I. Monitoring vist by the NC (June 10-11 2010):
Findings and observations:
Mae Far Luang District?s Baan (village) Saenjai Phatthana, one of the ten participating villages, is home for over 100 families of a cultural group ?Akha?, who traditionally dwell in highland area. It is situated in a neighborhood of Mae Far Luang National Park. Target population grows native rice and other species for consumption, in addition to provisions from the ecosystems. Selected cash crops are grown for income. In term of energy, the village is grid-connected where its members are able to use for lighting and other electricity consuming activities. For cooking, fire-woods was apparently the main source, with canned gas from commercial market as a supplement.

With Baan Saenjai Phatthana as the main learning centre for alternative energy and biological resources of the project, the visiting team witnessed a traditional medical & treatment facility operational and a trial use of high-efficiency biomass stoves and water-powered paddy mill. So far, the stoves worked satisfactorily, and the paddy mill received more attention from community members.

Proceeding to Baan Maejantai, another participating village in one of the basins famous for coffee plantation, the mini-hydro of 3 kW construction was seen completed generating electricity to all 36 households, one community school and one temple. This small power plant had been on trial run for five days without any problems, so far. Project leaders related that during training and building the plant , leaders from two other communities under the project had participated , so that they would be able to use their experiences to build ones of their own.

During this brief visit and interaction, it can be concluded that the project progressed satisfactorily. Targeted population discussed with exhibited increased capacity, both technically and institutionally. Those who were supplied with Carbon-free electricity appeared happy. There were more planned capacity-building activities to be carried out to ensure project ownership and smooth implementation. During the visit, project leaders demonstrated communicating skill with targeted communities outstandingly, even though these communities comprised several different cultural groups , such as northern rural Thai, Chinese, and Mien.

It was interesting, in the next six months, to see two other small mini-hydro plants being built, more water-powered paddy mills revived, and high-efficiency biomass stoves fabricated and used.

II. First Progress Report (July 21 2010):
Undertaken Activities:
1. Building capacity of target population on renewable energy technology and management (Biomass and mini-hydro )
2. Demonstration of uses of renewable energy and sustainable natural resources consumption

Results and indicators:
1. Obtained additional data & information on both technology with evinced increased capacity of at least 37 project members
2. Completion of construction of a 3-kW mini-hydro being able to generate electricity for 33 families (210 members)
3. Completion of construction of five water-driven paddy mills by indigenous knowledge replacing diesel-driven ones for 60 families
4. One spot of project location being a learning centre for community learning centre on renewable energy and biological diversity
5. About 40-ha forest area being reforested and under community management

Project communication:
The project was made more visible and understood by
1. Meetings with community in project location during the first six months of project duration
2. Community radio 914 and 1395 in Mae Jan District and Chiangrai Radio Thailand
3. Visits from foreign students
4. Participation in community activities of concerned government agencies in project location: Office of Protected Area Management 15, agricultural extension station and community public health office

Experience , lessons Learnt, problem and issue:
1. On construction of mini-hydro plant: Community members learnt how to calculate water flow rate, measure elevation, energy demand, and how to construct and maintain a mini-hydro plant. Some specific issues include unstable generated voltage due to unstable flow rate caused by the current draught. The escalating cost of construction materials was another issues requiring more contribution from communities.
2. On construction of water-driven paddy mills: Indigenous knowledge was revised, the capacity is comparatively low notwithstanding.
3. On fabrication of biomass stoves: Offices of expertise to provide technical training, limited in number though, were identified and contacted.

Project expense:
The project reported the expense of THB:320,433 out of the first disbursement of THB: 500,340.83.

III. Second Progress Report (January 24, 2011):
Undertaken Activities:
1. Building capacity of target population on renewable energy technology and management (biomass stove, earth house and plant species and nature conservation)
2. Demonstration of uses of renewable energy and sustainable natural resources consumption ( mini-hydro, manual rice mill, learning centre and reforestation)

Results and indicators:
1. Increased capacity of eight members witnessed by ability to fabricate 8 sets of biomass stove successfully with a plan to retrain target population
2. Increased capacity of 24 members being able to be trainers of community to build earth houses
3. About 80-ha community forest being put under close watch of community members with 16 native species being planted in an area of about 10 ha
4. Emergence of ? Chiangrai Akha Teacher Club? with 15 members to disseminate indigenous knowledge to communities
5. Primary data & information bout terrain, water flow rate for construction of the second mini-hydro plan being compiled for confirmation
6. Six manual rice mills being installed and put into use for 10 families @ 120 kg/day ? reducing expense from electric or diesel driven mill by THB: 120/month/family ( no. of beneficiary = 264)
7. An area of about 10 acres being equipped as a learning centre on biological diversity ?welcoming 136 visitors from 6 groups such as Suwannaphumi Muslim Community, students from Rajabhat University Chiangrai, Silapakorn University and Miyama Clinic Japan

Project communication:
The project was made more visible and understood by
1. Community radio and Radio Thailand
2. Exhibition on alternative energy ( August 20 and September 10-12, 2010)
3. Exhibition on Man and His Knowledge to Manage Natural Resources ( December 25-January 3, 2011)

Experience , lessons Learnt, problem and issue:
During the reporting period, the project outlined the following as problems and issues:
1. Installation of the second set of min-hydro plan was not able to carry out , due to insufficient data on flow rate.
2. Fabrication and promotion of the use of biomass stove were still in a primary stage. More time was required to develop full confidence of community members.
3. Building the earth house had limitation due to rain

Project expense:
The project report the accumulated expense of THB: 554,599 out of the sum of first & second disbursement of THB: 985,392.64.

IV. Completion report (10 November 2011):
Date of Participatory Evaluation( 24 October 2011):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 1,865
Men: 1,695
Children: 952

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 168
Men: 136
Children: 145

Expense:
Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): THB: 1,447,810.69
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 1,612,799
Balance: THB : (-164,988.31)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 4,996.41
Amount Received from others: THB: 175,711 (in cash)
THB: 610,154 (in kind)

Activities undertaken:
1. Building capacity of target population on renewable energy technology and management
2. Demonstration of uses of renewable energy and sustainable natural resources consumption ( Mini-hydro, biomass and manual energy, forest ecosystems)
3. Participatory Evaluation
4. Knowledge Management and outreach

Results and indicators:
1. Increased technical capacity and energy conservation insight of 19 project members on biomass stove fabrication
2. Increased capacity and awareness of 56 core leaders being able to transfer knowledge and experience on environment conservation
3. Estimated reduction of diesel oil for paddy milling by 100 litres / month( about THB: 48,000 /year saving) by adopting the use of 15 units of water-powered mills and 12 units of manual mill ? about 3,360 kg of CO2 / year avoided
4. Estimated total avoidance of grid electricity for 114 families from mini-hydro plants (total 13 kw.) by 46,266 kW-hr/year or THB: 138,800/year community saving ? about 26,834 kg of CO2 / year avoided
5. Estimated reduction of fire-wood consumption by 9,000 kg / year by using 13 biomass stoves ? about 13,140 kg of CO2 / year avoided
6. Estimated reduction of timber used for house construction by 30 pieces/house/year
7. Estimated 3,040-ha community forest as community conservation area with additional 11,200 native species being thriving
8. Estimated 960-ha watershed being protected to ensure water for generating mini-hydro plants

Project Communication:
The project was made more visible through two exhibitions in Bangkok where at least 800 persons dropping by to see.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
The project planned the followings:
1. Establish model communities for alternative energy consumption , especially from electricity from mini-hydro. Two locations were proposed: Baan (village) Song Kwae Phatthana, in Chinagrai Province?s Muang District (Kok River Basin) and Baan Mae Jantai in Chiangrai Province?s Mae Suay District ( Mae Lao Basin).
2. The project?s biomass stove fabricating Group would keep on the fabrication to further promote their use and mobilize resources in highland area.
3. Promote renewable energy and biological diversity approaches in the four river basins.
4. Establish organic fertilizer/pesticide producing group to launch campaign on their application
5. Network of core leaders and youth conservation groups would yearly launch conservation activities in conservation areas to commemorate important days.

Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
1. Regarding the installation of turbo-generator: Communities learnt
1.1 how to estimate water flow rate and measure elevation using water tube
1.2 how to work with local administrative organizations to promote policy on alternative energy uses
2. Regarding the installation of paddy mills: Communities learnt how to make use of water energy. However, communities still preferred to make the manual one which was fairly convenient and time-saving
3. Regarding training on fabrication of biomass stoves: Communities learnt about specialized agencies and their network. Technically, a method for prolonging flame in the stove was discovered.
4. Regarding development of learning centre for biodiversity: the centre drew more attentions of communities , agencies and visitors from oversea.
By-and-large, communities capacity was increased after launching activities, especially when something to learn from appeared in front of their own eyes and directly was being appreciated.

Nevertheless, the project listed the following as problems and issues:
1. Improper use of electricity of ignorant communities reduced working life period of electric appliances. More training had been organized.
2. Communities needed to learn more on proper maintenance of the turbo-generators to avoid a plant trip. More training had been organized.
3. Reduction of flow rate during dry months caused fluctuation in electricity generation. This issue was addressed by increasing vegetation in watershed area.
4. Construction material price was escalating. More cash co-financing from communities was mobilized.
5. The use of biomass stoves was still in its infantile stage, due to community?s being used to traditional stoves. More promotion and training was on the way.