Potential of Land Use Change for Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation in Kaeng Krachan National Park

Abstract

This research aimed to find out possible patterns of land use change to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in Kaeng Krachan National Park. A survey and questionnaire were used to collect data from 381 farmers in the problem area. The results of this study revealed that almost all farmers traditionally planting pineapples had experienced crop raids by wild elephants, as the pineapples are a favored food of the elephants. Moreover, farming areas were located within the elephants’ habitat, along their routes for finding food and water. The majority of the farmers had begun to change their patterns of agricultural land use, but they faced similar problems of farming cost with another group that was also willing to make changes to land use practices. Integrated farming represents a possible land use pattern that is congruent with farmers’ attitudes. The potential crop species were rubber and lime, as well as raising cattle.