Impacts of multi stakeholder forest projects on the livelihood of ethnic people in Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai Province | |
| Author | Shakya, Sona |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-10-05 |
| Subject(s) | Forestry projects--Sociaological aspects--Thailand--Chiang Rai Forestry projects--Economic aspects--Thailand--Chiang Rai |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment 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-10-05 |
| Abstract | The Northern most provinces of Thailand , particularly the Doi Mae Salong watershed area , are considered highly deforested areas due to logging, immigration of shifting cultivators, forest fi res, etc. In order to combat deforestation activities, the reforestation of the total of 1,440 ha of the degraded landscape was initiated by the Supreme Commander‘s Office in 2007 , applying simple zoning schemes which inevitably required the relocation of the farm lands of local people residing in the project area. The primary focus of the project is to balance the needs of biodiversity with those of the local people. Consequently, it is necessary to analyze the impacts of the forest project s on the livelih oods of the ethnic people and also to understand the attitude s of the local people in the area can highly influence the success of the project. A q uestionnaire survey, key informant interviews, group discussion s and field observation were the main tools fo r data collection in selected three different villages within the watershed area in Chiang Rai province. The study findings show that the efforts made by the SCO in designing the formalized multi - stakeholder framework for decision making is recognized an d readily accepted by the local people compared to the past command and control approach of the army. The analysis of changes in access to livelihood assets as a result of the project specify that the project has brought better access to water resources, N TFPs and road infrastructure, initiation of agro forestry techniques, knowledge development, workforce increment (employment opportunities) and most importantly enhancing the social cohesion which eventually contributes to diversifying income generating ac tivities eventually raising the living standards of the local people. However, the forceful implementations of the strict rules regarding logging and anti - burning , shortcomings in providing absolute land security and satisfaction , and a decline in land pro ductivity are the problems stimulated by th e project. The local people widely acknowledge and support forest project s in the area though they are not quite as enthusiastic about continuing the practices recommended by the project and are definite ly in no p osition to accept its adverse impacts particularly related to relocation problems and forceful prohibitions. The groups of low income, old age, uneducated and female community are relatively more vulnerable and likely to be secluded from the capacity build ing programs under the project with a higher probability of being negatively affected. The provision of appropriate farming alternatives, more pragmatic land allocation decisions with a better compensation mechanism, offering some kind of formal title to the land, enhancing knowledge transfer and information flow for extensive involvement and benefit sharing are some of the strategies recommended in the study for improvi ng the local peopl e‘s livelihoods along with the conse rvation of the reserved forest o n a long term basis. |
| Year | 2010 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-10-05 |
| 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) | Soparth Pongquan;Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad;Shivakoti, Ganesh P. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Austria (ADA) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2010 |