I.First Progress Report ( October 26,2009 ):
Undertaken Activities:
1. Upgrading Nature Study Trail in the wetland
2. Launching field survey to locate the sites for building humid retaining weirs
3. Building capacity of core leaders on information technology

Results of Activities:
1. More sectoral participation in and support of the project with estimated THB: 20,000 contribution from five organizations
2. Seven locations for humid retaining weirs being fixed according to project activities with 60 more proposed by private sectors ( to be completed within November 2009)
3. Additional 300 trees being planted in project location

Project Communication:
The project was made more visible through community radio, relevant public & private sector, visitors and website.

Experience , lessons Learnt, problem and issue:
The project referred as problems and issues, to their slow learning capacity in compiling reports which was resolved by inquiring the SGP team in Bangkok. Besides, continuous rain for four months had also slowed down planned activities. During the period , cost of equipment was increased, but was resolved through more co-financing and support from targeted population and stakeholders.

Project Expense:
The project reported the expense of THB: 125,000 out of the first disbursement of THB:126,443.56 .

II.Monitoring by SGP team ( April 23,2010 ):
Findings and Observations:
The first finding involved the background and increased institutional capacity of the grantee in which the visiting team was briefed at its office situated along the highway no.323 between Sai Yoke District?s Kanchanburi Province and the Burmese border. During the past 10 years, the association had been working with targeted villages in an integrated manner to ensure financial stability of its members. From THB: 80,000 saving ten years ago, the current figure had grown to be THB: 800,000- 1,000,000 under management of the association for welfare of members. These members are farmers making living through growing cash crop and depending upon the provisions of the ecosystems. According to project leaders, the accomplishment was attributed to two qualities of management, one was Honesty and the other No Credit.

Just across the highway is the Phu Toei Community forest of about 60 ha , the main area of conservation, where the second finding took place. This one involved the progress of activities witnessed through a portion completed nature study trail, equipped with signboards and technical description, humid-retaining weirs and thriving landraces which had been earlier reforested. During the short walk through one of the 12 learning stations, four project leaders equally demonstrated their technical capacity by telling the names and uses of major landraces to the visiting team. It was mentioned that some 20-30 project members, including youth, were trained to have the same capacity as the four, thus ensured transferring knowledge and experience to any visitor.

One observation was that the grantee and project had received support in various forms from concerned government agencies and local academic institution. The Rajabhat University Kanchanaburi Campus For one had worked together with the projects in inventorying biological resources and devised learning models for both youth and adult group. In spite of its being flanked by two national parks, i.e. Sai Yoke and Erawan National Park, there had been no reported conflict between the communities and the parks, like many others elsewhere in the country. In stead, park officers had contributed to building capacity of the project members.

Another observation: targeted population did not grow paddy, but the association was able to maintain a paddy mill and manage it fairly successfully. At a right time, paddy would be purchased from paddy farming communities ,milled and supplied to members systematically.

With their existing and increased capacity, project leaders offered had initiated to expand the conservation to cover all communities in Kanchaburi Province. In addition, project leaders had visited a few SGP projects of the same grant cycle to share experience and provide mutual supports.

III.Second Progress Report ( July 28,2010 ):
Undertaken Activities:
1. Continuing building capacity of core leaders to be effective resources persons on community forest ( 50 youth leaders and community leaders)
2.continuing upgrading Nature Study Trail and building 15 humid retaining weirs

Results of Activities:
1. Increased capacity of 80 % of leaders witnessed through expression of thoughts and ideas and an established youth group for community forest conservation with 15 members being resources persons
2. One-kilometer long being established as nature study trail with 12 learning stations, with 2,000 native species to learn
3. The weirs witnessed to be able to slow down water by 80 % thus increasing humidity and protection of the ecosystems

Project Communication:
The project was made more visible through community radio, relevant public & private sector, visitors and website.

Experience , lessons Learnt, problem and issue:
During this period, and to ensure holistic conservation awareness, project had invited migration labour forces in the location to participate in activities. As to capacity building process, the project received contribution from Kasetsart University who participated and stressed on participatory process.
Project Expense:
The project reported the accumulated expense of THB: 243,000 out of the sum of first and second disbursement of THB: 245,114.68.

IV. Completion report (August 3 ,2011):
Date of Participatory Evaluation( July 28, 2011):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 960
Men: 1,400
Children: 450

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 200
Men: 250
Children: 450

Expense:
Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): THB: 358,981.01
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 358,981.01
Balance: THB : (0)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 1,177.65

Activities undertaken:
1. Building capacity of core leaders to be effective resources persons on community forest
2. Training on native species reproduction and sustainable use
3. Launching reforestation of rare species, and species with medicinal value including returning three native species of orchid to their original habitats
4. Upgrading Nature Study Trail and building seven humid retaining weirs
5. Disseminating project result

Results and indicators:
1. Increased capacity of at least 10 core leaders and 15 youth members witnessed by ability to present and discuss data & information about species in community forest
2. Evident increase of plant species which communities and animals are able to make use of ( 200 kinds of medicinal species, 900 wild orchids)
4. Emergence of a learning centre and nature study trail any community members and visitors can learn from
5. Documentation on local knowledge pieces as follows:
100 sets of Learning Manual of plants in project location
10,000 sets of pamphlets on project activities

Project Communication:
The project was made more visible and better understood through community radio, relevant public and private agencies, and visitors. Throughout the project duration, there were 4 visiting groups with 423 members in total.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
The community had been launching development activities in an integrated manner by trying to establish learning process as outlined in the proposal and major concepts of GEF SGP. Related activities like renewable energy promotion and organic farming were of interest and would be continued by other sources of funding.
Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
The project related community participation and other academic institutes as major factors for its accomplishment. Outstandingly and unlike other buffer zones in the country, the conflict between the communities and the two flanking national parks had not been heard or mentioned, but only smooth cooperation among them and technical & institutional support from the NPs.