I. Progress report (June 22, 2013):
Activities undertaken:
1.Launching technical capacity building of targeted population through study tours and open forum
2. Launching demonstration of conservation activities through resources inventory, and promoting alternative agriculture

Results of activities:
1. Increased awareness and understanding of targeted population regarding vital supporting roles of forest ecosystems witnessed by active protection of the forest , persistently giving warnings to community members who had been taking too much from the forest, and beginning to formulate wild fire prevention plan which occurred yearly.
2. Compilation of resources inventory consisting 109 plant species in forest and agricultural eco-systems
3. About half-an-acre area being establish as a habitat for a threatened animal species in the community forest.
4. About 15-ha marginal land being reforested with 2,350 native trees.

Project Visibility and Communication by other organizations/individuals:
None during this period .

Emerging problems and issues:
1. During dry season every year, there was a wild fire so intensive and frequent that existing capacity of communities could not cope with.
2. There were more non-project members from other communities who came to use the forest provisions requiring more oversight and warning
3. As the community forest was bordering Nongbualamphoo and Loei Province, poaching was always expected.
4. Coordination with Tambol Administrative Organization was still limited, due to local political settlement (complaints about the result of local election).

Approaches to address/Recommendation:
1. Since project committee had learnt something about the wildfire, it would launch prevention activities just before dry season began to reduce the intensity.
2. The project committee would work with local forestry officer to establish checking points , not for punishment but for warning and mutual understanding.
3. Primary notification was carried out just to head-up the TAO, while other activities was fully carried out as planned.

Project experience and lessons learnt :
As Baan (village) Huay Bor Thong was just a small community , working environment was rather difficult , even though 2 other villages were fairly cooperative. Due to far distance from one another, coordination was delayed and limited. Some groups held a view that the community forest was outside their hometown , in spite of the provision of the forest to them.

Marginal forest area would soon disappear because of promotion of pararubber plantation, unless awareness and understanding were instilled into community members. After six-month of implementation, it was found that community members loved their environment but lacked proper leadership. The project had to a certain degree contributed to elicit that kind of love into practice.

Project expense:
The project reported the expense of THB: 249,611 out of the first disbursement of THB:249,611.21.

II. Project Site Visit (September 5, 2013):
Findings and Observation:
In Baan (village) Huay Bor Thong, one of the three participating villages, the visiting team interacted with about 10 project leaders, at the premises of one member. Undertaken activities and some evinced results were related and discussed. It was found that the project was in progress and producing some result as required. Awareness and capacity of the leaders, especially women, were notable, witnessed by their ability to share their learning and experience with the team engagingly.

Proceeding into the community forest just next to the village, the main targeted of conservation spot, it was found that the forest was surrounded by community cultivated areas, with some seen within the forest. There was a small road around the forest, probably serving as a boundary line between community cultivated plots and this community conserved area.

Walking into the forest, women members took turns to brief the visiting team any species of medicinal and nutritious value that came across, confirming both pre-existing and newly built technical capacity under the project. In allowing the forest to regenerate, the project had built fire-break zone during last summer, and resorted to the Royal Forestry Department for construction of humid-retaining weirs (check dams), where the project managed to make use of the oozing water from the weirs by building a small water-retaining pond as habitat for a native species ?burrowing frogs?- all were sensed as satisfaction of these leaders.

Aiming to mainstream conservation awareness in production landscape, i.e. in cash crop or mono culture areas around the forest, the team was led to see a plot of para-rubber plantation. The owner, who was also a project member managed to plant native paddy in an integrated manner within the plantation. The owner confirmed that there was no drawbacks in doing so, whether in term of two species being competing for sunlight or for nutrients in the soil. It was just a matter of time.

In term of mainstreaming the public sector, project leaders related that the provincial environment and natural resources had substantially supported the group, especially on capacity building and dissemination of the project.

III. Completion report (September 3, 2014 ):
Date of Participatory Evaluation(August 31, 2014 ):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 78
Men: 63
Children: 72

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 38
Men: 33
Children: 44

Expense:
Amount received from SGP (2 disbursements): THB: 453,405.93
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB:451,220.29
Balance: THB: ( 2,185.93)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 1,629.32
Amount Received from others: THB: 132,260 (in cash)
THB: 246,600 (in kind)

Activities undertaken:
1.Launching technical capacity building of targeted population through study tours and open forum
2. Launching demonstration of conservation activities through resources inventory, promoting alternative agriculture, establishing seed banks
3. Launching dissemination of project results
4. Launching participatory evaluation

Results and indicators:
1.Approximately 160-ha community forest being managed under strict community regulation
2. Evinced increased quantities and species of native plants and animal in community forest ( 2,650 trees of 6 native species in an area about 2 ha)
3. Cultivated areas of 60 families being replenished with more native species of nutritious and timbering value leading to food security
4. Published documents as follows:
- 500 pamphlets
- 100 CDs

Project Communication:
The project did not mention any.

Problems and Issues:
Cooperation and supports from government agencies were rather limited, because these agencies gave priority to their routine work thus limit participation. However, the project was recognized by them.The issues were addressed by proceeding with planned activities. Government agencies in the location were informed in an anticipation that if problems and issues arose, they would substantially contribute to the solution process.

Experience , Lessons Learnt :
The project had prompted community awareness and built their capacity on forest conservation. Many activities were initiated and put into practice by community themselves.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
The project planned to disseminate project experiences by being a learning centre on forest conservation.