Ecosystem Services of a Wetland in the Politically Unstable Southernmost Provinces of Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to answer questions about the importance and utilization of wetland provisioning ecosystem services (ES) in the disturbed southernmost provinces of Thailand, calling for the need for sustainable wetland management. Generally, natural resources management in the unrest area has been neglected because security-related policies have usually received higher priority. The study surveyed a sample of 328 households to explore the types and importance of provisioning wetland ES that have value to the local people. The statistics used to analyze data are percentage, mean, standard deviation, and calculation of the value of provisioning ES. Quantitative data were presented to a participatory workshop of 22 stakeholders to explore guidelines for wetland management. The results indicate that wetland plays a vital role in the livelihood of the local community by providing a variety of provisioning ES. Nine of the 13 ES addressed in the study were perceived as important to very important by the local people. Based on the guidelines provided by the stakeholders, an initial strategy has been formulated in the study.