Cultural Forest Ecosystem Services of the Maniq Indigenous People in Southern Thailand.

The importance of cultural ecosystem services (CES) for indigenous peoples is considered a key factor determining the effectiveness of conservation strategies in areas they inhabit. We conducted a study of the CES of the Maniq indigenous community in the rainforest of southern Thailand to determine the degree to which they depend on CES using single and group interviews and field observations. We established the Maniq rely on and engage with 11 CES in their daily lives: rituals, beliefs, myths and stories, aesthetics, spiritual values, language, wisdom, knowledge and transmission, inspirations, social relationships, and recreation. Understanding of the values attributed to these CES is essential for government environmental policies to effectively manage the ecosystem while respecting Maniq local ecological knowledge (LEK) and ethnic and cultural identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]