Protection of the Senyulong crocodile habitat in the Merang-Kepayang peat swamp forest

The Senyulong crocodile (tomistoma schlegelli, hereafter called Tomistoma) is an endangered animal (IUCN redlist: categorised as endangered). They are found in Sumatera, Kalimantan and peninsular Malaysia. One of the important living areas of this species is in the Merang River in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The Tomistoma is threatened and shows a decreasing population size due to illegal logging, construction of illegal canals, inappropriate government policies (annual auctioning of river for fishing), and lack of awareness and participation from stakeholders. According to the South Sumatra Spatial Planning (RTRWP) this area is categorized as an essential protection area. However, what is happening in the field doesn’t appear to be protection-oriented. No government activities are known to involve protection. Main reasons for the threat to the Tomistoma are: (1). Forest conversion, with as a result disappearance of nesting habitat, forest fires, erosion, pollution of river, etc. (2). The Musi Banyuasin government policy: they auction off the Merang river every year. The participants of the auction are both outsiders and local communities. The “winners” will own (part of) the river for the whole year. By doing so, the government earns about 50 million rupiah (€ 4150). In order for the “owner (s)” to earn their money back, they make various efforts to catch as much fish as possible. In many cases they use electricity and/or poison. Here the problem starts: by using poison or electricity, they endanger the entire ecosystem in the river, including the Tomistoma. (3). Lack of awareness and participation, (4). Illegal logging. Long term project goal: a sustainable preservation of the Tomistoma and its habitat using local community and government approach in the area of the Merang Kepayang Peat Swamp Forest. Short term objectives: 1) to gather information on the crocodile, for example about current population numbers, population size, population structure and Tomistoma’s distribution. 2) To gather information on the socio-economic situation of the human population, for example about the number of people that share the Tomistoma habitat, the livelihoods of the population, the recently change of the natural resources, and main threats to the Tomistoma.

Within the scope of this project, information was gathered by Wahana Bumi Hijau Foundation on the Tomistoma crocodile, including the socio economics, threats and population information. Also an actual conservation plan for Tomistoma in the ecosystems surrounding the Merang River was developed. In order to achieve these goals, the NGO has completed various activities like socio-economic study, habitat study, organisation of a campaign and a seminar. During the study, information was collected on the Tomistoma crocodile such as information about the population, threats, history, and the natural resources utilization among Tomistoma area. From informal discussions with the government, community and a plantation company, and discussions during a seminar, actual conservation models for Tomistoma in the future were created. The actual models focus on the conservation of the essential conservation area and a forest area for protection purposes. These models have been agreed upon by all important stakeholders in the seminar such as the plantation company, NGOs, local people, professional academics and the government sector.