Lauser mountain national park, commonly abbreviated as TNGL. This is one of the Natural Conservation Area in Indonesia of 1,094,692 hectares which is administratively located in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. The Aceh province of TNGL covers the districts of Aceh Barat Daya, South Aceh, Aceh Singkil, Southeast Aceh, Gayo Lues, and Aceh Tamiang, while the North Sumatra Province of TNGL covers Dairi, Karo and Langkat districts.
This national park takes its name from the towering Mount Leuser with a height of 3404 meters above sea level in Aceh. This national park includes native ecosystems from coast to high mountains covered by dense rainforest typical of tropical rain, managed by a zoning system utilized for research, science, education, cultivation, tourism and recreation purposes.
Gunung Leuser National Park has 3 (three) functions:
Protection of life support systems, preservation of the diversity of plant and animal species and their ecosystems, the sustainable use of biological natural resources and their ecosystems.
The formal existence of Gunung Leuser National Park for the first time is stated in Announcement of the Minister of Agriculture Number: 811 / Kpts / Um / II / 1980 dated March 6, 1980 on the inauguration of 5 (five) National Parks in Indonesia, TN.Gunung Leuser, TN. Ujung Kulon, TN. Gede Pangrango, TN. Baluran, and TN. Komodo dragons.
Based on the Announcement of the Minister of Agriculture, the designated area of TN. Mount Leuser is 792,675 ha. The Announcement of the Minister of Agriculture was followed up with a Letter of the Directorate General of Forestry Number: 719 / Dj / VII / 1/80 dated March 7, 1980 addressed to Sub KPA Gunung Leuser. In the letter mentioned that given the status of authority of TN management. Gunung Leuser to Sub KPA Gunung Leuser.
The acceptance of Sumatra Tropical Rainforest Heritage to the list of World Heritage Sites in 2004 makes Gunung Leuser National Park also included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, together with Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
As the basis of legality in the series of forest area inauguration process has been issued Decree of the Minister of Forestry Number: 276 / Kpts-II / 1997 on the Appointment of TN. Gunung Leuser covering 1,094,692 hectares located in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra.
In the decree mentioned that TN. Mount Leuser consists of a combination of:
- Gunung Leuser Wildlife Reserve: 416,500 hectares
- Kluet Wildlife Reserve: 20,000 hectares
- West Langkat Wildlife: 51,000 hectares
-Suaka Wildlife Langkat Selatan: 82,958 hectares
-Suaka Margasatwa Sekundur: 60,600 hectares
-Kappi wildlife: 142,800 hectares
-Saman Gurah Tour: 9,200 hectares - Protection Forest and Limited Production Forest: 292,707 hectares.
According to the Minister of Forestry Regulation Number: P.03 / Menhut-II / 2007, TNGL is currently the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (DG PHKA) Ministry of Forestry, Gunung Leuser National Park Office (BBTNGL) Led by the Head of the Center (echelon II).
One of the famous Objects and Attraction of Nature (ODTWA) within TNGL is the Orangutan Observation Center of Sumatera - Bukit Lawang in Bukit Lawang Nature Reserve - Bohorok, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra.
On the other hand, this national park also received attention due to rampant illegal logging cases in some locations that violate the environmental reservation.
Most of the TNGL areas have steep topography and soil structure and texture that are prone to landslides. This is evident during the flash floods that destroyed the natural tourist area of Bukit Lawang several years ago. To further safeguard the TNGL from further damage, an area called the Leuser Ecosystem is established. This 2.6 million hectare area encompasses a flatter area around TNGL and serves as a buffer.