You can almost feel the weight of the news the moment you step into it. A massive flash flood has torn through 13 regions in West Sumatra, leaving communities shaken and the country grieving. As the water surged, another harsh truth rose to the surface. This wasn’t just about extreme weather. Human actions helped shape the disaster.
UNESCO’s warning about Sumatra’s forests suddenly feels painfully real. Those forests, once celebrated as the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, earned global recognition in 2004. Yet years of illegal logging, land grabs, and infrastructure plans have pushed the area into UNESCO’s “in danger” category since 2011. That status remains today.
The heritage site spans three national parks spread far across the island. Gunung Leuser, Kerinci Seblat, and Bukit Barisan Selatan cover more than 2.5 million hectares from Aceh down to Lampung. It is one of Southeast Asia’s largest conservation zones.
Inside it lies astonishing biodiversity. Roughly 10,000 plant species thrive there, including 17 that exist nowhere else. Wildlife is just as remarkable. There are 201 mammal species and around 580 bird species. Among them are 465 resident birds and 21 endemic ones.
Many mammals are unique to this part of the world. Twenty-two species belong to the Sundaland hotspot. Fifteen are found only in Indonesia, including the Sumatran orangutan. Other iconic animals such as the Sumatran tiger, rhinoceros, elephant, and the Malayan sun bear also depend on the forest.
UNESCO also praises the region’s natural beauty. Mount Kerinci rises 3,805 meters above sea level and is Indonesia’s tallest volcano. It is home to Lake Gunung Tujuh, the highest lake in Southeast Asia. The surrounding highlands hold volcanic and glacial lakes, fumaroles, waterfalls, cave systems, and steep rocky scenery.
Both Gunung Leuser National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park face the Indian Ocean. This creates an elevation range that stretches from coastal lowlands to the tallest mountains in Sumatra.
The size and shape of the area allow countless species to survive in their natural habitat. This is especially important for animals that need wide roaming grounds such as Sumatran tigers, orangutans, elephants, rhinos, and the Sumatran ground-cuckoo.
The region also acts as a living scientific laboratory. It hosts leading research sites like Way Canguk, Ketambe, and Suaq Belimbing. These centers attract international collaboration from major institutions around the world.
While all of that stands on paper, Sumatra is currently battling severe floods across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Videos showing torrents crashing into neighborhoods have sparked fear and sympathy nationwide.
Read also: Flash Floods Hit West Sumatra, Shutting Roads but Airports Stay Open
Communities in northern Sumatra are facing the worst of it. And while many mourn the tragedy, there is growing recognition that the damage isn’t caused by nature alone. Human activity has played a clear role.
Walhi North Sumatra has been vocal about the widespread illegal logging that has stripped the region of its water catchment areas. Without forests to absorb rainfall, floodwaters rise faster and stronger.
Footage circulating online shows thousands of logs rushing through flood zones in several districts, including South Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, and Sibolga. These scenes have gone viral, and many people suspect the piles of wood came from illegal logging operations that worsened the flooding and triggered landslides.
All the facts tell the same story. The disaster is natural, but its scale is not.
