Landuse change due to natural resources exploitation in Khao Chet Luk and adjacent area, Changwat Phichit

Abstract

677.136 km[square] area at and around Khao Chet Luk in Changwat Phichit was studied for the landuse change between 2512 B.E. and 2543 B.E. The landuses were classified into 7 types namely paddy field, marsh and swamp, conservation forest, shrub and grassland, mixed crop field, village, and gold mine. The analysis of change pattern of landuse by using geographic information system (GIS) revealed that the greatest change in 2512 B.E. to 2543 B.E. is especially the conservation forest, which was destroyed lavishly for agricultural purpose, which increases from 63.34% to 94.08% of the area, and 39.58% of the total area has been changed in landuse pattern. The laboratory soil test, and soil fertility suggests that the agricultural performance in this area is done on medium to low quality soils where only about 77% of the area is properly used. The study on population, socials and economics of the area indicates no increasing along time of population from2513 B.E. to 2545 B.E. Instead, it tends to decrease, probably due to the remoteness and drought nature of this undeveloped area. However between 2537 B.E. and 2541 B.E. the population largely increased due to gold finding and production here. After then the population slightly decreased to return to its previous decreasing trend. It was noted that the future, if the social and economic conditions remain the same as present, there is a landuse for tendency only paddy field, gold mine and village areas will increase while population also slightly increase. But this trend could be changed if any new situation is occurred. The serious problem of this area is water shortage as there is no irrigation system. The agriculture must rely only on the rain and limited surface water which always is not enough in dry season and which results as low productivity, low income, and low population finally.