State, Community, and Religious Organization: Actors and Roles in the Wildfire Management Network in Phu Long, Phu Laenkha Mountain Range, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

Wildfire management is a complex public problem that exceeds the capacity of the government to address independently. Consequently, network-based approaches have gained increasing attention. This study aims to examine the actors and their roles within the wildfire management network in Phu Long Forest, located in the Phu Laenkha Mountain Range, Chaiyaphum Province, involving three sectors: the government, the community, and religious organizations. A qualitative case study methodology was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 key informants and non-participant observation. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis and triangulation.

The findings reveal that wildfire management in Phu Long operates under a collaborative network model characterized by horizontal relationships, consultation, and interdependence among actors. The Ban Tat Rin Thong Community Forest Committee serves as the primary actor in the network. Government agencies, including the Forest Protection Unit Chaiyaphum 7 (Tat Rin Thong) and the That Thong Subdistrict Municipality, as well as religious organizations such as Wat Pa Mahawan, play supportive roles by providing resources for prevention, response, and recovery.