Sustainable community forest management in local development : community practice, people participation and the success of forest conservation
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2009
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2552
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eng
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xvii, 334 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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National Institute of Development Administration. Library and Information Center
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Pornthep Sritanatorn (2009). Sustainable community forest management in local development : community practice, people participation and the success of forest conservation. Retrieved from: http://repository.nida.ac.th/handle/662723737/854.
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Sustainable community forest management in local development : community practice, people participation and the success of forest conservation
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Abstract
Community forest is an evolving and dynamic concept, which underlines the significance of process of local people’s participation. The concept has been widely accepted and implemented in numerous forest countries such as Nepal, India, Bhutan, Philippine, Vietnam, etc. In accordance with the concept, forests are perceived as a valuable asset and belonged to local community itself. In light of this notion, accountability in conserving forest is not particularly narrowed to government officials as it was in the past, but the local people in community forest that gain direct and indirect benefit from their forests are encouraged to share responsibility as well. In Thailand, the role of community forests has become more important for a decade, and the numbers of community forests has been increasing significantly every year. This research aimed to explore four successful community forests in the North of Thailand. In addition, a field study to Khao Wong in Chaiyaphum, the best model of community forest in 2008 under the Royal Forest Department, is conducted as a supplementary study. The research used case study method. The main research methodology is qualitative research method supported by quantitative research methodology. Four successful community forests in the North: Ban Samkha and Huay Mae Hin in Lampang, Ban Talad Kee Lek in Chiang Mai, and Ban Mae Rawan in Tak, were selected on the ground of best practice according to their success in forest conservation. All community forests were explored extensively and the key informants were interviewed. Based on qualitative study, major findings are highlighted on 1) the practice of local community forest to help forest survive, 2) major factors that allow the community to achieve their success, and 3) Participation is confirmed by both qualitative and quantitative data. The four case studies reflected that community forest and its forest committee were formally existed with rule, structured, and acceptance from stakeholder. Four major practices in forest conservation: the check dam model forest in Ban Samkha; the innovation of bamboo model forest in Huay Mae Hin; the cultural reproduction model forest in Ban Talad Kee Lek; and the networking model forest in Ban Mae Rawan, were identified in this research. Although four community forests focused on different kinds of practice, they shared some similarities and achieved the success. Every forest was taking cared by community forest committee, with a set of forest regulation. The selection and the administrative structure of forest committee was found informal in all case studies. The degree of enforcement in forest regulation varied among each community forests. In conclusion, the field study revealed that different practice of four community forests could lead to the success and sustainability of their forest. Key success factors to forest conservation have emerged in the Thai rural community forest’s setting. All four community forests shared common key success factors: strong sense of community, sharing benefit, leadership, strong natural leader, local organization, strong sense of belonging, common value in culture, network, rule, clear and defined boundary, people’s participation, conflict resolution mechanism, and external support. Additional success factors were found very outstanding in particular community forest in the Thai setting: the strong kinship relation, historical driving force, group reputation, indigenous innovation, and the application of the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. All factors have constituted for the success of forest conservation in the case study. As the qualitative study found people participation as one of success key factors in forest conservation, the quantitative study supported the finding in detailed activities. For future research, replication of the study to community forest in other region of the country could generate a wider perspective concerning to practice and key factors to the success of various community forest throughout the country. Also, the future study of successful and unsuccessful community forest in the same region would be an alternative to explore the success factors of community forest in Thailand.
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Thesis (Ph.D. (Devolopment Administration))--National Institute of Development Administration, 2009