personnel.
In Aceh Tamiang Regency, Ministry of Forestry units continued post-disaster operations, including supervision of measured timber stockpiles by the forest law enforcement team, clean-up of a public kitchen facility for flood victims by the Manggala Agni Sibolangit team, and debris removal at residents’ homes by the Forest Area Planning Center (BPKH) Region I Medan.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, Head of the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Novita Kusuma Wardani, emphasized that all driftwood utilization is conducted in a measured and closely supervised manner.
“Driftwood utilization is directed to support community recovery efforts, including as material for temporary shelter construction,” Novita said.
On January 7, 2026, driftwood clearing and environmental restoration activities in North Sumatra involved seven units of Ministry of Forestry heavy equipment, comprising four grapple excavators and three bucket excavators. A joint field inspection by Ministry of Forestry technical units was also conducted in Garoga Village to verify processed timber derived from flood debris. The inspection recorded 135 pieces of processed timber with a total volume of 1.8936 cubic meters on that day, bringing the cumulative total to 565 pieces with an overall volume of 8.8475 cubic meters.
The Ministry of Forestry reiterated that driftwood utilization is carried out alongside public facility clean-up and environmental management efforts to accelerate recovery in flood-affected areas. (*)
