Huai Kha Khaeng buffer zone: The dynamics of human and forest

Abstract

This study aims to study the coexistence dynamics of state, community and forest in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary from 1972 - 2020, with research methods, namely, this research is qualitative. Gather information by researching documents, field research contains in-depth interviews, non-participant observation and group chat the key informants used in the study were 48 figures/person. Triangulation was used for data collection methods. Data were analyzed by content analysis method and explains in a descriptive way emphasizing on the criticism of the structure that affects the villagers. The results showed that 1. Villages adjacent to the buffer line of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (Khlong Salao), 2. Villages that are in the evacuation plan or push out, but the community can negotiate to stay in the area, originally (Khao Khiao), 3. Communities that have been pushed and the state has allocated space for the community to establish villages (E Phuong Yai), so communities that can live in the forest must rely on the power of the state, allowing the government agencies to cross their own power. Villagers could not live by necessity, conditions of suitability of oneself and shows all 3 strategies as follows: 1) concur with the Royal Forest Department for the Department to maintain its own area at the same time, the community has acquired the community forest area. 2) The villagers can preserve the community forest because of the military, therefore made an agreement to make the area occupied by the military as a community forest. 3) Community forests occur under the Little House in the Big Forest policy, which also has to be based on the military. The villagers are the defendants because to survive they have to agree with a bigger power.