Deforestation and the Sumatera elephant roaming area in East Aceh Regency

Abstract

Reduced forest or deforestation is widespread in East Aceh Regency for plantation, agriculture and settlement purposes. Forests in Sumatra, including in East Aceh Regency are Sumatran Elephant habitat (Elephas maximus sumatranus). However, encroachment resulted in this fauna threatened sustainability, whereas Sumatran elephants are endangered species protected by law both since Dutch colonialism, post-independence, and international regulations, and Sumatran elephants have an vital ecosystem role but are seen as a nuisance to the local economy in East Aceh Regency, so it is not electrocuted, killed and abused. This paper reviews the deforestation of the Sumatran Elephant in East Aceh Regency. The results of the study show that elephant roaming areas intersect with deforestation that occurred in East Aceh Regency. As an alternative local economy, there is still the potential of ecotourism with the mascot of the Sumatran elephant. Thus the Sumatran elephant is still able to be sustainable, and the forest as habitat is maintained.