Padahal Penetapan status tersangka illegal logging terhadap H Sudirman, warga Simpang Kiri, Kota Subulussalam oleh penyidik Polres Aceh Singkil itu sudah Bulan Mei tahun 2010.

Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser (KEL) di Kecamatan Rundeng Kota Subulussalam itu dirambah secara illegal dan tanpa aturan main yang sudah ditetapkan pemerintah, harus ditindak tegas tanpa pandang bulu

LSM Wanagreen juga mendukung, Mabes Polri harus menindak tegas dan menebas semua pelaku perambah hutan, kalau ternyata hutan lindung dirambah secara illegal, karena pelakunya tidak hanya sudah melanggar peraturan, tapi juga merusak ekosistem kehutanan.

Perusakah Kawasan KEL tersebut menggunakan alat berat, seperti buldozer untuk dijadikan perkebunan kelapa sawit sekitar 500 meter dari Desa Muara Batu-batu, Rundeng. Luas keseluruhan lahan yang dijadikan perkebunan kelapa sawit 200 Ha, dari luas tersebut 89 Ha diantaranya masuk dalam Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser.

Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser (TNGL)

Leuser is not only unique for its richness in wildlife but also for its history. The first efforts to conserve Leuser arose from the surrounding communities. In 1934 the first document officially protecting Gunung Leuser was signed. In 1980 it was established in its present form. However, due to corruption illegal logging and animal poaching still threaten Leuser.

source : http://www.sumatraecotourism.com

Gayo Highlands area is the largest producer of Arabica coffee in Indonesia with a vast area of ​​84 thousand hectares are planted in the three districts, Aceh Tengah, Bener Meriah and Gayo Lues. Productive area reaches 45 thousand hectares with an average production of 31 thousand tons per year or 680 kg / ha. Coffee Arabica Gayo known world with the taste and aroma typical cirri, perisi (flavor) and complex viscosity (body) is strong. In 2006/2007, exports of coffee from the Port of Belawan in North Sumatra as much as 48,637 tons with a value of U.S. $ 150.4 million. Gayo Highlands contributes about 55 percent of the total Arabica coffee export value of U.S. $ 75.2 million or Rp 690 billion.

Arabica Gayo coffee exported by several names between lai Mandheling Coffee, Sumatra Mandheling, Retro Mandheling, Sumatra Gayo, Mandheling Gayo, Super Gayo and Gayo Mountain Coffee. Arabica coffee plantation was first built in 1924 in the area of ​​Paya Tumpi and Merzicht after the completion of Bireuen-Takengon Road in 1913. Initially Arabica coffee growing concentration area between Elephant and Lampahan Buck, around Takengon until Burni Bies and around Redelong. Arabica coffee became one of the important economic toonggak Gayo society since 1930.

source : Serambi Indonesia

The 2004 Tsunami on Dec 26th is believed to have killed 130,000 people in Aceh.

Aceh was a wealthy trading port from as early as 1585 when a trade agreement was signed by the Sultan of Aceh with Queen Elizabeth I. Aceh’s main exports at this time were gold, ivory, tin, spices and sandalwood. Now one of the main exports is oil and gold.

The Acehenese have been trying to gain independence from the Indonesian Republic. A rebellion group has been running a guerilla war for over 10 years against Indonesian troops though since the Tsunami there has been a ceasefire and things have been peaceful ever since. Even during the conflict tourists were never targetted and the Acehenese encourage tourists as desperately need the foreign income. Aceh still has a wealth of oil and gold Though most of the funds are siphoned to Jakarta.

The capital of Aceh is Banda Aceh. Most of the city was ruined in 2004 although reconstruction is moving ahead.

One of the most beautiful buildings in Banda Aceh survived. The Baiturrahman Mosque, which was originally built in the 12th Century was rebuilt in 1883 by the Dutch Military Government.

Malahayati is the seaport for Banda Aceh. Ferries can be caught here to Pulau Weh, a beautiful island with superb beaches for swimming and snorkelling. The ferry ride takes two and half hours and leave daily

On the West Coast of Aceh you will find some excellent beaches for swimming and snorkeling.

Lho Nga and Lam Puuk beaches are 17km from Banda Aceh. Kuala Doh is 3 hours from Banda Aceh, 12km north of Calang is a 4km beach with great body surfing opportunities.

3km east of Banda Aceh is the grave of Syiah Kuala. Syiah Kuala was one of the greatests Muslem Ulama’s of Aceh, spending 15 years in Mecca for religious teachings. Once he returned to Aceh he dedicated his life to science, the teaching of Islam and the community. His grave is a shrine to Muslims from Indonesia and Mayalsia.

Ferry to Pulau Weh

There are regular ferries leaving the Ulee Lheue ferry port in Banda Aceh to Pulau Weh. There are slow public ferries or their are fast boats going to Sabang on Pulau Weh which depart at 9:30 and 15:30 price for 60,000Rp per person.

A taxi from the centre of Banda Aceh to the Ulee Lheue ferry port will cost 40,000Rp.

Getting there

You are unable to get a Visa on Arrival at Banda Aceh so you will need to either arrange your visa before flying from Malaysia into Aceh or arrive first in Medan or elsewhere in Indonesia.

Flights to Banda Aceh

The airport at Banda Aceh is called Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport.

A taxi will cost 70,000Rp from the airport to the centre of Banda Aceh.

Lion Air has direct flights from Banda Aceh to Medan and Jakarta. www.lionair.co.id

Sriwijaya Air has direct flights from Banda Aceh to Medan and Jakarta. sriwijayaair-online.com

Air Asia has direct flights from Banda Aceh to Kuala Lumpur. www.airasia.com

Firefly is a new Malaysian budget airline flying between Malaysia and Sumatra. Firefly have direct flights from Banda Aceh to Penang Malaysia. www.fireflyz.com.my

Bus to Banda Aceh

A bus trip from Medan to Aceh takes around 11 hours. Most buses travel overnight and cost 150,000Rp.

Accomodation in Banda Aceh

4 Star Hotels

Hermes Palace Hotel is a quality 4 star hotel with swimming pool in the centre of Banda Aceh. Prices from 500,000Rp weekend rate per night or 635,000Rp week nights includes breakfast. www.hermespalacehotel.com

The Pade Hotel is a business hotel in Banda Aceh with room prices from 850,000Rp+  www.thepade.com

Swiss-Belhotel Banda Aceh
Jl. T. Panglima Nyak Makam
Banda Aceh
Tel : (62-651) 755 5888
Fax : (62-651) 755 5999

www.swiss-belhotel.com/aceh/bandaaceh.html

Midrange Hotels

Wisma Bireuen Jaya

Al Kiram Guesthouse – Banda Aceh

Green Paradise – Banda Aceh

Yellow House – Banda Aceh

Purnama Raya

Wisma Diana – Banda Aceh

Graha Buana

Paviliun Seulawah

Sulthan Hotel

Budget Hotels

Uncle’s Homestay

Jalan Mujahidin No. 2B

Lambaro Skep

Banda Aceh
Ph: 0852 6028 4432

Rp70,000/with fan, Rp100,000/with AC, Rp200,000/large with AC.

Joel’s Bungalows
Lampuuk Beach Banda Aceh
HP: 081 2691 0117

Al Kiram Guesthouse

Green Paradise

Wisma Diana

Yellow House

source : http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/aceh.htm

PEKANBARU (30/03)— As the follow-up action from last year’s campaign organized by the youth initiative Forest Friends, 106 hectares of critical habitat of the Sumatran tiger is being replanted with local tree species. The first phase of replanting activities, covering 30 hectares, is taking place in Tesso Nilo National Park from 29 March to 30 June 2011.

Forest Friends is an initiative targeted at 18- to 25-year-old youths using social networking tools. Under the initiative, three youths each from Indonesia and Germany were selected after an intense weeks-long selection to compete for fans and gain support toward forest conservation through blogging. Through Forest Friends, which is also accessible on Facebook, the youths communicate and share their views via articles, video and photos. The blog competition took place from May to August 2010, as an integral part of WWF’s Year of Tiger Campaign 2010 aimed at doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. At the end of the competition the youths had successfully gained support for replanting more than 100 hectares of area.

The Forest Friends winners,.Rima Putri Agustina (25-year-old from Indonesia) and Lena Gottschalk (20-year-old from Germany), have been visiting the park from 28 March to 2 April. Together with WWF, Tesso Nilo Nilo National Park Office, rangers, and the local community, they started the symbolic planting on Tuesday (29/03). Various tree species such as Shorea and Koompassia were planted in the area.WWF-Indonesia will work with Tesso Nilo National Park Office and local communities to manage and monitor the replanted area.

“As one of the six Forest Friends finalists, I’m very happy and proud to know that there are so many young people support our campaign. I am so excited to have the opportunity to visit the park and directly be involved in the planting activities with various partners,” said Gottschalk.

The head of Tesso Nilo National Park Office, Drh. Hayani Suprahman, MSc, stated his support for reforestation efforts: “I appreciate the Forest Friends campaign for its contribution on Tesso Nilo biodiversity protection and their support on our conservation work in the park.”

Encroachment by local villagers who clear the forest to plant crops or build settlements is one of the major threats to the national park. To combat the threats, national park officeconduct a jointprotection patrol with several partners such as WWF-Indonesia. The Tesso Nilo Patrol Team is actively involved in law enforcement and the socialization process, distributing information about encroachment threats to nature.

“The next crucial step is to replant and rejuvenate ecosystems in the encroached critical areas,”Suprahman added.

Tesso Nilo NP, a critical habitat for Sumatran tigers was chosen as the replanting site because it has great potential for long-term tiger conservation.

In addition to planting trees in Tesso Nilo, the Forest Friends winners will experience a day in the life of the WWF-Indonesia Tiger Research Team, ride across the jungle and go patrolling with the WWF Flying Squad’s elephants, cruise on the Nilo River, and observe a community business of sustainable forest honey production in the nearby village area.

A chance to visit Tesso Nilo and plant trees is very exciting for Lena and Rima. “One of the best things from the Forest Friends competition is to know that we will reforest and plant trees in such a huge area, which someday would be a save haven for critically endangered Sumatran endemic species, and also for people who live around the forest. I do really hope that this effort works, so we never hear any more bad news about Sumatran forests,” Rima said.

As part of their activities during the trip, Rima and Lena will make a jungle documentary that will be shared in Forest Friends blog. It is hoped that the documentary will inspire other youth to give back to their environment, not only for Sumatra, but any other place on earth.

####

Notes for Editor:

• Forest Friends
  The Forest Friends initiative aimed to trigger creative and innovative ideas from youth in promoting, motivating, and inspiring others to conserve forest and environment. The three- month competition (May to end of August 2010) was a joint initiative of WWF-Indonesia and WWF-Germany. The competition allowed its selected contestants (both from Indonesia and Germany) to bond in friendship and share information online about forest protection activities, green lifestyles, and other activities related to forest and environment conservation.
• Info about Forest Friends can be accessed at http://www.wwf-jugend.de/durchstarten/forest-friends or www.wwf.or.id/savesumatra
• Photos from Forest Friends Replanting Program in Tesso Nilo will be available starting 4 April 2011. Please contact Annisa Ruzuar (asruzuar@wwf.or.id) for details.

Contact:

1. Desmarita Murni, WWF-Indonesia‘s Communications Coordinator Forest Program, Telp: 021-5761070 ext 509, email: dmurni@wwf.or.id
2. Syamsidar, Communication Manager, WWF-Indonesia’s Riau Program OfficeTelp: 0761-855006, email: syamsidar@wwf.or.id

Am I a fan of coffee? If the answer is ”yes”, then the next question is: Do I ever / was inBanda Aceh? If the answer is ”yes” then the next question: Have I felt the coffee UleeKareng in Ulee Kareng? If the answer is ”no”, then answer two questions first ”fall”.That story, if as a fan and have never drank coffee or were in Banda Aceh, but nevercoffee Ulee Kareng in Ulee Kareng the same as “not a fan of coffee” and the presencein Banda Aceh ”not entirely complete. “Hence, a time to a road T Iskandar No. 13-14a, in Solong (or better known as UleeKareng), and enjoy coffee at Ulee Kareng Warkop Services father. Coming after themaghrib time, do not forget to bring a friend for a chat, and enjoy a delicious coffee,while (if assigned to sit in) one-time action as well enjoy the ”bartender” in the “process” of coffee before serving. Attractive action can always be seen here.

Cuaca ekstrem musim penghujan saat ini melanda kawasan Kota Subulussalam dan Kabupaten Aceh Singkil, sehingga membawa dampak bencana banjir dan longsor di berbagai tempat.

Mengingat cuaca ekstrem yang diprediksi masih akan berlangsung hingga Juni mendatang, Ketua LSM Wanagreen Suparta Sabtu (26/3), mengingatkan agar warga senantiasa waspada.

Ilustrasi : Cuaca Ekstrim

“Cuaca ekstrem bisa menyebabkan banjir dan longsor di sejumlah wilayah perbatasan Subulussalam dengan Pak-pak Bharat, Sumatera Utara, khususnya di kawasan Kampong Lae Ikan yang paling tinggi intensitas bencana tanah longsor di wilayah ini,” kata ketua LSM bidang lingkungan itu.

Dikatakan, bagi warga yang bermukim di perbatasan Kota Subulussalam yang wilayahnya termasuk kawasan rawan tanah longsor diharapkan untuk selalu mempersiapkan diri, mengantisipasi berbagai kondisi yang rawan untuk dapat menghindar.

Himbauan juga disampaikannya untuk warga yang melintas jalan negara di jalur ini agar selalu waspada. Di kawasan Lae Ikan, hingga memasuki kawasan Pak-pak Bharat sangat rawan terjadi longsor, ujarnya.

Ditambahkan, beberapa titik di kawasan ini sering longsor, hingga beberapa kali sempat melumpuhkan jalur transportasi menuju Subulussalam, Aceh Singkil dan kawasan pantai barat Aceh.

Menurutnya, berada di bawah pohon besar saat hujan deras disertai angin kecang juga rawan. Warga yang memiliki rumah dekat pohon besar maupun beraktivitas di dekat pepohonan saat hujan turun diharapkan agar lebih waspada.

Kawasan Aceh Singkil dan Subulussalam saat ini rawan banjir luapan sungai Lae Souraya dan sungai Singkil. Khusus di Singkil kadang bersamaan dengan banjir pasang sehingga membuat rendaman air semakin tinggi, kata Suparta. (sjp)

Residents who visit here are still many people around the Gayo. They come from Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, as well as from the rest of Aceh. ”We came to prove the truth of the news about archaeological sites here,” said Dedi, a resident of Banda Aceh.

In addition to local residents, is already there citizens of foreign countries who come here. Even two French citizens had even helped dig Mendale this ancient site.

The two French citizens are Nico and Clemence. ”This is a very unusual experience for us,” said Clemence. They also told me very happy to be in Takengon because of its natural beauty and hospitality of its citizens. ”Better than other areas we visited,” he said.

Since mid-March 2011, a team of researchers from the Institute for Field Archaeologists already in the pan Mendale to investigate ancient human skeleton.Originally here was found a number of relics of the past waste Urang Gayo. The findings were in line with increasing spit (digging box) that the average depth is more than 10 spit or about 1 meter.

In pan Pukes, excavation that took place since Sunday (20 / 3) found an oval stone axes made from limestone. In pan Mendale they found human bones in the excavation of two boxes, as well as pottery fragments that accumulate, adjacent to the two frameworks.

So too in the pan Ujung Karang, found the bones of human skeleton suspected to accumulate positions in a depth of about 40 cm. Here also found pottery that collects suspected of grave human skeleton. The team claimed the research in Takengon more interesting because more and more evidence of past life Urang Gayo.

These findings are then invited tourists to come here. Even some that help the team, like the French. ”I do not mind because it works only the light-light just like washing stuff and sift the soil excavation findings to look for objects that are thought to pre-history,” said Ketut Wiradnyana, Chairman of the Institute for Archaeological Research Team of Medan.

Acara Sunat Rasul di Cotmane

My name is Wahyu

Suasana Kenduri Khitanan di Kampong Cotmane Kec. Jeumpa Aceh Barat Daya 16 Februari 2011