Phu Tham Phu Kratae , a watershed area with 240 ha, is situated in Phu Rankam
national reserved forest. Draining into Chee River and Mekhong River , the creeks from this watershed area are supplying water for agriculture and livelihood for surrounding communities.
Moreover, it is a habitat for fishes which migrate upstream during egg-laying season.

The environment degradation which threatens the area can be classified as follows:

1. The natural gas drilling process around the area
2. The deforestation by communities so as to serve the industrial expansion
3. The pollution in the rivers affects the livelihood of fishes and other water species.

The approaches for the solution can be outlined as follows:

1. Forming up networking with 3 cooperatives situated in the vicinity
- Tha Nang Maew Agricultural Cooperative ( 8 villages)
- La Harn Na Agricultural Cooperative ( 4 villages)
- Waeng Yai Agricultural Women cooperative ( 5 villages )
2. Coordination with
- 3 local Tambol Administrative Organizations in formulating the framework
- Environment concern Youth Club of Tha Nang Maew
- Environmental Network of the Central and Northeastern Region for policy dialoque and campaigns

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

1. To encourage women?s group to assume the roles in solving problems of watershed areas of Phu Tham Phu Kratae
2. To educate and raise awareness of the target communities on the environmental conservation
3. To set up a watching group from the cooperatives, Tambol Administrative Organization and other civic groups, aiming to monitor the deforestation, water and air pollution
4. To encourage the roles of the 4 cooperatives in the conservation and rehabilitation of the Phu Tham Phu Kratae

Activities to be carried out under project:

1. To organize training/seminars for community leaders and community forest committee
2. To set up a unit to monitor the potential pollution arising from the drilling of the natural gas
3. To organize training for population in the target villages
4. To organize the traditional festival for rehabilitation of the watershed area
5. To plant trees for fuel and rehabilitate the land in the target location



Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

The direct beneficiaries of the project are families who are common farmers around the Phu Tham Phu kratae. Other participants are the 4 cooperatives , respective Tambol Administration Organizations , Waeng Noi Suksa School , Tha Nang Maew Wittayayon School and Network of Environment Organization from the Central and Northeastern Regions.

Anticipated results of project:

1. The trained leaders and community forest committee members are able to effectively play conservation roles
2. There emerge collaboration/networking among Tambol Administrative Organizations, network of the 4 cooperatives and network of environment organizations from the central and northeastern region.
3. There are more trees in the degraded areas around the communities.
4. The target population are instilled and subsequently actively participate in the problem- solution processes.
5. The watershed area of Phu Tham Phu Kratae are rehabilitated.