Mitigating Human-Elephant Conflict: a Comprehensive Review of Strategies for Sustainable Coexistence in Support of SDG 15
Authors: Kei Lok Huey , Bakri Nur A’Alia Atierah Binti , Lin Phoo Qiao , Khairunizan Huda Khalidah Binti , Yuan Koo Huang Qing , Abdullah Nazirah Binti Mohamad 
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Human-elephant conflict (HEC) presents a growing challenge as shrinking habitats and rising human populations increase the frequency of these interactions, threatening both livelihoods and elephant conservation. This review systematically examines and categorizes HEC mitigation strategies, focusing on early warning systems, crop protection, community-based conservation, and conservation corridors, to promote sustainable human-elephant coexistence. Theoretical guidance is provided by frameworks on biodiversity conservation and community participation, with a methodological approach involving an extensive literature search across Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science for studies published between 2015 and 2024. A Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) was employed to assess the effectiveness, sustainability, cost-efficiency, community acceptance, and scalability of these strategies. Results indicate that while early warning systems and crop protection demonstrate strong scalability and effectiveness, community-based conservation outperforms in sustainability and community support. This study underscores the need for an integrated approach that combines technological solutions, community engagement, and landscape management to effectively address HEC. The findings hold significant implications for interdisciplinary research and policy development, aiming to support sustainable development goals, particularly SDG 15—Life on Land. The originality of this review lies in its holistic evaluation of HEC mitigation strategies, offering valuable recommendations for future research and intervention design.

Objective: The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness and viability of different human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation strategies to identify the most effective, sustainable, and community-accepted approaches. This will guide future research and interventions aimed at promoting sustainable coexistence between humans and elephants.

Theoretical Framework: The Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) Theory examines interactions and conflicts between humans and elephants due to resource competition, while the Community-Based Conservation Model emphasizes local involvement in conservation. Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) is used to evaluate and compare HEC mitigation strategies based on various criteria. Together, these frameworks offer a comprehensive understanding of HEC complexities and help assess the effectiveness of potential solutions.

Method: The research methodology involves a systematic review and assessment of human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation strategies. The study design included a comprehensive literature search in databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science, focusing on studies from 2015 to 2024. Data collection involved extracting and synthesizing relevant articles, followed by using Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) to evaluate the effectiveness, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, community acceptance, and scalability of various HEC measures. The process included criteria evaluation and framework development to make recommendations for future research and interventions.

Results and Discussion: The results indicate that while Early Warning Systems and Crop Protection Measures are effective and scalable, Community-Based Conservation is the most impactful due to its high effectiveness, sustainability, and community support. The study highlights that combining technology with local community involvement provides a comprehensive solution to human-elephant conflict (HEC). Limitations include variability in strategy success across contexts and the subjective nature of Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). Future research should address these limitations and examine strategies in various settings to improve their applicability.

Research Implications: The research emphasizes the need for integrated, community-focused mitigation strategies for human-wildlife conflict management. It suggests enhancing conservation policies through technology and local involvement, and advocates for interdisciplinary approaches combining ecological, technological, and social perspectives. Additionally, it recommends improving policy frameworks and resource allocation to foster better human-elephant coexistence.

Originality/Value: This study enhances the literature by systematically evaluating human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation strategies through a holistic approach that integrates technology and community-based conservation. Its originality stems from the comprehensive analysis and integration of these methods. The research is valuable for shaping policy and improving conservation practices, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary solutions and local involvement to effectively address HEC.