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Ecological engineering is defined as the design of ecosystems for the benefit of human society and the environment. In Asia, the ecological engineering of rice fields by establishing vegetation on bunds/levees for natural enemies has recently gained traction; however, its success depends on farmers' willingness to implement changes. We surveyed 291 rice farmers in four regions of the Philippines to assess their bund management practices and willingness to establish bund vegetation that restores rice regulatory ecosystem services for pest management. During pre- and post-open field day (OFD) interviews, we assessed farmers' perceptions of ecological engineering practices and sought their advice concerning bund vegetation. Over 60% of the farmers grew crops or allowed weeds on their bunds. Vegetables were grown as a source of extra food or income, and flowers were grown for pest management. Among the remaining farmers, their willingness to try ecological engineering increased from 36 to 74% after the OFDs. Furthermore, after the OFDs, willing farmers increasingly (from 2.6 to 15%) cited pest management as a reason to grow vegetables on bunds, and farmers almost exclusively focused on growing vegetables rather than flowers to adapt the system. While 46.5% of farmers who grew vegetables on their bunds applied insecticides, only ca 20% indicated that they would do so after the OFDs, if needed. Farmers had differing opinions on how vegetables would be incorporated into their rice farms. This range of options could be encouraged wherever farmers recognize the potential harm from pesticides for biodiversity and the restoration value of a diversified farm habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents are globally important pre-harvest pests of rice. In Southeast Asia, rodent damage to growing rice crops is commonly concentrated towards the center of rice fields, away from the field edge, resulting in a clear pattern known as the 'stadium effect.' To further understand this behavior of rodent pests and to develop recommendations for future research and management, we examined the relation between giving-up densities (GUDs) and damage patterns. In Tanay, Luzon, Philippines, GUD trays containing pieces of coconut in a matrix of sand were placed at 4 different distances from the field edge to quantify the perceived risk of predation in a rice field pest, Rattus tanezumi. GUDs were recorded during a dry and wet season crop at the reproductive and ripening stages of rice. In addition, assessments of active burrows, tracking tile activity and rodent damage to the rice crop, were conducted in the dry season. GUDs were significantly lower in the center of the rice fields than on the field edges, suggesting that rodent damage to rice is greater in the middle of rice fields due to a lower perceived predation risk. Furthermore, this perception of predation risk (or fear) increases towards the field edge and was greatest on the rice bund, where there was no vegetation cover. We discuss the implications for rodent management and rodent damage assessments in rice fields. This is the first documented use of GUDs in a rice agro-ecosystem in Asia; thus we identify the challenges and lessons learned through this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]