นิเวศวิทยาป่าต้นน้ำและการจัดการลุ่มน้ำโดยชุมชนในลุ่มน้ำแม่พร้าว บ้านงิ้วเฒ่า ตำบลแม่สาบ อำเภอสะเมิง จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

Abstract

Study of watershed forest ecology and community-based watershed management of Mae Phrao watershed at Ngiew Thao Village, Mae Saab subdistrict, Samoeng district, Chiang Mai province aimed to assess quantitative ecology of watershed forest, assess water quantity and quality, and comprehend community-based watershed management. Methods comprised Participatory Ecological Investigation Methodology (PEIM), assessment of physical and biological water qualities, area – velocity method for water quantity, and participatory field survey with villagers and semi-structured interview in watershed management and land use.  The results showed that Mae Phrao watershed area was 5,014.50 rai (802.32 hectares) including the forest land, 88.85% of the total area. The watershed forest which was the hill evergreen forest mixed with mixed deciduous forest covered 1,455.44 rai accounting for 29.02% of the total area.  The species diversity index (SWI) was 5.18, considering relatively high.  There were 376 trees, identified as 67 species of 36 families. The water quality of Mae Phrao stream was good, with average biological index of 5.99. The total discharge was 2,634,369.30 m³/year. Agricultural land use was 7.28% of the watershed area.  Ngiew Thao community collectively managed their water resource by integrating modern irrigation technology with local knowledge, particularly Muang – Fai system. The villagers protected their watershed forest well leading to abundant forest which yielded water to the lower part of watershed suitably.

Keywords: forest ecology, watershed forest, water quality, water quantity, land use