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The Asian tapir Tapirus indicus population has decreased as a result of habitat destruction and degradation, illegal hunting and negative human–tapir interactions. Although this species is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a protected species in Indonesia, where it occurs on Sumatra, studies of its ecology and behaviour and of interactions with people remain limited. We investigated the characteristics of local communities around tapir habitat in Batang Gadis National Park and the interactions of people with tapirs, and assessed the potential for future negative interactions. This study took place in March and October 2021 in Sopotinjak and Pagar Gunung villages. We conducted interviews, using questionnaires, amongst local communities that are familiar with tapirs. The communities belong to the Mandailing Tribe, comprising farmers that frequently access the adjacent forest to support their livelihoods. Local people need protein from animals, but they do not hunt the tapir. Negative human–tapir interactions could potentially increase in the future if tapir browsing intensity in community gardens increases and farmers suffer significant economic losses. We encourage Batang Gadis National Park authorities to develop a human–tapir co-existence management system and to protect tapir habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to provide a narrative review of the current conditions of orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island, problems in the current management systems, and some recommendations for further development. Orangutan conservation centers have been developed on Sumatra Island since 1973. The Bukit Lawang Conservation Station is one of the orangutan conservation centers that have practiced ecotourism to overcome ecological and socio-economic issues. Even though the Bukit Lawang Conservation Station has operated for decades, this station has faced several issues, in particular a monetary crisis in 1997, a flash flood in 2003, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified that orangutan conservation centers on Sumatra Island have the potential to support orangutan ecotourism. These conservation centers have ecological support, available facilities, and rich local wisdom that can provide added value for orangutan ecotourism. Therefore, we propose that the development of orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island should accommodate surrounding communities through community-based wildlife ecotourism. We also recommend the following strategies to develop orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island: (1) mapping the location and distribution of wild orangutans in their natural habitats; (2) managing captive and semi-captive orangutans in conservation centers; (3) provision of tour packages; (4) community empowerment; (5) institutional strengthening of community-based ecotourism management (CBEM); (6) developing ecotourism through a benefit-sharing model; (7) anticipating and minimizing the negative impacts of ecotourism on orangutans; and (8) integrating orangutan tourism with local wisdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high rate of deforestation and fragmentation of elephant habitat on Sumatra Island has triggered human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Sumatra Island, Indonesia. This conflict brings negative impacts on humans and elephants. Despite numerous efforts having been made to solve this problem, the HEC continues to occur in the remaining elephant enclave every year. The harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants could be improved through HEC mitigation programs. The aim of this paper was to review information on HEC in Sumatra Island, investigate the causes and implications of HEC, review existing HEC mitigation methods, and formulate strategies to improve the harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants. The best strategies to create successful human and elephant coexistence are strengthening the institutions and policies, restoring the habitat, developing wildlife corridors, establishing Essential Ecosystem Areas (EEA), community empowerment through ecotourism, providing legal access to forests through Social Forestry (SF), and providing compensation schemes for conflict victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

However, the fact that I M. fascicularis i is recognized as a pest in some regions of Indonesia has raised concerns regarding the conservation of this species, especially in North Sumatra Province. In 2013, the long-tailed macaque I Macaca fascicularis i was categorized as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species (Luque et al., 2013, I Nature i , 498, 37). [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • Peat fires reduce tree species diversity. • Tree species richness and diversity recovers 30 yr after fires at site level. • At landscape scale species richness and diversity continues to increase at fire frequency > 80 yr. • Revegetation strategies recommended with 'the increaser group' trees. Tropical peat swamp forests contain diverse plant communities that support many endangered flora and fauna species. These forests are increasingly threatened by disturbances such as drainage, logging, and subsequent fire, yet little is known about tree species recovery from these threats. Tree species richness and diversity were measured in peat swamp forests of Central Borneo regenerating naturally after fires from 139 chronosequence plots. Our findings indicated that two to three decades after fire, similar levels of richness and diversity to relatively undisturbed reference forest are reached within sites. However, when averaged across landscapes our modelling shows that fires of average frequency of 50 years, or even 100 years, can substantially suppress tree species richness and diversity. Thus, even rare fires can reduce the species richness and diversity of tropical peat swamp forests. Two groups of tree species drove the difference in richness and diversity between disturbed and reference forests: 'decreasers', occupying recently burnt forest and declining with fire exclusion, and 'increasers', that were only present in less disturbed forests and absent or rare in recently burnt forests. The decreasers were more common than the increasers. We conclude that peat swamp forests can recover adequately from fires through natural regeneration, and it is possible that artificial planting may speed up this process. Where possible, excluding fire from tropical peat forests will help to maintain the diversity of these threatened ecosystems and promote their recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian tapir is a primitive mammal whose habitat is heavily fragmented due to human activities. Studies on the Asian tapirs in Sumatra are very few, thereby basic information for developing tapir conservation programmes is limited. This study aimed to develop the species distribution model to map the potential distribution of tapirs in Batang Gadis National Park (BGNP), investigate the characteristic of tapir habitat, and identify tapir feed plants around BGNP. The model was developed using the Maximum Entropy (Maxent) approach, based on the existing information on tapir occurrence in BGNP and environmental variables. Vegetation characteristics in different land cover (primary forests, secondary forests, and open fields) were investigated using the strip transect method. This study found that zonal classification, temperature and precipitation have the greatest percentage contribution to the model. The model estimated that around 24.45% of BGNP areas are suitable for tapir habitat, and tapirs distribute near community gardens. Our results also showed that plant diversity at study sites was categorised as moderate-high. About 23 plant species dominated by the Moraceae family were identified as feed plants for tapirs. In developing tapir conservation programmes, BGNP management needs to consider tapir distribution that is closed to community gardens. We propose BGNP to enrich feed plants in open fields of the wilderness and traditional zones; reduce the canopy cover in the wilderness and utilisation zones to stimulate the growth of feed plants; facilitate local people to live harmoniously with tapirs; involve local communities in tapir conservation programmes; encourage local communities to plant non-palatable crops for tapirs; and provide a compensation scheme., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2023.)