Participatory decision making for park management and conservation in Preah Suramarit Kossamak National Park, Cambodia | |
| Author | Khieng Sochivy |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AC-99-15 |
| Subject(s) | Parks--Management--Cambodia--Citizen participation Buffer states--Management--Cambodia--Citizen participation |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AC-99-15 |
| Abstract | One of the major management problems in protected areas of developing nations is the ever more intensifying land and other natural resources disputes with local people residing adjacent to the park. The establishment of a buffer zone around the park has many advantages. While it safeguards against the invasion of the local people, it also provides them benefit from forestry related activities and increases the park's ability to protect biologicaldiversity and provide subsistence and income generating activities for people. It is also considered one of the effective management tools outside the park, primarily focusing on rural development. PSK National Park is an historic area of national and interrelation conservation interest. The concept of a buffer zone critical to management of high conservation value is understood by of the MoE. A designed PSKNP buffer zone, however, has not yet been clearly defined. Neither the recently passed environmental law nor the 1993 Royal Decree mentions about it due to a lack of clarity about criteria for its establishment, its actual limits and the role of MoE and other government agencies within it. Before establishing a buffer zone and implementing a community development program, the policy makers, planners and PA need accurate information about local people's interests ana existing environmental conditions. To achieve the study's objectives, key socio-economics data of buffer zone communities were collected and local people's conservation attitudes and perceptions towards the park were assessed. The study also aims at understanding the governmental and the park administrative organization and jurisdictional responsibility within the buffer zone and identifying NGOs in the buffer zone. This study aims at seeking for possibility of establishing information based for participatory decision making for buffer zone creation and development. Local people settled adjacent to the park were heavily dependent on its resources. Physical, social, economic and demographic characteristics of them keep changing and they are adapting to urban way of consumptive life due to close interaction with the town. But, their dependency on park resources has presumably increased rather than diminished, due to a rapid population growth. The attitudes of the majority of respondents were positively inclined towards the park. However, some villagers shown negative attitudes, while others have indifferent perceptions due to a lack of development program and conservation extension, which lead to their unawareness of the park and government policy. Establishing a buffer zone was feasible and criteria were proposed for considering local people's needs. The management body of the zone was also identified. Furthermore, to achieve full objectives of the park in management and conservation of natural resources, recommendations were made in order to promote local people's awareness about the park and ensure their close relationship within it. |
| Year | 1999 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AC-99-15 |
| 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 | Agricultural, Conservation and Rural Development (AC) |
| Chairperson(s) | Remigio, Amador A.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.;Mir Javed Hussain; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1999 |