An analysis of local Karang culture, knowledge, and natural resource use patterns in the Kaengkrachan National Park, Phetchaburi, Thailand

Graduation date: 2002This study analyses the culture, knowledge and resource use patterns of the\ud Karang tribe in Phong-Luk village, which is located at the Kaengkrachan National\ud Park. The goal of this project is to reveal the culture-based local wisdom of the\ud Karang tribe that is consistent with sustainable environmental resource\ud management and to recommend guidelines for governments to revise existing\ud policies related to the tribe that are relevant with their cultural ways of life. This\ud project is expected to enhance awareness of local wisdom and offer a strategy to\ud relieve the pressure of resource use between the tribe and the national park.\ud The specific objectives of this research were to 1) analyze the local production\ud practices, land utilization practices and belief, and 2) identify and analyze the key\ud issues of local wisdom that are consistent with the conservation and sustainable\ud management of the local natural resources and the environment. Finally, the\ud analysis explored the affects of the existing policies (e.g., national park and\ud development promotion policies) on the tribe's livelihood and the expected impact\ud on the natural environments due to the shift in practices of the tribe.\ud analysis explored the affects of the existing policies (e.g., national park and\ud development promotion policies) on the tribe's livelihood and the expected impact\ud on the natural environments due to the shift in practices of the tribe.\ud This research utilized a qualitative research methodology to study and\ud understand the overall picture of the community. Interview and observation\ud techniques were used to identify the important issues, which included the history\ud and settlement of the community, production patterns, land utilization patterns,\ud belief systems, relationships within the community and government policies.\ud The research indicates that traditional production practices, traditional land\ud tenure arrangements and cultural beliefs provide the tribe a means of self-reliance\ud and environmental sustainability. However, these customary practices and beliefs\ud are being threatened by government policies. Therefore, the recommendations are\ud provided to guide policymakers in ways to incorporate the wisdom of the tribe in\ud future decisions