I. First progress report (April 13, 2011):
Activities undertaken:
1. Launching capacity building by meetings, training and study tours
2.Demonstrating conservation approaches by re-vegetation, forest surveillance, fire-break zone , retaining soil humidity and resources inventorying

Results of activities:
1.Established of joint committee with 25 members for 10 community forests who were clearer on their roles
2. Increased capacity of 100 project members and 60 members of youth group witnessed through active participation to discuss relevant issues on forest management
3. Fire break zone of 50 km. for fragmented forests of 1,250 ha being completed and maintained - reducing forest fire by at least 80 %
4. Approximately 10,000 seedling surviving and ready to be planted in community forests.

Project Communication:
The project was made more visible and understood through community meetings at village and tambol level.

Experience , Lessons Learnt, Problems and Issues:
The project related that some activities required continuous community participation and budget. Existing poverty status limited optimal participation.

Project Expense:
The project reported the expense of THB: 430,300 out of the first disbursement of THB: 431,973.58.

II. Monitoring Visit by NC/NSC (22 September, 2011):
Findings & Observation:
At the meeting room of Pong Tao Tambol Administrative Organization, a local government unit, and a major stakeholder of the project, the visiting team interacted with about 60 committee members of 10 community conservation areas under management of the project. In the meeting, CCA management approaches and undertaken activities were briefed with relevant questions & answers and recommendations. The interaction was fairly fruitful: the visiting team learnt about several new approaches in forest management and increased community capacity, the host learnt more about GEF SGP from the NC & NSC.

Visiting 7 community conservation areas and one community, it was found that each CCA, with more or less the same conditions, had been managed effectively. There were community regulations for using both timber and non-timber products. Any community members who gained from the forest must spare some of his benefits to maintain/upgrade the forest and community facilities. Proposed reforestation activities was said to cover more than 10,000 seedlings of native species. Some CCA were apparently receiving additional support from other public sectors.

Apart from witnessing sustainable use of forest resources, the visiting team was shown how management of CCA had resulted in a more steady of water supply to cultivated land and communities. Construction of check dams or humid retaining weirs at several water ways had minimized flash floods downstream and maximize humidity upstream.

Due to its endemic teak of high quality and five species of bamboo, the area was appointed one of the four biosphere reserves in Thailand. The Royal Forestry Department and a few other international development agencies had been working in the locations during the past few decades. This accomplished baseline and incremental support by SGP resulted in wide sectoral participation thus witnessed accomplishment. The project had contributed to promoting community capacity regarding co-management of CCA. It was related that the project had been visited by 17 foreign organizations.

Notwithstanding current achievement of the project, some project leaders were apprehensive about untoward public promotion on land use scheme, especially promotion of quick cash crops. If promoted carelessly, it could be a stumbling block to the project. At a glance, the location has comparatively less areas for the crops. So far, every forest, big and small, seemed to have enough crown cover. In the case of slightly degraded land, edible native species were grown to demonstrate an approach of the Self-sufficiency philosophy of His Majesty the King.

III. Second progress report (December 8, 2011):
Activities undertaken:
1. Continuing launching capacity building by meetings, training and study tours
2.Continuing demonstrating conservation approaches by re-vegetation, forest surveillance, fire-break zone , retaining soil humidity and resources inventorying
3. Disseminating project results to wider public

Results of activities:
1. The joint committee being continuously aware and alert of forest status prompting action plan update
2. Two more community members / forest requesting to participate in activities of the committee
3. Evinced reduction of illegal logging, wild fire incidence and unsustainable use of forest edible product, especially bamboo ( about 80 %)
4. Emergence of two youth groups: Ngao Forest Model Youth Group and Forest Model in Watershed Youth Group
5. Reclamation of two violated forest areas
6. The constructed 150 check dams being in place and functioning but about 65% damaged by monsoon rain.

Project Communication:
During the period, the project was made more visible and understood through participatory meetings at district level where relevant government agencies were invited to participate.

Experience , Lessons Learnt, Problems and Issues:
The project reported the April-June drought and October flash flood as two major issues hindering project activities. Other types of experience/lessons learnt were
1. The nursery period of native trees should be 1 and a half year to ensure optimum result
2. Mono crop cultivation of some groups was evaluated as the most destructive activities to forest
3. Project members (and communities) saw that consistent budget was necessary to ensure sustainable conservation activities.

Project Expense:
The project report the accumulated expense of THB:743,000 out of the sum of first & second disbursement of THB:850,844.52.


IV. Completion report (September 18, 2012):
Date of Participatory Evaluation(August 31 ,2012):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 1,759
Men: 1,741
Children: 250

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 100
Men: 100
Children: 100

Expense:
Amount received from SGP (3 disbursements): THB: 1,282,128.49
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 1,496,000
Balance: THB : (-213,871.51)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 4,597.42
Amount of co-financing as follows: THB: 98,400 (in cash)
THB: 886,000 (in kind)

Activities undertaken:
1. Launching capacity building by meetings, training and study tours
2.Demonstrating conservation approaches by re-vegetation, forest surveillance, fire-break zone , retaining soil humidity and resources inventorying
3. Conducting participatory evaluation
4. Disseminating project results to wider public

Results and indicators:
1. Increased capacity and awareness of 200 persons and 60 members of youth groups witnessed by active participation and sharing management responsibility in project activities
2. Emergence of 10 networks for forest protection with agreement and clear action plans
3. Fire-break zone of 70 ?km long being established thus substantial reduction of forest fire in 1,250 ha
4. At least 200 units of humidity retention weirs being completed and functioning benefiting participating families
5. Emergence of 4 occupation groups of 25 members making use of resources from the forests in project location in a sustainable manner ,i.e. practicing self-sufficiency economy

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
The project did not elaborate the plan and activities. But with social contract happening during project duration, conservation activities would be kept on. The grantee would reach out to and solicit participation from all organizations in Ngao District.

Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues:
The project related that
1. In order to maximize results, there should be a training course and established regulation on forest surveillance.
2. Activity on making fire-break zone should be carried out twice a year, i.e. during December and February . This would minimize wild-fire.
3. Check dams to slow down swift water flow should be built at several points along a water course. There should also be a semi-permanent dam to store water.