Scholars of The Forest : The Process Of Consciousness for The Model Community Forest Management in the Upper Mun River Basin

Abstract

This qualitative research, consists of three main objectives, namely: 1) to study the
model of community based forest management in the upper basin of Mun river; 2) to
study roles of the forest scholars in cultivating consciousness in community based forest
management in the upper basin of Mun river; and 3) to demonstrate a model of
Consciousness Cultivation for the community based forest management in the upper basin
of Mun River. The research was carried out using in-depth interviewing with 40 key
informants. The Collected data were analyzed using descriptive and exploratory data
analyses.
Findings in this study reveal as follows:
1. The model of community based forest management in the upper basin of Mun
river can be categorized into the following 2 types: “Traditional Forest Conservation” refers
to community forest management based on knowledge, local wisdom, beliefs, faith and
rules descended as local tradition since the part. And another type of management model
is “Modern Forest Conservation” which refers to community based forest management as
implemented by governmental authorities like the Royal Forest Department in allowing
the community to participate in owning and managing the community forest by
themselves and work together with the authority, whereas the government will supervise
the management processes to follow the required standards.
2. Forest scholars have played significant roles in the development of community
based forest management including: 1) the role of the instructor, 2) the role of the creator
of the management process, 3) the role of the intellectual leader, 4) Network builder role,
and 5) Coordinator role.
3. The process in cultivating awareness in community forest management in the
upper basin of Mun river includes the following 5 steps of process known as “KLIPS Model
= A Process in cultivating consciousness implemented by forest scholar” consisting of :
1) K = knowledge, 2) L= leadership, 3) I = innovation, 4) P = participation, 5) S = Social
Networks (Social Networking Process).