This is Samarkilang, a tropical rainforest area in the heart of Aceh Province. This forest is located in the northern part of the Leuser Ecosystem, an ecosystem landscape in Aceh that is rich in animal and plant diversity. Like a window, one can see a reflection of the rich contents of the Leuser ecosystem inside Samarkilang.

Have you heard the history of the white elephant, a famous elephant during the Sultanate of Aceh under the leadership of Sultan Iskandar Muda? The white elephant is said to have originated from the Samarkilang forest. That indicates Samarkilang has existed since ancient times, and became one of the centers of civilization of the Gayo tribe in Aceh.

Since 2013 WWF-Indonesia has conducted a biodiversity survey to determine the potential of this area as an important protection area for rare animals in the Leuser ecosystem. Camera traps installed since 2013 have found 17 important animal species. Sumatran tigers, bears, clouded leopards have repeatedly appeared in the images captured by camera traps.

In the installation of camera traps over the past year, 16 species of rare animals have been found in this forest. There are Sumatran tigers, clouded leopards, black cats, golden cats, sun bears, tangent telegu, and others. The team also frequently finds Sumatran Orangutans and various species of birds in the forest. In addition, signs of the presence of Sumatran Rhinos were found through tracks and active wallowing places.

The survey site is a tropical rainforest dominated by giant trees of the Dipterocarpaceae species with an altitude of about 800 - 1200 meters above sea level. There are 90 thousand hectares that have excellent potential to be developed as a new conservation area in Aceh. Currently Samarkilang forest consists of protected forest, production forest and other use areas. Samarkilang forest borders Samar Gadeng, Bener Meriah district to the north. To the south Samarkilang borders Bintang, Central Aceh District, to the west it borders Krueng Muara, North Aceh District, and to the east it borders Serbajadi, East Aceh District.

Efforts to protect Samarkilang need to be encouraged together because in addition to storing animal and plant wealth, this forest is also the upstream for rivers that flow in the Jambo Aye watershed (DAS) which covers North Aceh, Bener Meriah and East Aceh districts.

If the forest is destroyed, it will be prone to disaster. Samarkilang forest used to be a concession area for the Forest Concession Rights (HPH) of PT Gruti and Raja Garuda Mas. After the HPH has been closed since 2000, now the condition of the Samarkilang forest is starting to recover, marked by large trees that have been overgrown, the presence of wildlife there, which forms a microclimate that will be useful as a hydrological protector.

Samarkilang Forest can be reached from Samarkilang, Syiah Utama District, Bener Meriah Regency. This sub-district has 11 villages with a population of 1800 people. The lives of the Samarkilang people are highly dependent on forest products, such as honey, jernang, candan sap, rattan and hunting animals and catching fish in the river. The journey to Samarkilang is a 2-hour road trip from the town of Simpang Tiga Redelong. In the rainy season, the road runs difficult because of thick mud.

WWF-Indonesia has conducted various activities to strengthen efforts to protect Samarkilang as the home of endangered Sumatran key species such as the Sumatran Orangutan, Sumatran Elephant, Sumatran Tiger and Sumatran Rhino. In addition to conducting routine surveys to monitor animal conditions, WWF has also conducted environmental education assistance efforts for schools in Samarkilang through the Education Sustainable Development program. WWF also formed a community team for wildlife patrol called the Kule Patrol Team. In the future, WWF will also develop non-timber forest products. This will allow the community to have alternative livelihoods that do not negatively impact the Samarkilang forest area.