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Using Remote Sensing for monitoring and evaluation natural resources in
chiang MAI province

Anu Omakupt
Director of Land Use Planning Division

Wirat Thongma, Saengchom Pojsompong
Senior Agronomist, Present Land Use Survey Sub-Division
Thailand


Agricultural encroachment into forestlands is a major problem in the areas with increasing population pressure. The loss of forests is significant in itself, but it can also lead to the destruction of other important land resources, which may be of very far greater economic value than the increased agricultural production. Forest resources in Thailand are facing at the critical point. The forestlands have been decreased at the alarming rate, that causing to natural environment degradation. This study is to propose the information's of the forest encroachment include land use management measures on the various Watershed Classes in National Reserved Forests, National Parks and wildlife Sanctuaries Chiang Mai Province, north of Thailand, by using remote sensing technique.

Procedure
During the study, the following materials provided primary information.
  1. Landsat-TM imagery, band 2, 3 and 4, at the scale of 1:50,000, which were recorded at the beginning of the year 1988.


  2. Panchromatic aerial photos at the scale of 1:15,000, which were taken in 1984.


  3. Topographic maps at the scale of 1:50,000.


  4. Map of National Reserved Forests, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries at the scale of 1:550,000.


  5. Watershed Classes maps at the scale of 1:50,000.


  6. Information's of hill tribe peoples in Chiang Mai Province.
Transferring the boundary of National Reserved Forests, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Watershed Classes and location of hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai Province on to the topographic maps. Interpret in Landsat-TM images; divide land uses boundaries by using photo interpretation technique. The elements that have been sued consisted of color tone, texture and land use pattern. Panchromatic aerial photos will be help to use to delineate all those land use types. Three land use types are divided as cultivated land, deteriorated forestland and forestland. To verify the result of photo interpretation, Checking and updating the data were carried out in the field. Transferred those land use boundaries on to the topographic maps, which have the details of National Reserved Forests, National. Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and unreserved forests boundaries, include Watershed Classes and location of hill tribe villages. The natural resources maps that show land use types and management practices will be formed include the details of land use types on various Watershed Classes, the amount and location of hill tribe villages in each National Reserved Forest etc., and land use management measures on these areas.

Results
The total coverage area 13, 122, 976 rais 1/ of National Reserved Forests, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and unreserved forests in Ching Mai Province have been encroached approximately 2, 986, 582 rais or 22.7 percents of the total area and can be divided as follows.

Watershed
Class		 Cultivated land
(rais)		 Deteriorated Forest
(rais)		 Total Area
Rais Percentage
1A 485,415 394,678 880,093 6.7
1B 90,102 76,686 166788 1.2
2 299,754 320,030 619,784 4.2
3 248,907 73,511 322,418 2.5
4 178,132 85,956 264,088 2.0
5 83,735 32,637 116,372 0.9
Unknown 420,073 196,966 617,039 4.7
Total 1,806,118 1,180,464 2,986,582 22.7

1/ 1 rai = 0.4 acre

Information's of hill tribe peoples in various Watershed Classes
Watershed Class Amount of
Villages		 Amount of
Households		 Population
Amount Percentage
1A 153 2,122 19,078 13.5
1B 32 596 4,053 2.9
2 229 4,724 29,608 20.9
3 153 4,033 25,640 10.1
4 58 91,610 9,598 6.8
5 9 311 1,416 9.0
Unknown 412 9,928 52,081 26.3
Total 1,046 23,324 141,474 100

Information of hilltribe people in various forest types
Forest Type Amount of
Villages		 Amount of
Households		 Amount of
Population
National Reserved Forest 747 17,441 100,892
National Park 30 811 6,120
Wildlife Sanctuaries 18 533 3,402
Unknown 251 5,539 31,060
Total 1,046 24,34 141,474

Guideline for land use management measures in the various Watershed Classes area

Watershed Class 1A
The land use management measures of the Watershed Class 1A would have as the following
  1. Very strictly prohibition to change the forest lands to the other land use types.


  2. The concerned agencies have to maintain natural resource and prohibit for any logging permission and protecting for the illegal logging very strictly.


  3. Swidden land or deteriorated forest area should be deserved for reforestation very urgently.


  4. The concerned agencies have to make decision for the appropriate land use planning for the permanent settlements and having very strictly measures for any movement or expand the cultivated land by encroach the forest land.


Watershed Class 1B
The land use management measures of the Watershed Class 1B would have as the following.
  1. The concerned agencies would have to participate to make decision for the appropriate land use planning in those areas, that have been changed for agricultural purposes and would have strictly control measures for any movement or expand the cultivated land by encroach the forest land.


  2. In the deteriorated forest areas that are not suitable for agriculture or other purposes, the concerned agencies have to participate for reforestation to revive the watershed stability urgently.


  3. In the areas that have been developed for recreation areas if these areas are changed or improved, there would be o make decision for the appropriate land use planning, which related with natural environment.


  4. The concered agencies would have responsibility to make decision about road conduction or mining and would have very strictly control measures, which do not affect all those natural environments.


  5. In the case of can not avoid the use of the land for the institutional lands. They would have been done by not affecting to the natural environment.
Watershed Class 2
The land use management measures of the Watershed Class 2 would have as the following.
  1. The uses of the land for agricultural purposes, the concerned agencies would have to participate to make decision for the appropriate land use planning.


  2. The uses of the land for forestry, mining and other purposes would have strictly control measures, which do not affect the natural environment.


  3. In the disturbed forest areas which have been abandoned as fallow land and deteriorated forest land, the concerned agencies would have to use these lands for reforestation.
Watershed Class 3
The land use management measures of the Watershed Class 3 would have as the following.
  1. The uses of the land for agricultural purposes depend on soil suitability and kind of cultivated crops, however the cultivation practices would be under soil and water conservation measures.


  2. The use of purposes. The uses of the land would have strictly control measures, which do not affect the natural environment.


  3. In the fallow land and the deteriorated forest land, which the lands are not suitable for agriculture. they should be improved as reforestation or pasture.
Watershed Class 4
The land use management measures of the Watershed Class 4 would have as the following.
  1. use of the land for agricultural purposes depend on soil suitability and king of cultivated crops, however the cultivation practices would be under soil and water conservation measures.


  2. uses of the land for forestry, mining and other purposes would be under the regulation.
Watershed Class 5
The land use management measures of the Watershed Class 5 would have as the following.
  1. The uses of the land for agricultural purposes depend on soil suitability and kind of cultivated crops.


  2. The used of the land for forestry, mining and other purposes would be under the regulation.


  3. Industrial land and urban land should be avoided to set up on the highly potential agricultural land
Conclusions
Natural resources management is characterized by a dual objective. It aims simultaneously at natural resource development and conservation. The main purpose of natural resource management is to achieve and maintain a balance between natural resource development and natural resource conservation. This study is to monitor and identify the national policies problems on natural resource management.