I. First progress report (February 8, 2008):
Activities undertaken:
1. Rehabilitation activities carried out, including demarcation and re-vegetation of conservation zone, and identification of appropriate native species for reforestation
2. Capacity-building activities held for project members, including workshops, meetings, study tours, and youth camps
3. Project activities disseminated through community radio (?Green World Program,? 9-10 a.m. every Tuesday from June-December 2007)

Results of activities:
1. Project members have increased environmental awareness and capacity, as evidenced by formulation of community regulations re: natural resource consumption
2. Grantee secured additional financial assistance from local administrative organization and community; funds used to purchase and plant 6,000 soil-retaining grass species to slow riverbank erosion
3. Database of local natural resources compiled; this will be used as reference for environmental quality management plan

Project expense:: THB 234,000 out of the first disbursements of THB 234,222.04

II. Second progress report (September 1, 2008):
Activities undertaken:
1. Launching rehabilitating activities : reproduction of native species, demarcation of conservation zone
2. Building capacity of target population through meeting and open forum on adverse effects of public policies upon ecosystems, management of Dong Hin Lom forest plantation, river watch and rehabilitation of degraded forest
3. Dissemination of project results and compiled knowledge

Results of activities:
1. Initiated cooperation ,at community and network level, on Dongsaithor Forest surveillance with appropriate management system ?fire break zone, demarcation of the area in comparison with satellite grid of the Royal Forestry Department, resulting in better understanding between communities and forestry officials.
2. About 3,000 seedlings of 13 native species being prepared for reforestation
3. Increased capacities of target population witnessed through ability to prepare sub-proposals for further support from the government?s Health Promotion Fund, through ability to submit public recommendation and through emergence of small management groups.
4. Tracts and posters disseminated during community open forums and community meetings apparently drawing attentions and leading to relevant discussion of community members and wider audience.

Project expense:: THB 458,040 out of two disbursements of THB 457,512.37

III. Monitoring visit by NC (September 11, 2008):
On September 11, 2008, the NC and one NSC paid a visit to the project. Findings and observation are as follows:
Baan (village) Muang Moon, one of the target village, is situated along the Moon River. The visiting team met with a group of community leaders who shared their conservation story. The banks of the river has been under erosion as a results of sand mining concession and over-fishing. Community has launched effort to rehabilitate the bank by reforestation of native species and demarcation of fish conservation zone of 800 -meter long. A line of posters telling ecological issues of the river and calling attention of community members were seen in place.

Another spot which constitutes the ecological systems of the river was later visit. It is an area of 120 ha of reserve forest where community members have been conserving under the project and ,in August 2008 were authorized by the Surin Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment to manage as a community forest. Fire-break zone and forest demarcation were completed with technical assistance from the office. This spot is situated next to the degraded 3,200 ha forest area where several hundred elephants use to feed on before the year 1975, after which the government had granted a concession to Eucalyptus plantation attributing to the situation of ?begging elephants? seen in many places in the country.

Nursery activity of the project was reported as very successful. Community members and youth groups contributed their labour to collect seeds of native species then keep in the three nurseries of the project. Over 10,000 seedlings were planted along river banks and forest areas.

This short interaction with two target groups gave a sense of community satisfaction with the project. But scaling up to cover other communities along the river required more participatory process. With one project leader recently appointed by the Department of Water Resources a member of the Committee of the Moon River Basin, major stakeholders , as well as , GEF SGP could keep their finger crossed.

IV. Mid-course evaluation workdhop (March 20-21, 2009)
Findings and observation:
Together with representatives from other projects of the same grant cycle (from THA/06/13 to THA/06/28), and SGP country team, the project participate in the workshop to update progress , share experience and initiate a network. It was agreed that each project would keep on contacting one another and sharing experience. Contacting addresses were distributed with one project as the coordinating centre for future activities. An NSC member who represented the National Environment Fund was also committed to help in keeping the network.