พระสงฆ์กับการขับเคลื่อนการจัดการทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อมของชุมชน : กรณีศึกษา ชุมชนตะโหมด ตำบลตะโหมด อำเภอตะโหมด จังหวัดพัทลุง

Abstract

The objective of this qualitative research was to study 1) dynamics relationship between monks and Tamot villagers in Tamot Sub-district, Tamot District, Phatthalung Province during 1967 - 2017; 2) the monks' roles in mobilizing natural resources and environmental management with the villagers during 1985-2017, as well as their contributive and obstructive factors; and 3) the outcomes of their mobilization. The qualitative research methodology included semi-structured and unstructured interviews, and participant and non-participant observations in the community. The number of sixty-five informants was comprised of monks, core-team members of environmental conservation groups, community senior citizen and villagers, local officials and related academic from academic institutes. Analytic induction was used for data analysis. The relationship between the monks and the community could be classified into the following two types: 1) the relationship based on Buddhist beliefs and traditional practices, and 2) the one based on their community development roles, which enhanced community faith to them. These led to cooperation between the monks and villagers in both aspects: community development and natural resources and environmental management in which the monks played the role of informal leaders. Contributive factors entailed: 1) the monks' leadership attributes: morality, visions, toleration, devotion, articulate capabilities, and taking all actions shoulder-to- shoulder with the community members; 2) support from outsiders, ranging from government and private sectors, academic institutes, and other communities, as networks for promoting various activities, including learning processes and research, together with inside networks, particularly conservation groups 3) Some govemment policies and social pressures were supportive to the promotion of community-based natural resources and environmental management. Obstructions of the monks' actions in the last few years were due to increases in their religious duties and ages, leading to their declines in field activities with the groups. In terms of the outcomes of their mobilization, the community faith was significant capital contributing to their roles in developing and mobilizing five capital of the community: Their mobilization of social capital - core-team community members and villagers within kinship networks led to village cooperation in developing physical capital - village infrastructures. This also resulted in developing the community human capital, as the monks mobilized financial capital and labor from the villagers, as well as connecting government officials to promote educational systems for the village youth. Thereafter, social capital was promoted for establishing a community organization - Tamot Temple Ground Council It has been the key organization mobilizing community development in different dimensions, particularly conservation and restoration of natural capital, forest and water. Moreover, the monk used financial capital, award of the conservation outcomes, to sustain the conservation groups. As the monks broadened the social capital to include outside agencies, networks of government offices, business sectors, and academic institutes came to work with the community. As such, the collaborative leaming processes have been consistently significant to the development of Tamot human capital, including the monks, core-team members, conservation group members, as well as children and the youth.