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Chaman Subdistrict Municipality
Vision: A moral, ethical society with leading education, environmental consciousness, collective development, and a peaceful community under sufficiency economy philosophy. Population: 10,230 (2018) Number of communities: 12 Area: 2.76 square kilometers
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Chaman Subdistrict Municipality is one of Chantaburi’s most pivotal water sources, with a total 86.5-square kilometer land area. The subdistrict is a designated green and agricultural zone where most of the population are different generations of orchard agriculturists. With no operating industrial plants, this small, livable rural town is surrounded by nature’s undisturbed beauty and tranquility. The municipal area is also home to Khong people, an ethnic group in Chantaburi province with their own inherited traditions and culture.
Environmentally Sustainable City Management Model
Key of Success
Instead of letting restrictions become an obstacle to urban development, the municipality understands its limitations and can find appropriate developmental solutions based on the community’s collective understanding and participation.
Emphasizing the role of a model community through sustainable and strong expansion and growth.
Eco-friendly homestay
Due to a growing tourism potential with over 20 homestay businesses established in the municipality, environmental and waste problems ensued. Therefore, the municipality visited all the homestay establishments to survey to gather data and meet with the homestay operators to come up with a problem-solving approach. They also work to educate local entrepreneurs about waste and wastewater management. The municipality issues waste management regulations for every homestay to adopt a proper waste sorting system. In the meantime, waste management learning center works to promote primary household wastewater treatment. Joining forces under “Thung Phen Homestay Community Enterprise,” these local homestays work together as a strong group of entrepreneurs with efficient management support from the municipality. A part of the local homestay establishment’s income goes into a fund to support the local community and environmental conservation.
Community waste management system
Since Chamun Municipality is not an urban but a rural community with mostly agricultural areas and orchards, each house is situated far apart, which directly affects the municipality’s limited budget. It is also why the municipality doesn’t have a regularly operated garbage trucks or a proper waste disposal facility. Chaman Subdistrict Municipality has taken a participatory approach to the community waste management system, from encouraging households to sort waste to establish a community waste bank. Campaigns such as waste exchange activity and waste market are initiated to raise a collective awareness among the locals who actively take part in maintaining their communities from public spaces to keeping the in front of the house nice and clean.
Learning Center for Environmental Management
Learning Center # 1 Ban Wang Tak Community Forest
Ban Wang Tak Community Forest covers an area of approximately 10.27 acres. Rich in various indigenous plants and herbs, the area is home to century-old trees that have been preserved and studied while serving as local recreational space. Chaman Subdistrict Municipality has been working with various networks in the community to explore the area to collect and create a database of native vegetation, and their beneficial properties for further studies.
Learning Center # 2 Ban Thung Phen Waste Bank Run by the community for the community.
The waste bank aims to promote public participation in waste management from a proper waste sorting method at the source to disposal methods.
Learning Center # 3 Better Home (Baan Na Mong): Sorting household waste at the source
The waste bank aims to promote public participation in waste management from a proper waste sorting method at the source to disposal methods.
Learning Center # 4 Organic wastes and odor control
Mangosteen Grower Group of Chaman Subdistrict initiates organic waste processing technique, which transforms mangosteen peels into “mangosteen charcoal.” The product, which can absorb odors inside cars, wardrobes or rooms, is designed to have stylish packaging and is in high demand in the market.
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