Major socio-economic factors affecting participation of forest user groups in community foresty through different management approaches : a case study in Chin State, Myanmar | |
| Author | Ni Cung Thang |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-13-06 |
| Subject(s) | Community forests--Economic aspects--Myanmar--Chin State Community forests--Social aspects--Myanmar--Chin State |
| 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-13-06 |
| Abstract | This study is conducted in Chin State, the poorly rural region of Myanmar. The study investigates the existing socio-economic contexts of the study area, the major factors affecting the participation of the different FUGs’ members and assessed the suitable CF management approaches for both livelihood development and environmental sustainability. As the mixed methods approach is applied, qualitative as well as quantitative data are collected using reconnaissance survey, household survey, key informant interview, in-depth interview and focus group discussion. The study reveals that the higher education the less dependence on natural resources, the larger household size the higher dependence on natural resources, the more food sufficiency the less dependence on natural resources, the higher income the less dependence on natural resources and the FUGs’ members who practiced permanent farming system were less dependent on forest products for livelihood development. The results shows that household size, annual income, food sufficiency, prior experience in collective activities, traditional forest-related knowledge, leadership and participation in decision-making process are the major socio-economic factors affecting participation of FUG members in different CF management approaches. The study reveals that exploitation approach is suitable only for short-term economic benefits; preservation approach is suitable only to enhance ecological stability; however, conservation approach is proven suitable for both livelihood improvement and ecological stability–local and global concerns. In the poorly rural region, any attempt to increase participation of FUGs’ members must address the differences in suitability of the different CF management approaches and must address the integration of global concerns about enhancing environmental sustainability into local concerns about improving immediate economic benefits. |
| Year | 2013 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-13-06 |
| 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) | Shivakoti, Gahesh P.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Grunbuhel, Clemens;Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asia-Pacific Scholarship Consortium(APSC), Thailand;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2013 |