| Author | Bhusal, Yuba Raj |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.HS-96-02 |
| Subject(s) | Watershed management--Thailand--Chanthaburi
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| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Research studies project report ;no. HS-96-02 |
| Abstract | Watershed management refers to the management of all the bio-physical and socioeconomic components of a catchment, where natural resources are managed in conjunction with human use to produce a series of goods and services in a sustainable manner. Degradation of watershed propels human life towards susceptibility. Thailand has a long history of co-operative water resource management for rural development concordant to forest conservation in catchment areas. Traditional institutions were, however, gradually smashed with the nationalization of forests in late nineteenth century. Eventually, open access status and common ownership of the forests paved way to indiscriminate deforestation. State sanctioned logging concessions and agricultural expansion substantially contributed to the constricted forests. Watershed in Khlung district, the study area, has undergone significant depletion due to substantial replacement of forests by orchards and para-rubber plantation. As local people have not been made involved in forest management, deforestation is taking place by illegal logging and encroachment for agriculture. Soil conservation measures have not been adopted in the farming practices which has made the soil vulnerable to accelerating erosion. Environmentally incompatible agricultural practices accompanied by continual deforestation has posed severe environmental as well as economic consequences to the farmers both living in upstream and downstream as well. Prospects of participatory watershed management, with emphasis in forestry and farm management, has been attempted in this study. Local people of the watershed area seemed enthusiastic to manage forests through community forestry approach. Likewise, farmers seemed interested to adopt appropriate measures of soil conservation in their farm lands, provided they are made aware of those methods and techniques incurring relatively low cost. Strategies for sustainable watershed management have been devised, which might be useful for policy makers, planners, researchers and the local people in alike circumstance. |
| Year | 1996 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Research studies project report ; no. HS-96-02 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thapa, Gopal B.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Weber, Karl E.;Kaew Nualchawee; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst;United States Agency for International Development and His Majesty's Government of Nepal; |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M.B.A.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1996 |