The forest area of about 480 ha around the project location once was a conservation areas but had recently been revoked. It has been the prime watershed area for the Bang Pra Kong Rivers and other tributaries which drain into the Gulf of Thailand. Even though some portions of it has been degraded, it can still be rehabilitated through community effort.

The committee was established in 1995 , and with determination, has been launching conservation activities. However due to the limited capacity of the community, the progress has been very slow. Almost all of the community members are relocated and provided with about 2 ha of farmland per family.

The committee comprised 60 members from all families in the village. Apart from its own effort, the committee has continuously been cooperating with other organization such as Tambol Administrative Organization, temple, school and Department of Forestry. The participatory approach is applied in every step of project development and

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implementation.

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

To protect and rehabilitate the watershed area of the Bang Pa Kong River as well as manage the community forest

Activities to be carried out under project:

1. To demarcate the community forest to the extent of 15 km and subsequent fire-break zone
2. To plant 32 native species in the forest community
3. To build capacity of community through training and study tour
4. To oversee the plantation which is undertaken in 2.

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1. The direct beneficiaries are members of 60 families of Ban Rom Pho Thong.
2. The indirect beneficiaries are members of families of neighbouring villages
3. The Royal Forestry Department
4. Other conservation organization at district level

Anticipated results of project:

After 2 years, the community forest will become denser with various native species.
Besides, the number of wild fire will become fewer or not at all.The community can live harmoniously with their environment.

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