Tree Ordainment: Indigenous Knowledge for Forest Conservation in Northern Thailand Community through Buat-Pah Ritual

Abstract

                      This research is a qualitative research study with aims of 1) studying the development of the indigenous knowledge of Buat-Pah ritual (tree ordainment) in the conservation of trees in Northern Thai communities. 2) studying the difficulties in applying indigenous knowledge of Buat-Pah ritual in the conservation of trees in Northern Thailand. 3) identifying the factors which created or synthesized the Buat-Pah ritual in Northern Thailand. The research areas include Phayao, Phrae and Nan province in northern Thailand. Field research and document analysis were conducted from August 2012 to September 2015. Research tools included interview forms, observation forms and workshop. The research data was analyzed by using data triangulation method and the research results were descriptively presented.

                        The origin of the indigenous knowledge of Buat-Pah ritual was first created by a Buddhist monk named Phra Sophon Phat No Dom who is the Ecclesiastical Provincial Governor of the provincial Buddhist order in Phayao province and is also the abbot of the Wat Photharam temple in Phayao province. The Buat-Pah ritual by Phra Sophon Phat No Dom was aimed to preserve and protect the forest and environment of their community which was being deforested. The practice of Buat-Pah ritual gained momentum and the ritual was duplicated and is popular throughout Northern Thailand. The Buat-Pah ritual was created or synthesized from the fusion of Buddhist rituals, local beliefs in spirits and deities and the indigenous knowledge of local communities resulting in a newly formed culture of Buat-Pah which has been accepted by the community and has proven to be a successful practice in the preservation of forestry and water resources.