The Pattern Of Collaboration For Encouraged Sustainability And Management Of Ethnic Community In Forest Land And Rural Development In Thailand

Abstract

This research focuses on factors that influence conflict over land-use patterns in ethnic communities in Phu Phan National Park in the northeast area of Thailand. The purposes of this study were: 1) to examine land use in local communities, 2) to explore the pattern of collaboration for encouraging the sustainability of community management in a forested area, and 3) to set up public policy for the management of land use in forested areas. For this research, we collected and analyzed qualitative and quantitative data. We administered 571 questionnaires to study typical land use, and a mixed methods approach was used to gather data. We found that two categories affect communities’ land use management: 1) social and cultural factors, or ecoculture, and 2) state policy and market accessibility. There are three patterns for management: 1) thinking system, 2) production pattern, and 3) land use. In addition, we also stated the public policies regarding management of the forest, which include 1) a policy of ecology management, 2) a knowledge sharing policy, 3) a policy for the management of the river basin, and 4) a decentralization policy.