Protected area co-management and land use conflicts adjacent to Phu Kao – Phu Phan Kham National Park, Thailand

ABSTRACT

This study examined land use conflicts between three villages and Phu Kao – Phu Phan Kham National Park in northeast Thailand that resulted from its access and utilization during 2013–2015. The source of conflict is usufruct rights, a government entitlement program designed to honor villagers who lived on the land before it was established as a national park or forest reserve. Ironically, designation of protected areas is not a safeguard for biodiversity. A complex set of rules and regulations control access to resources, but compliance is subject to government oversight and economic pressure to improve quality of life. Granting usufruct rights may reduce certain land use conflicts, but they fail to address agricultural expansion inside park and forest boundaries. For example, agricultural encroachment in this protected area increased by 13.1% during the study period, mainly through cassava plantings. Cassava requires a small amount of maintenance and has a high market value since it is being promoted as an energy crop by the Thai government. A variety of management strategies are needed for sustainable forestry, such as regular forest patrols, reduction of agricultural-based income, and community-based initiatives.

KEYWORDS:

• Protected area co-management
• usufruct rights
• land use conflict
• Phu Kao – Phu Phan Kham National Park

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Research Group on Problem Soils in Northeast Thailand and Graduate School, Khon Kaen University for financial support. We also thank the Integrated Water Resource Management Research and Development Center in Northeast Thailand for useful insights. Most importantly, this project would not be possible without the collaboration and support from Phu Kao – Phu Phan Kham National Park, all community leaders and villagers at Dongbak, Wangmon and Chaimongkon. Last but not least, we acknowledge Dr. Mark Morgan from the University of Missouri who helped edit and improve the manuscript.

Notes

¹ The RFD is Thailand’s main authority in forest protection outside the protected areas. In 1997, the RFD was reorganized in attempts to elucidate forest management authorities and improve forest management effectiveness. Its authority and responsibility on protected areas, including national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, were transferred to the DNP. The RFD authority currently focuses on management of national forest reserves and other conserved forests outside the protected areas, including community forests which mostly locate in the national forest reserves.

² SPK 4–01 holders have possession rights to land allotted by the Land Reform Committee under the Agricultural Land Reform Act of 1975, which aims to address the high rate of tenancy in certain parts of the country, the large number of landless households, and encroachment of public lands for cultivation. SPK 4–01 holders are beneficiaries of land allocation, including the right to transfer by inheritance only.

³ Thailand’s logging was classified into two groups according to wood types: 1) valuable wood i.e., teak and 2) other types of wood beside teak called “Mai Kraya Loei.”

⁴ The sample size was determined by n = N/1 + N(e)², when N = the total number of households from all three villages and e = the level of error at 5% (Yamane, 1967). As of July 2014, N = 523 households, so the minimal sample size was 227 households. Moreover, simple random sampling was employed for household selection. Our research team walked through each of the three villages and asked household heads or representatives at random if they wanted to participate in the questionnaire survey. In total, we interviewed 348 household heads or representatives.

⁵ Popradit et al. (2015) used digital maps Orthophoto/Ortho-Image of 2014 land use data, scale 1:4000, from the Land Development Department.

⁶ USD1 = 34.25 Baht (April 19, 2017).

⁷ During 2012–2016, cassava prices were relatively high averaging 146.78 Baht per ton. Meanwhile, prices of other cash crops, such as rice and sugarcane plummeted (OAE, 2017).

⁸ Price of sugarcane dropped approximately 3.14% during 2012–2016 (OAE, 2017) with averaged production costs about 65,513.31 Baht/ha, while averaged costs of cassava plantation were 41,706.56 (OAE, 2016).

⁹ PKNP’s fire control station recorded 142 forest fires occurred during 2010–2017, average 17 time yearly, damaged a total of 336.32 ha of forest area.