Bio-diversity

A species listed as`Endangered` in the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) still occur in isolated populations across much of their historical range, but many populations are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and direct conflict with human. Peninsular Malaysia still has extensive tracts of forest that are habitat for elephants and other endangered species, including tigers. The Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia Program (WCS) has been working with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and Johor National Parks Corporation (JNPC) for several years to estimate the number of elephants in Taman Negara (National Park) and Endau-Rompin (Johor) National Park. The work consists of conserving and managing elephants in their natural habitat. As part of conservation interventions, mitigating their co-existence with local communities is considered a long term priority. This project will take place in Year 5, of a 10-year project. In years 1 through 4, background recces, human-elephant conflicts (HEC) surveys, fundamental capacity building and mitigation trials were initiated in three villages around Endau-Rompin National Park. This project will see expansion of HEC mitigation work and building of the capacity to handle HEC survey/mitigation methods, data analysis and reporting skills, which anticipates a significant reduction in HEC rates in the area. HEC in Malaysia mainly involves crop depredation by elephants that leave forested areas to feed on adjacent croplands, plantations and orchards which results in damage to crops and property and sometimes, injuries to people and elephant. Thus local communities need to be brought on board in the mitigation process to build support and understanding on the need for both HEC mitigation as well as for elephant conservation. The overall goal is to seek a balance between development and conservation of wild elephant populations through the following activities. Monitoring the extent and distribution of elephant crop depredations using a selected HEC methodology, strengthen and expand existing mitigation schemes in local villages, hold regular meetings and discussions with village stakeholders and authorities to review mitigation measures, successes and chanllenges, and conduct relevant traning for patrolling the perimeter, HEC surveys, protocols, mitigation measures for local communities and other stakeholders. The overall goal of this project is to help balance development and conservation which will help conserve wild elephant populations in the Endau-Rompin Landscape. The specific objectives for the fifth year of this project, for which funding is sought through this proposal, are: 1. To continue to conduct human elephant conflict monitoring around Endau-Rompin (Johor) National Park. 2.To continue to test and extend crop protection methods around Endau-Rompin (Johor) National Park. 3.To continue to conduct and facilitate training of Government and JNPC staff, and other stakeholders (where relevant) in HEC survey, mitigation, and management methods, as well data analysis and reporting skills. This project and its objectives are aligned with GEF s focal area of biological diversity , which is one of its largest portfolio in Malaysia. The project seeks to maintain a middle ground between saving an endangered species and its habitat while maintaining safe livelihoods and lifestyles for communities living nearby.

Malaysia