I. First progress report (August 3, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Organic compost produced
2. Black soap planted
3. Training held on constructing a charcoal-producing kiln; kiln built
4. Biodiesel produced from used cooking oil
6. Technical and institutional capacity-building activities conducted

Results of activities:
1. 144 tons of organic compost produced
2. 4,057 black soap trees planted on marginal, cultivated land
3. 78 project members display increased technical capacity by constructing and using 80 charcoal-producing kilns
4. 100 litres of biodiesel produced from used cooking oil
5. Community members participate at a network level (2 meetings) and group level (monthly meetings)

Experiences and lessons learned:
1. While organic compost production was successful, members realized that the materials they had used--namely rice husk and molasses--would not always be readily available. To prepare for this, members exchanged ideas for substitute local materials.
2. Black soap production using seedlings did not meet project members? expectations, as many of the young trees died. Instead, members decided to try again using seeds.

II.Second progress report (November 29, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Re-introduction of water buffaloes for agricultural labor, as means of reducing dependence on machines and chemical fertilizer
2. Capacity-building for project members achieved through meetings, trainings, and study tours

Results of activities:
1. Project members have increased institutional capacity, as evidenced by formulation of detailed regulations for taking care of group?s water buffaloes; enforcement scheme also established
2. Information recorded re: compost application in paddy fields, no-plowing paddy farming, charcoal production, and water buffalo management; this will be shared in annual study tours to project network

Project impacts:
? Community members from a non-project village (Baan Yangkham) learned about charcoal production from project, and built their own kilns.
? Ummao Tambol Administrative Organization was impressed with project, and funded grantee?s experimentation with biodiesel

Issues with project implementation:
? Labor shortage: many project members were employed on local para-rubber plantations; this work is very labor-intensive, and some members felt overburdened and had to drop out.

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

IV. Monitoring visit from NC (October 14, 2008):
On October 14,2008, the NC paid a monitoring visit to the project, the findings and observation are as follows:
A premises of one member in Baan(village) Yarngkham, one of the 11 participating villages, was a venue for a tri-monthly participatory evaluation of the project. About 30 project leaders appeared active in the process. In addition to discussing results of activities, the leaders demonstrated existing and increased awareness and capacity to deal with their immediate environment degradation consistent with livelihoods. Some even directed to the NC questions on ignorance of some countries in coping with global warming. After the evaluation, the leaders demonstrated the operation of a high-efficient charcoal production kiln and the fabrication of high-efficiency stoves. Paddy fields of two members in the village selected for subsequent visit were equipped with the production kilns and fairly well taken car ?sustainable use of fire-woods, no-field burning but making use of agro-waste, trying nitrogen fixing species and applying compost to reverse land degradation.

At a residence of another member in Baan Chanode, project leaders demonstrated the use of a Jetropha seed squeezing machine which had earlier been lent by the Mukdaharn Provincial Centre for Technical Service of Plants and Production Factors. With seeds collected and kept for about four months, it was rather painstaking squeezing process. At an estimate, one hour was required to squeeze out one litre. In order to solve the problem, the NC shared an experience from another SGP OP-3 project (THA-05-04) in Kanchanaburi Province who was more successful on the issue. Telephone discussion between leaders of the two projects led to approaches for solution. Fabrication of new squeezing machines using the co-financing THB: 20,000 from Chanode Noi Tambol Administrative Organization was the first option.

As to plantation of this energy crop, Jetropha, project leaders shared related experience. Since the species had been thriving naturally without much care of communities, there was limited experience in virtually planting them. And as project members practiced sustainable, integrated agriculture, some planted them in plots with other native species. One finding was that planting them in rows between other taller species gave less yields than planting them stand-alone in a corner of a plot where no taller species obscured
sunlight. The difference was witnessed in plots of two members.

Apparently, the project was progressing satisfactorily, with several evinced outputs and outcomes on their ways. One delay was the fabrication of high-efficiency stoves where project members had produced only 29 units out of the targeted 80. This was because an error on identifying sources of raw material (clay). However, project members stipulated their sufficient experience to proceed and reach the
target. They would begin after this harvesting season. As nearly all project members in the two districts are of a cultural group ?Phu Thai? who still endeavor to maintain their livelihood tradition, participation and
mutual supports appeared comparatively noticeable.

In term of scaling up, the project had applied for financial support from MONRE?s National Environment Fund. The proposal was pre-screened and recommended for modification, while of sharing experience and strengthening network with other SGP projects under the same grant cycle, the project would participate in participatory evaluation upon completion workshop to be organized in November 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 (February 4, 2009):

Date of Participatory Evaluation( January 15, 2009):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 161
Men: 142
Children: 207

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 55
Men: 37
Children: 20

Expense:

Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): THB: 615,634.64
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 818,345
Balance: THB:(-202,710.36)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 1,966.94
Amount Received from others: THB: 60,000 (in cash)
THB: 1,409,100(in kind)

Activities undertaken:
1. Reviving the use of water buffaloes to reduce dependence upon machine and chemicals fertilizers
2. Producing organic compost for use at least one ton/family/year
3. Planting black soap (Jetropha Curcas Linn.) and other native species of fuel quality @ 400 sq.m / family
4. Building charcoal-producing kiln and high-efficiency stove for target population
5. Producing bio-diesel by used cooking oil
6. Launching technical and institutional capacity of target population through meeting, training, and study tours

Results of activities:
1. Continuing effort of five members utilizing water buffaloes in plowing paddies reducing dependency upon small tractors driven by diesel oil (about 500 litres/year), with 12 tons/year of manure to fertilize cultivated lands
2. Produced 150 tons of compost from agro-waste, kitchen waste and other degradable material available in locality, reducing expense on chemical substances to be used in agricultural practice
3. Acquired on-field experience of project members on models of planting energy crops in marginal lands and in cultivated lands for further development and real use, with the first 20 litres of Jetropha oil for trial run of small tractor
4. Produced 80 charcoal-producing kilns and 29 high-efficiency stoves being put into use , resulting in substantial savings on expense on charcoal for 20 families and salvage of about 4,000 trees/years
5. Produced 500-litre biodiesel from used cooking oil with continued production and further financial support by one Tambol Administrative Organization
6. Increased capacity of target population witnessed by ability to discuss, plan and put in to practice what were learnt from training sessions and study tours

Project Communication:
The project gave a name list of stakeholders which includes academicians, relevant government agencies, and local administrative organizations and natural community leaders who took part in project implementation. Project communication would be through these individuals and their organizations.

Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
The project, in essence, involved building learning process regarding renewable energy in consistent with local context. The process included applying accumulated local knowledge blending in with environmentally-friendly, community-oriented modern technology. Increased capacity, active participation, and persistence of project members despite of a few instances of failure, were rated as fairly high.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
Renewable energy is an integrated part of community livelihood which has to be kept on even without any support from outside. Communities may struggle to educate themselves on the technology and put into real use. The support from GEF SGP had accelerated the learning process. Ideas for sustain the project are as follows:

1. On sustainable agriculture: Each member would go on with sustainable agriculture , according to prevalent condition and criteria of each member.
2. On energy issue: With increased technical capacity and some gained experience, project members generally felt that self-reliant energy in communities was possible. Therefore, activities have to be kept on with new ones put into trial.
3. On household economy: The project planned to upgrade community production to generate supplementary income. Beginning with community-based produce exchange among network members, then reaching out to other surrounding communities and wider public.

The above plan would be managed by project members with support from Tambol Administrative Organization. Partly, these activities were outlined in a proposal submitted to the National Environment Fund, currently under perusal.