Strengthening Environmental Democracy: Indigenous Peoples' Rights in the Impact Assessment of Water Resource Management for Irrigation A Case Study of the Yuam River Diversion Tunnel Project, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to study the status and guidelines for enhancing environmental democracy rights, and to develop policy recommendations for strengthening these rights for indigenous peoples in the impact assessment process of water management projects for irrigation, The case study focuses on the Yuam - River Diversion Tunnel Project in Chiang Mai Province. This research employs a qualitative research methodology, collecting data from 30 key informants. The data collection tools include in-depth individual interviews, focus group discussions, and semi-participatory observations, with content analysis used as the analytical tool for the research findings.

The research findings reveal the following: 1) the status of environmental democracy rights of indigenous peoples does not yet comply with the principles of environmental democracy. Significant obstacles stem from biased perspectives and mindsets of state agencies towards indigenous peoples, and the lack of integration of relevant laws and policies into practice; 2) guidelines for enhancing environmental democracy include developing laws and policies with greater practical impact, promoting indigenous peoples' access to environmental democracy rights, particularly the right to access project information and participate in decision-making with the state, and improving enabling factors for strengthening environmental democracy; and 3) policy recommendations focus on systematically enhancing environmental democracy rights based on the 6 Good for Good Goals principles: 1) Good Laws and Policies, 2) Good Mechanism, 3) Good Network, 4) Good Leaders, 5) Good Project-making, and 6) Good Goals for achieving sustainable development and democratic development.