The Strength of Community Organization in Natural Resource and Environmental Management A Case Study of Project Community Forestry Organization of Bang Huay Hin Dam, Vang Yay Sab-District, Dang Chang District, Supanvuri Province
Abstract:
The objective of this study is to study is to study the strength of community organization in natural resource and environmental management, and to study the factors that affect the strength of the community organization. This study is focused on qualitative data. The collection of data was done by depth interview, by participated and non-participated observation and by group discussion. Then the data was analyzed by devising and organizing it into groups, and was followed by relation analysis, changing analysis and functional analysis.
According to this study, the strength of community organization of Ban Huay Hin Dam relies on the potential of their leader which unites and encourages members to participate in conservative activities by means of community cultures. Besides, the community organization has developed learning processes and a creative network which resulted in self-reliance, therefore, strengthening their local organization and successfully sustaining their resources.
Referring to community cultural factors which affect the strength of community organization, it is found that a semi-subsistence style of agriculture producing made the relationships became closer and resulted in increased cooperation, Furthermore, the beliefs in the relationship between beings and nature or the supernatural, perceived through customs and rites, promotes nature. In turn, this leads to the cooperation of the community to take care of their natural resources and environment.
In terms of learning network, it is found that the host of the learning network was natural and enthusiastic to learn. The host possessed competence, virtues, ethics and knowledge to analyze the problems and jointly find out the solutions thereof. This was done by the combination of traditional knowledge such as local wisdom, customs and rites, and novel knowledge obtained form case studies, seminars and villagers assemblies. This combination has brought about the learning network. Also, it is found that there are three levels to pass on the knowledge. First, individual level in which the knowledge is passed on via family, customs and rites. Second, community level in which the knowledge is passed on via social relationship, religions, villagers assembly, customs and rites. Finally, inter-community level where the knowledge is passed on via trainings, seminars, case studies villagers assembly network activities. Moreover, various rites still have an important role in the process of passing on knowledge at the inter-community level.