Mapping Habitat and Deforestation in WWF Elephant Priority Landscapes

Habitat loss and the resulting human-elephant conflict (HEC) are threatening the survival of wild Asian elephant populations (Sukumar 1989, 2003; Fernando et al. 2005, Fernando & Leimgruber 2011). The geographic range of the Asian elephant has declined as much as 75% over the last century (Fernando & Leimgruber 2011). The two major causes for the loss of Asian elephant habitat are: a) expansion of subsistence agriculture and b) broad-scale conversion of elephant habitats into industrial plantations and agriculture such as sugar cane, rubber, and oil palm (Flint 1994; Leimgruber et al. 2003; Sodhi et al. 2004; Koh & Wilcove 2008; Uryu et al. 2008). Habitat loss patterns vary significantly across the 13 Asian elephant range countries and habitat losses can be catastrophic both locally and regionally (Santiapillai & Jackson 1990; Leimgruber et al. 2003; Fernando & Leimgruber 2011). Yet, baseline data against which to evaluate habitat loss has not been compiled for most of this geographic range and little information on elephant habitat, land cover and habitat loss is available for systematic assessments, monitoring, and conservation planning.