I. First progress report (May 1, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Plots prepared for organic farming; water supply system installed
2. Project members show capacity for biogas facility construction: one pit is complete; four others planned, but awaiting equipment
3. Forest survey conducted; humidity retention weirs built; seedlings collected for re-vegetation

Results of activities:
1. Two-acre area prepared and planted with edible species
2. 17 project members have skill required to build future biogas pits
2. Evinced increased capacity of 17 members witnessed through ability and skill at a certain level to complete other pits to come
3. Demarcation of a forest conservation zone, and acquisition of over 3,000 seedlings show project members are aware of importance of forest ecosystems, and can better manage them

II. Second progress report (September 19, 2007)
Activities undertaken:
1. Eight biogas facilities constructed and functional
2. Three trainings held re: environmental conservation and natural resource management
3. Three thousand native trees planted in degraded forest area; additional community watershed area demarcated
3. Capacity-building activities conducted on organic farming; techniques immediately put into practice
4. Project approach and activities disseminated through cooperation with local Christian leaders

Results of activities:
1. Eight families using biogas reduced dependence on firewood by 30%; this increased non-participants? interest in joining the project
2. Project members? biogas production expertise was evident in their ability to share knowledge with neighbors
3. 85% of trees planted survived; plantation drew attention from local government units, who subsequently joined in project activities (i.e., reforestation, building weirs in the forest)
4. One acre of land designated as ?common cultivation area? for ten families practicing organic farming; land would later be used as a demonstration plot
5. Additional ?common cultivation area? being prepared for 12 families transitioning to organic farming
6. Community members show increased awareness of global environmental problems, particularly global warming; (Christian leaders plan to give sermons on Bible passages about conservation)

Experiences and lessons learned:
1. A history of non-participatory development resulted in a lack of social responsibility from community members. To address this issue, the project cooperated with government agencies to make project events a safe environment for villager contribution.
2. Some cultural tenets eschew collective social responsibility in favor of individualism and consumerism. Project leaders overcame this problem by identifying previously-unexplored tenets re: conservation.
3. Members of Lisu and Lahu cultural groups--many of who live in the project area--are landless. Project leaders worried the lack of ownership might affect these groups? attitudes towards conservation, and so stressed the virtue of sufficiency economy philosophy.

III. Monitoring visit from NC (February 13, 2008):
On February 13, 2008, the National Coordinator visited THA-06-05 to assess the project halfway through its two-year duration. Progress was very encouraging: while only 10 biogas pits were originally proposed, 13 were completed. Another grantee village--Baan Mae Korn Karen--was planning to construct six more pits, for a project total of 19.

The grantee was able to nearly double the budgeted number of pits because project members? technical capacity increased. After the first pit was built by outside experts, the grantee felt technically competent and took over construction, thereby avoiding the experts? fees and saving money for additional pits.

All the pits already in operation were said to supply enough gas for daily cooking and other heating purposes, such as boiling feed for pits. During the rainy season, the pits generated comparatively little gas, so members used it sparingly and occasionally resorted to firewood. One member had designed a simple gas-measuring device showing the availability and pressure of gas at any moment, and affixed it to his kitchen wall.

In a nearby valley, a one-and-a-half acre plot had been set aside to accommodate a learning centre for organic farming. Native seedlings were ready to be planted along the creek bordering the plot, and organic vegetables were already being grown and harvested within it. A small lecture room was also under construction, and expected to be completed in two months.

Despite all this progress, project leaders noted that some community members had not embraced the project, and attributed this to the combined effects of globalization and personal faith. Environmental governance must be strengthened. (After learning about Chiangmai?s Global Warming Watch Network, the grantee expressed interest in joining.)

IV.Mid-course Evaluation Workshop):
Together with 11 other projects of the same class, the project attended midcourse evaluation on March 19-21, 2008.

V. Experience- sharing meeting (January 14-16, 2009):
Together with leaders of 8 others project of the same grant cycle from various regions of the country(THA/06/01 to THA/06/12) , the project participated in the event.The group had reach agreement to produce knowledge product in a form of booklet sharing experience in implementing their project. The title of the booklet is " Weaving Ways of Lives from Mountain down to Sea".

VI. Completion report (January 30, 2009):

Date of Participatory Evaluation(15-17 January 2009):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 650
Men: 800
Children: 250

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 25
Men: 55
Children: 135

Expense:

Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): THB: 827,993.58
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 903,645.05
Balance: THB: (-75,651.47)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 2,605.71
Amount Received from others: THB: 723,364 (in cash)
THB: 1,500,320 (in kind)

Activities undertaken:
1. Conducting capacity building activities on organic farming , adverse effects of chemical substances, production of bio-fertilizer, adverse effects of global warming, natural resources & environment management, and construction of biogas facility , through seminars , meeting , community forum and study tours
2. Demonstrating practice of organic farming from 30 households
3. Building 20 biogas pits for 20 households and putting into daily use partly reducing the use of fire-woods

Results of activities:

1. Increased capacity of target population witnessed through ability to produce bio-fertilizer, replace chemical fertilizer with animal manure, and eagerly share knowledge among several cultural groups
2. Over 700 kg. of bio-fertilizer/compost being produced for use in gardens and paddy fields
3. About 15 households initiating planting edible species (over 20 species) for all-year-round consumption
4. Installed and operational 20 biogas pits from hog manure for 20 households exceeding the original target of 13 pits
5. At an estimate, the biogas pits resulting in reduction of fire-wood use 50-70 %, cleaner environment , and more raw material to make compost thus saving time and burden of community members ( based on an estimated fire-wood consumption per year of 1-2 tons/year /family) ? arousing curiosity of non-project members both within and outside project location
6. Over 200 humid retaining weirs being constructed and over 600 trees of native species planted to reduce erosion and sustain biological diversity in project area

Project Communication:

The project applied a variety of approaches in communicating the projects. This included word from mouths of project members, group campaign, exhibition, production of dissemination materials, local newspaper, and project website. The communication produced favorable results. The project was more visible. There were three groups of visitors from UK, two from Norway and one from Chiangmai University. As to the website, there were about 100 viewers. There had been a number of foreign volunteers working with the projects.

Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:

With experience gained from implementing the project, the grantee would keep on with the activities and up-scale. As of now, the grantee had reached an agreement with two community networks , with more than 10 villages in Chiangmai, and its two adjacent provinces of Mae Hong Son and Chiangrai . There had been regular mobile meeting ,ie. once three or four months amongst the network. The experience was used to formulate action plans which would be readily put into practice.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:

The project referred to the two subsequent steps as follows:

1. The project had allocated some portion of its fund to keep on with project activities, at least for the next 2-3 years, with current 20-25 households. Especially those who received funding for biogas pits must keep their promise to continuously protect the forest/ maintain young trees for at least 5 years. Simultaneously, the project would encourage community members and local administrative organizations to take part in sustaining project activities.
2. The project planned to keep on with developing the learning centre and initiating ecotourism.