This effort is emphasized by the issuance of a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) on saving the population and habitat of Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) and Bornean elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis), which are currently endangered.
"This instruction demonstrates President Prabowo Subianto's strong commitment to saving our elephants. Our main focus is how to effectively implement these ideas on the ground. Future development management must be fully oriented toward conservation," Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said in his statement on Saturday.
One crucial point in the instruction is the integration of infrastructure development with wildlife habitats to prevent further fragmentation.
Speaking with environmental activists and social media influencers in Jakarta on Thursday, May 7, the minister noted that if a toll road is built it must consider the elephant home range map prepared by the Forestry Ministry.
Technical solutions such as tunnels or underpasses would be mandatory to ensure elephant herds remain connected without being disturbed by human activity.
The Forestry Ministry is instructed to maintain the 21 remaining elephant enclaves and improve their ecosystem quality according to Antoni.
The main strategy to be implemented is the development of corridors to connect elephant enclaves that have been fragmented by illegal activities and land use changes.
“It is important for us to have accurate data. The Conservation Strategy and Action Plan must include a clear target population increase figure, for example, within the next five years. If there is no increase, we must identify the problem and resolve it," he explained.
As part of the long term solution he also highlighted the efforts to resolve the human elephant conflict in Way Kambas within the Lampung province which has been ongoing for approximately 40 years.
At the suggestion of the president the government plans to build an effective barrier to prevent casualties while continuing to restore the natural habitat of the animals.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Arie Novarina
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