Conflict Mitigation Program for intervention villages “Desa Melibur”

September 13, 2018

Desa Melibur is a house and the home range of Sumatran elephants which is directly adjacent to PT. Arara Abadi, where this area is a protected area that has been defined by UNESCO as the Biosphere Forest area of ​​Giam Siak Kecil.

Several cases of elephant deaths often occur in Industrial Plantation Forest (HTI) concessions in two large companies. The first is in the area of ​​PT. Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) and in the area of ​​PT Arara Abadi, which is caused by illegal poachers who want ivory from the elephant. Not only that, some people also poisoned and installed nylon traps at several points that caused elephants and elephants to be trapped. And that makes some elephants have to walk by being cut off because they are infected with a trap that is still attached to the foot of the elephant.

Local people feel disturbed by the presence of these animals because they damage community plantations, and the people also feel annoyed by our presence, because we are considered to invite elephants to come to their village.

On this basis the Rimba Satwa Foundation (RSF) again embraced local communities in the area to jointly fight conflict and reduce casualties or loss of material as before. Serai Wangi and Tasik Serai Timur villages are the 4th village which is an area of ​​RSF awareness. With the program to build and improve the capacity of the conflict mitigation team in the intervention villages, the RSF tries to invite the community to participate in the protection of protected areas which also provides a good standard of handling and prevention so that the number of victims or material losses can be reduced.