Digital Tools Bringing Visibility to Landscape Land Management Improvements

Effective sustainable landscape management requires a comprehensive view of how landscapes are maintained and monitored. Fortunately, technology can do this with collaborative, near real-time solutions. In Singkil District, Aceh Province of Indonesia, multiple stakeholders are working together to balance conservation with sustainable development, the need for a digital platform to monitor and report progress has become essential.

The Leuser Alas-Singkil River-basin (LASR) project has supported the development of a Landscape Improvements Dashboard (LID), a digital tool designed to provide visibility into stakeholder actions, achievements, and progress against set targets in pursuit of objectives to manage the landscape better. Developed in partnership with Koltiva, the Landscape Dashboard operates within KoltiTrace CRM — a platform tailored to member-based organizations like Singkil’s Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF). Equipped with features such as progress dashboards, files attachment capabilities, and a “News” section, the Dashboard empowers the Singkil government and its partners to effectively track, evaluate, and report collective actions towards a sustainable landscape vision. The government values the progress dashboard that enables them to showcase the district's achievements by embedding it directly into their official website.

The development process was highly iterative, involving discussions about user interface and experience through a series of workshops, meetings, and individual presentations. Facilitated by LASR, the government engaged all stakeholders to collaboratively establish the key performance indicators for the Dashboard. These indicators are designed to align with the targets set forth in Singkil’s MSF collective action initiatives, including the Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil (RAP-SPO) and Visi Lanskap.

The Dashboard was launched by the Regent of Aceh Singkil District in July 2024, coinciding with the signing of the Visi Lanskap, which served as a shared vision and action plan. During the event, discussions among the government and stakeholders highlighted three key elements essential for the future of the Landscape Improvements Dashboard:

• Data Management and Ownership: The government oversees ownership and data management, emphasizing the importance of accurate data that is recognized and validated by official source.
• Legal and Governance Framework: To formalize the Dashboard, a Regent’s Regulation (PerBup) is necessary, along with the establishment of  a clear governance structure and strong government leadership.
• Public Awareness and Reporting: Highlight the importance of public awareness campaigns and the Dashboard’s role in recording and summarizing achievements for data comparison.

The Singkil District government, represented by the Regional Development and Planning Agency (Bappeda), will lead and manage the Landscape Improvements Dashboard. LASR has enhanced the capacity of Bappeda personnel in the MSF Secretariat to serve as Dashboard Administrator and Facilitator through trainings and expert coaching, ensuring effective knowledge transfer. Additionally, LASR organized training sessions for all MSF members to help them navigate the Dashboard and input progress & achievement.

LASR will replicate its efforts in the other project locations in Aceh Province. The project aims to produce traceable results and impacts from collaborative efforts in sustainable palm oil, which will not only inform the government about the progress of its development partners but also help stakeholders understand each organization’s activities to avoid overlap and enhance collaboration. Ultimately, the data collected in the Landscape Improvements Dashboard will empower the Local Government to strategically prioritize initiatives that enhance community welfare while preserving the environment.