Of about 770 km. long and with 40 small tributaries, the Nan River supplies a fairly uniform flow throughout the year, compared to the other 3 tributaries of the Chaophaya River draining into the Gulf of Thailand. Stretching about 40 km. along the river, the project location is rated the most polluted spot in the Pisanuloke Province. The communities residing along both sides of the river depend upon the river for household consumption and agricultural practices.

With fairly uniform water supply, the main occupation is rice farming which is normally practiced 3-4 crops a year. Consumption of water and chemical application are being managed in a very inefficient and harmful way.

The project location is rated the top in the province in term of chemical application, poor water quality and chemical toxic remain in human body.

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

1.To build awareness of the communities on the effect of chemical pesticide
2.To demonstrate local approaches as to the reduction of chemical pesticide

Activities to be carried out under project:

1.Building capacity of communities by open forum, seminar and training
2.Launching social and religious activities as an approach to protect the river
3.Establishing no-fishing zones along the target location
4.Demonstrating environmentally-friendly agricultural practices
5.Periodically monitoring water quality at selected spots

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1.Buddhist Monks for Society Network of Pitsanuloke
2.Tambol Administrative Organizations
3.Provincial & district Public Health Office
4.Phromphiram District Hospital
5.District Office of Agriculture, Cooperative, Fishery and Local Development
6.Pisanuloke Cultural Council
7.Pisanuloke Irrigation Project
8.Schools in the project location

Anticipated results of project:

1.There emerge 25 Change Agents
2.Water quality in 40 km. along the river is improving
3.There are 23 conservation zones
4.There arise a network for the Nan River Conservation from Nan Province to Nakhonsawan Province.