Abstract
This research aims to study the non-timber products utilization of Pa Krad community forest and its economic value. The research was employed using structured questionnaire to collect data. Sample size comprised 247 households of those who utilized Pa Krad from the total population of 645 households. Results showed that in the year 2000, 95.55% of those who gather non-timber products were male whose age were between 30-49 years. Those whose residence were within the distance of 3 km. were found to most utilize the forest. Most used non-timber products were niangnok (100%) somkhaek (25.10%) sator (21.86%) honey (4.05%) medicinal herb (3.64%) rattan (2.83%) and bamboo shoot (1.21%). The total quantity of non-timber products collected, projecting from the total population, are as follows : niangnok 18,002.55 kg., somkhaek 4,029.29 kg., sator 66,380.16 pieces, honey 564.05 bottles, medicinal herb 69.20 kg., rattan 561.44 metre, and bamboo shoot 44.39 kg. The net benefit of the products was 675,045.01 Baht/year. Pa Krad is managed by the local local community people who set up a local organization to protect the forest. There are rules and regulations for using the forest and hence resulting in good conservation and management of Pa Krad.
Keywords : community forest, economic value, Pa Krad, utilization of non-timber products
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