Abstract:
This research is a qualitative research aiming to study concepts, techniques
and forms of Buddhism and local wisdom, and to synthesize knowledge of Buddhism
and local wisdom in conservation, utilization and the benefits sharing from community
forests in the Ing Basin of Phayao - Chiang Rai provinces. The research target groups are
30 persons: the community leaders, community forest committee, the state and private
agencies, and the local government organization's executives s and staffs. The focus
areas of research are : 1) Ban Bua, Ban Toon Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phayao Province,
2) Ban Pee Wieng Subdistrict, Chiang Kham District, Phayao Province, and 3) Ban
Bunrueang, Bunrueang Subdistrict, Chiang Khong District. Chiang Rai Province. The findings
are that:
1. The concepts and techniques of Buddhism and local wisdom in
conservation, use and sharing the benefits from community forests based on the
principles of the sustainable productive forest resource management in 3 areas: (1) The
wise use is knowing how to use forest resources for the most benefit, the longest and
most economical uses. (2) The rehabilitation of degraded forest resources is to improve
the degraded forest resources. (3) The retention and sharing is the collection and storage
of resources that are prone to scarcity. In a perspective of Buddhism, rituals that are
adapted from it in order to be a strategy for preservation, by performing a forest or tree
ordination ceremony, the River successive ceremony, and the sermon listening ritual for
rain of listening to rain. In a perspective of local wisdom. In the local wisdom, beliefs,
rituals, customs, and practices are used as parts of local wisdom by the worshiping
ceremonies to: Phi Khun Nam, the irrigative ghosts, the local guardian ghosts.
2. The forms of Buddhism and local wisdom in conservation, uses and sharing
the benefits from community forest in Ing River Basin, Phayao - Chiang Rai Provinces, in
all 3 communities: Ban Bua, Ban Toon Subdistrict, Mueang District, Ban Pee, Chiang Kham
District, Phayao Province and Ban Bunrueang. Chiang Khong District Chiang Rai Provine. Are
the same forms namely; the forest and tree ordination ceremony, the worship
ceremonies for the River succession and the Phi Khun Nam worship ceremony. That Is
the integration of Buddhist beliefs and the northern local wisdom believing in the ghosts
of the forest and the mountain and also the use of new knowledge such as fire
prevention, firefighting, forest planting, and planting of local seedlings, the establishing a
committee and rules for managing community forests. Thereby, the Ban Pee community
forest has set up a learning station in the community forest and the conservation of Ton
Phueng trees, on which, the honey bees come to build a hive every year. That is
generating income leading to the establishment of the Ban Pee Community Forest Fund.
3. Knowledge of Buddhism and local wisdom in conservation uses and sharing
the benefits from community forest in Ing River Basin Phayao - Chiang Rai Provinces is as
follow. In the way of Buddhism, the knowledge is consisting of: (1) On Buddhist Doctrine,
Buddhism teaches people to take care the environment according to the threefold of
Training principles. From these it results the awareness of the natural resources
conservation, and knowing the estimated consumption or use. (2) On Religious agents it
involves the role of monks as spiritual leaders in the community. (3) On the Religious
Ceremony, it is the application of Buddhist beliefs in forest preservation. In the way of
local wisdom, the knowledge is consisting of : (1) On Beliefs about ghosts and Taboos,
Lanna people believe that ghosts are representatives of supernatural powers, the Taboos
are the prohibited or stipulated decrees. (2) On a new knowledge, it is knowledge
obtained from modern scientific principles. (3) On Rituals, it is the use of rituals as
strategy to control the community in the management of the forest. (4) On customs or
performances, it is as a part of local knowledge for natural resource management.
Keywords: Buddhist knowledge, local wisdom, Conservation, use and benefit sharing,
community forest, Nam Ing.