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The goals of the Sumatran Tiger Project's community-based conservation
and education activities are to better understand the human dimension
of tiger conservation and to help the Indonesian Department of
Fauna and Flora Conservation (PHKA) develop specific strategies
and methods to reduce direct and indirect threats to tigers in
Sumatra.
In 1997-1998, the community-based conservation and education
team as part of their investigation into local villagers attitudes
towards conservation interviewed 770 households about forest and
conservation awareness, and found there was a high conservation
ethic among all the farmers. They understood the issues. But when
your children are starving you will do what is necessary, including
illegal things, to feed them. The unstable period of political
and economical unrest following the overthrow of the Indonesian
presidency, was a difficult time for all.
The community conservation and education program accelerated
its activities during the past year by being a significant presence
in the schools in almost every village bordering Way Kambas. Education
materials were distributed to thousands of people and their impact
went far beyond the schools, as many youth groups, conservation
clubs, scouts, and government offices requested presentations
or visits by project staff.
For more information on this project see the following: Nyhus,
P. 1999. Elephants, Tigers And Transmigrants: Conflict And Conservation
At Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. Ph.D. Dissertation.
Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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