I. On January 5, 2006 , the NC and three members on year-6 projects in the region paid a visit to the project and came out with the following report.

The visiting team met with three project leaders and about 15 project members at the grantee?s office in Muangparn District.The leaders spent half and hour to update the geography of the area , ecosystems - livelihood relation of target population and activities which had been carried out to date as well as some observable outputs. Interesting experience was briefly shared.

Later, a plot of sustainable agriculture of one member in one of the eight target village, Baan Huay Dindum (Black Soil village), was visited. It was situated in the vicinity of Jae Sorn National Park, rain-fed area and amid prevalent single cash crop fields of paddy, corn , bean and potato. The plot owner had set an optional model of sustainable agriculture for project members. The plot was divided in good proportion for paddy, and other plants , especially standing fruit thee of several kinds thus requiring no plowing but making use of agricultural waste to condition the soil. As the plot was next to a national park, water shortage was not an issue. In addition, local approach on management of water for farming was said to be respected and practiced. There were one elder and 10 other members in this ?Elders of Weir?.

Through brief interaction, the visiting team sensed a good degree of satisfaction among project members. Besides, activities on building capacity of youth and women?s group were the two showcases of the project. The youth group had carried out resources inventories on native species and compiled them for further planning, while the women?s was able to disseminate experience on land degradation phenomenon and promote sustainable agriculture. One of capacity building activities of target population, was an exchange visit with a contemporary project THA-04-13 in Phijit Province , 300 km. away who was carrying out activities on reversing land degradation in one district of the province.

One noted observation: In the last election , the project leader was elected the CEO of Tambol Administrative Organization ; and nearly 90 % of project members got elected as members in their constitution, substantial supports in term of finance and institute looked promising, at least during the next four year.

RECORDS OF NON-GEF CONTRIBUTION

Half - day of transportation from Rak thai Foundation and personnel = Baht: 2,500

Report prepared by: Poonsin Sreesangkom Date: 8 December 2006

II. 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.


III. The progress report was receivee on 26 January 2006 with 20 photos depicting on-going activities and two books on resources inventories ( native species with nutritious and medicinal value and on technical knowledge of land rehabilitation and sustainable agriculture. The essence of report was summarized as follows:

Activities carried out :

1. Launching, for women, open forum, study tours, compilation of local knowledge, and sustainable agriculture
-2.Launching, for youth, training, study tours, compilation of local knowledge and sustainable agriculture
3. -Summarizing lessons learnt, developing local curriculum, disseminating result at basin-wide and at district level
4. Establishing 10 plots for demonstration of local approach on land rehabilitation and sustainable agricultural system

Immediate Outputs / Results

-520 women and 350 students being aware of the effects of chemicals from mono-cash crop cultivation upon natural resources
-180 women being aware of the significance of land rehabilitation
-Emergence of youth network with 40 members supporting production of herbs and organic fertilizer
-Acquired data and information on list of native species with nutritious and medicinal value and on technical knowledge of land rehabilitation and sustainable agriculture
-Women and youth role on land rehabilitation being recognized by both private and public sectors who in turn providing supports on resources persons
-Three newsletter about project activities/results being disseminated quarterly
-The 10 plots demonstrating perfect modeling for sustainable agriculture with 80% of target population replicating the result


Project Communication:

1.Publishing and distributing newsletter to local school libraries, public libraries, and community public reading places
2.Communication by youth and women group through community radio during holidays on chemical oriented agriculture and land rehabilitation

IV. Two project products ( complied list of native fruit trees with nutritrious value and native herbs with medicinal value) were received on April 11, 2006.

V. The completion report was received on 28 September 2006 with 20 photos depicting on-going activities. The details are as follows:

Activities carried out :

1. Launching, for women, open forum, study tours, compilation of local knowledge, and sustainable
agriculture
2.Launching, for youth, training, study tours, compilation of local knowledge and sustainable
agriculture
3.Summarizing lessons learnt, developing local curriculum, disseminating result at basin-wide and at
district level
4.Establishing 10 plots for demonstration of local approach on land rehabilitation and sustainable
agricultural system

Results:

1. 520 women and 350 students being aware of the effects of chemicals from mono-cash crop
cultivation upon natural resources
2. 180 women being aware of the significance of land rehabilitation
3. Emergence of youth network with 40 members supporting production of herbs and organic fertilizer
4. Acquired data and information on list of 300 native species with nutritious and medicinal value and
on technical knowledge of land rehabilitation and sustainable agriculture
5. Two Tambol Administrative Organizations demonstrating understanding of women and children role
on development of sustainable agriculture supporting budget as Sustainable Agriculture Fund,
supporting budget for formulation of energy efficiency course by biogas in one community school ,
and supporting community plan on agro-forestry
3. Emergence of dissemination documents of the project concerning planting and value of native
species , once three months
4. One established centre for sharing lessons learnt on sustainable agriculture and related women and
children ?s role
5. One formulated curriculum on soil rehabilitation and sustainable agriculture ( Sufficient Economy)
6. Number of demonstration plots expanding to be 20

Project Communication:

In addition to the dissemination outlined in project activities, some activities on
the ground were aired through Channel 11 on May 2006.

Participatory Evaluation: Conducted every three months with participation from Tambol Public
Health Office, Tambol Administrative Organizations, project members,
community schools and Muang Parn District

Participants: As in Participatory Evaluation

Methods: 1. Evaluation of conducted activities one three months
2. Observation on reaction of target population and concerned government agencies
3. Open forum to consolidate lessons learnt

Impact: 1. Huamuang Tambol Administrative Organization drafted budget provisions for
2007 to support a pilot project for Baankluay School in application of renewable
energy (biogas) to be used in cooking for students and to support participation of
school and community on comparative demonstration plots for organic paddy fields
and fields applied with chemical substances

2. Huamuang Tambol Administrative Organization drafted budget provisions for
2007 to support one village on agro-forestry stressing on plantation of native trees
along creeks and community forest to ensure community food security

3. The emerging youth group ? Khon Long Tor? possessing clear and continuous
implementation plan for native species propagation and dissemination

Future Plan: The grantee planned to support the implementation of the Royal Initiative ? Self-Reliant
Process? comprising
1. Community Sustainable Land Management
2. Sustainable Forest Management by community and partnership
3. Establishment of native seed bank
4. Building capacity of community resources persons and youth resources persons
5. Community-based research on application of renewable energy to reduce dependent upon fire-
woods
6. Establishment of markets at tambol level for supplementary income
7. Encouragement of TAOs in promotion and implementation of Sufficiency Economy