Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Where are the farmers? Assessing Environmental Justice in Collaborative Watershed Management in the Upper-Most Part of Mae Cheam Watershed

Isailovic, Marija LU (2012) MIDM71 20121
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Abstract
Taking environmental procedural justice as a standard of assessment, this thesis sought to examine to what extent participation of all affected communities was achieved in the context of collaborative watershed management (CWM) in the upper-most part of the Mea Cheam watershed, Northern Thailand. Based on political ecology theory and discourse analysis method, the thesis first examines what characteristics framed watershed discourse in the study site. Secondly, it examines how civil society organizations (CSOs) as representatives of public opinion, responded to other actors attached to watershed discourse.
The first set of findings indicates that the watershed discourse in the study site was framed by three major characteristics: 1)... (More)
Taking environmental procedural justice as a standard of assessment, this thesis sought to examine to what extent participation of all affected communities was achieved in the context of collaborative watershed management (CWM) in the upper-most part of the Mea Cheam watershed, Northern Thailand. Based on political ecology theory and discourse analysis method, the thesis first examines what characteristics framed watershed discourse in the study site. Secondly, it examines how civil society organizations (CSOs) as representatives of public opinion, responded to other actors attached to watershed discourse.
The first set of findings indicates that the watershed discourse in the study site was framed by three major characteristics: 1) environmental narrative that forest regulates flow; 2) development narrative that alternative agriculture contributes to income generation and 3) identity narrative of ethnic minorities as hilltribes. Second set of findings indicates that the way watershed discourse was framed had high influence on the way CSOs responded to other actors. Finally, participation was achieved but it was not socially just. Therefore, in order for CWM to become socially just, the weaknesses in representational democracy, blurred distinction between science and political dynamics and institutional problem of “fit” of CWM need to be considered. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Isailovic, Marija LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM71 20121
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Discourse Analysis, Political Ecology, Highlands, Northern Thailand, Civil Society Organizations, Watershed, Ethnic Minorities
language
English
id
2544190
date added to LUP
2012-07-02 15:48:10
date last changed
2012-07-02 15:48:10
@misc{2544190,
  abstract     = {{Taking environmental procedural justice as a standard of assessment, this thesis sought to examine to what extent participation of all affected communities was achieved in the context of collaborative watershed management (CWM) in the upper-most part of the Mea Cheam watershed, Northern Thailand. Based on political ecology theory and discourse analysis method, the thesis first examines what characteristics framed watershed discourse in the study site. Secondly, it examines how civil society organizations (CSOs) as representatives of public opinion, responded to other actors attached to watershed discourse. 
The first set of findings indicates that the watershed discourse in the study site was framed by three major characteristics: 1) environmental narrative that forest regulates flow; 2) development narrative that alternative agriculture contributes to income generation and 3) identity narrative of ethnic minorities as hilltribes. Second set of findings indicates that the way watershed discourse was framed had high influence on the way CSOs responded to other actors. Finally, participation was achieved but it was not socially just. Therefore, in order for CWM to become socially just, the weaknesses in representational democracy, blurred distinction between science and political dynamics and institutional problem of “fit” of CWM need to be considered.}},
  author       = {{Isailovic, Marija}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Where are the farmers? Assessing Environmental Justice in Collaborative Watershed Management in the Upper-Most Part of Mae Cheam Watershed}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}