Community Empowerment and Management of Khlong Chamrai, Khok Muang Sub-district, Khlong Hoi Khong District, Songkhla Province

Abstract

          The purpose of this study was to explore the power of community participation in the management of Chamrai canals in Khok Muang Sub-district, Khlong Hoi Khong District, Songkhla Province. The data of this qualitative study were gathered through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, participant and non-participant observations with 17 informants consisting of local leaders and locals who grouped themselves to participate in the management of Chamrai canal. The data were categorized according to the study issues, interpreted and concluded. The study found that the community was participated the management Chamrai canal through the power of community was participated to develop and manage natural resources through various activities. Whether, they had explored the flow of the Chamrai canal, draw a map of common ground, sharing plan, to find solutions together, jointly had built dams, planting, had left the varieties of fish, monitored operations and common benefit together. The results of management Chamrai canal had gotten through the community that had mitigated the violence of the problems caused by the development of the sector. Some examples are as follows. 1) Ecologically – Barren areas along the Khlong have been dredged and improved making them green areas along the two banks of the Khlong like it used to be; 2) The amount of water in the Khlong has increased as a result of the dam built by people in the community, and the increasing amount of water is utilized for agriculture. Besides the increase of water in the Khlong, there is an increase of water in existing cement wells for domestic use, and more cement wells have been dug by locals, the power of community mobilization to extract potential and the public awareness of the community as a mechanism for development and the management of nature.