Co-management on Forest Conservation in Sri Lanna National Park, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the conditions and characteristics of household co-management in natural resource conservation within Sri Lanna National Park, Chiang Mai Province. It focused on the level of household participation and the economic, social, cultural, and institutional factors influencing forest conservation. A mixed-methods approach employing a convergent parallel design was used. The quantitative sample consisted of 400 households in Chiang Dao, Phrao, and Mae Taeng districts, selected through multistage sampling. Qualitative informants were purposively selected and included community leaders, community forest committee members, household representatives, national park officials, and representatives of local administrative organizations, totaling 20–30 participants, together with 4–6 focus group discussions. The research instruments comprised a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire, a semi-structured interview guide, and a focus group discussion guide. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis and verified by data triangulation.

The findings revealed that: 1) the overall level of household participation in natural resource conservation was moderate, covering access to information, participation in meetings and training, involvement in planning and decision-making, and engagement in field activities such as reforestation, firebreak construction, and watershed restoration; 2) major constraints on participation included insecure farmland tenure (55.00%), insufficient household income (46.00%), and dependence on traditional agriculture by more than 70.00% of households. Most households received information through local telephone networks (53.80%) and community meetings (48.10%), whereas access to online media remained below 20.00%; and
3) community rules, proactive government support, local beliefs, and cultural capital were important mechanisms for strengthening motivation and social legitimacy for voluntary conservation. Therefore, sustainable co-management should promote appropriate economic incentives, clarify land-use rights, and develop inclusive two-way communication systems to enhance household participation in information access, decision-making, and practical conservation activities.