Political Ecology of Gypsum Mining Impact Management Based on Community Empowerment in Ban Na San District, Surat Thani Province

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study the impact of gypsum mining on the community, 2) analyze the approach to manage the impact of gypsum mining based on the concept of community empowerment, and 3) provide policy recommendations for managing the impact of gypsum mining based on the concept of community empowerment in the context of the case study in Ban Na San District, Surat Thani Province. This study used a mixed-method research approach. In terms of its quantitative dimension, data were collected using questionnaires from a sample group of 400 people affected by gypsum mining.

For the qualitative aspect, data were collected by in-depth interviews with 16 key informants involved in managing the impact of gypsum mining. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

The research found that 1) overall, the Impact of gypsum mining was at a moderate level. The environmental aspect was the aspect that the community was most affected by, with a high level of impact, and the social aspect was the aspect that the community was least affected by, with a moderate level of impact. 2) The impact management approach can be classified into 4 approaches: approaches for management to prevent or accommodate impacts, approaches for solving problems or obstacles that arise in managing impacts, and approaches for developing management to prevent impacts, and approaches for creating community participation in impact management 3) Policy recommendations for impact management consist of 7 issues and can be synthesized according to the CAPABLE model, which aims to realize potential made possible by cooperation between mining operators, government agencies, private sectors and strengthening the power of communities in impact management. The model includes  1) Community empowerment, 2) Alliance between the mine and the community, 3) Promotion of community enterprise in the area, 4) Achievement of interest, 5) Brainstorming and collaboration, 6) Learning and complaint center, and 7) Employment of people in the community.