BUDDHIST AGRICULTURIST COMMUNITIES AND SUSTAINABLE COMMERCIAL TIMBER GROWING MANAGEMENT IN SOUTHERN ISAN

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) A Study on Commercial Timber Growing Management of Buddhist Agriculturist Communities in Southern Isan; 2) Model Creation of Sustainable Commercial Timber Growing of Buddhist Agriculturist Communities in Southern Isan; 3) Network Creation of Sustainable Commercial Timber Growing Management of Buddhist Agriculturist Communities in Southern Isan. Findings of this research were as follows: 1) The Study on Commercial Timber Growing Management: (1) The crucial factors of commercial timber growing included: the land title deeds, the laws for timber harvesting and processing, selection of seedlings, preparation of soil, water system and planting, and selection of mixed short-term economic plants. The applied Buddhist principles included natural interdependency of things and the relationships among family and community members. (2) The crucial factors in community forest management included: the land title deeds and official documents of the government; the community rules and regulations in maintaining and utilizing the forest; the cooperation from external agencies; and the Buddhist principles of unity and loving-kindness. 2) The model of timber growing of agriculturists included 3 types: growing timbers integrated with other annual economic plants; growing timbers integrated with mushroom growing and animal pasture planting; and timber growing with seasonal rotation economic plants. According to the limited size of land, the agriculturists grew timbers as subsistence economy rather than commercial economy. For the community forest conservation, the community forest committees followed the land title deeds and official documents including: the Community Forest Act 2562 B.E.; public land certificates; and land title deeds. The conservation and utilization of community forests included the rule of laws, the Buddhist principles of unity and loving kindness, the spiritual beliefs, and the understanding of natural interdependency of things in the forests. 3) Regarding the Network of Sustainable Commercial Timber Growing: (1) The networks existed before this research included community enterprise network, organic farming network, and informal networks among various community forest committees; (2) A network created through this research by the cooperation of Buddhist agriculturist communities in Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket and Yasothon Provinces and the representatives of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Ubon Ratchathani Campus. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by all parties for cooperation in sustainable commercial timber growing: (3) Network enhancement measures for agriculturists and community forest committees specially in laws and marketing in accordance with international community in promotion of products that do not cause deterioration of natural forests and biodiversity.