DOI: 10.5176/2251-2853_3.1.131
Authors: Wanida Phromlah
Abstract:
This paper’s purpose is to diagnose Thailand’s governance system for forests which helps to identify the potential interventions for making the system more effective. The paper combines an extensive review of formal and informal literature with information from interviews conducted with key forestry stakeholders in Thailand. This is reflective of the ‘engaged’ philosophy underpinning this research, in contrast to a
research approach in which the expert (drawing on documentation or a limited set of stakeholders) is the voice that defines and analyses the problem. This paper considers examples of forest governance arrangements from various countries facing comparable challenges to Thailand as well as legal doctrine, popular media and formal literature. This purposeful synthesis seeks to comprehensively understand the system under examination.
The analysis reveals nine limitations in current governance
system:
a. The problem of legal complexity
b. The problem of agency inconsistent agency roles and
non-cooperation
c. The rights of forest communities are poorly defined.
d. Traditional knowledge and practices are underrecognised.
e. Lack of capacity seriously impedes forestry management.
f. Forest laws and policies overlook the interests of
communities.
g. Corruption undermines the forest governance system.
h. Intelligence and information sharing are insufficient.
i. Forest law and institutional objectives are frequently not
met.
The nine diagnoses of the governance systems discussed in this paper are considerable inferences for the next step of the research to analyse reform directions that provide a basis for better forest
governance system in Thailand.
Keywords: Engaged Research, Forest Governance, System Perspective, Thailand
Updating...