Impacts of Mangrove Restoration on People’s Livelihoods in Khlong Khon Sub-district, Mueang District, Samut Songkhram Province

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of mangrove restoration program on people’s livelihoods in Khlong Khon Sub-district, Mueang District, Samut Songkhram Province by comparing the status of socio-economic and environmental changes at present condition from the last 15 years. To assure that compared data were observed, the respondents were focus only the resident who are older than 40 years old. One hundred and eighteen respondents which accounted for 25 percent of all households in three villages, namely; Ban Khlong Khon, Ban Prak-Talay and Ban Khlong Chong were interviewed. The interviewing methods include Rapid Rural Appraisal in-depth interview of community leaders and interpretation of satellite images. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed with pertinent statistical restoration program.

The results showed that most respondents (83.1%) finished their primary level of education. Main occupation of respondents are fisheries (53.4%) and aquaculture (41.5%). Mangrove restoration program in the past decade did some changes in the economic, social and environmental conditions of people’s livelihoods in both positive and negative ways. Positive ways included the increasing of occupational varieties, revenue, mangrove area, social integration, knowledge and occupational skills, increases information as well as the changes of mangrove exploitation from the use of mangrove trees as firewood to the form of environmental services such as ecotourism and CSR activities. On the other hand the effect of restoration program showed a negative reduction of aquatic animals products such as krill and blood clam.

Keywords:  Khlong Khon Sub-district, impacts, mangrove restoration, people’s livelihoods