Economic and Conservation Impacts of Seasonal Paddy Fences as A Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation Strategy

This study evaluated the viability of Seasonal Paddy Fences (SPFs) as a Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) mitigation strategy in rural Sri Lanka. Using primary data from two paddy tracts in the North Central Province, the study employed both a benefit-cost analysis and thematic analysis to assess the financial and conservation impacts of SPFs. The findings enabled the conclusions that the SPFs could significantly enhance farmers' economic outcomes through the reduction of crop damage and labour costs, while they also would foster peaceful coexistence between farmers and elephants by allowing safe access to fallow lands for wild elephants. The study also found that the adoption of SPFs faces, however, could face challenges, including high initial installation costs, negative public perceptions of elephants, and inadequate institutional support. Recommendations that stemmed from the research include improving access to materials, enhancing government emphasis on resource allocation for the initiative and for monitoring its implementation, addressing public attitudes toward elephants, and promoting long-term sustainability through community engagement. The outcomes of the study also call for policy reforms to overcome the barriers hindering the widespread adoption of SPFs, thereby enabling valuable insights to the discourse on sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.