Dependency on Forest Resources of People in Ban Nongphakrai Community Forest, Pak Thong Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to determine the socio-economic condition information, general information, quantity of dependency on forest resources and factors affecting dependency on forest resources of people in Ban Nongphakrai community forest, Pak Thong Chai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The data were collected by interviewing 132 respondents using the designed questionnaire. The statistical analysis method included frequency, percentage, mean,
maximum, minimum, t-test and F-test with the given significance level of 0.05. The results of the study indicated that 54.55 % of respondents were male with an average age of 47.94 years and had graduated at the primary school or less than (75.76 %). Their main occupation were farming (68.18 %) as well as their subsidiary occupation (58.33 %). Their average size of land holding was 9.30 rai. The average number of household labour was 3.40 and their settlement period was 27.45 years. Their average annual household income was 126,757.60 baht. Most respondents (60.61 %) were social group member and received awareness information for the conservation of forest resources (83.33 %). Most respondents had knowledge in the conservation of forest resources at high level (76.52 %) and participated in the conservation of forest resources (77.27 %). The respondents were received training course about forest resources (16.67 %). The types of forest resources that the target groups dependened on were firewood, fruit, mushrooms, vegetable, edible insects, honey, bull frog, frog and herb. That had total value of 365,305.57 baht/annum. Factors affecting dependency on forest resources were main occupation, subsidiary occupation, size of land holding, settlement period, household income, social group member, knowledge in the conservation of forest resources and received training course. Thus, the relevant goverment officers should employ the obtained information as a quideline for formulating the appropriate management plan of Ban Nongphakrai community forest.