Community-based Conservation of Eastern Sarus Cranes for Wetland Ecotourism at Huai Jorakae Mak Reservoir Non-hunting Area, Muang District, Buri Ram Province

Abstract

The aims of the research are to study the eastern sarus cranes conservation by community participations and provide opportunities as well as challenges of ecotourism in wetland. Interviewing questionnaires of household representatives from local communities around Huai Jorakae Mak reservoir non-hunting areas in Muang district, Buri Ram province, which were 9 villages. The study used 244 total respondents. Frequency, percentage, means, standard deviations, and content analysis were used to analyze the data. The result found that local people around wetland were aware of eastern sarus crane conservation plan and policies, they also perceived the importance of eastern sarus cranes conservation for ecotourism in wetland, and expected the development of Huai Jorakae Mak reservoir non-hunting area as an ecotourism site, which was implemented by local community. Moreover, eastern sarus cranes conservation had positive impact on household income from the local trade but the negative impact involved cultivated areas. The opportunities and challenges of ecotourism in wetland development criteria were developed by UNWTO need to be considered into 4 criteria which were 1) wetland management to ecotourism 2) raising awareness about eastern sarus cranes and wetland conservation 3) Integration of conservation and ecotourism to local, regional and national plans and 4) encoaurage local community participation in eastern sarus cranes conservation and wetland ecotourism. Consequently, the collaboration between the ecotourism committee and local government was offered to practical policy and policy suggestions for eastern sarus crane conservation and sustainable wetland ecotourism development