5x5 Bukit Lawang

5x5 Bukit Lawang

5x5 Bukit Lawang
Video sent by gekkostudio

The film is based in Bukit Lawang, where devastating floods caused over 239 deaths in 2003. The flooding was attributed to illegal logging in the surrounding Gunung Leuser National Park. Since the floods, this village community has been involved in voluntary forest governance enforcement schemes in an attempt to curb illegal logging in the National Park. The community has also started to recognise the important role of ecotourism in the preservation of their surrounding forests.

Eco-Tourism replaces Illegal Logging:
The story of Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, Indonesia

It had rained heavilly for two days. Few of the locals along the Bahorok river in northern Sumatra showed much concern. The river communities of Indonesia have grown familiar with flooding during the rainy season. This time things would be tragically different. On the night of 2nd November 2003 a massive flash flood swept through and devastated settlements along the banks of the Bahorok. The epi-centre of the tragedy focussed on one small village, the tourist resort of Bukit Lawang.

Sometimes the issues surrounding climate change, deforestation and illegal logging can seem so inordinately vast: the human side - the personal story - can often be forgotten. Occasionally these global problems of deforestation
impact themselves in one tiny area: and suddenly, in a microcosm, all the devastation and horror has a very real human face. The village of Bukit Lawang inadvertently found itself thrust into such a position.

Bukit Lawang had originally been a small village on the edge of an oil-palm plantation, but since the founding of the Gunung Leuser national park and the establishment of the world famous orangutan rehabilitation centre a mile upstream, the village had prospered and thrived through tourism. In the space of a few hours that tragic night Bukit Lawang in effect completely dissapeared: 400 houses, 3 mosques, 8 bridges, 280 kiosks and food stalls, 35 inns and guest houses: all had gone. 239 villagers, as well as five tourists, were dead. 1,400 locals found themselves displaced.

When the worst of the flood water had abated and the desperate search for survivors finally called off, the villagers found a curious sight surrounding them. Thousands of massive logs mixed with rocks and mud stood in ugly heaps along the valley, the riverbank and the site of the village. Some of these piles stood more than two stories high. It suggested the tragedy was not natural but caused by logging in the national park. It was discovered, although stringently denied by the authorities, that loggers had felled several thousand trees in the upper reaches of the mountains and had been storing them in an artificial dam, before sending them downriver. After the heavy rainfall, landslides from deforested parts of the park tumbled into the swollen river: the Bahorok, beyond its holding capacity abruptly burst its banks. The flood water roared downstream carrying with it its deadly cargo of chainsawed logs and timber, which acting like battering-rams, smashed and flattened everything in their path.

The clean-up operation cleared away the accumulation of debris, aid organisations and local authorities constructed new bridges, reinforced the banks of the Bahork and built a new housing complex on the higher ground. Slowly things are adjusting back to an air of normality, thanks largely to the strength and spirit of the community. Village members share whatever aid they recieve and work together without question. But despite the rich, often cheerful spirit of the survivors – a deep sadness remains hidden just below the surface. It’s the fourth year since the flood and Rahmad Nasution will be thinking about his life before the tragedy: his daily routines, his family that he will never see again, the others who were lost in this remarkably close community. Rahmad’s memories are unequivocally painful

“...I tried to save the older people, but I was trapped in the middle of the river, it was very dark and I still heard the crying for help. I had no chance to save my family, my sweetest people, my child, my supersede, I was not strong during that time...the day after, I found my sister, my wife’s-parents, then my wife, that is the unforgettable moment, it will be my wound...I thank God he gave me my life, I pray to him for the people who died...”

Since the disaster, something unique has occured in the vicinity of the Bahork river which could well send a message to other areas within Indonesia. The strength in community has led to a motivation among many villagers to finally put an end to illegal logging in their forests. Through the aid and suprevision of YLL, an NGO based in nearby Medan, the communities themselves are forming initiatives and organisations to help stop the practice of illegal logging in the national park. In the nearby village of Penampean local people have joined a volunteer ranger unit which patrols the forest.

“...the history of ranger in Penampean started after Bukit Lawang flood, triggered by YLL we established a ranger organisation to protect the forest. Many of my friends had been involved in illegal logging activities but now they think again: our forest is nearly broken, people have had a negative impact, so our ex-logger friends have joined with the rangers to curb illegal logging in Gunung Leuser national park. Our purpose now is to establish eco-tourism in the vilage...”

Bukit Lawang has slowly rebuilt itself since the flood. Along the riverside where women of the village launder, whilst their children play and totter in the slow swirling shallows, there are once again small restaurants and food stalls and guest houses. The few remaining hotels are also opening and recieving tourists. The orangutan rehabilitation centre has been repaired and already visitors queue at the river crossing to see the great red-haired ape of the Sumatran rainforest. Bukit Lawang is open once more.

“...regarding eco-tourism actvities we started to organise meetings to make the community aware of the importance of eco-tourism, such as forming groups of (forest) guides...the impact of the Bahorok flood has not been good on the tourist industry, if we compare today with the past, less tourists have come than before, so our strategy is to promote the benefits of eco-tourism ...this is being implemented in daily life...eco-tourism will protect the daily life of the community as well as the national park...” said Didi Charamsar, executive director YLL.

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5x5 Bukit Lawang
Video sent by gekkostudio

The film is based in Bukit Lawang, where devastating floods caused over 239 deaths in 2003. The flooding was attributed to illegal logging in the surrounding Gunung Leuser National Park. Since the floods, this village community has been involved in voluntary forest governance enforcement schemes in an attempt to curb illegal logging in the National Park. The community has also started to recognise the important role of ecotourism in the preservation of their surrounding forests.

Eco-Tourism replaces Illegal Logging:
The story of Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, Indonesia

It had rained heavilly for two days. Few of the locals along the Bahorok river in northern Sumatra showed much concern. The river communities of Indonesia have grown familiar with flooding during the rainy season. This time things would be tragically different. On the night of 2nd November 2003 a massive flash flood swept through and devastated settlements along the banks of the Bahorok. The epi-centre of the tragedy focussed on one small village, the tourist resort of Bukit Lawang.

Sometimes the issues surrounding climate change, deforestation and illegal logging can seem so inordinately vast: the human side - the personal story - can often be forgotten. Occasionally these global problems of deforestation
impact themselves in one tiny area: and suddenly, in a microcosm, all the devastation and horror has a very real human face. The village of Bukit Lawang inadvertently found itself thrust into such a position.

Bukit Lawang had originally been a small village on the edge of an oil-palm plantation, but since the founding of the Gunung Leuser national park and the establishment of the world famous orangutan rehabilitation centre a mile upstream, the village had prospered and thrived through tourism. In the space of a few hours that tragic night Bukit Lawang in effect completely dissapeared: 400 houses, 3 mosques, 8 bridges, 280 kiosks and food stalls, 35 inns and guest houses: all had gone. 239 villagers, as well as five tourists, were dead. 1,400 locals found themselves displaced.

When the worst of the flood water had abated and the desperate search for survivors finally called off, the villagers found a curious sight surrounding them. Thousands of massive logs mixed with rocks and mud stood in ugly heaps along the valley, the riverbank and the site of the village. Some of these piles stood more than two stories high. It suggested the tragedy was not natural but caused by logging in the national park. It was discovered, although stringently denied by the authorities, that loggers had felled several thousand trees in the upper reaches of the mountains and had been storing them in an artificial dam, before sending them downriver. After the heavy rainfall, landslides from deforested parts of the park tumbled into the swollen river: the Bahorok, beyond its holding capacity abruptly burst its banks. The flood water roared downstream carrying with it its deadly cargo of chainsawed logs and timber, which acting like battering-rams, smashed and flattened everything in their path.

The clean-up operation cleared away the accumulation of debris, aid organisations and local authorities constructed new bridges, reinforced the banks of the Bahork and built a new housing complex on the higher ground. Slowly things are adjusting back to an air of normality, thanks largely to the strength and spirit of the community. Village members share whatever aid they recieve and work together without question. But despite the rich, often cheerful spirit of the survivors – a deep sadness remains hidden just below the surface. It’s the fourth year since the flood and Rahmad Nasution will be thinking about his life before the tragedy: his daily routines, his family that he will never see again, the others who were lost in this remarkably close community. Rahmad’s memories are unequivocally painful

“...I tried to save the older people, but I was trapped in the middle of the river, it was very dark and I still heard the crying for help. I had no chance to save my family, my sweetest people, my child, my supersede, I was not strong during that time...the day after, I found my sister, my wife’s-parents, then my wife, that is the unforgettable moment, it will be my wound...I thank God he gave me my life, I pray to him for the people who died...”

Since the disaster, something unique has occured in the vicinity of the Bahork river which could well send a message to other areas within Indonesia. The strength in community has led to a motivation among many villagers to finally put an end to illegal logging in their forests. Through the aid and suprevision of YLL, an NGO based in nearby Medan, the communities themselves are forming initiatives and organisations to help stop the practice of illegal logging in the national park. In the nearby village of Penampean local people have joined a volunteer ranger unit which patrols the forest.

“...the history of ranger in Penampean started after Bukit Lawang flood, triggered by YLL we established a ranger organisation to protect the forest. Many of my friends had been involved in illegal logging activities but now they think again: our forest is nearly broken, people have had a negative impact, so our ex-logger friends have joined with the rangers to curb illegal logging in Gunung Leuser national park. Our purpose now is to establish eco-tourism in the vilage...”

Bukit Lawang has slowly rebuilt itself since the flood. Along the riverside where women of the village launder, whilst their children play and totter in the slow swirling shallows, there are once again small restaurants and food stalls and guest houses. The few remaining hotels are also opening and recieving tourists. The orangutan rehabilitation centre has been repaired and already visitors queue at the river crossing to see the great red-haired ape of the Sumatran rainforest. Bukit Lawang is open once more.

“...regarding eco-tourism actvities we started to organise meetings to make the community aware of the importance of eco-tourism, such as forming groups of (forest) guides...the impact of the Bahorok flood has not been good on the tourist industry, if we compare today with the past, less tourists have come than before, so our strategy is to promote the benefits of eco-tourism ...this is being implemented in daily life...eco-tourism will protect the daily life of the community as well as the national park...” said Didi Charamsar, executive director YLL.