A Study of Sea Water Quality and Factors Influencing Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Behaviors of Communities with and without Tourism in Ko Panyi Sub-district, Phangnga Province

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Phirawich Boonserm
Dachanee Emphandhu
Pasinee Worachananant

Abstract

This study aims to study the quality of sea water in the communities’ area, natural resources, environmental conservation behavior, and factors influencing the conservation behavior in Ko Panyi sub-district communities by comparing between communities with and without tourism in 4 villages. The quality of sea water was determined by measuring 11 parameters during the early and late high season. To study the environmental and conservation behavior and factors influencing it, 300 local households were surveyed through the questionnaire method.


The results indicated that quality of sea water did not exceed the quality standard category 1 according to the recommendations of the National Environment Board to determine the sea water quality standard. The only exception was total coliform bacteria, which is critical as we found high levels of this fecal bacteria.  When comparing between communities with and without tourism, sea water quality during late high season was found to be statistically different in 5 parameters including pH, DO, salinity, total suspended solid, and fecal coliform bacteria. Regarding the conservation behavior of local people, there was no difference between communities experiencing tourism and those that did not and found the conservation behaviors at a moderate level. Nine factors were found to influence the conservation behavior of local people: experience in conservation related training, age, participation in social groups, social status, encountering environmental officer, opinion about conservation, career related to tourism, encountering inappropriate behavior about water resources, knowledge about natural resources, and environmental conservation. The study suggests the promotion of conservation behavior by creating activities that consider such influencing factors, installation of appropriate septic tanks and sea water quality monitored regularly.

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How to Cite
Boonserm, P., Emphandhu, D., & Worachananant, P. (2020). A Study of Sea Water Quality and Factors Influencing Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Behaviors of Communities with and without Tourism in Ko Panyi Sub-district, Phangnga Province. Thai Journal of Forestry, 39(1), 147–164. Retrieved from https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tjf/article/view/246003
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Original Articles

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