Rames Khanhirun. Evaluation of the economic incentives of the Khao Wong Community Forest Management Cooperation . Master's Degree(Environment). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2003.
Evaluation of the economic incentives of the Khao Wong Community Forest Management Cooperation
Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the economic incentives provided by the Khao
Wong Community Forest Management Cooperation in order to assess them as the actual reasons
behind the active cooperation on the part of the Khao Wong community, which has led to the
enrichment of the Khao Wong Forest. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted to compare and
evaluate the costs resulting from and the benefits received from the Khao Wong Community Forest
Management Cooperation. By means of simple correlation coefficients and the Pearson Chi-square
statistical method, the relation between economic incentives and membership cooperation was
identified. The instrument used was a questionnaire for members of the Khao Wong community
and interviewers’ question guidelines for group leaders. The total sample group of 241 households
was made up of villagers in Tha Pong Village, None Muang, Wang Nam Khiao, Wang Udom and
Pong Nakhon Villages in the Wang Take sub-district, Nongbur Rahew District, Chaiyaphoom
Province.
This study demonstrated that cooperation in community forest management among
members from 5 villages around the Khao Wong Community Forest could not, in fact, be attributed
to economic incentives which consisted of the distribution of only 13 types of forest products.
Although the statistical testing results revealed that the economic incentives were not correlated
with cooperation, the results regarding their attitudes toward the Khao Wong Community Forest
indicated that 25% of the members and their household members may mostly be concerned about
natural disasters, the richness of the resources and other environmental aspects of the forest. Should
there no longer be a Khao Wong Community Forest in the future, therefore, it might be explained
that natural disasters and the condition of the environment serve as the primary incentives that
stimulate members to cooperatively manage the Khao Wong Community Forest. Both issues are,
however, beyond the scope of this research. Comparing the results derived from this community
forest, 3 intervals occur : a pre-community forest crisis, community forest crisis and a postcommunity
forest crisis. It was found here that direct and indirect income from this community
forest tended to increase, especially after the community forest was put under a management board.
The direct income from the sale of forestry products had a 245.30% increase, whereas the indirect
income from forest product consumption increased only 11.37%. It can be claimed that the Khao
Wong Community Forest Management Cooperation has brought more benefits to the members than
in the past when there was no cooperation. Thus, it should be noted that in the future, the utilization
of the Khao Wong Community Forest is more likely to benefit from commercial than local
consumption, which may then contribute to the deterioration of its natural resources if there are not
any appropriate measures of control. Therefore, in future research, natural disasters and the
condition of the environment should be taken into consideration for a community forest, and this
may yield results different from those of this study and may even conclude that these two factors are
correlated with community cooperation.