To protect Tapanuli orangutan it is essential to understand the actual situation. It has been studied 15% of its population live outside the protected area facing a density disruption due to forest ...conversion. Several best management practices have been created and tested for different natural concession types. Yet, the main objective to reduce the impact and increase wildlife survival is far away from the goal. To improve our understanding of the species survival within ongoing project construction, we conducted population density monitoring prior- to post-construction time frames within the hydroelectric dam project. Also, we carried out spatial analysis to understand the land cover change and orangutan’s suitable habitat distribution. This study found that during high construction activities, orangutans were avoiding the threat sources, and returned when the disturbances reduced. These findings indicated orangutans are ecology flexible and have the capability to increase its survival, although the company’s involvement is crucial to facilitate the successes. Our study is based on indirect observation, and spatial modeling, which may lead to an uncertain conclusion. Further research on orangutan ecology and behavior is prioritized.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused (and continues to cause) severe disruption in global and local economies and has forced countries, societies, and individuals to adapt quickly to the unprecedented ...and unpredictable situations. Despite the obvious negative consequences of the pandemic, many have called for efforts to identify transformative opportunities for sustainable development throughout this disorderly time. In the present paper, we explore such potential opportunities in the context of an interdisciplinary, international research project, which is focusing on sustainable marine management in biosphere reserves and marine parks in Southeast Asia. During a virtual workshop conducted as part of the GCRF (Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund) Blue Communities Project, future scenarios were developed depicting the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on five case study sites. All of these sites are in areas of internationally recognized outstanding ecological value (Taka Bonerate Kepulauan-Selayar Biosphere Reserve, Indonesia; Tun Mustapha Park, Sabah, Malaysia; Palawan Biosphere Reserve, Philippines; North Devon Biosphere Reserve, United Kingdom; Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam). At the macro-level, economies, governance structures, and societal norms are undergoing big changes. At the micro-level, the livelihoods, lifestyles, and backyards of local residents have to adapt. Collaboratively, we explored how COVID-19 posed challenges in our five case study sites, but we also focused on the potential COVID-19-related windows of opportunity for future sustainable development. Opportunities could be identified in all three pillars of sustainable development: the environment, the society, and the economy. Although remarkable similarities can be found across all five sites, we conclude that there cannot be a “one-size-fits-all” solution to turn the tide toward achieving sustainable development. Just as before the pandemic, sustainable development starts with engaging with and understanding local environments, challenges, and situations; building on local knowledge; and developing tailor-made solutions for the communities
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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused global disruption, with the emergence of this and other pandemics having been linked to habitat encroachment and/or wildlife exploitation. High impacts of COVID-19 ...are apparent in some countries with large tropical peatland areas, some of which are relatively poorly resourced to tackle disease pandemics. Despite this, no previous investigation has considered tropical peatlands in the context of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). Here, we review: (i) the potential for future EIDs arising from tropical peatlands; (ii) potential threats to tropical peatland conservation and local communities from COVID-19; and (iii) potential steps to help mitigate these risks. We find that high biodiversity in tropical peat-swamp forests, including presence of many potential vertebrate and invertebrate vectors, combined, in places, with high levels of habitat disruption and wildlife harvesting represent suitable conditions for potential zoonotic EID (re-)emergence. Although impossible to predict precisely, we identify numerous potential threats to tropical peatland conservation and local communities from the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes impacts on public health, with the potential for haze pollution from peatland fires to increase COVID-19 susceptibility a noted concern; and on local economies, livelihoods and food security, where impacts will likely be greater in remote communities with limited/no medical facilities that depend heavily on external trade. Research, training, education, conservation and restoration activities are also being affected, particularly those involving physical groupings and international travel, some of which may result in increased habitat encroachment, wildlife harvesting or fire, and may therefore precipitate longer-term negative impacts, including those relating to disease pandemics. We conclude that sustainable management of tropical peatlands and their wildlife is important for mitigating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and reducing the potential for future zoonotic EID emergence and severity, thus strengthening arguments for their conservation and restoration. To support this, we list seven specific recommendations relating to sustainable management of tropical peatlands in the context of COVID-19/disease pandemics, plus mitigating the current impacts of COVID-19 and reducing potential future zoonotic EID risk in these localities. Our discussion and many of the issues raised should also be relevant for non-tropical peatland areas and in relation to other (pandemic-related) sudden socio-economic shocks that may occur in future.
Abstrak Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui penggunaan pohon tidur monyet ekor panjang (Macaca fascicularis). Penelitian menggunakan metode Pencatatan Perjumpaan Langsung. Hasil penelitian ...menunjukkan bahwa di Hutan Lindung Angke Kapuk (HLAK) hanya terdapat sekelompok monyet ekor panjang yang berjumlah 26 individu dengan komposisi: 1 jantan alfa, 3 jantan dewasa, 4 betina dewasa, 4 bayi, dan 14 remaja. Ada 15 jenis tumbuhan mangrove di HLAK dan kelompok monyet ekor panjang hanya memanfaatkan satu pohon Rhizophora apiculata untuk tidur, dengan ketinggian 16 m dan berjarak 10 m dari tepi jalan. Pada kawasan Ekowisata Mangrove Pantai Indah Kapuk (EMPIK) terdapat sekelompok monyet ekor panjang yang berjumlah 13 individu dengan komposisi: 1 jantan alfa, 1 jantan dewasa, 3 betina dewasa, dan 8 remaja. Ada 8 jenis tumbuhan mangrove di EMPIK dan kelompok monyet ekor panjang yang memanfaatkan hanya satu pohon Avicennia officinalis untuk tidur, dengan ketinggian 20 m dan berjarak 5 m dari tepi danau. Abstract The study aims to determine the use of roosting trees by long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The recording method used is the Direct Encounter. The results showed that in Hutan Lindung Angke Kapuk (HLAK) there was only a group of the long-tailed macaque with a total of 26 individuals comprised of: 1 alpha male, 3 adult males, 4 adult females, 4 infants, and 14 juveniles. There were 15 species of mangrove plants in HLAK and a group of long-tailed macaque utilized only one tree Rhizophora apiculata to sleep, which is characterized by approximately 10 m high and located 10 m from the edge of the road. In the area of Ekowisata Mangrove Pantai Indah Kapuk (EMPIK), there was a group of the long-tailed macaque with 13 individuals, the composition as follows: one alpha male, one adult male, 3 female adult females, and 8 juveniles. There were 8 species of mangrove plants in EMPIK and a group of long-tailed macaque utilized only one tree Avicennia officinalis to sleep, which is characterized by approximately 20 m high and approximately 5 m from the edge of the lake.
This paper aimed to investigate human-tiger conflict during the year 2000–2004 and has reviewed a number of potential measures for resolving the conflicts as part of conserving the Sumatran tigers ...which can be applied in the study area. These include technical measures which deal mainly with the individual ‘problem’ animal that comes into conflict and human dimension measures which focus on raising human tolerance toward tigers and reducing the negative effects of co-existence between human and tigers. Some of the measures namely, disruptive stimuli modification, raising tolerance through education and cultural perspective approaches had been tried for a short period. The success or otherwise of these measures in the field have also contributed to the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made as a result. The data are supplemented with more information, including the insight on the effect of conflicts between inhabitant and wildlife, the perspectives of villagers regarding human-tiger conflicts and the causal factors of individual conflict incidents. The reluctance of local community to report incidents prevents conservation agencies for delivering an immediate and effective response and it stimulates the killing of Sumatran tigers that benefits both hunters and livestock owners through the sale of tiger derivatives. This study also proposed a procedure for handling human-tiger conflict that hopefully may be tested in any other area.
Conservation areas such as national parks became the last safe area for biodiversity in Indonesia, especially for orangutan, because they have permanent status, and other forest areas may change at ...any time. Currently, there have been tremendous numbers of land use changes in orangutan habitats such as the development of roads, large scale plantations, settlements, farming as well as logging. However, the available national parks still offer secure places for orangutans. This research was conducted to study the impact of spatial land use policy on the habitat distribution of orangutans. A remote sensing technology was used to study the habitat distribution and suitability of orangutan in Betung Kerihun National Park (BKNP), Danau Sentarum National Park (DSNP) and a corridor which connects these 2 parks. Seven parameters have been observed to characterize the habitat of orangutans. Habitat suitability levels of three research sites i.e. BKNP, corridor, and DSNP were 53.72%, 42.94%, and 3.34% which is considered as high, moderate, and low level of habitat suitability, respectively. These results were obtained with 93.63% of validation.
Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus is a subspecies of Bornean orangutan whose distribution is restricted to the northern part of the Kapuas River, West Kalimantan, and is categorized as Critically Endangered. ...In October 2017 we carried out a survey to estimate orangutan density in the peat-swamp forests of the Sungai Palin watershed, of the upper Kapuas river, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Surveys for orangutans in 1991, in nearby Nanga Awen, had indicated the presence of orangutans in the peat-swamp forests of this area. We used distance sampling techniques to estimate orangutan densities from nest observations. We recorded 76 orangutan nests along 4.5 km transects in Sungai Palin in 2017, and 71 orangutan nests were observed along 4.3 km transects in Nanga Awen in 1991, giving densities of 1.29 and 2.62 individuals/km2, respectively. The results of this orangutan survey can be used as a baseline for monitoring of orangutan populations for conservation and management of this watershed landscape.
Tourism development has been promoted as an alternative livelihood to reduce the dependence of small island communities on declining marine resources. It is often central to emerging agendas around ...marine planning and the blue economy. However, relatively little is known about how communities perceive tourism development as an alternative and potentially sustainable livelihood in their area and its implications. This qualitative study tracks a governance system in transition and analyzes the factors perceived by stakeholders to be driving and hindering the adoption of tourism-based livelihoods on small islands in UNESCO’s Taka Bonerate Kepulauan Selayar Biosphere Reserve (Indonesia). The findings indicate that, despite a series of tourism-enhancing investments and initiatives and the positive attitudes of local communities towards it, tourism is not a direct route towards sustainability for small island communities. The benefits of tourism are perceived to be unequally distributed. The lack of education and skills limits participation in new job opportunities, and the incentives to continue destructive fishing inhibits livelihood transition to tourism. The article concludes that tourism cannot be assumed to generate simultaneous benefits for conservation and development without more equitable benefit sharing, the meeting of basic needs in communities, and addressing the drivers of unsustainable livelihoods.
Gibbons (Hylobatidae) are the smallest of the apes, known for their arboreal behavior and stereotyped songs. These species and sex‐specific songs are often the subject of detailed studies regarding ...their evolution, responses to changing environments, involvement in social behavior, and used to design vocalization‐based survey techniques to monitor population densities and trends. What is poorly understood is the value and impact of using the science and sound of gibbon vocalization and gibbon stories in education and outreach to complement nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) efforts. We present an example of how Borneo Nature Foundation, a NGOs based in Indonesia, is working to use the recordings of the songs of Bornean white‐bearded gibbons (Hylobates albibarbis) to inform conservation actions and education efforts. Gibbons in Indonesia are often poorly known or understood by the public compared to orangutans (Pongo spp). We showcase how a field of study, namely primate acoustics, is an untapped resource to create digital content to engage with local, national and international communities and can be developed into educational tools in the form of storytelling, mobile apps and games, to highlight the plight of these threatened species and how to conserve them.
Using the science of gibbon communication in education and outreach materials can enhance the NGO communication efforts. Using digital outreach materials can reach a wide audience around the world but the science to assess the impact needs more work. We showcase how unique aspects of difference species can help conservationists to create engaging outreach materials to help support conservation actions.
Research Highlights
Using the science of gibbon communication in education and outreach materials can enhance the NGO communication efforts.
Using digital outreach materials can reach a wide audience around the world but the science to assess the impact needs more work.
We showcase how unique aspects of difference species can help conservationists to create engaging outreach materials to help support conservation actions.
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