Susceptibility of Cultivated Plants to Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in The Human Elephants Conflict Area in Aceh Province
Abstract: Study on
human-elephant conflict was conducted in Aceh Province in August 2013−April
2014 to assess susceptibility of farms by crop raiding elephants. The locations
were determined by selected areas impacted by elephant conflict including Cot
Girek, Mane, Meureudu, Sampoiniet, and Pantai Ceureumen. 150 respondents was interviewed to assess the variety of the commodity plant
species cultivated by local community within study areas, species of damaged
commodity plants, species of undamaged
commodity plants, and the planting system. There were 29 species considered as
commodity plants cultivated by farmers. Moreover, 5 commodity plants were
considered as high risk plants damaged by elephant including areca, banana, oil
palm, paddy, and rubber. On the other hand, species considered as low risk or
undamaged consist of cacao, coffee, chili, candlenut, and patchioli. Those low
risk or undemaged commodity plants species have a potential to be promoted as
elephant-friendly crop commodities in area adjacent to elephant habitat based
on the analysis and the categorization of susceptibility of cultivated plants
against crop raiding elephant. One of the problems of human-elephant conflict
is crop raiding of village farms. It is assumed that elephants might destroy a
particular species therefore information
on the species could assist farmers in selecting appropriate crop to be
planted. There is a risk that current
polyculture and monoculture planting system used by farmers will not prevent
farms from crop raiding elephants.
Author: Kaniwa Berliani, Hadi
Sukadi Alikodra, Burhanuddin Masy'ud, Mirza Dikari Kusrini
Journal Code: jpkehutanangg160005