Factors Related to People Participation in Mae Khan Community Forest Conservation at Nam Bor Luang Sub-district, Sanpatong District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

     The objectives of this study were to Investigate: 1) socio-economic attributes of people participation in the conservation of Mae Khan community forest; 2) factors related to people participation In Mae Khan community forest conservation; and 3) problems encountered and suggestion of people participating in the conservation of Mae Khan community forest. The sample group in This study consisted of 343 household heads in Nam Bor Luang Obtained by simple random sampling. A set of semi-structured Questionnaires was used for data collection and analyzed by Using Multiple regression and content analysis.
     Results of the study revealed that more than one-half of the respondents (56.60%) were male, married, Bachelor’s degree Graduates, and 39.29 years old on average. Each respondent occupied area of 16.55 rai on average and 61.80 percents were mainly engaged in agriculture with an annual income of 439,603.49 bath. Most of the respondents (70.00%) attend a training and educational trip. They contracted the agricultural extension worker twice a year (60.30%) and joined community activities once a year (65.11%). Few of the respondents (8.20%) were volunteers. Less than one-half of the respondents (30.00%) perceived news about forest conservation through television. The respondents had been living in their community for 33.91 years on average. As a whole, the respondents had a highest level of the participation in the forest conservation (=4.24). Based on its details, the following were found at a highest level: project implementation, benefit sharing and decision-making (=4.29 =4.24 and =4.22, respectively). It was found that the following had a relationship with the participation in the forest conservation: training, agricultural extension worker contact and news/ information perception.
     For problems encountered, the following were found: lack of knowledge, skill, and experience about forest conservation both in Planning and implementation. The respondents suggested that their community leaders should ask for support from the public sector in terms of budgets and knowledge extension.