Journal de l'économie mondiale

Integrated Water Resources Management of Maetang Sub Watershed, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

Thunyawadee Sucharidtham, Thanes Sriwichailamphan and Wichulada Matanboon

Thailand has been managing water in order to solve the water problem in the country for a long time. In 2011, however, Thailand suffered a severe flood, and that means the country’s water management was not successful. Maetaeng watershed is another area that has been receiving a lot of funding to develop and solve the problem of water resources in the area continuously. Still, it was also found that the projects and budgets spent still cannot fix the problems of water resources in the area. This study aims to analyze the events, problems, and factors that can lead to the process development of integrated water resources management in Mae Taeng watershed area, Chiang Mai province. This qualitative study workshop was conducted by collecting basic information, setting a discussion panel for water users, and a workshop to brainstorm for the ideas of water management. The findings showed important factors positively affect the strength of the community, cooperation in water management of the community, and the sacrifices of strong community leaders. The negative impacts include the deforestation of certain ethnic groups, cultural diversity, a lack of awareness in the role of community leaders, as well as insufficient funding.