The effectiveness of soapberry fences in reducing conflicts between humans and wild elephants

In order to reduce the risk of conflict between humans and wild elephants, from many funding sources, including funding from the Quang Nam Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund and support from functional units, the Quang Nam Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area Management Board has planted green fences with soapberry trees to create barriers to prevent wild elephants from moving into residential areas, helping to prevent conflicts between elephants and humans.

Mr. Mai Van Duong, Director of the Quang Nam Elephant Species and Habitat Management Board, said that through monitoring the wild elephant herd, the Management Board recorded that since 2017, the wild elephant herd has frequently appeared near the residential area in Cam La, Que Lam commune, Que Son district, destroying many crops of the people. This has created a tense conflict between local people and wild elephants.

So far, the soapberry tree at the Quang Nam Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area has produced fruit.

After studying solutions to reduce conflicts between humans and wild elephants as well as related factors, in 2019, the Management Board of the Elephant Species and Habitat Reserve proposed to the US Forest Service in Vietnam for support and from many funding sources, including funding from the Quang Nam Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund, the Management Board of the Elephant Species and Habitat Reserve of Quang Nam coordinated to plant green fences using soapberry trees to create a fence to prevent wild elephants from moving into residential areas, helping to prevent conflicts between elephants and humans.

This is an effective solution to prevent elephants from destroying crops and the lives of local people; thereby contributing to the construction and development of a sustainable natural forest system, protecting the ecological environment and adapting to climate change in the Eastern Truong Son region of Quang Nam province. At the same time, people will be able to harvest soapberry fruit to improve their livelihoods, contributing to local poverty reduction.

Soapberry fences help reduce conflicts between humans and wild elephants.

After 6 years of planting and care, the green fence of soapberry trees is growing and developing well, has produced fruit and has the potential to have the function of minimizing conflicts between humans and wild elephants. At the same time, the green fence of soapberry trees at the boundary between the forest area of ​​the Quang Nam Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area and the production forest creates a sustainable, environmentally friendly boundary fence, limits forest encroachment, helps minimize conflicts between humans and wild elephants, and is a green fire barrier.

Up to now, the total boundary between elephant habitat and people's production land is 13.5km; 7km of fences have been planted; the remaining 6.5km is currently natural forest according to regulations of the Forestry sector, so planting forests in natural forests is not allowed. Therefore, the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area Management Board is coordinating with agencies, departments and branches to consider suitable options to connect the entire route so that the green fence brings the highest efficiency.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/hieu-qua-hang-rao-bo-ket-lam-giam-xung-dot-giua-nguoi-va-voi-rung-i769597/