THE MANAGEMENT OF FOREST FIRE AND HAZE PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO BUDDHIST ECOLOGY IN KOH KHA FOREST PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT, LAMPANG PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) the management of forest fire and haze problems of Koh Kha Forest Protection and Development Unit, Lampang Province; 2) the process for the management of forest fire and haze problems according to the Buddhist ecology; and 3) to present a model for the management of forest fire and haze problems according to the Buddhist ecology. The study applied a qualitative research method and participation from 24 key informants.

The result of this research found that: The Management of Forest Fire has complied with the government policy and facilitated the local area for participatory management with the managing forest fire and haze problems, including; 1) Prevention; 2) On fuel management; 3) On the involvement between the unit and volunteers; and 4) On the extinguishment of forest fire.  The management process has a strategy for managing forest fires and haze, including: 1) planning 2) Educating; 3) building awareness; 4) participation providing; and 5) networking.

A model for the management of forest fire and haze problems according to the Buddhist ecology relies on the management that can be classified into 3 levels as follows: 1) At the beginning by raising awareness of the community which are (1) the ordination of a tree, 2) Seub Chata Paa (the extension of forest), (3) reforestation, and (4) determining boundaries/ areas; 2) At the middle by monitoring in order to prevent forest fire and haze through (1) building fire barriers, (2) campaigning the reduction of burning, (3) prescribed burning as the best way to reduce the impact on the ecosystem and the impact arising from haze; and 3) At the end by creating the area to be of fertility or forest fire warnings by hotspot heat detector in order to notify staff, volunteer groups, and associates of the areas where there is fire or haze so that the related unit can suppress the fire and haze in time.