5.1 Introduction Going back to the challenging inquiry posed at the beginning, this thesis concerns the subtle and complex relationship that might exist between two deep and abstract notions in human development: the meaning of water and sense of place. Based on the methodology of constructivist grounded theory which seeks to develop theory that is grounded in data systematically gathered and analysed, I assumed that the investigatory process should be conducted in a particular setting of features that will allow developing a theoretical account pertaining to the subject to be investigated in this research. Hence, this study had its foundations at Pok and Pang Jum Pee Villages where villagers could provide meanings, through their experiences and socio-cultural expressions relating to water. A systematic research process involving ethnographic methods was applied in this study. Interrogations and interviews were repeatedly done to collect data among different participants at different times, in different situations, and in different places. Such a process provided the researcher an opportunity to cross-check the data as a measure of reliability. The iterative data collection and analysis also allowed an opportunity to track threads and themes to seek evidence, before theoretical sampling was done. This established the emergence and saturation of conceptual categories from which I was able to identify common elements of the relationship. Literature dealing with particular phenomena and concepts was then reviewed to interpret, discuss, and synthesise conceptual categories and detailed descriptions in order to develop two explanatory frameworks. An explanatory framework from chapter 3 has indicated an inter-dependence of livelihoods and sense of belonging to a physical place (forest and water), and the way this inter-dependence changed over time. The other framework from chapter 4 pointed to the role of Buddhist rituals as a tool for evoking that sense of belonging. Seen together, these frameworks can be used to justify that water was meaningful to people as a part of sense of place and suggested that the connection depended upon the particular biophysical setting and context, in this case, where people lived in and relied on the forest.
Forest and water were meaningful together as the source of economic well-being in local communities; it was paradoxical to note, however, that this source of economic well-being made the villagers, and the community in general, vulnerable to an external influence, when they were
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threatened especially in the era of community development. The increased demand for products from forests acted as a catalyst for changing the villagers’ relationships with forest and water, effectively removing an essential form of protection and management for the forest and water. A legal solution to this state of affairs led to contemporary protection and management, one that demanded strong leadership from those who were able to develop active strategies such as collective learning processes and ritual performances. Both strategies were applied to re-establish a sustainable ecological system, ensuring economic well-being, and being consistent with the existing socio-cultural base. This chapter will discuss the implications and a generalisable conceptual framework which shall be followed by interpretation of the practical contribution of this framework, as well as recommendations for further research and reflection on this study in epilogue. 5.2 Implications from the Ground