Road Impact Study on Ecosystem Services in RIMBA Ecosystem Corridor

In the last five years, people in the central Sumatra have been cheering up the newly constructed toll roads that they perceive to be a potential economic growth. The section of toll road connecting two important cities in Riau Province (Dumai- Pekanbaru)—and also the other sections between Jambi and Palembang (some section are under construction)—is believed to give a hint that the Government is determined to put the linear infrastructure into the list of National Strategic Project. Being in charge of the toll road building, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) have received a feedback— to be taken into account for ecosystem studies for the development of toll road infrastructure in the central Sumatra corridor containing— stakeholders’ concern for wildlife habitat, including WWF Indonesia. The planned toll road sections seemed to be a delicate issue at the beginning as some of them pass through elephant and tiger habitat areas, yet eventually, it can be overcome— thanks to the decision that they made to build some animal bridge facilities through which wildlife still manage to make cross-section mobility. This approach is known as nature- based solutions (NbS).

We hope that this report synthesis can help policymakers and decision makers in understanding the impacts of linear infrastructure on ecosystems and wildlife. Chances are, there may be some imperfections in this report synthesis, and thus we encourage all stakeholders to share inputs and suggestions with us.