Sustainable engagement with indigenous settlements in prohibited areas: A case study of karen tribe villagers in the kaeng krachan forest complex, Thailand

Abstract

The Cultural Housing Network Project is a collaboration project of the Department of National Parks, Pidthong Foundation, and Chulalongkorn University. It aims to initiate social engagement to solve conflicts between the Department of National Parks and indigenous Karen tribe villagers in Kaengkrachan prohibited area. A village working group for cultural promotion has been raised as a key success factor, in parallel with trial and error activities for natural and cultural tourism. These projects were engaged to restore village pride in their local wisdom and widen job opportunities for the next generation while facing restrictive regulations by the Department of National Parks and experiencing long-term distrust and conflict between both sides. Chulalongkorn University and Pidthong Foundation, as the academic and NGO sectors, have to retain their neutral stances by following a consensus roadmap of a sustainable engagement plan to counter any unexpected pressures from either side.