Banda Aceh - As part of its efforts to support sustainable forest management programs, today (25/8), the SIAP II Consortium - comprised of WWF Indonesia, Transparency International Indonesia, and IWGFF - in collaboration with the Aceh Customary Council (MAA) launched the "Sharia and Adat Based Forest Management Guidelines". SIAP II, run by this consortium, is part of the USAID Program to improve accountability and transparency in Indonesia.

Aceh's forests are one of the last remaining hopes for natural forests in Sumatra. With 3.3 million hectares of natural forest, Aceh's forests must be managed with sustainable forest management that is acceptable to all levels of society in Aceh.

WWF-Indonesia CEO, Dr. Efransjah, said, "The participation of civil society in supporting sustainable forest management is a necessity, so the involvement of MAA in this effort is very important. Especially with the increasing pressure on the remaining forests in Sumatra, if the current conditions are left unchecked, within the next 20 years the biodiversity in Aceh's forests could experience extinction."

Various approaches are being taken to conserve Aceh's forests. Since 2012, SIAP II has carried out activities to strengthen the role of civil society in Aceh Province in order to promote integrity and accountability in sustainable forest management and prevent corrupt practices. In collaboration with the MAA, SIAP II formulated "Guidelines for Sharia and Adat-based Natural Resource Management".

Chairman of the Aceh Customary Council, H. Badruzzaman Ismail, said, "These guidelines outline how Sharia law in both the Quran and Al-Hadith has regulated many things related to the balance of life in the world, the relationship between humans and other creatures of God and the surrounding environment, what is allowed and what is not allowed and what threats if humans do damage." Badruzzaman added that Aceh has positive examples in the history of its customary forest management, and that is what is to be collected and revived through the spirit of Aceh's current privileges.

Acting Director of the Mission, Derrick Brown, stated, "Aceh is the first province in Indonesia to develop an action plan to stop corruption in the forestry sector and the environmental damage caused by corruption. I congratulate the people of Aceh for demonstrating leadership."

SIAP II Chief of Party, Fathi Hanif, said, "We also appreciate the support of Acehnese scholars from the Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) and other da'wah institutions who have contributed their thoughts and writings to explore the contents of the Qur'an and Al-Hadith that regulate humans in managing natural resources. We hope that this guideline can help all parties in Aceh Province in building good forestry governance in Indonesia."

Banda Aceh - As part of its efforts to support sustainable forest management programs, today (25/8), the SIAP II Consortium - consisting of WWF Indonesia, Transparency International Indonesia, and IWGFF - in collaboration with the Aceh Customary Council (MAA) launched the "Sharia and Customary Based Forest Management Guidelines". SIAP II, run by the consortium, is part of USAID's program to improve accountability and transparency in Indonesia.

Aceh's forests are one of the last remaining hopes for natural forests in Sumatra. With 3.3 million hectares of natural forest, Aceh's forests must be managed with sustainable forest management that is acceptable to all levels of society in Aceh.

WWF-Indonesia CEO, Dr. Efransjah, said, "The participation of civil society in supporting sustainable forest management is a necessity, so the involvement of MAA in this effort is very important. Especially with the increasing pressure on the remaining forests in Sumatra, if the current conditions are left unchecked, within the next 20 years the biodiversity in Aceh's forests could experience extinction."

Various approaches are being taken to conserve Aceh's forests. Since 2012, SIAP II has carried out activities to strengthen the role of civil society in Aceh Province in order to promote integrity and accountability in sustainable forest management and prevent corrupt practices. In collaboration with the MAA, SIAP II formulated "Guidelines for Sharia and Adat-based Natural Resource Management".

Chairman of the Aceh Customary Council, H. Badruzzaman Ismail, said, "These guidelines outline how Sharia law in both the Quran and Al-Hadith has regulated many things related to the balance of life in the world, the relationship between humans and other creatures of God and the surrounding environment, what is allowed and what is not allowed and what threats if humans do damage." Badruzzaman added that Aceh has positive examples in the history of its customary forest management, and that is what is to be collected and revived through the spirit of Aceh's current privileges.

Acting Director of the Mission, Derrick Brown, stated, "Aceh is the first province in Indonesia to develop an action plan to stop corruption in the forestry sector and the environmental damage caused by corruption. I congratulate the people of Aceh for demonstrating leadership."

SIAP II Chief of Party, Fathi Hanif, said, "We also appreciate the support of Acehnese scholars from the Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) and other da'wah institutions who have contributed thoughts and writings to explore the contents of the Qur'an and Al-Hadith that regulate humans in managing natural resources. We hope that this guideline can help all parties in Aceh Province in building good forestry governance in Indonesia."

Note to Editor:

• The book "Sharia and Adat-based Forest Management Guidelines" can be accessed through the link http://bit.ly/1loi6tv.

For more information, please contact:

• Dyah Ekarini, Communications & Media Coordinator, SIAP II (drini@wwf.or.id, +6281385455229)
• Chik Rini, Communications Officer, WWF-Indonesia Aceh Program (crini@wwf.or.id, +628116803191)