Integration of community forest management and development activities: Lessons learned from Ubon Ratchathani province

The results showed that the communities performed strongly in forest management, based on community tradition and culture, and a kinship system integrated with academic knowledge and local wisdom. A learning process through community-based research contributed to the integration of holistic community development activities fitting to the community's way-of-life and needs. Learning centers were established for sharing knowledge. Grouping and participation were developed based on community democracy. A conservation concept was implanted in youths through activities, and leaders acted as good role models on how to live. The communities received support from outside agencies, screened by the community forum. The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and Buddhist doctrines have been followed in development and lifestyle activities, resulting in changing practices and ways of thinking to those that agreed and balanced with the social and cultural context.