construction or are sold at the market. Collecting gum and resin is also popular in the villages. The most important tree for the villagers is Dipterocarpus retusus, which produces gum. The villagers try to keep this species on their own land or community area. However, forest resources continue to decrease each year due to deforestation. Water use for agriculture. Water collected from rainfall or a small stream is used for irrigating crops. These, however, are not enough, especially in dry season. Water use in household. Water collected from rainfall, groundwater or a small stream is used for household consumption. However, these are not enough to support daily consumption. When there is no rain, the villagers pray to the guardian spirit to ask for rain. They have also asked the provincial government for a deep well and set up a pumping system from the well. Although the villagers used to cut trees, they do believe that drought can be attributed to lesser trees in the villages. Official management system for natural resources. Organizing the local community as well as setting regulation is ongoing. It is expected that natural forest in the community can be managed well by the local community. In addition, local authority may collaborate with local community to prevent illegal logging. Activities and Outcomes To promote the rehabilitation and sustainable use of natural resources, various workshops and seminars were conducted at the community level and at elementary schools. Surveys of natural resources helped local people understand the sustainable use of resources, relationships between livelihoods and natural resources, and the degree of degradation of natural resources. A plant nursery system has been set up and reforestation activities are conducted with local people as well as elementary school students. These activities help realize the final goals of this collaborative project, which are to enhance sustainable use of natural resources, create harmony between people and nature, and increase local awareness on environmental conservation. Survey on effective approach for sustainable use of natural resources by local people. The survey evaluated the utilization of natural resources by local people, the relationships between livelihoods and natural resources, and the degree of degradation of natural resources. The effectiveness of participatory methods was also assessed through the observation of the activities to ensure sustainable resource management. Figure 2. Interview and survey on the effective approaches to sustainable use of natural resources by local people. ENCOURAGING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITIES FOR BIODIVERSITY 25
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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