LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION MECHANISMS IN MANAGING PM 2.5 DUST FROM WILDFIRE HAZE: A CASE STUDY OF BAN MAE PHAEM, WIANG HAENG DISTRICT, CHIANG MAI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the roles and participatory mechanisms of local communities in managing PM 2.5 particulate matter resulting from forest fire haze, and to develop an action plan for strengthening the participatory capacity mechanisms of the Ban Mae Pham community in Wiang Haeng District, Chiang Mai Province. The study employed a qualitative research methodology integrated with participatory action research, which was deemed appropriate for the context of the highland community. Data were collected from 78 key informants through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation. The findings revealed that the Ban Mae Pham community possesses comprehensive participatory mechanisms operating at four distinct levels: the operational level, local agency level, resource governance level, and network and development level. The forest fire management process comprises five systematic stages, encompassing proactive prevention, detection and reporting, force mobilization within 15 - 30 minutes, fire suppression operations, and evaluation for organizational learning. The community capacity assessment, based on seven criteria, demonstrated that cooperation received the highest score of 5 points (100%). In contrast, operational readiness and resource management received the lowest scores of 3 points (60 percent). Furthermore, in-depth analysis revealed significant structural challenges, including budget allocations two to three times lower than actual requirements, the absence of accident insurance systems for volunteers, and an imbalance between the responsibilities borne by the community and the support provided by government agencies. Policy recommendations derived from this research emphasize budgetary reform aligned with actual needs, the development of collaborative management mechanisms for boundary areas between communities, and the creation of economic value-added from biomass fuel to generate incentives and ensure long-term community sustainability.