Aceh Singkil
General information
Conveners
Earthworm Foundation
IDH
Consortiums
NISCOPS

About

Aceh Singkil is home to parts of the renowned Gunung Leuser National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The district includes important natural forest areas and peatlands that act as important carbon sinks. The wider Aceh Province has 55% forest cover (around 3.2 million hectares) and is a vital habitat for highly charismatic species including Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran elephants, and rhinos.   

Aceh Singkil makes a significant contribution to Indonesia’s agricultural production, primarily through palm oil cultivation, as well as the production of natural rubber and cocoa. The area also plays a vital role in fisheries.  Palm oil expansion poses a significant threat to deforestation in the region. The Aceh Sustainable Palm Oil Roadmap - a provincial policy framework - aims 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, provide better incomes and create inclusive markets.

In Indonesia the program aims to create deforestation-free and inclusive palm oil supply chains. The aim is to safeguard the integrity of the Leuser ecosystem while supporting sustainable development.

Improving land use

Deforestation in Aceh Singkil is on a downward trend with the region losing 258 hectares in 2021 and 176 hectares in 2024. IDH has partnered with Apical to pilot deforestation monitoring in six priority villages, covering an area of 13,400 hectares, close to the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve.  

Palm oil is the largest type of plantation area in Aceh Singkil spanning 67 kha, covering 36% of the land area. Without intervention, deforestation could escalate.  NISCOPS has partnered with Apical to pilot deforestation monitoring in six priority villages, covering an area of 13,400 hectares in the Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve .  A buffer zone management model is under development for the Leuser ecosystem.   

Creating better incomes and inclusive markets

NISCOPS aims to integrate smallholders into a deforestation-free sustainable palm oil supply chain, whilst bridging the gap towards a living income. IDH is working with oil palm plants to improve their productivity and implement No Deforestation No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) principles in the supply chain.

In addition to Apical, IDH has developed a partnership with Mondelez, GAR and PT SMART Tbk in Aceh Singkil (as well as Aceh Utara, Aceh Subulussalam and Langkat) which focuses on deforestation monitoring, smallholder capacity building and market transformation.  Smallholder farmers are being provided with Good Agriculture Practice (GAP),  support with sustainable certification readiness and land legaility.  

Support the Aceh Singkil landscape

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

There are many opportunities to support this incredible landscape. Please click on the ‘Contact the Initiative’ button on the left to get in touch.