I. The project sent video tape to play showing activities in the Mid-course evaluation of year-6 grantees during late January 2006.

II. The progress report was received on 21 September 2006 with following details:

Activities carried out :
1.Launching capacity-building activities on sustainable approach and techniques for community leaders
2.Formulating regulations to use community forest
3.Demarcating and promulgating community forest and fire-break zone
4.Reforesting degraded forest area
5.Building forest model for community use and communication
6.Setting up committee , launching resources inventories , zoning of area, and increasing habitat
7.Setting up Fish Species Conservation Fund
8.Raising awareness ,through media ,on fish conservation and against destructive fishing

Results :

1.Observable extensive sharing of experience on integrated organic farming
2.Acquired cooperation from the three organizations: Chiangrai Centre for Horticulture Research, Chiangrai Agricultural and Technology College and Chiangrai Agricultural Office
3.Acquired models for highland agricultural pattern around the banks of Kok River
4.Evinced increased capacity of youth group who are children of hill tribe people
5. Emergence of eight nurseries in eight villages under supervision of organic farmers
6. Clear zones of community forest leading to self confidence of members in taking care of
7. Exchanged information on regulations of forest use amongst various communities
8. Acquired clear information of fish species
9. Two concerned TAOs incorporating the project plan into their 2006-2007 year plan
10. Emergence of Youth for Kok River Group following a plan of Chiangrai Poeple Society Network on protection campaigns for the whole year of 2006

III. On 17 November 2006, two members of NSC and the NC visited the project with following observations:

Sailing upstream along Kok River from Chiangrai provincial town to Baan (village) Kwai Wau Dam situated about 30 km, the visiting team was explained and perceived life-supporting roles this international water has been playing. The river is the main source of water supply for daily consumption for several hundred thousands people in downtown Chiangrai ,and agricultural practice for more in rural area. In addition, the habitat for fishes of the Mekhong River was fairly significant. Extraction of sand for construction was spotted in one or two locations. Both natural and man-made bank erosion were witnessed. The target area is situated in the neighbourhood of the to-be promulgated Maekok National Park , covering a forest and fresh water ecosystems. The eight target villages of the project are situated on both side of the river.

Interacting with representatives of Baan Kwai Wau Dam ,a home of two indigenous peoples, Karen and Lahu, had sensed existing environment and institutional capacity of communities. Fish conservation zone and community forest had long been established and witnessed, on which community members rated as fairly successful, even though there had been arguments and discords among various target villages at the beginning.

Another visited target village was Baan Ruammit, a bigger village with nine indigenous peoples , and over 200 households. It was said that the village was the first and a good model for fish conservation. In spite of diversity of culture and language, people appeared to live in harmony. About 30 elephants were seen providing services for tourists. Their droppings were turned into biogas and fertilizer. It was related that during the forest concession period ending about 20 years back , these beasts of burden had been used to haul timbers. Now ,the issue on availability of feeding ground for them was discussed and it seemed to be under community discretion.

In term of immediate result, community members expressed satisfaction with the project. It was voiced out that the project approach on fish conservation zone and community forest was reached out to ten other villages. In January 2007, the project planned to launch a big campaign at provincial level to convince civil society to pay more attention and participate in a long term conservation scheme after which the evaluation upon project completion would follow.

IV. The completion report was received on December 12, 2007 , a write-up of 43 pages, summarized as follows:

Activities carried out :
1. Launching capacity-building activities on sustainable approach and techniques
2. Establishing Seed Bank
3. Launching interaction between urban consumers and project producers
4. Disseminating agricultural project product in urban area
5.Formulating regulations to use community forest
6. Demarcating and promulgating community forest and fire-break zone
7.Reforesting degraded forest area
8.Building forest model for community use and communication
9. Launching religious rites following community local practices and faith
10. Setting up committee , launching resources inventories , zoning of area, and increasing habitat
11.Setting up Fish Species Conservation Fund
12. Raising awareness ,through media ,on fish conservation and against destructive fishing

Results:

1.Emergence of two networks: Kok Conservation Youth Network and Kok Conservation Organization Network with established mandate and activities to be undertaken.
2. Evinced increased capacity of target population and cooperation from responsible government organizations regarding organic farming with established 85 model plots of about 32 ha
3.Added area of 800 ha rich in biodiversity
4.TAOs? approving and providing supports for community forest activities
5.Systematically compiled community knowledge on biodiversity for dissemination to wider public
6.Approximately 8 km. long of sound habitat along the river
7.TAOs? approving and providing supports for fish conservation activities
8.Systematically compiled community knowledge on fish conservation for dissemination to wider public ( 129 plant species and 24 fish species)
9. Established the Kok River Conservation Fund with mobilizing resources from wider public

Project Communication:

In addition to airing the project through the radio of the Department of Fishery, the project was visited for experience ?sharing on relevant subjects by the following groups:
1. October 2005, coordinators from Highland Volunteer Teacher Group , non-formal education office, Chiangmai Province
2. December 2005, staff members from Chiangrai Horticulture Research Centre
3. November 2006, Television ETV recording as a documentary ? Seeds of virtues? disseminating project activities and the grantee on environment protection
4. February 2007, a group of 22 persons from Mekong Youth from China, Myanmar , Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia regarding toxic-free technique, and management of alternative education for less privilege youth
5. May 2007, Channel 3 recording documentary for dissemination under the programme ? Thung Saeng Tawan? or Sunshine Field.

Participatory Evaluation: There were four levels: First Sunday of each month, every six month, after one year and after two years.
Participants: For six ?month, one-year and two-year evaluation, there were 22 participants comprising representatives of the grantees, community leaders and youth groups.
Methods: Open forums and seminars
Impact: On emergence and revival of CBOs, the outcome/impact were quite outstanding.
These CBOs included
1. Kok River Conservation Network with members in 10 villages,
2. Chiangrai Farmers Network with members covering all 18 districts (5,000 members)
3. Chiangrai Toxic-free Agriculture Network with members from 100 families in over 10 villages
4. Chiangrai Fish Species Conservation Network in eight villages with potential to expand
5. Chiangrai Community Forest Network with members from 122 community forests

In addition, related government agencies such as Highland Agriculture Development
Station launched a study on the project area and would open a new target location in one
of the project locations. The project was contacted to ensure effectivee cooperation.

Future Plan:

In addition to its existing mission on rehabilitation of network of CBOs in Chiangrai Province, the grantee planned
1. to promote and support, on a wide scale, renewable energy technology at both household and community level such as high efficiency stove, charcoal ?producing kiln, solar heater, biogas, bio-diesel and ethanol
2. to launch a project on reforestation for the world which is a resource mobilizing project to mitigate global warming
3. to launch campaign on river protection which is a joint programme with Biological Diversity Network in South East Asia ( seven countries-Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam
4. to support the replication of the project to other basins such as Mae Korn Basin, Nam Ngao Basin,