Forest Biodiversity and Utilization of Community in Tungyao Forest Community
Tambol Sribourban Amphoe mueng Chanwat Lumphun
Teerapong Saowaphak
Kitti Toolapong
Forest Resources Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University
Lumphon Provincial Forest Office, Lumphon
Abstract
Tungyao community forestry has a long history over 70 years and has experience in forest management by community. At present Tungyao still has rules for forest protection and adjusted the rules have been periodically for efficiency. However the younger generation preference of work in the industrial estate and the use of new technology have made people depend less on forest.
The study distinguished Tungyao into three Forest types : dry dipterocarp forest covering the largest area, mix deciduous forest scattering throughout the area, dry evergreen forest in the smallest extent. Raung (Shorea siamemsis) has highest value of plant frequency (100 %), Taeng (Shorea obtusa) has highest value of plant density ( 20.98 %), Teng has highest value of plant abundance (165.67 tree /rai), Heang (Dipterocarpus obtusifolius) has highest value of plant dominance (20.84 %) and Heang has highest value of ecological Importance Value Index – IVI is (13.29 %), Teng has highest amount of seedling (394 tree/rai), Ya-kae-rak-lueng (Euphorbia coccinea) has highest amount of underground plant is ( 58 shrub/rai). About 91.51 % of trees have stem girth interval in 1 – 30 centimeter and 96.39 % have height interval in 1.3 – 10 meter. The Shannon – Wiener Function is 4.41. This area has species richness no less than 242 species and those used as medicinal plant no less than 91 species, wild vegetable plants no less than 28 species, mushrooms no less than 27 species, and bamboo no less then 6 specie.
The study of non-timber products found that wild vegetable plants, medicinal plants, mushrooms, bamboo shoots are subject to clear rule for household consumption or commercial purposes except Pak-wan-pa (Melientha suavis) which has been overly harvested and which is now domesticated. Pak-wan-pa therefore becomes less abundant in the natural forest. In case of wild animals especially high commercial value ones have been over hunted to the extent that some become threatened species such as Mangmon (Carebara castanea), Cicada (Magicicada septendecim), Bee (Apis spp.) and Neu-sing (Ptyas korros) and some are now endengered species in this area such as wild bore (Sus scrofa) and hare (Lepus peguensis). The present wide spread of use chemicals also affects Kobna (Rana rugulosa), Kiead (Ichthyophis spp.) and Puna. The use of fuel , charcoal and wood has been subject to clear community rules. Palung leaf for roof (Dipterocarpus tuberculatus) and Pumpeng for broom (Phoenix acaulis) are used moderately and they can regenerate well naturally.
Future management should be under a clearly defined master plan and measures to control harvesting of non-timber products especially those threatened and endangered species of animals and plants.