Formation and Political Movement of People Forest Conservation and Restoration Community Networks, in Phu Thum and Phu Kra Tae, Wang Noi District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

The purposes of this study were (1) to study the factors that cause the gathering of the people in the Community Forest Conservation and Restoration Network in Phu Thum and Phu Kra Tae, Wang Noi district, KhonKaen province, (2) to study the political movement method of the people in that area, (3) to study the impact of the political movement of the people in the area. This is a qualitative research. A questionnaire with an in-depth interview was used as the research tool. There were 30 participants divided into three main groups as follows: (1) 10 leaders and members of the Community Forest Conservation and Restoration Network in Phu Thum and Phu Kra Tae, (2) 10 people who work as Sub-district Administrative Organization officers, local chief, village chief, and park rangers, (3) 10 people including academicians, journalists, non-governmental organization officers, and residents. The data were analyzed by using content analysis and were The purposes of this study were (1) to study the factors that cause the gathering of the people in the Community Forest Conservation and Restoration Network in Phu Thum and Phu Kra Tae, Wang Noi district, KhonKaen province, (2) to study the political movement method of the people in that area, (3) to study the impact of the political movement of the people in the area. This is a qualitative research. A questionnaire with an in-depth interview was used as the research tool. There were 30 participants divided into three main groups as follows: (1) 10 leaders and members of the Community Forest Conservation and Restoration Network in Phu Thum and Phu Kra Tae, (2) 10 people who work as Sub-district Administrative Organization officers, local chief, village chief, and park rangers, (3) 10 people including academicians, journalists, non-governmental organization officers, and residents. The data were analyzed by using content analysis and were presented in a descriptive form.
The results show that: 
1. There are two factors that lead to network formation. Factor outside the community are centralized political power in the middle national development strategy. The factors within the community are having a strong community culture create a network in the community effectively by members of the community network with civil society consciousness. There are network leaders with the ability to motivate and drive the network. 
2. In terms of political movement guidelines, it was found that there are various approaches, including expanding social spaces. They create a coalition, groups joining forces to expand the marching network, using stubborn methods and training for forest protection volunteers. 
3. The impact of political movements in 3 areas: 1) Political: people in the network group are strong. They have bargaining power with the state. They can organize utilization of the forest  and strengthening members within the network group; 2) Economic aspects, they can restore forest fertility until abundance, increasing forest resources, more vegetation; members of the Forest Seeker community have provided information that the community forest resources are earning money from finding forest products and making a living; they have been trusted until being rescued, supported project budget from other sectors; 3) Social aspects there is a leader of people in the surveillance of natural resources and the environment who can plan the management of natural resources and the environment on a permanent basis continuously; the relationship of people in the community between communities and forests is created through a forest planting activity, forest ordination and merit-making forest to the lake “Lahan Na”. That combines culture, tradition and religious rituals causing a society of cherished people and the spirit of the conservationism is expounding.