Readiness of Tambon Administration Organization Members on Forest Fire Control, Udon Thani Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate socio-economic characteristics of tambon administration organization members, readiness levels and factors affecting the readiness of the tambon administration organization members on forest fire control in Udon Thani province. Data collection was conducted by using designed questionnaires to interview 347 sample members. Statistical analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, maximum, minimum, t-test and F-test and compared the differences of each pair mean by using Scheffé’s method, given statistical significance level at 0.05.

The results of this study revealed that most of the respondents were male with an average of 41 years old, domiciled in Udon Thani province. They married and stayed together. They graduated on bachelor’s degree. Government officer or local officers was their main occupation and they mostly had minor occupation in which most of them were members of tambon administration organization council. Their averages of monthly income and their expense were 19,055 and 13,080 bahts, respectively. Average distance between forest area and tambon administration organization office and homestead were 7.25 and 7.01 kilometers, respectively. Being members of the tambon administration organization were recruited by election. Their currently position holding period mostly was less than one year, the average currently position holding period was 3.42 years. There were no welfare in operating, no training of forest fire control and no cooperating work with forest officers. There was an issue of forest fire control activity in the tambon administration organization meeting (54.8%). Most of members had knowledge about forest fire and forest fire protection at high level (61.4%). Readiness of the members in forest fire control was at the low level with an average score of 2.42. In addition, factors affecting the readiness of the tambon administration organization members included gender, education level, marital status, main occupation, minor occupation, recruitment of the members being, position holding period, welfare receiving in forest fire control operation, training of forest fire control, cooperating work with forest officer, distance between forest area and tambon administration organization office, having issue about forest fire control activity in the meeting and knowledge of forest fire control.

Keywords: Readiness, Tambon Administration Organization Members, Forest Fire Control, Udon Thani Province