Flood Pulse Dynamics and Ecosystem Services of Chaophraya Delta A Case Study of Ladchado Community Amphoe Pukhai Ayutthaya Province A CASE STUDY OF LADCHADO COMMUNITY AMPHOE PUKHAI AYUTTHAYA PROVINCE

Abstract

Flood pulse dynamics is seasonal fluctuation and a major influence on the landscape of Chaophraya delta. Its geomorphic and fluvial processes had been created flood pulsing landscape characteristic and produced ecological productivity richness. The rural community of Ladchado has been co-evolve and benefits on direct and non-direct ecological services provided by flood pulse as resources for basic needs, trading in rural economic system. Developments without carefully concerning its environmental issues have been caused inevitably impacts on natural dynamics, ecological services and rural livelihood.
The objectives of the research are to clarify flood pulsing dynamics and ecosystem services in
Chaophraya delta and to investigate how rural benefits from ecological services. Research methods are 1) Analyzing flood pulse dynamics boundary with geographic information system (GIS). 2) Interviewing local people in order to collect examples of ecological productivities. The result indicates that ecological services produced by flood pulse dynamics are the essential basis for rural economy development, especially, products of deep water rice and fish. These resources are significant to food subsistence and human well-being. But disconnecting of the river and its delta has been disrupted flood pulse cycle. Without flood pulse dynamics, ecological services are declining in both quantity and quality. These effects rural livelihood of Ladchado community who rely upon natural resources. By decreasing food sources, living expenses are getting more expensive while traditional rice farmer and fisherman are disappearing and self-reliance for a household is declined.