Female Farmers in Sumatra Use Citrus Planting to Protect Oil Palm Farms from Elephants

In the buffer zone of Tesso Nilo National Park on Sumatra’s Lubuk Kembang Bunga village, women are turning a human‑wildlife conflict into a conservation opportunity. Illegal encroachment by oil‑palm plantations has driven elephants into the park, where they routinely raid fruit crops. To deter the pachyderms, local women plant citrus trees along the perimeter of their oil‑palm farms; the scent repels elephants. They also grow fruits that elephants enjoy—jackfruit, cempedak, and petai—providing a dual benefit of food for wildlife and extra income for the community. Ernita, a 33‑year‑old farmer and Perbani member, reports that after installing citrus trees she no longer has to replant oil‑palm trees destroyed by elephants. The initiative offers a practical, community‑driven solution that protects both livelihoods and the park’s biodiversity.