Since 1992, the Phong River, a tributary of the Mekhong River has been under continuous threats which include toxic chemicals, from both industries and agriculture. While the industries upstream are dumping untreated waste into the river, the communities are making the situation worse by unscrupulous disposal of household waste. The effect of the pollution has been witnessed by the death of fishes along the river and residue in human bodies.

Since the project location comprises 10 farming communities with 1,363 families depending upon the river for agriculture and other domestic use, the threats directly affects the livelihood of these communities and everybody living downstream from northeast Thailand, Lao P.D.R. , Kamphuchea and Vietnam.

With the support from GEF/SGP in 1998, the group has been launching campaigns for the conservation of the river , demonstrating how to rehabilitate the environment of the river as well as establishing a saving banks network of the 10 communities to ensure sustainability in the longer term.

Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects):

1.To support community roles in conserving the environment of the Phong River
2.To develop learning process in
-conservation awareness of the river
-management capacity of household waste
-environmentally-friendly agriculture
3. To demonstrate the ?conservation village? model for other communities

Activities to be carried out under project:

1.Convening seminars and conducting study tours to build capacity of key members of
Communities
2.Demonstrating activities on garbage management, sorting , disposing, and composting
3.Producing disseminating materials on the degradation of global environment: Climate Change and International Water

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1.Community leaders, community schools and local government units
2.Regional office of Environment and Public Health
3.Women?s Group, Youth Group and Aging Group

Anticipated results of project:

1.The capacity of the group is being built ,having sustainable activities , being able to disseminate lessons learnt and experience to other groups and emergence of a saving group for self-reliance.
2.More people join the group as members.
3.Working committee of the group is able to join force with government to formulate long-term conservation plan.