FOREST ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND THE MANIQ PEOPLE’S SETTLEMENT ROTATION PATTERN IN SOUTHERN THAILAND

Abstract

Maniq people are indigenous hunter-gatherers who, from past to present, have lived by rotating their settlements in the forest due to their reliance on the abundance of forest ecosystem services. This dependence is crucial for their continued existence with the traditional way of life. In the past, they settled and moved their habitats according to food sources, water sources, seasons, local conditions, and duration of residence at that location. They prefer to build temporary accommodation. Currently, forest reduction and deterioration have resulted in the settlement rotation pattern changes and adaptation to rely more on communities outside the forest. Being helped by external communities causes reduced migration and increased potential for permanent settlement, meaning they gradually lose their uniqueness and traditional way of life. Governments and agencies need to take this matter seriously and find measures to help maintain the availability of forest ecosystem services to prevent this indigenous identity from disappearing