A thesis summited in partial fulfillment of the requirements f or the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1994

Developing the highlands of Northern Thailand must address the issues of promoting conservation as less and less forest cover and biodiversity remains. This report presents a twenty year strategy for the Doi Inthanon National Park administration to promote conservation in a Sgaw Karen hill tribe community of Pa Mon. A strategic analysis, commonly used in corporate planning , was used to r:ef.i.ne and develop a series of hypotheses regarding the future of conservation in the community and the most effective role that the Park administration could play in it. The analysis provides a strategy that calls on a multi- faceted approach to reducing natural resource degradation through promoting conservation education; formal education, l owl and jobs, and emigration; and non- natural resource intensive economic opportunities. The Park administration is to rally and entice the many relevant stake holders for assistance in these programs. The research pointed to issues regarding the suitability of of an informal analysis methods in field applications, but also realizes its shortcomings. Further, in order to deal with increasing populations and limited resources, the forces of socio-economic change in the community provider more long term potentials to reduce natural resource degradation than solely maintaining traditional practices.