How Can We Coexist with Wild Elephants? The Solution is Agroforestry System, Habitat Restoration, and Collaboration

Elephant conservation requires collaboration between stakeholders such as the government, NGOs, forest rangers, police, communities surrounding national parks, researchers, and private plantation companies.

The Stakeholders needs to solve the problem of potential conflicts between elephants and humans, the illegal ivory selling, habitat restoration relating to production forest increase, so on. 

Funds for Elephant Conservation

The costs of elephant conservation, such as the research costs, the cost of relocating elephants in conflict-prone areas, the cost of installing CCTV, and so on, should not only come from the government budget, but also from mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from plantations or agricultural industries. In addition, conservation funds can be collected through crowdfunding.

Empowering Communities Around Production Forests Close to National Park Areas

To improve the economy of the surrounding inhabitants, it is necessary to empower the inhabitants through collaboration between the National Park, Karang Taruna, NGOs, local governments, or other parties. For example, creating souvenirs (dolls, bags, wallets, hats, T-shirts, mugs, etc.) featuring the elephant mascot. 

Since there are several National Parks in Sumatra, the elephant mascot is designed differently for each National Park. This serves as the National Park's branding. Profits from souvenir sales are set aside for elephant conservation. Most importantly, the profits are given to the surrounding inhabitants. Therefore, they can live peacefully alongside elephants.

Inhabitants' homes are also painted in vibrant colors and decorated with elephant paintings. There are aesthetic elephant ornaments made from eco-friendly materials for Instagrammable spots. This is to enhance the society's love for elephants.

As coffee is a local wisdom product in Aceh, Lampung, so on, the  packaging should use elephant symbol. Inhabitants need to consider they live near the habitat of elephant. They should appreciate and love elephants.

May elephant conservation efforts improve. Elephants deserve to live happily and comfortably on the Indonesian earth.

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