Local Wisdom and Sumatran Tiger in Leuser-Ulu
Masen Landscape: A Study in Mane Sub-district of
Aceh Province
Ali Bangun Gea
1
, Badaruddin
2
, Ma’rifatin Zahrah
3
{alibangungea@gmail.com
1
, badaru_69@yahoo.com
2
, titienmirza@yahoo.com
3
}
1
Student of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Post-graduate School, University of
Sumatera Utara, Jl. Prof. Maas No.1 Kampus USU, Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia
2
Faculty of Social and Political Science, University of Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
3
Faculty of Forestry, University of Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
Abstract. Leuser Ulu-Masen landscape is considered to be a very important habitat for
Sumatran Tiger. Mane Sub-district in Aceh Province, part of Leuser-Ulu Masen
landscape, is identified as an area that has strong local wisdom characteristics in forest
management. The objectives of this research were to analyze the perception of local
community to the existence of tiger, analyze local wisdom arising from the presence of
tigers, analyze mitigation of local community to human-tiger conflict in our study area.
Hunting of all wildlife in this forest area is strictly prohibited. We realized role of
customary law which prohibits wildlife hunting activities will have a good impact on the
conservation of Sumatran tigers. We strongly recommend this model of natural resource
management in our research location (based on good local wisdom) be implemented in
other areas, especially in areas that have high human-tiger intensity and high density of
tiger in human-dominated area.
Keywords: Sumatran Tiger, Leuser-Ulu Masen, local wisdom, Mukim Lutueng, tiger
aceh.
1. Introduction
Tiger conservation is critically important for Indonesia. As the charismatic megafauna [1], [2], tiger can
be used to achieve environmental conservation goals in the world as flagship and umbrella species in a forest
ecosystem. After the Balinese tiger (Panthera tigris balica) and Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) were
declared extinct [3], [4], Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the last subspecies that only lives in wild
on the Indonesian island of Sumatra [5]. The importance of Sumatran tiger conservation is quite extensive from
the standpoints of ecology, politics, law and policy, socio-cultural, economic and for scientific purposes [6].
Conservation programme for Sumatran tiger is a must. In our National Tiger Recovery Program (NTRP),
Indonesia has committed to doubling tiger population and protect their habitats in several tiger conservation
landscape priorities [7].
Leuser Ulu-Masen landscape is considered a very important habitat for Sumatran Tiger. This 'global
priority' landscape is the largest habitat (± 3,3 million ha) and have more than 100 Sumatran tiger individuals
living in wild, which has the potential for long-term survival [8]. Most of these landscapes are in Aceh
Province, so it can be recognized that Leuser-Ulu masen is a forest cover in Aceh province. Since 2010, Aceh
Province has been categorized as one of the provinces with the highest level of human-tiger conflict (HTC) [5].
Therefore, reducing conflict between humans and tigers caused by humans can be an important factor in the
success of tiger conservation [9], [10], especially by knowing how the local community behaves around the
tiger habitat.
ICASI 2019, July 18-19, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Copyright © 2019 EAI
DOI 10.4108/eai.18-7-2019.2288638