Journal of Report in SUMECO (Sumatra Ecoproject) Development Through Its Conservation Based BLE (Bukit Lawang Ecotourism).
- SUMECO-BLE 2014 Reports: The Establishment of SUMECO in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra.
Two years after the establishment of Bukit Lawang Ecotourism (2012) in Bukit Lawang, Bohorok, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, the founder of the company started to think about expanding the business by collaborating with a local conservation organization. The available idea at that time was to establish a private conservation organization that would generate money from company profits. The present expectation was to follow all client’s demands after frequently spotting wildlife in illegal captivities during the tours. - SUMECO-BLE 2015 Reports: Settlement with Bukit Lawang Hill Resort.
BLE (Bukit Lawang Ecotourism) was considered to be able to generate income sustainably. Company profits needed to be allocated to SUMECO as the construction of Bukit Lawang Hill Resort has started. All funds were officially reported through the finstat forum under SUMECO’s official registered domain. Profits gained by Bukit Lawang Hill Resort were also shared with SUMECO to extend and support its grassroots work in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra, Indonesia. - SUMECO-BLE 2016 Reports: Prioritizing Conservation Action in Working Area of Bukit Lawang Ecotourism.
Numerous private funders have approved of and oversaw the prioritization of conservation action throughout all Bukit Lawang Ecotourism initiatives. It was crucial to involve scholars with scientific backgrounds in the endeavor. The key principles that serve as the starting cornerstone for the implementation of SUMECO operations have undergone extensive internal scrutiny. It was expected to validate all conservation-related activities conducted by SUMECO must be following an academic scientific base and available regulations led by The Ministry of Environment and Forestry. - SUMECO-BLE 2017 Reports: Strategic Development in the Implementation of the Ecotourism Concept in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra, Through the Herpetology Sector.
The outcomes of several discussions paved the way for those who want to conduct research, engage in snake-handling experiences, and other herpetology-related activities outside of the Gunung Leuser National Park in-situ conservation area. Bukit Lawang Ecotourism has invited several herpetologists from around the world to come over and oversee herpetology experiences in Bukit Lawang Ecotourism’s working area via its (previous) domain, bukitlawang[dot]asia. Snake rescue and herping have become featured activities in introducing SUMECO among local communities and foreign tourists. Along with this strategy, prioritization of gaining more views and information on the illegally captured protected species in the Bukit Lawang Ecotourism working area also needed to be conducted.
[1] https://mwilsonherps.com/asia-the-middle-east/sumatra-indonesia/
[2] https://www.herpsafari.nl/trip-reports-outside-eu/asia/2018-8-indonesia-sumatra-komodo-np/ - SUMECO-BLE 2018 Reports: Relationship Establishment with Related Party in Gunung Leuser National Park.
BLE (Bukit Lawang Ecotourism) can be offered as an alternative tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists who seek natural attractions. Besides, it can be used as a location for scholars and academicians living in Medan City who need to carry out activities in the open air, or it can be employed as a research location for animal and plant studies. The government can also organize cross-country competitions to attract the enthusiasm of the community and promote environmental care programs. However, relating to SUMECO’s main objectives in strengthening the relationship and connection to the related party such as Gunung Leuser National Park is mandatory. Any circumstances referring to the conservation efforts that SUMECO wanted to achieve, were highly dependent on its gained-funding budgets and SUMECO incomes through its business entity in Bukit Lawang. - SUMECO-BLE 2019 Reports: Relationship Establishment with Related Parties in Wildlife Authorities.
SUMECO is recognized as a conservation organization focused on wildlife (animal rescue) in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra. The wildlife authority, BBKSDASU, which stands for Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Sumatera Utara (Nature Conservation Agency of North Sumatra), has demanded SUMECO submit annual reports and files officially. It was also prioritized to establish SUMECO’s special tasks in combating wildlife trafficking. Bukit Lawang Ecotourism and two other private funders have become key players in implementing SUMECO special tasks to combat wildlife trafficking in North Sumatra and Aceh. Gunung Leuser National Park Agency has helped SUMECO become its primary partner in all conservation-related activities both within and outside the Bukit Lawang Ecotourism working area. - SUMECO-BLE 2020-2022 Reports: Facing COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Bukit Lawang Ecotourism Conservation Efforts in Gunung Leuser National Park.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a painful impact on the tourism sector. The tourism sector in Langkat Regency has been shut down due to the temporary closure during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it is worth it to be considered a calm phase for the environment and its wildlife. The fact that the tourism industry keeps sending visitors into Gunung Leuser National Park should be taken as a concrete lesson for the preservation-oriented community. The decline in visitors has occurred due to a slowdown in foreign and domestic travel. It is most likely because the international community is so worried about the COVID-19 infection that they are reluctant to travel. However, this decline has seriously impacted micro, small, and medium enterprises. SUMECO has been seriously impacted as well during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it loses its income from its business entity functioned to fund its conservation work in BLE (Bukit Lawang Ecotourism). - SUMECO-BLE 2022 Reports: The Establishment of Bukit Lawang Ecotourism’s New Website, and Capacity Improvement in Its Introduction.
The COVID-19 pandemic seems to be softened, and ecotourism activities of Bukit Lawang Ecotourism are expected to start and back on track to gain trust to continue its function in supporting SUMECO (Sumatra Ecoproject) conservation efforts in Bukit Lawang for the preservation of the biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park, in North Sumatra and Aceh, Indonesia.
[1] https://www.bukitlawangecotourism.com - SUMECO-BLE 2023 Reports: The Development of Conservation-Based Ecotourism (Tenggulun Ecotourism) With Supporting Local Communities to Fight Against Corporate Deforestation and Palm Oil Plantation Expansion in Tenggulun’s Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh, and North Sumatra.
Tenggulun is a village located at the edge of a degraded area of Gunung Leuser National Park at the border of Aceh and North Sumatra, Sumatra, Indonesia. It’s essential to learn more about this village as the expansion of palm oil plantations and deforestation seem to be the main issues in this village, while this village has also been marked as a conflicted area between the authority of Gunung Leuser National Park and local corporations that cause deforestation and palm oil plantation expansion.
[1] https://www.sumeco.id/tenggulunecotourism/ - SUMECO-BLE 2024 Reports: Sustainable Development of Halaban Ecotourism Through Wild Sumatran Elephants.
Halaban’s sustainable ecotourism development method in the initial stages, in 2023, still relies on ecotourism activities to see wild elephants that have fixed movement areas. As it’s known, this implementation was initialized in Tenggulun, Aceh Tamiang, in March 2023, when, during the process of tourism development, we accidentally discovered many illegal logging activities carried out by local communities that had become our future challenge to its development.
Our continuous efforts for sustainable development of Halaban ecotourism have never shifted away from ecotourism elements based on conservation and empowerment of local communities, which in the future are expected to be able to increase the protection capacity of Gunung Leuser National Park, carried out by authorities together with the surrounding community.
The application of economic value through conservation-based ecotourism activities in Halaban is expected to have positive impacts on public awareness of environmental sustainability in the surrounding areas, especially for the biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park. Ecotourism in Halaban has a significant part in ‘creating economic benefits’ since it creates jobs in remote places that have not been touched by the government.
[1] https://www.sumeco.id/halabanecotourism/
