Resource Mobilization: Forest Fire Management in Doi Phamon Area, Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai

Abstract

Qualitative research was done by single case study to examine 1) forest fire management resource mobilization patterns and 2) related problems. Seven key informants were village leaders from the forest fire defense network village in the Doi Phamon area, Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province. Data was gathered by interview and analyzed by data classification, with research quality evaluated by triangulation by the leader of the Phu Chi Fa Forest Park fire control station.

Results:

1. The resource mobilization pattern for forest fire management in the Doi Phamon village area consisted of 1) material resources by budgetary and instrumental support from the forest fire control station; 2) human resources from village volunteers, neighboring volunteers and professional firefighters; 3) social organization resources were created by coordinating surrounding villages and government agencies; 4) cultural resources by community cultural changes included forest fires; and 5) moral resources by regulations impacting community residents. Forest fire management patterns included 1) preventing forest fires by transmitting knowledge to residents, appointing volunteers, building firebreaks, early burning, and locating instruments; and 2) forest fire control by personnel, using method tracing based on the severity level of forest fires and evaluating forest fire suppression after incidents occur at the end of the forest fire season.
2. Forest fire management resource mobilization problems comprised: 1) networking with diverse ethnic populations; 2) budgeting to provide vehicles and hire forest fire fighters. Forest fire management problems included: 1) fires spreading from neighboring countrysides; and 2) forest fire volunteer morale as societally viewed as the group most responsible for air pollution.