Gender-based community participation in biodiversity conservation activities : a case study from Ratchaburi, Thailand | |
| Author | Thitikan Satchabut |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-09-10 |
| Subject(s) | Biodiversity conservation--Thailand--Ratchaburi Women in conservation of natural resources--Thailand--Ratchaburi |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfil lment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Natural Resources Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-09-10 |
| Abstract | This study investigates community participation, in biodiversity conservation activities in two villages belonging to Ban Beung cluster: (1) Ban (village) Pong Krathing Bon and (2) Ban (village) Punam Ron, in Rachaburi province, Thailand, through gender lens, with the aim of providing insights and recommendation for poverty alleviation strategies, in line with sustainable development, for policy planners based on findings. The objectives of this research are to assess the different contributions of men and women to livelihood activities, through natural resources management as well as to compare the level of local participation between men and women in different conservation projects, by identifying factors that influences their participation. Qualitative and quantitative data was used to obtain research results. These included indepth interviews, focus group interviews, observation of target respondents and local officials, including secondary literature. Research results show that in the two communities, gender norms are still very much in practice; this is especially evident from women's role in the domestic sphere, in reproductive activities such as child care and cooking. However, in conservation activities, it is found that in Ban (village) Punam Ron, women have higher participation level in comparison to men, due to: (1) women's active public leadership in the community, (2) relatively less gap in their educational status with men, and (3) less engagement in traditional cultural activities, which often assign different gender roles to men and women, this subsequently perpetuate gender differentiation. In sharp contrast, women in Ban (village) Pong Krathing Bon are less engaged in public conservation activities in comparison to their male counterpart, and are content for men to take leadership roles in the public sphere. This is explained by the fact that women in Ban (village) Pong Krathing Bon have low education in comparison to men and are still steeped in traditional cultural activities and practices that relegate women and men in separate roles. The study concludes by recommending an empowerment approach for women by women in Ban (village) Pong Krathing Bon, where their participation is low. The study recommends that in order to increase public conservation activities for all people in the two villages, projects implementers must first, carefully consider feasibility of community participation in projects, by taking into account participants' travel logistics, domestic and social responsibilities before implementing any project. This is especially important when lobbying women to take part in public life, since pushing for participation may work to disempowering them instead of empowering them, it may only increase their already overloaded responsibility of "reproductive" and "productive" work. Incentives should also be provided for targeted participants at all levels, to encourage and ensure active participation. Environmental education should be promoted in the villages so that public awareness on the value and importance of natural resources can be further strengthened. Additionally, sex education and family planning should be promoted in the two communities as part of poverty alleviation strategy, which will reduce teen pregnancies and advert over population, reducing rapid depletion of limited natural resources. |
| Year | 2009 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-09-10 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Vogt, Dietrich Schmidt |
| Examination Committee(s) | Resurreccion, Bernadette P.;Shivakoti, Ganesh P. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Thailand (HM Queen) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009 |