A Study of the Status and Role of Community Organizations in Common-Pool Resource Management in Terms of Public Lands Case Study of Ban Lao Nuea Community Forest in Phrae Province and Ban Don Mu Community Forest in Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

This study is a qualitative research based on data collection, which comprises relevant documentary research along with case studies and field research using the case studies of two areas, namely 1) Ban Lao Nuea Community Forest in Phrae Province, and 2) Ban Dom Mu Community Forest in Ubon Ratchathani Province.  Based on the case studies, it is evident that each community organization has the same role in managing the community forest as following: 1) drafting regulations to control the use of resources, 2) carrying out resource prevention and maintenance activities, such as forest fire prevention patrols, forest fire buffers, and afforestation to enhance fertility, 3) formulating resource management plans and submitting them to the public and private agencies concerned to tender requests for support and the budget, 4) developing community knowledge so that members can efficiently manage resources, and 5) building a network for managing community forest in collaboration with other community organizations in other areas.  The key factors that strengthen community organizations’ ability to efficiently manage the community forest are comprised of, first – Leadership of community organization leader, of whom key qualifications include having a sense of joint ownership, to create willing cooperation in preserving community common-pool resources. The second factor involves clear rules concerning the use of common-pool resources. Regulations and penalties are clearly defined. Norms are of great importance for controlling the use of resources. The third factor involves mechanisms for reducing the factors that promote encroachment and protections against the over-use of resources beyond the defined rules.