2.1. Study area
Thailand’s three southern border provinces are Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat (Fig 1). There are approximately 1,929,826 people, of which 82% are muslims. The major occupation is agriculture (Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior, 2013). Geographically, three dominant landscapes are identified: coastal plains, wetlands and mountain areas. Climate conditions are influenced by the southwest and northeast monsoons, which result in a hot and humid climate (The office of strategy management: southern border provincial group, 2014). There is rich biodiversity and culture. Lifestyles are generally simple and based around natural resources.