THE SURVEY OF COMMUNITY FOREST FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF MEDICINAL PLANT CULTIVATION: A CASE STUDY OF BAN HUAFAI COMMUNITY FOREST IN BANDU DISTRIC, CHAING RAI PROVINCE

Abstract

            The chemical residues in agricultural areas causes medical plant to be contaminated that would harm to consumers. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the area for medicinal plant cultivation by surveying Huafai community forest in Bandu district, Chiang Rai, Thailand and to determine the opportunity of medicinal plant cultivation in community forests. The results showed that medicinal plants in Ban Huafai community forest were found 52 types which can be classified to 31 families. In addition, Euphorbiaceae family is the most commonly found. After evaluating of community forest law, the members of community forest could be developed Ban Huafai community forest as medicinal plant cultivation by collecting medicinal plant, propagating medicinal plant and cultivating medicinal plant in community forest. All of the results suggested that community forests can be used to cultivate medicine plant. Moreover, community forest law also allows the members of community forest to use as plant cultivation and propagation. This study could be promoted medicinal plant cultivation to monetization for population and also encouraged population to use medicinal plant according to Thai wisdom.