I. Project site visit by the NC and NSC (February 6-7, 2009):
Findings and observation:
Two of the 13 participating villages, Tha Song Yang District?s Baan (village) Khun Mae Woei and Baan Saw Khrae Ka are homes to 70 kareni families, a cultural group long settling in the northern part of the Tenasserim Mountain Range, on the border between Myanmar and Thailand. The villages are included in the Sob Moei National Forest. Nearly all, community members earn their living through growing paddy for consumption and chili for sales. It was confirmed that no chemical substance were applied in the process. As to energy use, household lighting and learning ( through television and radio) was by solar panels, earlier provided by the Ministry of Energy?s Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, daily cooking by fire-woods, pounding paddy for daily consumption by manual energy or water power.

According to project and community leaders, activity on forest conservation had been in progress satisfactorily, Forest area in project location would be zoned, through GPS, into three categories, i.e. cultivated land (to grow paddy and other native species for consumption and sales, in case of excessive produce), community forest ( to serve as an outlet for woods needed in house construction/repairs, fire-woods for daily cooking and other native species for consumption), and finally conservation forest in watershed area . Of the targeted 1,664-ha for protection, it was related that the project had accomplished about 250-300 ha, through participatory process, where community members, community leaders, project leaders as well as responsible government agencies in the location joined hands in survey and endorsement.

Since project location lies in watershed areas, it supplies water through several streams making their ways north-west to meet Moei River at a Myanmar border then the bigger Salwin River in Myanmar territory. A fish conservation zone established in a river called Mae Woei River was seen full of native fishes under close community protection.

Mae Sod District?s Baan(village) Mae Pa , another participating community, was the next visited. It is a premises of about two acres with two dormitories, built for less privilege youth groups whose residences are in remote area and wish to further their education at high school level and vocational training. One solar panel of 125 W was installed supplying electricity for lighting, office equipments, and pumping water. Since the dormitory accommodates up to 80 students, with expected lots of nutrients drained out, filtering systems of local knowledge were installed to reduce amount of nutrient run off into the field.

The project, it appeared, had kicked off well and fared satisfactorily. During the visit , project and community leaders demonstrated both existing technical and institutional capacity required in carrying out remaining activities.

II . First progress report (March 2, 2009)
Activities undertaken:
1. Disseminating the project to relevant Tambol Administrative Organization for confirmation and participation
2. Installing one set of solar water pump and waste water treatment systems in one project location
3. Demarcating community forest area with clear regulation of uses

Results of activities:
1. Thirty members of the TAO learning about the project
2. Community members in all participating villages demonstrating awareness/capacity with primary proposed locations for conservation
3. The installed solar water pumping and treatment system working satisfactorily with apparent grid-energy saving

Project communication:
Not yet.

Experience ,lessons learnt, problems and issues:
The 13 participating villages are situated in very remote area, about 200 km away, and can be accessed during November to April. Therefore, project management team would make the most of this time to complete proposed activities. Cooperation from local government units and TAO would be sought to ensure project sustainability.

Project expense:
The project report the expense of THB: 75,054.50 out of the first disbursement of THB: 308,234.66.

III . second progress report (July 22, 2009)
Activities undertaken:
1. Building capacity of target population on renewable energy, organic farming , local curriculum and technology transfer
2. Demarcating community forest area with clear regulation of uses

Results of activities:
1. All targeted population demonstrating willingness by forming committees to oversee the watershed area with drafted community regulation and by initiation to launch on-the-ground activities
2. Compilation of community curriculum on renewable energy, ecosystems and traditions being used on a trial basis by 13 teachers.
3. Approximately 5,000-ha community conserved areas being demarcated through GPS

Project communication:
1. On June 18-19, 2009, the project invited forestry officers and officers of the national park to participate in capacity building activities of the project.
2. The project was made more understood through existing communication facility of each participating village.

Experience ,lessons learnt, problems and issues:
During rainy season, access to the 13 targeted locations was very difficult, community members spent much of their time in farming. Therefore , activities during this period was rather limited. But all planned activities would be implemented, with all communication means such as walking and motor-bike . In addition, the project would keep on with cooperation from local government units and TAO.

Project expense:
The project report the accumulated expense of THB: 269, 689 out of the sum of 1st and 2nd disbursement of THB: 624,420.34.

IV. Monitoring visit by NC and NSC ( February 17,2010):
One targeted villages, Baan Ivijo, is a house to a cultural group ?Karen? with about 70 households who depend upon the provisions of the forest and mountain ecosystems within the Salawin Basin of the Sea of Bengal. As to daily energy use, the community depends upon fire-woods for cooking and winter heating, and on oil lamp or candle for lighting.
There is a water stream running through the village with enough flow rate to generate electricity of about 3-4 kW. The community had constructed a small dam to keep water for generating such electricity. The generated electricity was connected to public premises such as the community school, the Christian Church and the Buddhist Temple.
The property of the community leader was also connected to ensure smooth operations of community meeting and other public events.
Population at Baan Ivijo had successfully managed the rainforest using their own traditional practice. Previously, they practiced rotation farming along the hills but with short-time between crops because of the need to use land for other fast growing species. However, several species were being kept as sources of food and medicine.
In term of maintaining the government?s solar lighting programme, this project suitably supports the battery recharging by its electricity. In addition, the communities were not encouraged to use the electricity the same manner as the ones connected to grid, even though their generated electricity is free from burning anything thus carbon-free. This would be regarded as one of a sustainable development approach.

V. Completion report (January 12, 2011):
Date of Participatory Evaluation( October 31, 2010):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 4,730
Men: 5,019
Children: 873

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 54
Men: 63
Children: 77


Expense:
Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): Baht: 925,410.73
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: Baht: 950,000
Balance: Baht: (-24,589.27)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 2,944.82
Amount Received from others: THB: - (in cash)
THB: 1,792,000 (in kind)

Activities undertaken:
1. Building capacity of target population on renewable energy, organic farming , local curriculum and technology transfer ( instruction course to be relayed to community members)
2. Installing sets of mini-hydro, water hammer, solar water pump, water heater, and solar cookers
3. Demarcating community forest area with clear regulation of uses
4. Conduction participatory evaluation
5. Disseminating project activities and results to wider audiences

Results and indicators:
1. Avoidance of grid electricity use by introduction of 3 -kW mini hydro to 67 households thus avoiding about Baht: 74,350 per year of electricity bill or about 21,242 kW-hr/ year of electricity from grid.
2. Avoidance of grid electricity use by introduction of solar energy for water pumping and heating to 340 persons thus avoiding about Bath: 5,400,000 per year of electricity bill
3. 1,748 households piloting the use of solar cookers thus reducing the use of fire-woods by 87,400 kg/day.
4. Increased environment awareness of target communities witnessed by persistent participatory protection of 1,664-ha forest area
5. More acknowledgement of the grantee by public sectors one of which was proven by the governor requesting the grantee to participate in implementing the project ? One Village, One Community Forest?

Project Communication:
The project was made more visible and understood through disseminated tracts, posters , Thailand Radio Mae Sod and community communication facilities ( public announcement through loud speaker).

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
The project was quite convinced that target population gained insight about renewable energy as well as about ecosystems conservations. Each group leaders planned to reach out to surrounding areas to ensure optimum and sustainable activities. As to renewable energy promotion, communities would encourage the TAOs to adopt the renewable energy as a portion of their development plan.

Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
Somehow, some community members who had been used to planting mono-quick cash crops, such as corns and chili, were rather difficult to talk to thus delaying forest conservation activities. But time was able to solve this problem.