A Pattern of People’s Participation in the Wildfire Management of the Forest Conservation Area in the National Park of Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

    This research employed the quantitative and qualitative research methodologies with the following objectives: (1) to study the level of people’s participation in the wildfire management; (2) to compare the levels of people’s participation in the wildfire management as classified by personal factors; (3) to study the factors of public management and internal community factors affecting the people’s participation in the wildfire management; (4) to study the problems and obstacles of people’s participation in the wildfire management; and (5) to study the pattern of people’s participation in the wildfire management. The samples were 400 residents who were the heads of households living in the forest conservation area in the national park. The research tool used in quantitative research was a questionnaire. The research tool used in quantitative research was an in-depth interview form for interviewing 21 key informants. The research results indicated that (1) the factor of public management that had the highest effect on people’s participation in the wildfire management was the networking; while the internal community factor that had the highest effect on people’s participation was the community culture. As for the level of people’s participation in the wildfire management, the highest level of participation was that of the participation for receiving benefits, (2) people who had different durations of residing in the community differed significantly at the .05 level in their levels of participation in the wildfire management. The factors of public management in communication and internal factors within community in terms of tradition, collaboration of community people and the committee, and the opportunity for participation had influences on the people’s participation in wildfire management, (3) The problems and obstacles of people’s participation in wildfire management were such as the lack of awareness and realization in the values of natural resources and environment, the exploitation from the forest without the knowledge on the principles of natural resources and environment conservation, etc., and (4) The pattern of people’s participation in wildfire management consisted of a balanced and sustainable pattern of living of human being and the forest, the creation of the awareness process to enable the people to love the forest, and the creation of community network and community management programs.