ECOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE BUDDHIST COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT NETWORK

Abstract

             Research on “Development of ecosystems and environmental management networks for Buddhist communities” is research under the research plan and strategy for developing the Buddhist community environmental management network. The objectives is to study the problems and needs of environmental management of people in the research area, the developing networks and design sustainable community environmental management in the Buddhist way, the creating participation in effectively managing environmental problems that affect the quality of life of people in the community by using the community fundamental of Ban Nai Kwae, Tha Kwang Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai Province as a research area for this research.

             The research findings show that an increase in the amount of garbage within Ban Nai Khwae Community, Tha Kwang Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai Province every year because of a rapid expansion rate of communities, continuous economic growth, and a rapid increase in the number of people in the area. Furthermore, there isn’t appropriately waste separation, lack of knowledge on proper waste management, and participation and social responsibility of the people which affect the environment, the living conditions and quality of life of people in the community.

             Buddhist Community Environmental Management Network caused by the gathering of individuals, communities, and government organizations. And the private sectors that are aware of common problems in order to exchange and learn together as well as the design creative activities that lead to change the behavior of people in the community to create awareness of the effects of waste, the best way of separating waste based on the beliefs, values, culture, traditions of people or members of the community. Thus, a civil society network had happen, building point of thought that persuade everyone takes part in solving environmental problems by using temples or religious institutions had become a connector for networking activities, and lead to a project activity “Trash Makes Merit” i.e. a collection of trash that has been sorted from community members participating in the project or bring it as a donation to make merit for setting up a community waste bank and then "Convert Merit into Capital" by selling the collected waste. And then use the money that received from selling garbage as capital to create public benefits. Providing welfare in the form of public assistance for community members, This activity has created awareness, cultivating awareness of environmental conservation in the community, creating responsibility for the public, the best way of separating waste and manage waste as source which leads to proper waste management, reducing pollution problems that caused by the accumulation of garbage within the community. It also reduces the burden of budgetary expenses on the government sector in waste management.