Abstract:
The objectives of this research were to study the participation level of community leaders, their needs for participation in the prevention and suppression of forest resources destruction, the association between personal factors, social, and economic background, community leader participation level and the need for participation in prevention and suppression of forest resources destruction, the recommendation of community leaders on participation, the prevention and suppression of forest resources destruction, by using the questionnaires as a tool for data collection of a sample group of 230 persons from two districts : Chumpae and Sichompoo, Khonkaen provice. The research results indicated that 60 % of community leaders had high level of participation and needs for participation in the prevention and suppression of forest resources destruction. Their participation and needs for participation were not significantly different by age groups, income, feeling for the conservation and the prevention and suppression of forest resources destruction but were significantly different at 0.05 by occupation, level of education, period of working as heads of tambon and villages, experiences in being trained in the prevention and suppression of forest resources destruction, being members of various social groups, meeting and talking with forest officers, and their interests in the prevention and suppression. Based on the research results, it is recommended that community leaders or the heads of tambon and villages should be provided knowledge and information on their roles and authorities in the prevention and suppression of forest resources destruction. It is also suggested for future research that there should be a study about the organization, provision and collaboration among the responsible and related authorities in forest resources conservation to motivate and provide community leaders the trainings in this area