FOREST WAQF STRATEGY IN PROTECTING INDIGENOUS FORESTS IN ACEH PROVINCE

Abstract

Aceh's forest is a biosphere reserve, a world heritage, and a natural habitat for animals, such as the Sumatran tiger, Ceumpala Kuneng, and Sumatran elephant. However, Aceh's forests are currently experiencing a deficit related to uncontrolled land conversion, among others due to forest conversion to oil palm land, gold mining, illegal logging, and illegal new stone mining. Although Aceh's forest area as of 2019 was 2,989,212 hectares, the damage figure reached 15,140 hectares. Thus, this study aims to create a model of Aceh’s forest waqf to protect it from the natural damage caused by humans. This qualitative research utilized the ANP (Analytic Network Process) analysis tool. The study results revealed that the most important factors for Aceh's forest waqf model were components of forest waqf, companies, and the government. Forest waqf solutions include infaq and shadaqah fund solutions, waqf institutions, and full-time nazhir (waqf manager). The company's solutions encompass institutional audits, citizen patrols, and reporting. Meanwhile, the government's solution can be in the form of a limitation solution, policy evaluation, and local government involvement. Besides, the strategy of forest waqf in protecting indigenous forests in Aceh Province can be in the form of synergies between forest waqf and BAZNAS (National Zakat Amil Agency), monitoring local officials, and granting authority to local governments.