Sustainable land management strategy for Phipun basin

• Published in: Wārasān Songkhlā Nakharin Vol. 21; no. 1
• Main Authors: Charlchai Tanavud, Chao Yongchalermchai, Paiboon Pramojanee, Charlie Navanugraha (Prince of Songkla Univ., Songkhla (Thailand). Faculty of Natural Resources. Dept. of Earth Science)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1999
• Subjects: BASSIN VERSANT; CUENCAS HIDROGRÁFICAS; LAND USE; TAILANDIA; THAILAND; THAÏLANDE; UTILISATION DES TERRES; UTILIZACIÓN DE LA TIERRA; WATERSHEDS
• ISSN: 0125-3395

In Phipun basin, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Southern Thailand, over-exploitation of the inherent productive natural resources base in the past has resulted in a disturbance of the finely tuned equilibrium of the natural ecosystems of the basin, and as such the stage was set for the occurrence of Thailand's worst natural disaster: devastating floods and massive landslides. At present, the same patterns of resources exploitation, which had contributed to the occurrence of the disaster, are continuing. As a result, the basin remains highly vulnerable to future disaster. A sustainable land management strategy must, therefore, be developed to achieve a balance between resources conservation and development within a sustainable frame work so as to prevent future such tragedies. In this study, a strategic planning process in employed to formulate a land management plan. The plan makes possible the alteration of current patterns of resources exploitation into patterns which are more ecologically balanced and stable. The first step of the planning process was the identification and assessment of the basin's resource base. A vision for the future of the local community was defined in the second step in order that the strategy developed would be appropriate to the needs and expectations of the local people. Based on the findings of the first two steps, a land management plant was formulated in the third step. Essentially, the plan divides the basin into three major zones including preservation, conservation and development zones. In the last step, procedures to facilitate the implementation of such a plan are proposed.