Biophysical and social dimensions of land use development and reforestation in Kanchanaburi, Thailand | |
| Author | Thirapong Santiphop |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.NR-11-01 |
| Subject(s) | Land use--Thailand--Kanchanaburi Reforestation--Thailand--Kanchanaburi |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Natural, Resources Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. NR-11-01 |
| Abstract | Changes in land use have a major impact on the global enviromnent and biodiversity. This study examined the relationships between land use/land cover changes and the biophysical and socioeconomic factors in the Kanchanaburi province of Thailand. The specific objectives of this study were: 1) Analyze the temporal change in land use/land cover from 1978 to 2007; 2) Examine the biophysical and social causes of land use change; 3) Evaluate the reforestation and land use/land cover relationships; and 4) Develop models to predict future land use changes and patterns. This study used a combination of remote sensing data and socioeconomic data collected through a questiomrnire survey of 210 households in the study area. Spatial analysis revealed land use and land cover changes. Mixed-deciduous forest area in 1978 was transformed into cassava cultivation by 1989. Until 2000, sugarcane growing was vast while the mixed-deciduous forest decreased dramatically. By 2007, mixed-deciduous forest and dry dipterocarp forest had decreased substantially, while sparse forest and government/community land had increased, over time. Changes in biophysical factors, such as rainfall and soil properties, varied considerably over the almost 30-year period (1 978-2007). The variable rainfall intensity resulted in land use changes, and crop types in the study area are linked to rainfall patterns. Slope and elevation also influenced land use development because households considered these factors in selecting specific land uses. Socio-economic factors contributed to changes in land holdings; in particular, farmers have to rent cultivatable land to expand their crop production. Changes in land cover were partly due to reforestation which helped to expand the forested areas. Local community participation was vital in most reforestation activities as was the cooperation between the non-government organizations (NGOs) and the local community. The Royal Thai Government (RTG) reforestation incentives were also important factors in encouraging participation from villagers. Reforestation incentives have particularly increased the land area of forest adjacent to some national parks and conservation forests. Regression analysis showed that development of specific agricultural land use patterns and livelihood strategies were affected by expenditure on equipment rental, owned land area, soil nutrient availability, fertilizer expenditure, crop yield index, household income, and gender proportion 15-60 years of age. These factors were used as predictor variables in regression models, which explained 59-71 % of the agricultural land use pattern in upland, and 81-94 % in lowland. Owned land for cropping and crop yield index were fou nd to have negative effects on crop selection. Expenditure on equipment rental had a significant impact on agricultural land use pattern. It was observed that the households' decision on land use depended on their economic conditions. Keywords: Biophysical factors, remote sensing, socioeconomic factors, agriculture, land use patterns, livelihood strategies, farm households, Thailand. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. NR-11-01 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Schmidt-Vogt, Dietrich ;Hazarik, Manzul Kumaf ;Cochard, Roland ;Evans, Tom P. ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Mahidol University, Thailand ; |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |