A GOVERNNANCE MODEL FOR MANGROVE FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: A CASE OF BAN PREDNAI COMMUNITY, HUANG NAM KHAO SUBDISTRICT, MUAENG TRAT DISTRICT, TRAT PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives were to investigate the conditions of the mangrove-forest resources at Ban Prednai Community, Huang Nam Khao Subdistrict, Mueang Trat District, Trat Province; to describe the characteristics of the governance of the mangrove forest resource management; and to construct a governance model for the mangrove forest resource management. This study utilized a qualitative approach. Data were collected through documents and evidence, non-participant observations, and in-depth interviews. Thirty key informants included officers of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, community leaders, community philosophers, and representatives of Ban Prednai Community. The obtained data were analyzed using an inductive analysis. Findings revealed that the conditions of the mangrove-forest resources at Ban Prednai Community were abundant and the forest was found to contain diverse plants and animals utilizable as a source of food and herbs for the community; there were six governance characteristics employed in managing the mangrove forest resources including participatory governance; network governance; community governance; self-governance; consultative governance; and adaptive governance; and all the six characteristics of the governance model comprised three key elements including community-level internal and external involvements; exchanges of knowledge, information, and news between government agencies, private entities, and the general public; and assignments of primary roles for the community to autonomously control and regulate the mangrove forest resource management.