Local community engagement for adaptation to future challenges in the pilot flood detention area of Thailand

Abstract

Designating flood detention areas is one of the flood risk management policies that has been implemented in the Lower Yom River Basin of Thailand since 2017. Spatial and temporal components in relation to agriculture and livelihood of people have been adjusted to fit with the policy, including rescheduling water allocation and growing seasons, as well as promoting fishing and additional jobs during the period of seasonal floods. The forcasted flood risk model and households' perceptions regarding the land use, identified these adjustments as responsible to increase challenges for managing flood risks. This chapter explores the potential of local community engagement in reducing risks of flooding under the flood detention area policy focusing on social vulnerability. Data was gathered during 2017–2018 including five interviews of the representatives from irrigation and disaster prevention agencies, which are all state organizations, and 11 local community leaders, as well as the questionnaires from 206 households, living in the flood detention area. The results showed that social vulnerability, in this context, is induced by several root causes including unequal power relations in establishing flood risk adaptation strategies, variable ‘monoculture’ policies in economic development with fewer concerns in diversification, as well as lacking future recognition and knowledge for context-based adaptation. Apart from irrigation agencies, which have been leading agencies in flood risk management, households and communities need to be encouraged as active stakeholders in developing stronger collaboration both within communities and across sectors for their own living with the awareness of future changes. Future adaptation strategies that are more suitable to different spatio-temporal and socio-economic contexts of flooded communities in the river basin, need to be introduced. The strategies include flood prevention mechanisms, multi-level knowledge exchange for adaptation, and transformation to alternative job opportunities.