Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) was initially declared as wildlife reserve in 1935 by Dutch East Indies government and was designated as national park in 1982. The park covers 355.511 ha area with mountainous landscapes in the northern part and a peninsula in the southern part, and is characterized by montane and lowland tropical forests in its central areas and mangrove forests in its coastal areas. Home to iconic species such as Sumatran elephant, Sumatran rhino, Sumatran tiger and sun bear, BBSNP is also included in Tropical Rainforest Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with Kerinci Seblat and Gunung Leuser National Parks.
CHALLENGES
The sustainability of forest and the iconic wild species remains a challenge for BBSNP. Over the years, encroachment by locals for agricultural purposes like coffee plantation has led to habitat loss, resulting in habitat segregation and increasing number of human-animal conflicts.
OUR SUPPORT
WCS-IP supports BBSNP management unit in mitigating frequently occurring human - tiger conflicts in villages around the park. In collaboration with BBSNP, WCS-IP also facilitates self-reliant mitigation training and initiates village forum establishment aimed at independently mitigating human - elephant conflicts. Facilitation process is conducted to build the resilience of the community and stakeholders in tackling human wildlife conflicts, as well as growing public awareness and tolerance towards wildlife. WCS-IP also supports the national park in establishing Way Canguk Conservation Research and Training Centre as a site for research activity.