ROLES OF PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF FOREST RESOURCE CONSERVATION THROUGH RECREATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF KHAO ETO WATERFALL RECREATIONAL FOREST, PRACHIN BURI PROVINCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/jesm.2024.13Keywords:
Participation, Social Impact, Forest Resource Conservation, Recreational Forest ManagementAbstract
The concept of recreational forest management is an important mechanism for forest resource conservation by developing national forest reserves into eco-tourism destinations. Various sectors can participate in managing recreational forests to create sustainable shared value. This study aims to examine the roles of participation and the social impacts of forest resource conservation through recreational forest management, using Khao Eto Waterfall Recreational Forest in Prachin Buri Province as a case study. This qualitative research study collected data through in-depth interviews with 34 key informants, including government personnel, private sector representatives, and local community members. The study found that participation in recreational forest management operates at three levels: national, provincial, and local. This integrated collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities plays a crucial role in recreational forest management, resulting in positive social, economic, and environmental impacts. For instance, the local community feels a sense of ownership and increased care for the forest, there is heightened awareness of forest resource conservation, local employment and income opportunities have been created, forest areas have expanded, and deforestation rates have decreased. Therefore, relevant sectors should promote forest resource conservation through recreational forest management to achieve tangible development of national forest reserves and sustainable development of surrounding communities.
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