I. The project submitted progress report on 12 June 2005 summarizing the immediate outputs/results as follows:

1. 56 members from the Royal Project, Chiangmai Forest Protection Unit 17, Khun Mae Jaem
Watershed Management Unit, the Royal Initiative Project for Highland Agriculture Development,
Rak Thai Foundation, members of the TAO and representatives from local GO units, participating in
the orientation
2. Evinced increased capacity of representatives from four participating villages
3. Produced tracts and VCD
4. Increased capacity of target group on accountancy
5. The rice mill was under preparation and was about to finish - no result yet.

II. The project was visited on 5 December 2005. Please see the findings and observations as follows:

Situated in a forest-mountain ecosystems of the Inthanon Range and a home of an ethnic minority group ?Karen?, Baan (village) Mae La-oop is the origin of Mae (river) La-oop , which converges into the Mae Jaem River, Ping River and the Chaophaya River of the Gulf of Thailand. The village is electrified by a mini hydro plant of the utility. Target population comprising 120 households in four villages earn their living by practicing farming and small-scale husbandry. While farming, mainly paddy, is just for consumption, the husbandry ,ranging from water buffaloes, cows, pigs constitutes the main source of income.

The visiting team was shown how the community applied local knowledge to maintain soil humidity and slow down soil erosion. Several small weirs composed of piles of sand-cement sacks were put across small water ways in nearby hilly areas. The local technology has been proven to be fairly effective. The maintained humidity of soil resulted in increased biodiversity. Small creatures of various species were seen coming back in great numbers. In addition, water from these sources trickles down adding water to the Mae La-oop river downhill , the source of power for the project?s rice mill.

In addition to providing water for daily living, the Mae La-oop demonstrates her other capacity. At a point along the course, the river water is diverted , stored, piped, and driving a water turbine , later a rice mill and a brick ?producing machine. The visiting team was shown for about half-an-hour the mill and machine in operation.

Since the target population has been working for about three years with an NGO ?Rak Thai Foundation?, a community participation and environment capacity were evinced. The project leader, Mr. Isa Phankriangkrai is elected the chairperson of the Mae La-oop Basin Network vowing to rehabilitate and protect this forest-mountain ecosystem of about 1,000 sq. km.

The target population was excited and happy about this new rice mill by alternative energy. Learning from year-3 project (THA-01-12/ Rice Milling by Water Power) in Chiangmai?s Chomthong District , several technical and institutional mistakes/errors were avoided. The project planned to conduct the evaluation upon completion and opening ceremony of the rice mill in January 2006.

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 Janaury 27, 2006, with essence as follows:

Activities carried out :

1. Building a water-powered rice mill and put to provide service to community members
2. Producing soil-cement bricks for construction using water powered moulds
3. Launching campaign on application of renewable energy
4. Conducting seminars and training
5. Producing media and dissemination materials

Immediate outputs and Results of Projects:

1. Emergence of a water-powered rice mill to serve target population every Monday and
Friday, with five Baht cheaper per 10 kg. of paddy, when compared to a conventional mill
using fossil fuels
2. After three weeks of official opening of the mill, only 20 % of target population used the
service of the mill
3. Avoidance of 10 litres of diesel and successive 28,000 g/month of CO2
4. The soil-cement block producing machine working efficiently ? expecting to produce blocks
for construction replacing timbers used by 40 %
5. Fifty representatives from four small villages demonstrated increased capacity and
awareness on global warming and renewable energy
6. Emergence of a clear action plan for management of natural resources and future
renewable energy
7. sets of VCD and 1,000 brochures produced and disseminated to wider public

Dissemination / Public Relation of project


Oct 20 , 2005:Three fourth-year students from the faculty of mass communication, Chiangmai
University visited the project and launched communication via website of Prachatham
News on the initial trial run of the mill.
Dec 5-6, 2005: Three staff members of Lanta Island which was effected by Tsunami visited the project
to witness the trial run of the mill and how watershed weirs worked.The project
activities was aired through Thailand Radio Krabi
24 July 2006: Together with two other GEF SGP-supported projects, the project was invited by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to share the project experience in the technical meeting on Climate Change and its effects on Thailand.

Participatory Evaluation: Conducted periodically but the one upon completion was on January 7,
2006
Participants: About 100 community members from four village
Methods: Open forum for discussion
Impact: What appeared better or improved included the followings:

1.Understanding on implementation plan of the network by its members which was
witnessed through full cooperation in providing labour to build the mill.
2. Harmony and unity of community members
3. Classification of cultivated land and forest was clearer ; problems and issues reduced
4.Community insight on conservation approach
5. Agricultural practices and community self-adjustment to suit changing circumstances

Future Plan: 1. Thirty percent of Income from milling service and producing soil-cement blocks would
be deposited into rotating fund of the network
2. The network planned to further use water power to drive a machine for grinding rice
husk and processing into feed.
3. Fine rice bran from milling process would be sold where the income would be deposited
into the rotating fund
4. Water exhausted from the mill would be piped to cultivated land during dry season.
5. Endeavoring to identify other type of renewable energy suitable for highland
condition ,such as biogas

V. On March 25, 2006, 06:30-06:40 a.m. , a brief project story was aired on the ITV, a free television
network of Thailand.