press release SKK Migas – PT CPI support the effort to reduce vulnerability of Sumatran elephants

agroforestry system launched in bengkalis

Bengkalis, 16 July 2021 – Rimba Satwa Foundation (RSF) supported by SKK Migas - PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia (PT CPI) pioneered the implementation of an elephant-friendly agroforestry system in Bengkalis Regency, Riau. This system is expected to be one of the solutions for mitigating elephant-human conflicts by choosing types of agroforestry plants that elephants don't like but still have economic benefits for the community.

“This initiative is a form of innovation in managing elephant and human conflicts, as well as supporting us in the efforts to encourage coexistence of elephants and humans according to the direction of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. This initiative also touches the community because it is related to improving the economy and food security,” said Head of the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA), Ir. Suharyono SH, MSi. at the launch of "Agroforestry in the Balai Raja Elephant Exploration Room" which took place in the yard of an oil and gas contractor company's office in Balairaja Village, Pinggir District, on Friday (16/7).

The semi-virtual event was attended by, among others, Head of Protection, KSDAE, and Community Empowerment of KPH Mandau Pahrurrozi, Head of Representative SKK Migas Sumbagut Rikky Rahmat Firdaus, and GM Government Affairs PT CPI Fandi Bangsawan.

In the event, a number of stakeholders signed an agreement on the “Proposed Map of the Elephant - Human Space in Balai Raja Village and Pinggir Village”. The map is the result of a participatory workshop in April 2021 which involved people from the two villages. As pioneers, 14 residents are willing to use their land as agroforestry land. The total land area is 21 hectares. The residents also received seeds of coffee, stinky beans, avocado, and agarwood plants.

“The support from SKK Migas and PT CPI is expected to be able to synergize with wildlife conservation efforts, especially those close to our work area. This year's elephant conservation program focuses on restoring Sumatran elephant habitat and mitigating elephant-human conflicts," said Fandi Bangsawan in his speech.

Through the SKK Migas and PT CPI community development programs in the environmental sector, this 2021 activity will be conducted using cost recovery funding and in direct collaboration with the Rimba Satwa Foundation (RSF) which is supported by the Riau BBKSDA.

Last year, SKK Migas - PT CPI collaborates with the Indonesian Elephant Association (PGI) and RSF yo handed over assistance of a GPS collar and camera traps to monitor the movement of elephant herds in Balai Raja and Giam Siak Kecil. In addition, the activities carried out are smart patrols and habitat development in the Talang Forest.

The program is able to significantly reduce the threat to the Sumatran Elephant population according to the direction of the Urgent Action Plan 2020 - 2023 published by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. This program is supported by the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) – KLHK and the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA).

The application of the agroforestry system is expected to minimize elephant-human conflicts that are triggered by problems of plant damage and community losses. In addition to the list of plants above, other types of plants that are not liked by elephants but still have economic benefits for the community are cocoa, candlenut, chili, patchouli, durian, and lemon.

The Sumatran elephant is one of the protected animals in Indonesia. In 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes it as critically endangered, one of the causes of which is the conflict between elephants and humans. The increase in land use and the growth of the human population have resulted in widespread land conversion in areas that are elephant habitat, including in Riau. Various efforts to mitigate conflicts between elephants and humans have been conducted by the government, non-governmental organizations, companies and universities in Riau.

Director of RSF Zulhusni Syukri said in his presentation, “Agroforestry system is something new, including for us. However, this is one of the alternatives that has been calculated so that people are more accepting of elephants because this system can reduce the level of community losses.”