The Community Forest Management by Using the Local Wisdom, Maha Sarakham, Thailand

Abstract

The community has evolved on the basis of forest resources, so forests have been considered a vital source of consumer and consumption for a long time to the community, although today the community has been developed for some modernization, the bond between the community and the forests still have to live with each other. therefore, this research aimed to study the participation of people and local wisdom in community forest management. This study was conducted in Ban Mek Mai Phatthana Community, Maha Sarakham Province. The research was conducted in two phases: (1) a survey of 50 households' participation in community forest management in which the samples were headed by households. The instrument was a questionnaire and analyzed using a computerized program. (2) A study of local wisdom in community forest management with the target groups who are the key contributors, including community leaders, committees, and household representatives, totaling 25 people. The research was conducted using a qualitative research methodology consisting of paper studies, in-depth interviews, and observations. Then, using descriptive analysis. The results of the study showed that the public participation in the management of community forests was at a high level, when sorting the descending mean as follows: community forest utilization, conservation, community forest development, and community forest restoration, respectively. At the same time, the local wisdom for community forest management consists of being ready to participate in activities picking mushrooms for food, taking wood to firewood, herb collection, finding other types of forest. In addition, there are community beliefs that are used to make forest coffins, such as the belief that the forest spirits, ghosts, and angels help maintain the community forest.