Public Participation in Technology Transfer for Watershed Management at Phu Phan National Park and Surrounding Areas

Abstract

The  objectives  of  this  project were  to  twofold.  The first was to study  the  conditions of  and  public  participation  in  national resource  and  environment  management. The second was  to  create a  mechanism  and  model  for public  participation  in  technology  transfer for  watershed  management.  The  samples  consisted  of  both national resource  dimensions  and  human  dimensions.  Forest  resources were studied  with  stratified  random  sampling. Land  utilization  was  studied  with  satellite  data  processing  methods.  Water  quality  was  studied  using  standard  methods  for   examining water  and  wastewater. The  human  dimension  was  studied through questionnaires  from  three  representative  groups: 1) community  representatives,  teachers,  monks,  and  local  leaders; 2) provincial  academics,  and  3) national  specialists.  The  data  was  analyzed  through  the  statistical  methods  of  percentage,  mean,  and  standard  deviation.  The results  were  as  follows.  In the  national resource  and  environmental  dimensions,  the  areas  of  1,015  rai were  in   watersheds  1A  and  1B,  indicating a high risk  of  crisis  condition  of  land  utilization.  The  forest  consisted  of  many  kinds  of  trees, comprising an area of  4,651,516.75 cubic metres,  and  increasing   96,978.53   cubic  metres  per  annum.  The  people  required  79,774.72  cubic  metres  per  annum, means that natural balance are at risk  The  physical, chemical,  and  biological  characteristics  of water  quality  met the standard  criteria. The  surface water  quality  was classified as type  3  in some  watersheds  and during some  periods it was  above the  standard  criteria. Insecticides  were  not  found  at  every  station.  The potential of  water quality was at risk.  Regarding to the human dimension, the  people  had a high level of knowledge about conservation ,  a low level of activity, and a high level of  participation  in  presenting  ideas,  practices,  evaluation,  and  public  relations.   The  mechanism  of  participation  was  created  though  integration.   The  national  resource  and human  dimensions were  analyzed  with  SWOT, indicating  three  strategies,  42  methods,  and  46  projects,  within  15  years. The budget  of  488.85  million  baht,  classified  as  BCR  3.23,  NPV  747.23  million  baht,  and  IRR  of  30.00,  was  a valuable investment.