Project Detail

Environment and Application of Chemical Substances

A mountain ecosystems serving as fresh water reservoir for and being an integral part of both the Gulf of Thailand and the Sea of Bengal, the project location is the residence of two ethnic minority groups, the Karen and the Hmong whose livelihood depends upon agricultural practices and provision of the ecosystems. The most typical crops include corn for feed, cabbage and carrot for human consumption. As for corn, the increasing demand has prompted the requirement of more and more cultivated land thus resulted in the encroachment and deforestation of forest area. As a rule in modern Thailand ,coupled with limited literacy rate, target population has limited option so follows the simple and easy rule of practice in applying chemical substances . As a direct consequence, the practice has adversely affected the health of population , the potential of soil and quality of the water. As a fresh water reservoir, the target area contributes water into the Yord River ? Ping River-Chao Phaya River ,and eventually, the Gulf of Thailand.

With no agencies being attentive enough to the deteriorating situation, the foundation regards this as an urgent issues requiring a process of reversal or the entire target area would become a barren mountain full of undesirable chemical substances.

In order to reverse the above-mentioned degradation trends, building capacity of target population on use and effect of chemical substances is imperative and urgent. Increased capacity of target population and close monitoring system would pave the right way to collective plan for addressing the degradation of land and water in the area.

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1.Target population of 1,500 households are direct beneficiaries
2.Other agencies as indirect contributors to the project:
-The Royal Project carrying out re-vegetation activities
-The Rak Thai Foundation carrying out re-vegetation project in degraded land
-The Christian Service Foundation carrying out poverty alleviation and income generation projects

Activities to be carried out under project:

1.Launching training, seminars and study tours on related subjects
2.Putting into practice what is being learnt

Anticipated results/Immediate Outputs of project:

1.Cessation of disposal of chemical substances and other pollutants into river courses
2.Increased numbers of farmers participating in the campaigns
3.Emergence of a network with representatives from each participating villages to carry on conservation activities for water courses

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Excellence for Life Foundation

Country:

Thailand

Area Of Work:

International Waters

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 6,751.07

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 1,418.08

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 2,921.84

Project Number:

THA/03/21

Start Date:

1/2004

End Date:

12/2004

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Capacity - Building Component

Project stresses on capacity -building, especially, on application of chemical substances.

Notable Community Participation

The project was initiated through participatory process.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

There appears some proposed activities on local environment awareness.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

There is no indigenous people in the area exceopt two ethnic minority groups who migrated into the area about 100 years ago.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

This project is about reduction of chemicals in agriculture-main occupation of target population.

Gender Focus

Women and youth group were given equal or more opportunity to lead the activities.

Project Results

I. The project was visited on December 3, 2004, with following details:

FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS

One of the participating villages, Baan (village) Mae Sa of Tambol Mae Na Jorn, Mae Jaem District was visited. It is a residence of an ethnic minority group, Kareni ,with about 170 households earning their living through small scale agriculture and husbandry and the provision of ecosystems. Probably due to the mountainous terrain in conjunction with traditional practice of the Kareni, paddy, agriculture is being practiced just to make a living. Corn fields were being spotted expanding into the area.

Through conversation and perusal of related documents provided by the project, one launched seminar on the related topic had resulted in the emergence of conservation network downstream and built-up capacity of target population. TAO (Tambol Administrative Organization, a local administrative body) and local offices of government agencies had paid enough attention to the project by participating in seminars and training. Besides, five non-participating surrounding villages had expressed willingness to join the capacity-building process. Also, it was found out that the project and the network learnt about and involved to some degree with a year-one SGP project down stream , ? Ping River Protection? , whose project leaders is currently a member of the national committee of the Upper Ping Basin Management.

Mae Jaem River which supplies water into Ping River runs through the village. It was observed that villagers still directly depended on it for daily use and fishing implying acceptable water quality during dry season. However,under the aggressive cash crop promotion scheme (corns , edible roots, giant chillis, etc) and its close cousin chemicals, the river would definitely be under real threat.

RECORDS OF NON-GEF CONTRIBUTION:

Half-a-day, transportation (By Rak Thai Foundation, Mae Jaem Office) = Baht: 1,000
Meal and Lodging ( through members of Rak Thai Foundation ) = Baht: 250

II. The progress report was received on August 26 , 2004 with six photos depicting activities on seminar and study tours. The details are as follows:

Activities carried out :

Launching training, seminars and study tours on related subjects

Immediate results :

1. Target population learning first-hand experience on holistic natural resources and environment
management.
2. Loose network being initiated amongst concerned parties ( local government agencies, NGOs and
CBOs ) for protecting forest and international water
3. Four non-target surrounding villages exhibiting interest and participating in the training

Project communication:

The Chiangmai mail , the English newspaper which has been circulated around the world talked about movement of indigenous people in Mae Jaem District of Chiangmai on the management of environment and natural resources .

III. Completion report was received on July 25, 2005, summarizing the following immediate outputs and results:

1. Cessation of disposal of chemical substances and other pollutants into river courses
2. Increased numbers of farmers participating in the campaigns
3. Emergence of a network with representatives from each participating villages to carry on
conservation activities for water courses

Participatory Evaluation: Conducted on 5 June 2005
Participants: Project personnel , concerned government officers ( watershed unit) , and
community leaders
Methods: Brainstorming in open forum, putting forward weak and strong point of the
project

Impact: Some slight evidence of change in farming practice could be witnessed
through the application of organic fertilizer. Some farmers did not show
eagerness to change or adopt environmentally-friendly . In general,
majority of target population demonstrated increased awareness on
environmental degradation and probable future approach. The one impact
is the initiation of network for cooperation in long term solution.

Future Plan: To ensure sustainability , the project would keep on with activities in
networking with 12 sub-basins in the location .

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