Author: Soupany Syripoungno
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.RD-00-13
Year: 2000
Academic Program: Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP)
Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2000
Examination Committee: Apisit Eiumnoh (Chairperson); Robert Mather, Barbara Earth (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: Forest resources have an important role for people living in the countryside. Therefore, such resources require a good management and way to conserve in order to serve people for long time use. This study is to assess the potential of community forestry at a time of rapid deforestation and looks at the process of management and conservation of forests by selected communities. The basic idea of the study has been carried out at the village where traditional community forestry is practiced and where community forestry has been promoted by a government organization. This study specifically compares the level of understanding of indigenous ecological knowledge among different groups of villagers classified by gender (men and women). In addition, the study focuses on plants, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and wildlife conditions and, forest utilization within the studied villages. The study finds that the level of both gender groups are similar, due to their close relationship with natural forest for their livelihoods. Men have more knowledge on wild plant species and wildlife status while women specialize on NTFPs and fire wood as their basic needs in terms of food and cash income. The study also finds that older groups have more knowledge on extinct species and history backgrounds of their communities while younger groups understand more on existing species. Based on villager reports concerning forest and wildlife status, the study finds that most villagers heavily depend on the natural resource base in which hunting and gathering of NTFPs are commonly practiced. The community composition of the villages is associated with different social structures, leadership patterns, gender roles and political affiliations, that influence group dynamics and in term the extent and nature of participation in community forest management activities. It was found that most villages participating in community forestry were in remote areas near remaining natural forest, where many people were still available for forest production
Scholarship Donor(s): Lao-Swedish Forestry Co-operation Programme
Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science
Advisory: Full-text is available at https://library.ait.ac.th/ (accessible to local ip address only)
