Abstract:
The study consisted of the following objectives: 1) to investigate the level of community forest conservation based on the sufficiency economy philosophy of Ban Nong Bua, Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province; 2) to compare community forest conservation based on the sufficiency economy philosophy of Ban Nong Bua, Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province; and 3) to explore the guidelines for developing community forest conservation based on the sufficiency economy philosophy of Ban Nong Bua, Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province.
The study used a mixed-method approach that included qualitative and quantitative methods. A questionnaire was used to acquire quantitative data from a sample group of 283 persons, who were residents in Ban Nong Bua, Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province and chosen by using Taro Yamane table. The data collected were evaluated using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, f-test, One-Way ANOVA, and least significant difference (LSD). The qualitative data were collected with 11 key informants. The obtained data were analyzed by descriptive analysis.
From the study, the following results are found:
1) Community forest conservation based on the sufficiency economy philosophy of Ban Nong Bua, Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province is overall at a high level (x̄= 4.12 S.D. = 0.899). When each aspect is considered, all aspects have mean at a high level with the following aspects from high to low: public policies (x̄= 4.21) , public mind (x̄= 4.13) ,sufficiency economy (x̄= 4.09) and community forest conservation (x̄= 4.06) respectively.
The level of community forest conservation based on the sufficiency economy philosophy of Ban Nong Bua based on Sammappadhāna (four right exertions) is overall at a high level (x̄= 4.10 S.D. = 0.552). When each aspect is considered, all aspects have mean at a high level with the following aspects from high to low: Anurakkhanā-padhāna refers to the effort to maintain community forest (x̄= 4.22); Saṃvara-padhāna refers to the effort to prevent community forest (x̄= 4.09); Pahāna-padhāna refers to the effort to overcome community forest problems (x̄= 4.06) ; and Bhāvanā-padhāna refers to the effort to develop community forest (x̄= 4.03), respectively.
2) From comparing community forest conservation based on the sufficiency economy philosophy of Ban Nong Bua, Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province classified by personal factors, it is discovered that people of different genders have different community forest conservation, with a statistical significance of 0.05; therefore, the null hypothesis is accepted. People of different educational levels, statuses, and occupations have no difference in community forest conservation; therefore, the null hypothesis is rejected.
3) The guidelines for community forest conservation based on the sufficiency economy philosophy of Ban Nong Bua, Suwannaphum District, Roi Et Province are as follows: (1) Raising awareness and morality about conserving and protecting nature's fertility so that people in the community understand the value of forests and protect their fertility for future generations; (2) Allocating areas for community projects, community residence, arable areas, cultivated areas, and conserving proportional areas in order to live a good lifestyle, prevent encroachment, and keep the forest line in excellent shape, as previously; (3) Mobilizing the community to take action to build defined forest boundaries, including the construction of fire breaks to contain forest fires and prevent them from spreading to other parts of the forest; and (4) Organizing projects to promote and enhance occupation in tandem with community-grown economic crops to help people become self-sufficient.