THE PROCESS OF FORESTS REHABILITATION IN NAN PROVINCE BASED ON BUDDHIST INTEGRATION

Abstract

The objectives of this article were 1) to study the process of forest regeneration in Nan, 2) to analyze factors affecting the forest regeneration process in Nan and 3) to present the process of forest regeneration in Nan based on Buddhist integration. This research was a qualitative research. The target groups for the research were monks, community leaders, government and private officials. Executives and staff of local administrative organizations, amounting to 30 figures/person. The study area was Mueang Nan District, Phu Pieng District, Santisuk District, Mae Charim District and Bo Kluea District, Nan Province

The results showed that the process of forest restoration in Nan was to support the community in implementing forest conservation management activities. According to the diversity of each community with different forest management as follows : 1) the process of forest allocation by the community self-management, 2) the process of creating participation through Buddhist rituals; and 3) the process of using local wisdom in forest management, using beliefs, rituals, customs, and practices.

Factors affecting the forest restoration process in Nan Province were : 1) inexhaustible natural resources, 2) renewable natural resources, 3) expiring resources. The Process of Forests Rehabilitation in Nan Province based on Buddhist Integration, it consisted of (1) Religious aspects: (2) Religious person and (3) the rituals were the application of Buddhist beliefs in forest maintenance. And local wisdom, consisting of (1) belief in ghosts and as a prohibition or requirement; (2) new knowledge derived from modern scientific principles; (3) the use of rituals and (4) Traditions or practices were part of local wisdom for natural resource management in three areas : (1) Smart use (2) Degradation restoration (3) Containment and sharing.