Aceh Province on the island of Sumatra covers most of the world acclaimed Leuser ecosystem, a global biodiversity hotspot.  It is the only place in the world where orangutans, elephants and rhinos co-exist in the wild. Aceh has 55% forest cover, which equates to around 3.2 million hectares, with 2.6 million hectares falling within the Leuser ecosystem. This includes significant tropical rainforests, peat swamps, montane, and coastal forests. These provide vital water regulation and carbon storage.   

Aceh makes a significant contribution to Indonesia’s agricultural production, primarily through palm oil, rubber, coffee and rice.  Palm oil is a source of income for 1.5 million people in Aceh Province, representing over 25% of the Aceh population. The eastern region of Aceh, spanning across Aceh Timur and Aceh Tamiang, faces a significant deforestation threat due to palm oil expansion. More than 260,000 hectares of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas lie within palm oil production zones, making the need for sustainable solutions urgent. The Aceh Sustainable Palm Oil Roadmap is working 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.

NISCOPS works in six landscapes/projects around the Leuser ecosystem: Aceh Timur, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Singkil, Aceh Utara, Aeh Subulassalem and Langkat. The program aims to create deforestation-free and inclusive palm oil supply chains - safeguarding the integrity of the Leuser ecosystem while supporting sustainable development. 

Landscape Partnerships

Aceh's Green Growth Plan is a roadmap for producing sustainable commodities whilst protecting natural forests. This includes increasing the productivity of oil palm plants - which cover around 470,000 hectares in Aceh - and implementing No Deforestation No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) principles in the supply chain.  A buffer zone management model for the Leuser ecosystem will further support forest protection, promote sustainable palm oil sourcing and improve community livelihoods. To help protect HCV/HCS areas deforestation monitoring, reporting and verification systems are being established across Aceh Province. 

The Aceh Sustainable Palm Oil roadmap

To implement the Aceh Sustainable Palm Oil roadmap 2023-2045, IDH has established co-financing projects with seven global supply chain companies: Unilever, PepsiCo, Mars, Mondelez, GAR, Musim Mas and Apical. These partnerships help build smallholders capacity, reduce deforestation, improve landscape resilience and create deforestation and conversion-free supply chains. 

There are a diverse range of partners – government, NGOs, the private sector and communities – engaged in sustainably developing Aceh Province.  

There are many opportunities to support this incredible landscape. Please click the 'Contact the Initiative' button on the left hand of this page to get in touch.