PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN NAM ET-PHOU LOUEY NATIONAL PARK AT SONKUA VILLAGE, HUA MEUANG DISTRICT, HOUAPHAN PROVINCE

This study aimed to examine local community participation in wildlife conservation and to identify problems and solutions related to community wildlife conservation in Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park, Sonkua Village, Houameuang District, Houaphan Province. The target group for this study encompassed 100% of the population in Sonkua Village, totaling 227 households. Data were collected using structured interview questionnaires and subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics via SPSS software to calculate frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The findings revealed that: 
The overall level of public participation was high, with an average mean score of 2.73. Categorized by specific dimensions, the highest mean score was found in Land Allocation and Livelihood Improvement (Mean = 2.83), followed by Ecotourism (Mean = 2.82), Information Dissemination and Awareness Raising (Mean = 2.69), Wildlife Monitoring and Evaluation (Mean = 2.67), and the lowest mean score was in Law Enforcement (Mean = 2.66). 
The most prominent conservation issue identified was in Information Dissemination, specifically regarding insufficient coverage of promotional and prohibition signage, as well as unengaging communication methods. This was followed by Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation, where public disclosure of wildlife data attracted hunters; Land Allocation, caused by limited agricultural space and land degradation; Law Enforcement, due to a lack of strict execution; and Ecotourism, which was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Regarding proposed solutions, residents recommended conducting awareness outreach at least once a year, installing comprehensive prohibition signs, clearly allocating land and boundary markers for the national park, actively involving the community as informants and monitors, securing funding to support livelihood development, holding regular planning meetings for tourist reception, and strictly enforcing laws.