Peoples, parks and biodiversity conservation : a case study of Thap Lan National Park, Thailand

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dc.contributor.authorKetanond, Phusinen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-14T18:31:28Z
dc.date.available2024-08-14T18:31:28Z
dc.date.copyright1998en_US
dc.date.issued1998
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Geography
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science M.Sc.en
dc.description.abstractBiodiversity degradation is a critical problem in Thailand. Although protected areas have been established throughout the country, the diversity and abundance of many species of wild fauna and flora continue to decline. Furthermore, the management of protected areas is complicated by current economic problems and political intervention. The government has focused on expanding the protected area system but relatively little attention has been given to monitoring conditions within protected areas. Often solutions for management problems have developed without real understanding of causes, resulting in frequent failures. This study is therefore conducted in response to this problem. The study investigates the situation of a national park in northeast Thailand, Thap Lan National Park, that suffers from many of the problems seen in the Thai protected area system and examines the programs which the government initiated to resolve conservation problems. The first part of the study reviews the historical relationship between the park and local people and previous government attempts at nature conservation. The second part investigates the current relationship between the people and park using a questionnaire survey. Four villages located inside and around the park representing different situations were selected for field study. One hundred and fifty-one households were interviewed during data collection in 1997. The results suggest that use of park resources by local people is the main cause of park degradation and biodiversity loss. Poverty, village location and the market economy influence the violation of park laws and regulations. Park exploitation is often a collaboration between local poor and influential people, including authorities. The main problem facing park management is encroachment as a result of local dependence on agriculture. Previous government solutions focusing on land allocation and economic development have caused further encroachment. Government compromises on violations have incited further violations and violence against park officials. Consistent law enforcement combined with increased punishments reduces illegal use of park resources. Off-farm employment also reduces park resource exploitation but local people have limited opportunities due to their low education levels. The relationship between park officials and local people is generally poor. Results suggest that biodiversity conservation through park management would be enhanced by enforcing laws consistently, reducing local dependence on using park resources through raising education levels of local people and providing off-farm job opportunities, and providing educational programs to enhance local people' s awareness of biodiversity conservation.
dc.format.extent175 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/18444
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titlePeoples, parks and biodiversity conservation : a case study of Thap Lan National Park, Thailanden_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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