Successful environmental management and conservation among Buddhist monks in the northeast of Thailand

Abstract

This research has its objectives to study the models of environmental management and conservation among Buddhist environmentalist monks in the northeastern region, together with the factors supporting or hindering the management and conservation, and propose the models and the approaches for successful management and conservation. The study employed qualitative research approach with documentary research, in-depth interview, and structured interview with purposive samples of nine environmentalist monks in nine provinces, namely Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Bueng Kan, Yasothon, Kalasin, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Buriram. Conceptual framework to analyze traditional ecological knowledge (Berkes and Folkes, 2000) were applied in this research. This research presented three important issues. Firstly, in terms of the models of management and conservation, the research found that all nine monks had both similar and different models, starting from (1) three types of knowledge, such as knowledge and understanding of area context, Buddhist knowledge, and environmental knowledge, which are considered as an important basis for carrying out various activities, (2) environmental management and conservation activities that operate covering all dimensions from preventing the root cause of problems, rehabilitating and raising awareness under the effort to bring abstract principles to concrete activities, (3) network management, which each monk can take on a leadership role for communities at the cost of faith and can create cooperation between villagers within communities and outside networks appropriately, and (4) holistic worldview with system thinking and attitude about working in environmental management and conservation that must be based on a good human-to-human relationship, human to environment and human to religion. Secondly, factors supporting or hindering the management and conservation include the desirable attributes of the environmentalist monks who are different from other groups in general, as well as the participation in the environmental management and conservation of the collaboration networks in the area that helps the networks to carry out activities together in a sustainable way. Thirdly, the model for successful management and conservation includes (1) integrating knowledge, (2) implementing activities covering all dimensions, (3) applying the dharma principles in leading the network, and (4) thinking in a connected way on the basis of nature, along with supporting factors in regard to the monk's desirable attributes to be knowledgeable in the world, dharma, and environment, being ready with morals and ethics, having a work process consistent with communities, having ability to communicate and specific qualities such as love for animals, leadership, dignity and admiration. In addition, they must provide an opportunity for collaboration networks to participate in environmental management and conservation activities at all levels.

การศึกษาวิจัยนี้ มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาวิธีการจัดการและการอนุรักษ์ของพระนักสิ่งแวดล้อมในภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ ควบคู่ไปกับการศึกษาปัจจัยที่สนับสนุนต่อการจัดการและการอนุรักษ์ ก่อนที่ท้ายที่สุดจะเป็นการนำเสนอรูปแบบการจัดการและการอนุรักษ์สิ่งแวดล้อมโดยพระสงฆ์ที่ประสบความสำเร็จ โดยใช้ระเบียบวิธีวิจัยเช