The project location is in the vicinity of the National Park Phu Sa Dok Bua, Phu Wat
and Phu Phonthong which are watershed areas of Huay Hin Hao and Huay Ban which drains into the Mekhong River. As a rule, local people who are common farmers burn the field after harvesting season. The fire thus set is usually uncontrollable and blazes into the national park. Besides, some local people set fire to forest on purpose for facilitating hunting. The fire has reduced the watershed areas.

With the sustainable agricultural practice all-year-round by communities dwelling in this buffer zone, the watershed area will be rehabilitated and filled with vegetation. Consequently, the additional income from this sustainable practice will ease the potential encroachment of the watershed area.

Perceiving the significance of environmental and natural resources conservation, the Ban Hao Development Group and other community organizations which include Phonthong Tambol Administrative Organization, Senangkhanikhom Tambol Administrative Organization and Rai Si Suk Tambol Administrative Organization have launched the sustainable agricultural project through community participation.

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

To protect and rehabilitate the watershed area of Phu Wat and Phu Phon Thong by encouraging sustainable agricultural practice and other community activities.

Activities to be carried out under project:

1. To launch campaigns amongst communities, raise conservation awareness and make realized the consequences of deforestation by man
2. To organize workshops / seminars / study tours for working groups selected from participating organizations
3. To demarcate boundary lines for community forests
4. To launch demonstration projects for sustainable agriculture through selected families.
5. To launch reforestation activity through the participation of communities

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1. Community members in the target areas are direct beneficiaries.
2. District governmental officials in the district and officials from the 3 Tambols.
3. Women?s group from the 3 Tambols.

Anticipated results of project:

1. The forest area of 6,000 rai (960 ha) next to the national park will be closely under wildfire protection. In this protected area , there expects to be 10 % in addition of new trees.
2. There emerges 3 groups of women producing and selling chemical-free products.
3. There will be 48 rai (8 ha) more of orchard in the target areas.
4. The target families will practise sustainable agriculture substantially.