Carrying Capacity of Plantation Area as Habitat of Sumatran Elephant(Elephas maximus sumatranus) at Giam Siak Kecil Landscape, Riau
Keywords:
Carrying capacity, Giam Siak Kecil, Plantation, Sumatran elephant, Understory vegetationAbstract
The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) increasingly utilizes human-modified landscapes, including Industrial Tree Plantations (HTIs), as over 70% of its population now resides outside protected areas. However, the ecological capacity of HTIs to support viable elephant populations remains poorly quantified. This study assessed the habitat carrying capacity of HTI concessions in the Giam Siak Kecil landscape, Bengkalis Regency, Riau, Indonesia—a critical area adjacent to the GiamSiak Kecil Wildlife Reserve. Through field surveys across 51 plots in Eucalyptus pellita, Acacia crassicarpa, and Green Belt zones—stratified by age (0–4 years) and management intensity (managed vs. unmanaged)—we evaluated understory vegetation composition, biomass productivity, and elephant habitat use. A total of 82 plant species, many known elephant forage items, were recorded, with highest species richness in Eucalyptus stands and greatest diversity in Green Belts. Biomass productivity peaked in unmanaged 0-year Acacia stands (1,179.08 kg/ha/day), far exceeding that of older or managed stands. Carrying capacity estimates revealed that unmanaged, recently harvested Acacia plantations could support up to 202 elephants per 100 ha, whereas managed or mature Eucalyptus stands supported substantially fewer. Historical GPS collar data confirmed active use of these HTI areas by the Almira and Nae elephant groups, with movement corridors strongly aligned with riparian zones, Green Belts, and young regenerating stands. Our findings demonstrate that HTI ecological value for elephants is determined more by management practices and stand age than by land-cover type alone. We recommend integrating conservation-oriented silviculture—such as minimizing understory clearance, maintaining Green Belt connectivity, and aligning harvest cycles with elephant movement—into concession planning to enhance HTIs as functional components of a landscape-scale conservation strategy for the critically endangered Sumatran elephant.
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