Youth Participation in Conservation and Restoration of Community Forests in the Border Area of Sisaket Province

Abstract

          This research aims to: 1) study the context of community forest management in the border area of Sisaket Province, and 2) examine youth participation in the conservation and restoration of community forests in the border area of Sisaket Province. It is qualitative research. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with 20 key informants and focus group discussions with 18 participants. The data were analyzed for content analysis. The findings revealed that: 1) The context of community forest management in the border area of Sisaket Province is defined by collaborative care, conservation, and restoration. To ensure the sustainable richness of the forests, the community has joined a national community forest project and established a community forest committee to function as the operating body for forest management. 2) Youth participation in the conservation and restoration of community forests in the border area of Sisaket Province was identified in four key aspects: (1) Participation in decision-making, where conservation activities are planned by the community forest committee, leaders, and members, with youth acting as implementers of the established plans; (2) Participation in operations, where youth are continuously involved in activities primarily managed by the committee, including forest patrols, creating firebreaks, and supplementary/replacement planting in degraded and encroached areas; (3) Participation in benefit-sharing, as both internal and external community members are entitled to utilize the community forest; and (4) Participation in evaluation, where after each activity, the committee, community members, and youth jointly evaluate by exchanging views on problems, obstacles, and solutions for future operations.