I. The project had submitted progress report on 12 June 2005 , 28 pages with photos and copies of articles, with following immediate outputs/results:

1. Emergence of the followings:
- two ha community botanical garden with better system of management
- two acres of Hmong herbal garden
- one check dam (small wier)
- one set of compiled knowledge on herbal species, humid-retaining species, erosion-
retarding species, human food species and animal food species
- a group and a fund for wild fire protection
2. Tangible increased community participation and cooperation
3.Evinced increased awareness and experience in rehabilitation of biological resources
4.Emergence of networks sharing experience

II. The project was visited on 6 December 2005. The findings and observations were as follows:

The target village, Baan (village) Huay Nam Rin is a home to an ethnic minority ?Hmong? with about 30 households in the Doi Mon Koke and Inthanon National Park. The population was provisionally allowed to dwell in the area. The village is not electrified and lighting is by oil lamp or candle light. With apparent limited farming practice , several community members earn their living to selling labour and providing services to outsiders. It also appeared that outside support to the village was rather limited.

The visiting team was briefed about the undertaken activities through pictures: Biological diversity rehabilitation, soil humidity retention, capacity building of wild- fire prevention, and study tours for learning and replicating successful approach. Then it was shown a plot of indigenous herb and an indigenous weir. In spite difficulty in communication, one project members struggled to explain to the visiting team the quality of plants of medicinal values and the weirs to retain humidity reducing wild-fire risk.

Due to time constraint, the team did not witness other outputs/result of activities such as botanical gardens and interact enough with target population.

III. The project participated in the mid-course evaluation workshop of Thailand-Year-6 GEF/SGP , organized on 25-27 January 2006 . It was one of 27 projects sending project leaders or representatives to report to the workshop on progress of activities, immediate outputs/results that could be witnessed or observed, problems / issues and solution.

With only a few exception, majority of projects concisely reported progress and summarized immediate outputs and results. The report format included from power point to photos to dissemination materials, and to verbal presentation. There was one project bringing product of chemical-free vegetable for sale and show at the venue.

All presentations mentioned about problems and issues, with varying degree, but they had been corrected or rectified. Or at least, the project possessed idea or approach to do so. However, there were a few projects that presented problems and hot issues on environment soliciting further discussion and advice from participants.

On the final day, participants spent half-an-hour sharing idea on forging future networking of the year-6 projects and submitted approach for sustainability. Majority of participants agreed to be tied by natural network, without any regulation or commitment, but hearts and minds. There were two members pledging their times and skill to help others according to their availability.

As a reminder and incentives to ensure most effective implementation of remaining activities, the NC proposed the idea of strategic project where successful SGP projects could gather together so that community actions affecting global benefits would be clearer.

The workshop had seen substantial sharing of experience, especially on related issues of project activities. Somehow, it was felt that the remaining activities would be carried out to their completion. Another evidence, a natural network of environment was formed with a lot of participants winning one another hearts.

IV. The completion report was received on March 6, 2006 , with following details:

-Launching reforestation in community forest and conserving
- Surveying and compiling biological resources
- Establishing endemic herbal garden
- Building one small weir to maintain humidity
- Establishing fire-fighting group and rotating Fund
-Conduction community forum for the cultural and spiritual activities (Fee Yeng) for forest
-Convening seminars and study tours
- Communicating through Chiangmai Radio in community dialect current situation of global warming and forest conservation
-Conducting community forum
-Launching cultural activities with networks
- Conducting monitoring and evaluation
-Establishing Website for project with Baan Doi Pui Biological Conservation Group
-Composing native songs and airing on Hmong community radio
- Producing other type of communication material such as tract, article, CD ,Video and disseminating in annual festival

Results:

-Emergence of community botanical garden with classification and related data & information
- Reduced number and frequency of wild-fire
- Tangible increased community participation and cooperation

-Demonstrated increase awareness in sustainable use of biological resources
- Emergence of networks sharing experience
-Increased capacity witnessed through collective planning, cooperation and M & E
-Continued communication and relation of networks
- Increased number of Hmong , other cultural groups and mainstream Thai with knowledge about GEF , current world situation and showing interest to cooperate
- Initiated tourist activities for income supplement of project members

Dissemination / Public Relation of project:
Mostly , the dissemination was incorporated in the project activities:

Participatory Evaluation:
Participants: Target and surrounding communities as well as relevant local government agencies.
Methods: Open forum for discussion , conducted periodically through participatory observation
and chit-chat with project members and relevant government agencies.
Impact: Communication and dissemination of project activities discovered silent force among
community members who admired and practiced community approach in protecting
forest ecosystems. These members demonstrated increased capacity
through active participation , some at their own cost , in conservation scheme.

Future Plan: Realizing the need to keep on activities, the project has played a leading role in
forging a network of 20 communities of highland people, from the Chiangdow ? Doi
Suthep-Pui Range. After becoming strong and intact, the network would consider
seeking outside funding to continue activities.