| Author | Soupany Syripoungno |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-00-13 |
| Subject(s) | Forest management--Laos--Citizen participation
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Forest resources have an important role for people living in the countryside. Therefore, such resources require a good management and way to conserve in order to serve people for long time use. This study is to assess the potential of community forestry at a time of rapid deforestation and looks at the process of management and conservation of forests by selected communities. The basic idea of the study has been carried out at the village where traditional community forestry is practiced and where community forestry has been promoted by a government organization. This study specifically compares the level of understanding of indigenous ecological knowledge among different groups of villagers classified by gender (men and women). In addition, the study focuses on plants, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and wildlife conditions and, forest utilization within the studied villages. The study finds that the level of both gender groups are similar, due to their close relationship with natural forest for their livelihoods. Men have more knowledge on wild plant species and wildlife status while women specialize on NTFPs and fire wood as their basic needs in terms of food and cash income. The study also finds that older groups have more knowledge on extinct species and history backgrounds of their communities while younger groups understand more on existing species. Based on villager reports concerning forest and wildlife status, the study finds that most villagers heavily depend on the natural resource base in which hunting and gathering of NTFPs are commonly practiced. The community composition of the villages is associated with different social structures, leadership patterns, gender roles and political affiliations, that influence group dynamics and in term the extent and nature of participation in community forest management activities. It was found that most villages participating in community forestry were in remote areas near remaining natural forest, where many people were still available for forest production in community forestry project activities. In contrast, villagers near the main road and the town, while needing forest resources the most had difficulty in participate in the conserving and management because they thought that outsiders who come from the town are more powerful and intelligent. The outsiders have high technology and tools for hunting and harvest. Thus, the area has more pressure from outside. Though they are less powerful in enforcing poachers, they usually report to the government officers when someone entered the area. The ten most important wild plants, wild animals and NTFPs listed by these communities have different value levels. Villagers understand about plants and animals status, and animal's behavior, including the pressure on them and alternative for conservation and management. |
| Year | 2000 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Apisit Eiumnoh; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Mather, Robert ;Earth, Barbara; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Lao-Swedish Forestry Co-operation Programme; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2000 |