Value of Nypa palm (Nypa fruticans) and its significance in management planning in the Pak Phanang River Basin, Thailand | |
| Author | Le Thi Thu Ha |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AQ-04-16 |
| Subject(s) | Nypa palm--Thailand--Pak Phanang River Basin Natural resources--Management--Thailand--Pak Phanang River Basin |
| Note | A thesis submitted in pattial fulfillment of the requirements for the Science degree of Master, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AQ-04-16 |
| Abstract | Nypa palms (Nypa fruticans) are among mangrove forest that are high densely in most coastal countries in Asia (India, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam). There are approximately 3, 200 hectares of nypa forests over the most areas along the rivers' bank, canals, and the bays. Even more are in the swampy lowlands in Pak Phanang Basin. Nypa plays vital roles in providing for the livelihood of local population. They provide not only direct benefits including nypa leaves for thatching roof, wrapping cigarette, nypa sap for producing sugar, vinegar and wine etc, but also benefit by preventing coastal or river bank erosion and suppo11ing aquatic species habitats. Estimated to bring very high economic return to local people, nypa resource in Pak Phanang is still under-evaluated in te1ms of its ecological and economic benefits. This study tries to value benefits (direct and indirect benefits) of nypa as well as evaluate impacts of other activities on the degradation of nypa area and reduction of nypa production. Analysis of cunent management regimes aims to develop an appropriate management strncture in which an integrated and coordinated management planning may be taken into consideration in development decision making. The results indicated that a rai of nypa normally yields about 2, 14 7 liters of sap per rai per season at 4-5 baht/liter. Income from nypa cultivation contributed 70% in total income of local people. As sold mainly to local or regional markets (neighbouring provinces), for a rai of nypa, one family earned 15,475 baht annually. There are 48% of respondents who are living near coastal areas or river banks have exploited nypa for both direct and indirect values. For such people, a rai of nypa brings them an exh·a income of 803 baht per annum from fish catching and 1,200 baht for river bank protection. Cost-Benefit Analysis of nypa replanting is applied to estimate the costs local people have to pay at the end of every year in case nypa palms are damaged. In such mentioned case, to plant a rai of nypa, a farmer has to pay 5,455 to 7,322 baht per annum per rai. Cost-Benefit Analysis was also used to compare the net present value of nypa cultivation and shrimp fa1ming as a good tool for decision makers in management planning of the resource. In the comparison, a rai of nypa produces around 56,218 to 64,333 baht/year/rai while shrimp can only generate about 34,400 to 38,901 baht/year/rai (Kanapnark sub-district case). Coinciding with economic valuation of nypa palm through analysis, an integrated management approach of nypa resources would also be presented. In conclusion, results of this study suggest that nypa palms have a high potential for both ecological and economic values. Accordingly, nypa palm stands should be taken into consideration in decision making and policy planning process as an alternative to not only solve the environmental problems of the degraded coastal area, but also improve livelihood for the local people. |
| Year | 2004 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AQ-04-16 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AQ) |
| Chairperson(s) | Somsak Boromthanarat; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ayut Nissapa;Bart, Amrit;Webb, Edward; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Fellowship;GAMBAS Project; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004 |