Effects of Transforming Plantation Forests into Natural Forests on Elephant Habitats and Movement in Trumon-Subulussalam, Aceh

Abstract

The restoration of plantation forests to natural forests had become an important approach in biodiversity conservation, especially for endangered species such as the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus). This study aimed to assess the impact of the transformation of plantation forests into natural forests on the habitat and movement of Sumatran elephants in the Trumon-Subulussalam. The study population was the Sumatran elephant and the research sample was part of the elephant population in the form of evidence of the existence of elephants through purposive sampling techniques. Sample data collection was carried out by taking GPS coordinate points followed by observing the condition of the forest structure. Analysis of elephant movement data used the Spatial Capture-Recapture (SCR) approach with the Search Encounter Data model while the condition of the forest structure was analyzed by percentage. This study was conducted from January to June 2023 in Trumon Sub-district, South Aceh Regency. The results of the SCR approach provided an overview of the movement of the elephant population’s roaming area starting from the Naca Landscape, heading to Gampong Kapa Sesak and combing the riparian area of the border river between South Aceh and Subulussalam (Soraya River via Lae Kombih) and then crossing to TNGL and entering the Babur Rahmah and Leuser Districts of Southeast Aceh. The percentage of forest structure conditions based on the Type and Vegetation categories was 71% including Secondary Forest and 29% including Primary Forest; the Canopy Closure category was 67% including Very Dense (75%) and 43% including Rare (0-25%); the Food Availability category was 28% including Very Many (>75%), 29% including Many (51-75%) and 43% including Moderate (25-50%); the Mineral Source Tree Availability category was 36% including many (>3 Trees), 36% including Median (2-3 Trees) and 28% including Rare (<3 Trees). Elephant movements followed seasonal patterns, with migration occurring in April and July, influenced by food availability and mating season. These findings provided important insights for elephant conservation in the Trumon area, particularly concerning habitat management and population connectivity between regions.