Aceh Tamiang is part of the world acclaimed Gunung Leuser National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The landscape includes an important remainder of lowland forest areas. It is home to highly charismatic species, such as Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran elephants, and rhinos. The regency is part of Aceh Province, which has around 3 million hectares of forest, equating to 55% forest cover.   

Aceh Tamiang makes a significant contribution to Indonesia’s agricultural production, primarily through palm oil, coffee and rubber. The eastern region of Aceh, spanning across Aceh Timur and Aceh Tamiang, faces a significant deforestation threat due to palm oil expansion. The Aceh Sustainable Palm Oil Roadmap works with the corporate sector to achieve a deforestation-free supply chain.  

About NISCOPS 

National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) - a partnership between IDH and Solidaridad - brings together key stakeholders to improve land use, create better incomes for smallholders and promote inclusive markets.

The work in Indonesia aims to achieve deforestation-free and inclusive palm oil supply chains – safeguarding the integrity of the Leuser ecosystem while supporting sustainable development.  

About NORAD 

The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) aims to achieve the goals of Norwegian development policy and promote sustainable development. NORAD is a major donor of the work in Aceh Tamiang, enabling conditions that support investment in the landscape. The program supports deforestation initiatives and capacity building for smallholders. 

Improving land use

The Aceh Tamiang government and major palm oil buyers, including PepsiCo and Unilever, are working together to decouple palm oil from deforestation. A buffer zone management model is being developed in Aceh Province. This will help increase forest protection and regeneration, promote sustainable palm oil sourcing, and improve livelihoods.  IDH Is also working with oil palm plants to implement NDPE principles in the supply chain. 

The Aceh Green Growth Plan aims to increase areas of forest protection including High Conservation Value (HCV) areas.  A deforestation monitoring and verification team has been established. Thanks to a collaborative approach, deforestation is being reveresed in Aceh Tamiang, demonstrating the success of the landscape approach.  

Creating better incomes and inclusive markets  

Aceh Tamiang has 29% forest cover, and 28% palm oil cover, of which 50% is managed by smallholder farmers. IDH aim to integrate smallholders into a deforestation-free sustainable palm oil supply chain, whilst bridging the gap towards a living income. Smallholder farmers benefit from Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) training and access to finance, certification, and markets, particularly in remote areas. They have organised themselves into farmers groups, resulting in increased yields and incomes. Public-private partnerships support local farmers to achieve Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification. By the end of 2024, 2200 smallholders achieved certification, marking the first achievement of its kind in Indonesia.