Nagan Raya, Aceh — November 11, 2025. The APEL Green Aceh Foundation officially launched the Capacity Building Program for Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples (Climate-Friendly Assisted Villages) in Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh. This program is a concrete step towards revitalizing the role of indigenous communities and local values ​​in preserving Aceh's forests and peatland ecosystems.

The Climate-Friendly Village Development Program is a community empowerment initiative focused on strengthening the capacity of local and indigenous communities in sustainable forest and peatland management. The program is implemented by the APEL Green Aceh Foundation with support from the international organization Rettet den Regenwald e.V.

This program directly involves the communities in Blang Meurandeh and Blang Puuk Villages (Beutong Ateuh District), Kreung Itam Village (Tadu Raya District), and Puloe Krut Village (Darul Makmur District, Rawa Tripa area).
According to Rahmad Syukur, Executive Director of the APEL Green Aceh Foundation, the Acehnese people have long had a strong customary system for protecting forests through the concept of the role of "Pawang Uteun".

"Acehnese tradition holds that forests are a gift from God that must be protected for future generations. Now, we want to revive these values ​​to serve as a foundation for ecological restoration and climate justice in Aceh," said Rahmad Syukur.

The program will run for the period 2025–2030 and targets forest areas and important peat ecosystems in Nagan Raya Regency, including the strategic area of ​​Tripa Swamp, which is one of three main peat ecosystems on the west coast of Sumatra.

Inisiatif ini lahir dari keprihatinan terhadap menurunnya peran masyarakat adat dan melemahnya sistem kearifan lokal dalam menjaga hutan. APEL Green Aceh melihat pentingnya mengembalikan peran tersebut untuk memperkuat ketahanan ekologis, mendukung agenda FOLU Net Sink 2030, serta mempercepat pencapaian target pembangunan hijau berkelanjutan di tingkat daerah dan nasional.

This program is also in line with the policy direction of the Nagan Raya Regency Government which emphasizes local wisdom-based development, environmental conservation, and a green economy as stated in the Nagan Raya RPJMD 2023–2028.

The program will be implemented through a series of main activities, including:

• Community needs analysis to map the potential and challenges of forest management.
• Thematic training on community-based forest management, forest and land fire prevention, and strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples.
• Ongoing technical assistance by a team of local facilitators.
• Green economy development, including the use of non-timber forest products such as kemiri oil, local herbs, and natural crafts (water hyacinth).

Program ini menempatkan Pawang Uteun, perempuan adat, dan pemuda desa sebagai pilar utama pelestarian hutan.
Uteun handlers serve as spiritual and social guardians; indigenous women maintain local knowledge of medicinal and food plants; and the younger generation bridges tradition and innovation through the use of environmentally friendly technologies.

“Kami percaya bahwa penyelamatan hutan Aceh tidak bisa hanya berbasis proyek, tapi harus menjadi gerakan budaya dan kebangkitan identitas ekologis,” tambah Rahmad Syukur.

Dukungan dan Kolaborasi Global

Dukungan dari Rettet den Regenwald e.V. memperkuat semangat solidaritas global untuk melindungi hutan hujan tropis Aceh. Kolaborasi ini juga menjadi bagian dari kerja bersama dengan jaringan CSO Selamatkan Hutan Hujan dalam memperkuat gerakan masyarakat menghadapi krisis iklim dan deforestasi.

Dampak yang Diharapkan

Melalui program ini, Yayasan APEL Green Aceh menargetkan peningkatan kapasitas dan kemandirian masyarakat, revitalisasi nilai-nilai adat dalam tata kelola hutan, serta pemulihan ekosistem gambut secara berkelanjutan.
Program ini juga diharapkan menjadi bagian dari sinergi multipihak antara masyarakat, lembaga adat, dan pemerintah daerah dalam mewujudkan Nagan Raya yang berdaulat secara ekologis dan berdaya secara ekonomi.

Inisiatif ini sejalan dengan arah kebijakan Pemerintah Kabupaten Nagan Raya yang menekankan pembangunan berbasis kearifan lokal, pelestarian lingkungan, dan ekonomi hijau berkelanjutan sebagaimana tercantum dalam RPJMD Nagan Raya 2023–2028.
Program Desa Binaan Ramah Iklim ini juga mendukung pencapaian target nasional FOLU Net Sink 2030