Community Based Action for Human-Elephant Co-existence in Aceh

West Aceh’s Forest and Agriculture Landscape is home to a globally significant population of approximately 540 Sumatran Elephant. Between 1990 and 2010 West
Aceh lost 26.4% of its primary forest, dramatically increasing Human Elephant Conflict
(HEC) and resulting in a dramatic decrease in the elephant population. Farmers in the West of Aceh grow oil palm crops on the agricultural land bordering the forest, which are highly palatable to elephants and elephant intrusion into agricultural fields is common, leading to conflict. Key activities include building team capacity through training and support for monitoring patrols to ensure farmer compliance with village land use regulations, thereby protecting forest buffer zones from uncontrolled clearance and reducing elephant intrusions onto farmland. Additionally, the project enhances community awareness via events and the distribution of educational comics on HEC causes and prevention, promoting the planting of deterrent or less attractive crops in designated agricultural zones. Teams also conduct elephant movement patrols, implement early preventative guarding measures, and collaborate with stakeholders to evaluate outcomes and refine approaches, ultimately seeking to minimize conflict incidents and preserve elephant habitat.

IEF #1055

Project Years:2026

Project Partners:
Helene Barnes, Perkumpulan Rincong, Indonesia