Community Participatory Training Model for the Conservation of Medicinal Plants Biodiversity at Doijedee Mountain Tourist Attraction, Northeastern Thailand

doi:10.4236/ce.2012.34085

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Creative Education

2012. Vol.3, No.4, 581-587

Published Online August 2012 in SciRes (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ce) http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ce.2012.34085

Community Participatory Training Model for the Conservation of

Medicinal Plants Biodiversity at Doijedee Mountain Tourist

Attraction, Northeastern Thailand*

Kong Khemkratoke1, Penkhae Thamsenanupap1, Napat Noinumsai2

1Department of Environmental Education, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies,

Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand

2Technology of Environmental management Program, Faculty of Sciences and Technology,

Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Email: [email protected]

Received June 11th, 2012; revised July 13th, 2012; accepted July 27th, 2012

Recently, the biodiversity are changing and incessantly decreasing, especially the medicinal plants, and

the problem related to the way of life of people. To solve this problem, knowledge of the people is very

important and thus it is a must to build knowledge by various methods. Therefore, this research was

aimed to develop the community participatory training model to conserve medicinal plants species diver-

sity. The research framework was divided into two stages. The first stage was the development of the

training model consisted of nine plans and the second was the application of the model and the data was

collected from questionnaires of the knowledge levels, opinions and behaviors of biodiversity, in-depth

interview and participatory observation. The period of 12 months was spent on research operation and

assumption test by Paired t-test and F-test (two-way MANCOVA). The results of the study were as fol-

lows: 1) The community participatory training model consisted of 6 plans namely a) problems affecting

biodiversity study; b) problem analysis; c) data collection of pre-training; d) planning organization using

up A-I-C; e) planning implementation and using Deming cycle (P-D-C-A) to analyze and improve in 3

spirals and each spiral was one month away; and f) data collection of post-training. Samples group both in

general and with identified gender and age in post training had the knowledge levels, opinions and be-

haviors of the biodiversity increased significantly (p < .05). 2) After training, no difference was found in

terms of knowledge levels, opinions and behaviors of the biodiversity of the samples group with different

genders and ages. The gender and age factors did not influence the operational results (p > .05). 3) In

terms of the result of follow-up, one month after the training, the samples group benefit from Doijedee

Mountain tourist attraction and they still play the active role as community committee. In conclusion, the

community participatory training model for the conservation of the medicinal plant species diversity from

this operation can enhance the knowledge levels, opinions and behaviors of the biodiversity and self-help

group to preserve the medicinal plants biodiversity. Thus, it is necessary to promote this model to be ap-

plied according to the community’s potential.

Keywords: Medicinal Plant; Biodiversity; Community Participation; Training Model

Introduction

The data in the year 2010 indicated that the world has lost

biodiversity and this tremendously affected the rapid distinction

of plants and animals. The deforestation also affected the

change of biodiversity. Additionally, biodiversity is one of the

important elements in human’s living (Office of Natural Re-

sources and Environmental Policy and Planning, 2006: p. 25)

and is also significant in the environment and ecosystems

(Baimai. 2005: pp. 65-69).

Similarly, Thailand faced this difficulty. In the year 2005, the

plant survey revealed that there was the tendency in the distinc-

tion of the 1407 plants in 135 families, 764 types of Endemic,

15 types of Semi-endemic and the rest was non-endemic, par-

ticularly the Orchidaceae in 173 types. In 2010, there were

continuous deforestations and deterioration of the soil in

35,976,997 Rai (estimately 1,422,577 Acres which is 11.24%

of the total area in Thailand) (Office of Natural Resources and

Environmental Policy and Planning, 2006).

Doijedee Mountain tourist attraction, Teparak District, Na-

khon Ratchasima Province faced the similar problem on the

decrease of the biodiversity. Regarding the results of the ques-

tionnaire from 30 respondents whose residence is in Doijedee,

it was found that locals harvested the medical plants at 62.2

percent and 48.7 percent thought that their behaviors affected

the decrease in biodiversity. Doijedee Mountain is the eco-

tourist attraction that has variety of biodiversity. The area cov-

ers 5700 Rai and it is approximately 320 meters above the sea

level (Local Administration Organization Office of Bungprue,

2006). The area was categorized into 3 types: highland, moder-

ate land and plateau. A variety of plants were found i.e. Shorea

siamensis Miq., S. obtusa Wall, wild orchid, fern and medicinal

*Research objective: This study aimed to develop community partici-

atory training model

o conserve the species diversity of medicinal

lants at Doijedee tourist attraction, Teparak District, Nakhon Ratcha-

sima Province.

K. KHEMKRATOKE ET AL.

plants. The last type of plants could be used as the medicine,

supplementary, cosmetic and food (Goleniowski et al., 2006).

These medicinal plants were, for example, Patumma and Ste-

mona collinsae Craib. However, the change in nature and hu-

man’s way of life also led to the decrease in the biodiversity.

According to the data gathered from the questionnaire con-

structed by the researchers, it was found that deforestation,

raising animals and collecting the medical plants were the ma-

jor factors to such decrease. The natural change of the envi-

ronment was also considered one factor but man-made change

seemed to be of prior influence. Results from the questionnaire

also indicated that 79.6 percent of the respondents wanted to

have rules and activities to recover and conserve all the natural

resources in a concrete manner.

The preventions and resolutions to these problems on the

natural resources should necessarily be from the local participa-

tion (Walaisathien et al., 2003), particularly with the problem of

biodiversity (Samleekaeow, 2002). These problems directly

related to locals’ living; the solution should be related to both

locals’ way of living and appropriate with the context. From the

reviews of related literatures, the communal participation ap-

proach was one of the effective and sustainable solutions (Men-

doza and Prabhu, 2007), especially with the co-consideration with

environmental concept that would enhance the community to

critically and thoroughly think and be responsible for all the

activities (Nopkesorn, 2006: pp. 33-34). This integrated concept

is pertinent to the biodiversity convention that aimed to protect,

acknowledge and conserve the biodiversity based on the tradi-

tion, custom and communal way of living, and to encourage the

community’s knowledge and local wisdom with the emphasis on

community’s participation (Office of Natural Resources and

Environmental Policy and Planning, 2006: p. 22). The integra-

tion of the participatory approach in the present study’s research

instruments and operational guide line would, therefore, be

appropriate (Ritzema et al., 2010). All the activities were from

the community’s participation; the procedures could be adapted

in relation to the community’s context (Karnchanarangsi, 2004).

Therefore, this research was conducted in two phases, there

were: 1) the development of the community participatory train-

ing model and 2) training model application. The results of this

study yielded the community participatory training model on the

biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants at Doijedee

tourist attraction and this model can be integrated to other plans

to resolve and prevent as well as deal with the decrease of other

biodiversity.

Methodology

This research was conducted using participatory action re-

search design based on environmental study, adult’s learning,

participation and participatory workshop concepts.

Study Area

Doijedee Mountain is the natural tourist attraction. It is the

origin of an important water source, Chiang Grai River, that

meets with Moon River on one end while the other meets with

Lam Phaya Klang River in Lopburi Province and eventually

with Pa Sak River. The mountain is 280 - 320 meters above the

sea level. Majority of the locals immigrated from other areas

(Local Administration Organization Office of Bungprue). The

area was categorized into 3 types: highland, moderate land and

plateau. Due to the slope of the lands, soil erosions were fre-

quently occurred. Consequently, the fertility in the soil was

decreased and this led to the use of agricultural chemical sub-

stances. Moreover, manmade fire in forests as well as farmland,

the invasion of the public forest, deforestation, wildlife hunting,

and rare plants collection have affected the decrease of diversity

in resources including medicinal plants that were used by the

community.

Research Procedures

The research procedures consisted of two phases. The first

phase was the development of the community participatory

training model to conserve the species of medicinal plant bio-

diversity. The sample group was 60 volunteers.

The activities in this model were developed from the concepts

of participation, environmental study, participatory workshop

(A-I-C), Deming quality improvement cycle (P-D-C-A) and

adult’s learning concept. The effectiveness of the model was

measured from the comparison of knowledge, attitudes and

action in biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants both

before and after the operation.

The second phase was the pilot test of the model with 74

volunteers. The pilot tested model was measured on its effec-

tiveness from the comparison of knowledge, attitudes and action

in biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants both before

and after the training. The analysis of the sustainability of the

operation one month after the training was applied. This study

took twelve months.

Data Collection and Analysis

Phase I

Instruments: there were two research instruments in this study,

the activity instruments for the model development and data

collection instruments. The activity instruments were composed

of nine stages and the data collection instrument was the ques-

tionnaire on the knowledge, attitudes and action in biodiversity

conservation of the medicinal plants. The questionnaire was

administered to the sample group. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient

formula was calculated to find the reliability of the instruments

(Wanichbancha, 2007) and the values were at .80, .82, and .88

respectively for each aspect of the instruments.

Data collection: the data was collected from the questionnaire

before and after the activities.

Data analysis: descriptive statistics were applied with the data

from the questionnaire and Paired t-test was used to compare the

knowledge, attitudes and action in biodiversity conservation of

the medicinal plants.

Phase II

Instruments: there were two types of instruments: activity in-

struments based on community participatory training model that

developed from the first phase and the data collection instrument.

For the second type of instrument, there was questionnaire on the

knowledge, attitudes and action in biodiversity conservation of

the medicinal plants. This also included in-depth interview and

participatory observation.

Data collection: questionnaire on the knowledge, attitudes and

action in biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants was

administered with the sample group before and after the training,

in-depth interview before the training, and the participatory

582

K. KHEMKRATOKE ET AL.

observation during the whole period of the training. dures (Figure 2): 1) the study of the primary problem in the area

on the biodiversity; 2) the analysis of the problems; 3) the

pre-operational data collection; 4) the creation of the plan with

A-I-C procedures; 5) the implementation of the plan with

Deming cycle (P-D-C-A) in 3 one-month rounds; and 6) the

post-operational data collection. During the training, the factors

that assisted the learning of the sample group were included.

These factors were the support with the related knowledge,

creating the fair opportunity in participation in the training of

internal and external members as well as networking, and the

support from the government. This included the stimulation in

learning and participation by allocating the responsibility and

inviting the community leaders to participate in the training as

well as giving positive reinforcement and rewards for the op-

erational role model.

Data analysis: Content analysis was used with the data from

the in-depth interview and participatory observation. Descriptive

statistics were used with the data from the questionnaire. The

hypotheses were tested by comparing the knowledge, attitudes

and action in biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants in

the sample group before and after the training with Paired t-test

and F-test (two-way MANCOVA) with the set reliability values

at .05 level.

Results

Phase I

After the completion of all the nine procedures as illustrated in

Figure 1, that data gathered by the instruments was analyzed

with the statistics. The results were as follows.

It was found out from the questionnaire after the respondents

had completed the nine procedures that they had higher average

scores of knowledge level, attitudes and action. Most of them

had high level of knowledge, the attitudes were in “agree” level

and the actions were in “frequent” level. The results also indi-

cated that the attitudes of the participants before and after the

participation in the procedures were different with the statistical

significance at .05 level.

Phase II: The In-Depth Interview

The results from the in-depth interview regarding the con-

servation of the species of medicinal plants biodiversity in the

community indicated that the respondents recognized the im-

portance of the biodiversity in human’s living, particularly as the

natural food sources especially the medicinal plants. They also

thought that the current environmental problems affected the

medicinal plants in the community forest. This included the lack

of regulation and agreement on the mutual forest utilization of

the forest that also directly affected the medicinal plants’ condi-

tion.

From Table 1, it can be summarized that the locals who had

completed the nine procedures had the knowledge that can lead

to the environmental improvement. These procedures should be

used as a guideline in the biodiversity conservation of the me-

dicinal plants in other areas. Concerning the question on the participation in the conserva-

tion of the species of medicinal plants biodiversity in the com-

munity, the results indicated that some of the respondents had

The community participatory training model to conserve the

species of medicinal plants biodiversity consisted of six proce-

3. Arrange the

communal discussion.

To create the

co-understanding of the

problem

6. Arrange the workshop

with A-I-C to create the

participation in identifying

the problems and solutions

1. Survey and collect the

primary data on problems

2. Analyze current

problems and situation

4. Ask for the volunteers

9. Disseminate the info

to the community

5.Collect the data

before the actual

research with interview

and questionnaire

7. Arrange the activities

according to plan and

analyze the activities with

Deming cycle (P-D-C-A)

8. Exchange the

knowledge and collect

the data after the

activities with the

questionnaire

Figure 1.

The model development procedures of the biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants.

Table 1.

Comparison of knowledge level, attitude and action in the biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants before and after the first phase (n = 60)

(*statistical significance at .05 level; 3“not sure”; 4“agree” and “often”).

Pre-operation (60) Post-operation (60)

Aspects

S.D.

t p

Knowledge 19.25 2.27 19.93 1.62 −1.85 0.07

Attitude 3.333 0.84 3.804 0.80 −3.73 0.000*

Action 3.604 0.93 3.904 0.94 −1.83 0.08

K. KHEMKRATOKE ET AL.

1.Area Base Problem Survey

4.AIC Process

5.P-D-C-A Cycle

Input Factors

-Knowledge

-Opportunity

-Network

-Government

-Stimulus Factor

-Plan

-Do

-Check

-Act

-Appreciation

-Influence

-Control

A P

C D

A P

C D

A P

C D

6.Pos

-Test

2nd

3rd

5 Steps of community’

participation

2.Problem Analysis

3.Pre- Test

Figure 2.

The conservation model of the species of medicinal plants biodiversity.

participated in tree-planting and eco-tourism activities. They

also indicated that there was the close watch over public forest

utilization to prevent the deforestation and invasive farming. The

majority of respondents agreed that there was a lack of regula-

tion in the forest conservation and an insufficient participation of

the community in these activities. They proposed that there

should be community’s mutual regulation and agreement on the

forest utilization of the forest and allow them to set these rules

and activities as well as the participation in the forest-related

activities. Apart from the community’s participation, other

organizations should join in and set clear-cut policy with the

agreement from the locals.

Phase II: Participatory Observation

The participatory observation was conducted with five pro-

cedures: 1) initiation; 2) planning; 3) operation; 4) receiving the

results; and 5) assessment. It was found that the first procedure

was important since it indicated the enthusiasm degree of the

community’s agreement to participate in the activities. The

effective dissemination of the information, especially the in-

formation on the community context was significant. Addition-

ally, the locals should have equal opportunity to collaboratively

think, share ideas and participate in the communal meeting.

The use of activities to enhance the community’s learning via

various procedures, particularly the participatory workshop led

to the sense of self-importance in the locals. Therefore, they

actively represented their roles both as the participants and the

organizers of the community activities. The integration of

Deming cycle (P-D-C-A) in the activities was another important

factor that created the continuous co-thinking and co-develop-

ment of the community. The locals then collaboratively under-

stand about their community and mutual benefit.

Nevertheless, the community participation depended not only

on the voluntary involvement, information access, opportunity

to participate in the activities, co-thinking and co-action, but also

on the role of the leader. It was found that with the leaders’

participation in the activities, the community is more effectively

motivated to participate in the activities.

Phase II: The Questionnaire

It was found that 54.05 percent of the respondents were male

with the average age of 46. They had primary education at 59.46

percent and 89.19 of them were married. Their main occupation

was freelance workers at 51.35 percent and 86.49 percent of

them had lived in the area more than fifteen years.

The hypothesis testing with Paired t-test and F-test (two-way

MANCOVA) revealed the results as follows.

The sample group classified by gender and age had the

knowledge level on the conservation of the species of medicinal

plants biodiversity after the training at 80.5 to 83.3 percent of the

total scores. The knowledge of the males was in the high level

whereas that of the females was in moderate. Their attitudes

were in agree level and their actions were in frequent. All of

these aspects were significantly higher at .05 level than the

pre-training.

From Table 2, the results of the pre-training indicated that the

males had the knowledge level on the conservation of the species

of medicinal plants biodiversity at 71.7 percent out of the total

scores, the “not sure” attitudes and the “sometimes” actions.

Additionally, the results of the post-training showed that the

males had 83.3 percent on the knowledge level, the “agree”

attitudes and the “frequent” actions. The post-training’s results

were significantly higher than the pre-training at .05 level.

With regards to the females, the pre-training’s results indi-

cated that they had the knowledge level on the conservation of

the species of medicinal plants biodiversity at 70.2 percent out of

the total scores, the “not sure” attitudes and the “sometimes”

actions. Additionally, the results of the post-training showed that

the males had 80.5 percent on the knowledge level, the “agree”

attitudes and the “frequent” actions. The post-training’s results

were significantly higher than the pre-training at .05 level.

Table 3 shows the pre-training’s results that the subjects with

ages under 45 posed the knowledge on the conservation of the

species of medicinal plants biodiversity at 72.9 percent out of the

total scores, their attitudes were in “not sure” and their actions

were in “sometimes”. Additionally, the results of the post-train-

ing showed that the subjects had 82.0 percent on the knowledge

level, the “agree” attitudes and the “frequent” actions. The post-

training’s results were significantly higher than the pre-training

at .05 level.

Concerning the subjects with ages above 45, they had the

knowledge level on the conservation of the species of medicinal

plants biodiversity at 70.0 percent out of the total scores, the “not

sure” attitudes and the “sometimes” actions. Additionally, the

results of the post-training showed that they had 82.0 percent on

the knowledge level, the “agree” attitudes and the “frequent”

actions. The post-training’s results were significantly higher

han the pre-training at .05 level. t

584

K. KHEMKRATOKE ET AL.

Table 2.

Comparison of knowledge level, attitude and action in the biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants before and after the training of the sample

group as classified by gender (*statistical significance at .05 level ; 3“not sure”; 4“agree” attitude or “frequent” action).

Males Females

Pre-training Post-training Pre-training Post-training

Training

results

S.D.

t p

S.D.

S. D.

t p

Knowledge 17.925 2.080 20.83 1.906 −9.985 .000* 17.559 2.077 20.118 1.935 -8.822 .000*

Attitude 3.1123 0.312 3.734 0.275 −12.810 .001* 3.0943 0.214 3.6434 0.249 -11.039 .000*

Action 3.0693 0.252 3.934 0.196 −24.963 .000* 3.0353 0.298 3.8314 0.286 -19.912 .000*

Table 3.

Comparison of knowledge level, attitude and action in the biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants before and after the training of the sample

group as classified by age (*Statistical significance at .05 level; 3“not sure”; 4“agree” and “often”).

Age below 45 years Age above 45 years

Pre-training Post-training Pre-training Post-training

Training

results

S.D.

t p

S.D.

S. D.

t p

Knowledge 18.231 2.178 20.500 1.794 −7.062 .000* 17.500 1.989 20.500 2.032 -11.558 .000*

Attitude 3.2103 0.328 3.8074 0.279 −10.795 .000* 3.0463 0.215 3.6244 0.237 -13.012 .000*

Action 3.8944 0.240 3.8944 0.242 −20.612 .000* 3.0193 0.285 3.8764 0.247 -24.922 .000*

From Table 4, the results of the posttraining on the conser-

vation of the species of medicinal plants biodiversity from sub-

jects with the difference in genders and ages did not have sig-

nificant difference at .05 level in the knowledge level, attitudes

and actions. Also, genders and ages did not significantly affect

the three aspects (p > .05).

One month after the training, the sample groups utilized the

Doijedee Mountain forest and abided by the community’s mu-

tual agreement and regulations. The researchers interviewed the

locals who had participated in the research in order to analyze

the continuity and changes as well as the possible continuity of

the activities. It was found that the locals utilized the forest based

on the community’s agreements. They collaboratively watched

over the forest utilization and raise the community awareness via

the community’s news broadcasting chamber. The community

representatives took turn to communicate with the community

three to four times per week. The locals increasingly exchanged

their ideas about the natural resource-related issues and collected

the sensible amount of the forest products.

The results from the follow-up process indicated that the re-

sults from all the procedures created the knowledge for the

community via the experience exchange among the locals. These

procedures led to the learning and created the environmental-

friendly behaviors. Therefore, this model may be a guideline to

enhance the community’s mutual learning in order to raise the

environmental awareness which would finally lead to the posi-

tive behaviors towards the nature in the community.

Discussion

The community participatory training model development to

conserve the species of medicinal plants biodiversity consisted

of six procedures which differed from the participation concept of

Kritayapisit (1995: p. 13). This author stated that the community

participation could be assessed and yielded the qualitative data in

five procedures: 1) initiation; 2) planning; 3) operation; 4) bene-

fiting; and 5) assessment. Also, the procedures differed from the

participation concept of Walaisathien et al. (2003: p. 8) which

stated the four procedures: 1) studying the community; 2) plan-

ning; 3) action; and 4) assessment. Into this model in this study,

there was the integration of problem analysis and data collection

procedures before operation. The concepts of empowerment,

participatory workshop (A-I-C) and Deming cycle (P-D-C-A)

were integrated in the model. The locals collaboratively under-

stand the current problems and situations of the community which

has led to the knowledge exchange, brainstorming of the sample

group through the participatory meeting. The actual and contin-

ual activities in harmony with the community’s context were

obtained from these procedures. The findings correspond to the

study of Treenawong (2005: pp. 159-178), who found that the

participatory action research created the community’s learning

and strength. Thus, the community could identify the problems

and figure out the solutions. Moreover, community’s participa-

tion is important in natural resource management for sustainable

development (Kaewpradab, 2003). The community’s participa-

tion in the effective natural resource management depends on a

number of factors e.g. action plan, community’s acceptance,

individual characteristics of the local as stated in the study of

Sultana and Abeyasekera (2008: pp. 201-213). They found that

the community-based natural resource management was espe-

cially effective with the participatory action plan development

procedures. This plan was accepted by the community and could

be successfully accomplished. Chaimueng (2000) found that with

different information, each local would have different levels of

participation in the environmental conservation. The project with

active participation in planning was likely to be accepted by the

locals and could more effectively resolve environmental

K. KHEMKRATOKE ET AL.

Table 4.

Comparison of the results after the training in the biodiversity conservation of the medicinal plants of the sample group with different gender and age

(two-way MANCOVA).

Variables Value F Hypothesis df Error df p Partial Eta Squared

Gender .801 2.23 3 27 .107 .199

Age .098 1.013 93 81.70 .44 .539

Gender X age

Interaction .526 .725 27 79.496 .825 .193

problems. However, the distinct participation is necessary

(Loring, 2007: pp. 2648-2660; Stringer et al., 2008).

After the training, it was found out that the sample group both

in general and as classified by gender and age had increasingly

developed higher knowledge level, attitudes and actions in the

conservation of the species of medicinal plants biodiversity. This

finding corresponds to several previous studies involving edu-

cating people via training (Manowong, 2002; Sirikun, 2006;

Suttiprapa, 2007). These authors found that knowledge, attitudes

and action or behaviors were significantly changed. This may be

due to various forms of beliefs in environmental conservation

and various methods of knowledge transfer including oral in-

struction, experience exchange and actual action to collabora-

tively conserve the community’s natural resources (Janthajorn,

2006). Additionally, hands-on learning assisted in more effec-

tive management (Polito et al., 2004). The training in environ-

mental study could improve the environmental concept, and the

training itself can be differently developed variously in accor-

dance with each community’s context (Nomura, 2008; Hassan et

al., 2009).

To summarize, the reasons why the sample group had higher

knowledge level, attitudes and action on the conservation of the

species of medicinal plants biodiversity may be from the training

model that created the participation in both knowledge exchange

and co-learning through the participatory workshop. The sample

group recognized, learned, analyzed, synthesized, and ex-

changed knowledge leading to the creation of new knowledge

which was pertinent to participatory learning concept. This

concept consisted of 2 learning principles: experience learning

and group process (Department of Mental Health, 2004: pp. 8-9).

The mutual learning and experience sharing is the basis in sup-

porting the human to achieve the goal and desirable behaviors

(Chaiyapan, 2006).

The sample group with the difference in gender and age did

not have different of knowledge level, attitudes and actions. This

finding disagrees with the study of Xenitidis and Maltezos

(2009), who found that aging results in the regressed recognition

and actions. It is possible that the training model focused on

participation, mutual learning and knowledge sharing in every

single process of activities. The group activities required the

mixed group of different genders and ages. The sample group

therefore had the equal allowance of information access and

opportunity for knowledge sharing. They also learned together

through the participation and participatory workshop which may

result in the discovery of no difference in the three aspects. The

findings showed that the procedures in the community’s con-

servation should be fostered in people of all genders and ages

through the appropriate approaches.

From the follow-up process on the sustainability one month

after the training, it was found that the sample group kept util-

izing the Doijedee forest abiding by their mutual agreements.

This sustainable forest utilization behavior may be originated

from the cross check from the community. The finding corre-

sponds to the study of Manorom (2001). This author found that

the locals in the same community had mutual culture and action

guidelines in the community’s resources management which

could be done in various manners but with mutual and agree-

ments. For the sustainable natural resources management through

community participation, there should be mutual agreement and

regulations on the forest utilization (Tansakul et al., 2002) which

can be put into practice by people in the community (Ritzemaa et

al., 2010).

Moreover, the continuity of the sustainable action may be

from the implementation of the training model that could raise

the awareness among the sample group. The procedures in the

model created the co-learning and knowledge exchange with

the focus on the participation in activities as well as information

and idea exchange. They would have higher knowledge level,

attitudes and actions towards the conservation of the species of

biodiversity which could lead to individual self-awareness and

sustainable and environmental-friendly behaviors (Soykan, 2009).

The finding corresponds to the study of Ternkhuntod (2004)

and Tongto (2003) who found that community could have dif-

ferent ways of the participation in environmental conservation

but with mutual guideline, committees, rules and regulation,

conservation and environmental awareness. This model could

bring about the locals’ participation in community’s forest

conservation. It can be seen that the local still abided by the

rules which may be due to different reasons all of which en-

couraged the locals’ environmental awareness and the sustain-

able behaviors in the conservation of the species of medicinal

plants biodiversity.

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