Gunung Leuser National Park and the surrounding landscape, are tropical rain forests that have high biodiversity values. The existence of biodiversity is very essential in order to support the sustainability of life on earth. The diversity of Leuser forest biodiversity eventually led to TNGL being awarded the "World Heritage Site (Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatera)" by the world heritage committee, UNESCO in 2004.
The national park is often referred to as the lungs of the world was also converted into a land of mining and plantation. Currently, the Leuser Ecosystem (KEL) operates 40 mining companies and 16 oil palm plantation companies. Therefore, the conversion of forest for plantation and mining needs special attention, because that is the main cause of forest destruction.
We need to learn from the Brazilian government that in order to successfully safeguard conservation forest areas, it must first protect indigenous peoples who depend on the natural forests. The transfer of rights over the management and control of natural resources to the local community has proven to be a key success in conserving the Amazon region in Brazil.