A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991

This exploratory and study aims at achieving insights into the problem derived from the interaction between park and people who live inside and adjacent to Khao Yai National Park, as well as, the villagers' perception towards natural resources conservation and to the park. The target group is villagers who live inside the park boundary; villagers who live immediately outside the park are the control group. The major finding is that there is no differences in cultural characteristics and economic conditions of two groups. People in still depend on resources inside the park, among the lower income people whose dependency resources increases, both in cash and in kind . significant the socio both groups particularly on the park There are three main issues derived from the interaction between people and the park and it's resources. Firstly, there is a lack of participation in natural resources conservation practice. Although, villagers perceive the value of natural resources and KYNP, which supports their basic needs, the participation in natural resources conservation practices is low. People believe that natural resources belong to government or to the park. They do not see the maintenance of resources as their responsibility because they have no legal right to use any resource inside the park. Secondly, illegal logging and hunting still occur, due to a lack of alternative employment in the village, particularly among villagers outside the park. Thirdly, the villagers who live inside the park still encroach forest to claim more areas of land. To resolve these three issues an action plan was designed comprising three major components as 1) the revision of existing park boundary; 2) removal of communities from inside the park; and 3) establishment and management of the buffer zone along KYNP boundary. The study concludes with policy recommendations for the resolution of similar conflicts within the general context of Thailand.