People Participation in Forest Fire Control at Mae Tuen Plantation, Thong Far Subdistrict, Ban Tak District, Tak Province

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to investigate socio-economic characteristics, people participation and factors affecting people participation in forest fire control in the Mae Tuen plantation area, Thong Far subdistrict, Ban Tak district, Tak province. The data were collected using designed questionnaires to interview 308 household heads.  Statistics used in the data analysis comprised frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum, minimum, t-test and F-test at the 0.05 statistical significance level.

The results showed that most respondents were Thai who had graduated at the primary school level. The average number of household members was 7.17 people.  The main occupation was agriculture and the minor occupation was general employment.  The average annual household income was 117,903.28 baht. The respondents mostly owned land and the average settlement period was 42.35 years. The average distance between homesteads and a forest fire area was 2.52 kilometers. The respondents mostly utilized plantation and they mostly were social group members. They received information about forest fires but they had never received any training. Their knowledge about forest fires was at a low level.

            In addition, people participation in forest fire control was at a rather low level with an average score of 2.22. Factors affecting people participation in forest fire control at Mae Tuen plantation area were: education level, minor occupation, annual household income, distance between homestead and forest fire area, utilization from plantation, and training in forest fires.

Keywords: people participation, forest fire control, Mae Tuen Plantation, Tak province