The project location is situated in the east coast basin, an ecological component of the gulf of Thailand. It is a watershed area of the Lang Suan River draining into the gulf. There are small tributaries of the river passing through the communities.

With the cultivated area of about 3,160 ha, nearly all 425 families earn their living through agricultural practices. The main crops encourage is coffee which constitutes approximately 30 % of all other fruit trees.

Similar to the prevailing environmental problems of other regions of Thailand, the project location has been facing with forest encroachment for more coffee plantation and excessive application of chemical substance in agriculture. The flow rate of water in the river and its tributaries has been gradually decreasing while the quality of the water is degraded by the chemical run-off from agricultural activities. Notwithstanding, there has been no concrete cooperation, amongst various stakeholders, to initiate the approaches to counter the degrading situation.

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

1.To promote educational process on sustainable natural resources management amongst CBOs? in the project location
2.To initiate and accelerate the formulation of a plan for the adaptation of agriculture production process
3.To coordinate with other stakeholders, both public and private, to share lessons learnt on the management of environment and natural resources

Activities to be carried out under project:

1.Building capacity of target communities on sustainable chemical-free agriculture and food processing through
-training & seminar
-study tour
2.Organizing open forum for formulating plan for production process in the 3 villages
3.Producing dissemination materials for wider public

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1.Tambol Administrative Organization of tambol Park Song and Patoa
2.Natural Resources Management in Southern Region River Basins by CBOs? Project
3.Patoa District Agricultural Office , Patoa District Livestock Office
4.Patoa District Public Health Office

Anticipated results of project:

1.At least 5 members each from the 3 villages are well trained to possess knowledge and skill to
be trainers on sustainable management of natural resources and agriculture production process.
2.There emerges the plan for the adaptation of Agriculture Production Process.
3.There emerge at least 15 demonstration plots as model for sustainable agriculture.
4.There emerges the Natural Resources Management Plan for the Patoa Tambol Administration
Organization