Project Results
I. First progress report (October 10, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Capacity-building activities conducted for group leaders and youth
2. Native species? habitats improved by maintaining natural moisture
Results of activities:
1. Community members and CBOs have increased capacity, as evidenced by role in establishing criteria to ensure cost?effectiveness of project activities
2. 220 native trees planted
Second progress report (February 18, 2008):
Activities undertaken:
1. Tree nursery established and maintained
2. Capacity-building activities continued
Results of activities:
1. 50-person youth groups established in five project communities; number of ?young conservationists? increased from 56 to 85 individuals
2. Youth groups master and use plant propagation techniques to replenish native populations
3. Project members have increased capacity, as evidenced by ability to adapt other communities? conservation strategies--e.g., demarcating fish conservation zones--to local context
Project expense: THB 329,297.17
Lessons learned in project implementation:
The community-based research conducted prior to GEF SGP involvement (supported by Thailand Research Fund) provided strategic direction for THA-06-11?s project components. For example, nursery activities focused on trees identified in preliminary research as native and linked to community livelihoods.
II. Second progress report (October 10, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Launching nursery activity and maintaining their development
2. Organizing capacity ? building activities for group leaders and youths
Results of activities:
1. Youth groups learnt technique in plant propagation leading to rehabilitate native species and transfer of local knowledge
2. Emergence of model youths in five communities with at least 50 members
3. Additional number of young conservationists from 56 to 85 persons
4. Increased capacity of target population witnessed through ability to apply practices of other communities to their own context, such as demarcating fish conservation zone in water courses.
Project expense: THB: 167,947.17 + 161,350 = THB:: 329,297.17 out of two disbursements of THB: 168,289.59+161,537..23 = THB: 329,826.82
III.Mid-course Evaluation Workshop:
Together with 11 other projects of the same class, the project attended midcourse evaluation on March 19-21, 2008.
IV.Project Monitoring by NC and NSC:
On September 12, 2008, the NC and one NSC visited the project. The findings and observation are as follows:
About 20 project members, mostly women, awaited the visiting team in Baan (village) Khao Khork, one of the five participating villages sharing the provisions of Lahorkkrasang community forest. These members appeared very active and happy to meet SGP team. During the visit at the forest, three leaders took turn to share the brief history of the project and results of activities. Other project members also added required information ,as appropriate, proving increased capacity, both institutionally and technically.
About 430 ha in area, the Lahorkkrasang forest had been degraded through soil surface removal for road construction and deforestation. The area is surrounded by cultivated filed, some of quick cash crop type, other paddy fields of communities. Normally ,in recent years, this represented a potential threat from expansion of cultivated land into natural forest.
However, with nearly two years of SGP intervention, the forest was turned into a learning place for local ecology of youth groups, a place of 78 known native species, a water sources to irrigate surrounding cultivated lands of communities in five villages. In addition to community effort to demarcate the forest by fire break zone, reforestation and maintenance, the Thai government through the Ministry of Interior had provided further support in demarcating clearer forest boundary.
It seemed the project had fared as planned but upscale or replication to other region was still unheard. The projects, together with other 11 projects of their class, dubbed as GEF SGP Class 8/1, planned to meet for final participatory evaluation sometimes in November 2008, where these SGP grantees would share knowledge and experience for upscale/replication, as well as build a stronger network for future activities.
V. Completion Report (October 22 ,2008):
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: 478,142.64
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 570,000
Balance: THB: (-91,857.36 )
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 1,573.98
Amount Received from others: THB: 202,000
Activities undertaken:
1. Upgrading habitats for native species by maintaining natural moisture
2. Launching nursery activity and maintaining their development
3. Launching reforestation and maintaining its growth
4. Organizing capacity ? building activities for group leaders and youths
5. Summarizing lessons learnt and experience through participatory approach
6. Disseminating project results to wider audiences
Results of activities:
1. Witnessed increased humidity, especially , the down side area had becoming a seepage all the time ? a natural phenomenon disappearing for nearly 30 years. Under this returning humidity, biological diversity was seen increased: more jungle fowl, wild rabbits, squirrel , amphibians , etc. To a certain extent, target communities were able to depend upon provisions of community forests for food and some extra income
2. About 10,000 of six main and threatened species of nutritious and medicinal value being reproduced and thriving in the community forest , with some more seedlings for trading off with other communities
3. Increased capacity and awareness of community members (including youth groups) and CBOs? in five communities around the community forest
4. Witnessed more and consistent synergies among all sectors
5. Leaders in other communities paying special interest in project approaches- there are at least two communities planning to replicate
Project Communication:
The project continuously launched communication through posters, community radio, and tracts.
Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
The project did not detail out the issues.
Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
1. On natural resources and the environment:
?Clearer demarcating community forest area and cultivated area
?Planting bamboo around community forest to demarcate the area- bamboo can provide food to eat and wood to use
?Sustaining project activities such as wildfire protection, forest surveillance , and annually re-foresting
2. On community:
?Continuously coordinating with all sectors in project areas
?Promoting conservation role among youth
?Promoting ideas and practice of kitchen forest within target communities and outside
?Promoting scheme on supplementary income using non-timber products
?Opening up and reaching out to other communities for wider scale of natural resources protection
VI. 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".
