Application of Geographic Information System to Assess Risk Area of Encroachment at Phu Pha Man National Park, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to analyze land use changes at Phu Pha Man National Park, to determine the factors of forest encroachment during 1992 - 2006, and to identify the risk areas of encroachment. This study employed Geographic Information System and logistic regression analysis to reveal the relationship between physical and socio-economic factors and land use changes, and to map the levels of risk areas of future encroachment. Research results indicated that Phu Pha Man National Park consists of seven land use types, namely deciduous dipterocarp forest, mixed deciduous forest, forest plantation, paddy field, upland crop and horticulture, community, and water source. The forest areas had been reduced from 667.97 km² in 1992 to 573.57 km² in 2006, totally 94.40 km² or 8.96 percent. They were converted to paddy field (8.28 km²), upland crop and horticulture (66.22 km²), community (18.98 km²) and water source (0.92 km²). There are five factors related to forest encroachment, including the distance from the community, the distance from water source, the distance from existing agriculture, the ratio between upland crop and total agricultural area, and soil fertility. The results also revealed that very low risk, low risk, moderate risk, high risk and very high risk areas cover 256.38, 101.88, 121.77, 223.24 and 383.36 km', respectively. The areas of very low and low risk are inside Phu Pha Man National Park and in the buffer zone that are located in Phu Kradung National Park, and Phu kheaw Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition, they are remote from communities. On the other hand, high and very high risk areas are closed to communities and existing agricultural areas.

Keywords: Geographic Information System, Encroachment, Risk area, Phu Pha Man National Park