The Indonesian government is to double the size of a national park that is one of the last havens for endangered Sumatran elephants and tigers. Tesso Nilo National Park was created in 2004 with 38,000 hectares of forest. Today’s declaration will see that figure increase to 86,000 by the end of this year.
The Indonesian government is to double the size of a national park that
is one of the last havens for endangered Sumatran elephants and tigers.
Tesso Nilo National Park was created in 2004 with 38,000 hectares of
forest. Today’s declaration will see that figure increase to 86,000 by
the end of this year.
"This is an important milestone toward securing a future for the
Sumatran elephant and tiger," said Dr. Mubariq Ahmad, WWF-Indonesia's
Chief Executive. “To ensure the commitment is effectively implemented
we must redouble our efforts to eliminate poaching and illegal
settlements within this special forest.â€
With more than 4,000 plant species recorded so far, the forest of Tesso
Nilo has the highest lowland forest plant biodiversity known to
science, with many species yet to be discovered.
WWF has been supporting the government effort to extend and protect the
park as the last block of lowland forest in central Sumatra large
enough to support a viable elephant population. About 60 to 80
elephants are estimated to live there, along with 50 tigers.
Tesso Nilo forest is also an important watershed for more than 40,000 people living in the surrounding 22 villages.
“Tesso Nilo is still under serious threat from illegal activities, but
if we can protect the forests there it will give some of Sumatra’s most
endangered wildlife the breathing room they need to survive,†Dr Ahmad
said.
“And while we greatly appreciate this precedent for more protection
from the Indonesian government, there are other areas on Sumatra that
need safeguarding for the sake of its wildlife, its threatened
indigenous peoples and to reduce the climate impacts of clearing.â€
WWF helped establish and supports the Tesso Nilo Community Forum, run
by all 22 local communities living in the buffer zone of the national
park. The forum supports joint actions to protect the Tesso Nilo forest
and gives the communities a unified and more influential voice in park
management.
WWF is working with local communities that suffer from human-wildlife
conflict as a result of disappearing forests in the province. Hundreds
of elephants have died in the last few years.
A successful Elephant Flying Squad uses domesticated elephants and
mahouts to keep wild elephants inside the park from raiding village
crops outside the park. WWF also promotes the planting of buffer crops
that are not attractive to elephants.