There is another equally important issue: how to ensure that\ncommunities living on the edges of conservation areas can continue to\nearn an income without coming into conflict with wildlife.<\/p>\n
Bandarlampung (ANTARA) - Efforts to prevent human-elephant conflict\nin Way Kambas National Park (TNWK), East Lampung Regency, Lampung\nProvince, are no longer solely reliant on boundary fences. An\nenvironment-based approach and community empowerment are being developed\nso that residents\u2019 lands are no longer attractive to elephants.<\/p>\n
Until now, iron fences and elephant dispersal were considered the\nonly ways to curb the rampage of elephants exiting the forest. However,\nthis method is being phased out in favour of a new approach. Residents\u2019\nlands are being managed in such a way that they are no longer appealing\nto elephants, while crops and animals that the wildlife dislikes are\ninstead cultivated as sources of income for the community.<\/p>\n
The idea is simple: if elephants dislike something, why not plant or\nraise it around settlements? Lemongrass and bees are two primary\noptions. The sharp aroma of lemongrass and the sting of bees are\nbelieved to make elephants reluctant to approach. At the same time, both\nhave economic value; bees produce honey, while lemongrass can be\nprocessed into essential oils.<\/p>\n
Commander of the XXI\/Radin Inten Military Regional Command, Major\nGeneral TNI Kristomei Sianturi, stated that conflict mitigation does not\nstop at the construction of physical barriers. Environment-based\napproaches and community empowerment are also being developed. One\nmethod involves training the community to cultivate plants and animals\nthat elephants dislike, such as lemongrass and bees.<\/p>\n
According to Kristomei, these two commodities are expected to help\nensure that elephants do not leave the forest area. Simultaneously, the\nyields from these activities can be utilised by the community as a\nsource of income. Bees serve a function beyond just producing honey;\ntheir buzzing can trigger a cautious response in elephants, causing the\nanimals to keep their distance. Therefore, beehives are placed as part\nof a mitigation strategy and as a new economic resource for the\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
The Chairman of the Joint Committee for the Mitigation and Handling\nof Negative Sumatra Elephant Interactions in TNWK, Brigadier General TNI\nSriyanto, stated that approximately 900 beehives previously distributed\nto the community have already yielded harvests. These colonies are now\nbeing split to increase their numbers. From the approximately 900 boxes\ndistributed, the number is expected to rise to 1,500 boxes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we looked at all the boxes we handed over previously, by next\nweek, they may have increased to 1,500 beehives,\u201d said Sriyanto at TNWK\non Tuesday (1\/9).<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/keeping-distance-from-elephants-protecting-livelihoods-in-way-kambas-1788393359", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }