The eastern Leuser ecosystem, spanning Aceh Timur and Aceh Tamiang districts in Aceh Province and Langkat District in North Sumatera Province, represents a contiguous landscape with diverse, high-value functions. It serves as a critical habitat for key Sumatran species, including elephants, orangutans, and tigers, and supports a variety of commodities, oil and gas industries, and smallholder livelihoods, particularly through agriculture.

Over the past two decades, massive deforestation in this region has been driven primarily by the expansion of palm oil concessions. This expansion, coupled with the overcapacity of existing CPO mills, has led to a supply-demand imbalance. As a result, independent smallholders have been incentivized to encroach further into forested areas, seeking fresh palm fruit to meet market demands in the context of open access forest areas.

To address these challenges, a sustainable investment strategy grounded in multi-criteria analysis is essential. This strategy will guide the transformation from a natural resource extraction-based economy and fragmented approaches to an integrated, sustainable development model. Public-private partnership (PPP) investment is key to achieving balanced goals for production, protection, and inclusion in the region.