Blangkejeren, Aceh – Environmental degradation in the protected forest and APL (Other Land Use Area) of Tengkereng Tangsaran, Pantan Cuaca Subdistrict, Gayo Lues Regency, is growing increasingly dire. The gold mining exploration conducted by Jakarta-based company PT Gayo Mineral Resource (GMR) is widely believed to be the primary cause behind the escalating ecological damage in the region.
Field observations on Friday, June 20, 2025, revealed widespread destruction: thousands of trees felled, vast expanses of bare land exposed, and slopes destabilized, now prone to landslides. The situation is deemed particularly hazardous as the exploration site lies close to the national road connecting Blangkejeren and Takengon—a vital artery for transportation and logistics across Aceh’s interior.
One particularly suspicious finding was the disappearance of official signs marking the area as protected forest. There are strong indications that the signs were deliberately removed to obscure the land’s legal status from public oversight and law enforcement scrutiny.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO RESUME CONTENT
Local drivers and residents who frequent the national road have voiced their growing concern over the lack of government oversight and the potential dangers stemming from the mining activities.
“We drive through this road almost every day. The condition is getting worse. It’s now prone to landslides—big trees are gone, and the hills have been opened up by heavy machinery,” said Heri (38), a local truck driver.
Calls for government and law enforcement intervention are mounting, echoed by environmentalists and academics alike. Dr. Nasrul Zaman, former Chair of WALHI Aceh’s Regional Council, emphasized that the environmental damage must be treated as a serious, collective concern.
Quoted by Tribun Gayo, Nasrul warned:
“If this continues unchecked, we’ll lose one of Aceh’s key ecological buffer zones. This isn’t just about mining—this is about safeguarding people’s lives and the future of coming generations.”
He argued that GMR’s exploration activities are endangering the forest’s vital ecological roles: water retention, erosion control, and biodiversity protection. Nasrul also questioned whether GMR has truly fulfilled its legal obligations, such as environmental impact assessments (AMDAL), and environmental management and monitoring plans (UKL-UPL).
Public skepticism grew after banners circulating both on-site and on social media claimed that GMR possesses a valid Forest Area Use Permit (IPPKH) for exploration in a protected forest, referencing Ministerial Decree No. 263 of 2025 issued on May 16, 2025. However, this decree is nowhere to be found on the official websites of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) or Indonesia’s national legal documentation portal (JDIH), casting serious doubt on the validity of the claimed permit.
Adding to the growing criticism, the Aceh Protected Forest Institute has demanded KLHK to immediately release all permits and supporting documents claimed by GMR to the public.
“We urge KLHK to review this permit and re-audit all exploration activities conducted by PT GMR in Gayo Lues. If it is indeed within a protected forest zone, the operation must be immediately halted,”
declared Abdiansyah, Secretary of the Aceh Protected Forest Institute.
Abdiansyah also raised concerns about the lack of tangible benefits for local communities. He criticized GMR for its opacity and failure to implement any visible social contribution, empowerment programs, or compensation schemes for the affected populations.
“The company has brought more destruction than development. What has GMR done for the people of Gayo Lues? Nothing we can see. The roads are damaged, forests are stripped bare, and the people are left watching as heavy equipment takes over their land,” he said bluntly.
As of this report’s release, PT Gayo Mineral Resource has not issued any official response to the growing allegations. Multiple attempts to reach the company through email and official contacts have gone unanswered.
The public now awaits decisive action from KLHK and law enforcement authorities. Immediate field verification, a full permit audit, and a thorough review of environmental documents are essential to prevent an even greater ecological disaster. If found in violation of regulations or operating within protected forest zones, GMR’s mining activities must be halted and subjected to legal action. (Team)
