I. 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.


II. The progress report was received on 27 January 2006 with nine photos depicting on-going activities. The essence of report was summarized as follows:

Activities carried out :

1.Launching capacity building by open forum, study tours, training on related subjects
2.Launching resources inventories activities
3. Providing training and study tours on renewable energy, biogas /biomass energy
4.Building one (out of four proposed) biogas facilities
5.Conducting investigation and resources inventories and uses
6.Camping for two-age group ( elders and youth)
7.Conducting study tours
8.Monitoring water quality in the two rivers

Immediate Outputs / Results :

1.Target farmers being able to put what were learnt into practice and being models for others to replicate
2.Acquired inventories on agricultural practice models , 40 model farmers and best models for future approach
3. Increased awareness on current energy situation and related expense
4. The completed biogas facilities capable of supplying cooking gas for one hour per one continuous cooking, with 3 kg. fill of manure daily
5.Acquired data and information on available resources , pattern of uses and community attitudes
6. Summarized acquired data and information for submission to communities

Project Communication:

1. Producing tracts and posters about the project to distribute to members and other interested individuals to ensure project visibility
2.Communication through community public relation facilities and community open forum

III. On 18 November 2006, two members of NSC and the NC visited the project. The findings and observations are as follows:

The project area is situated in both lowland and hilly terrain of lower Maekok River basin. It is a home to three cultural groups i.e. Northeasterners, Kareni and Yong. About fifteen community members and three members of another SGP project in the province(THA-05-05) awaited to meet with the visiting team at Baan (village) Nong Par Kor, one of the seven participating villages. Intended to demonstrate some project results, members of youth group performed a puppet shown written up by themselves , telling the story of degradation of environment in their villages and how to reverse it.

Other results of project were witnessed in increased capacity of communities and demonstration in turning agro-waste and biomass into productive use. In a premises of one project member, a biogas facility was witnessed making use of manure from 19 cows. In a nearby location, efficient use of biomass as energy was operational. This included efficient charcoal producing and biomass oven for fishes and other agro-products.

Regarding reduction of chemical application in agricultural sector, premises of one project members and community leader was visited. It was related that the plot had been used for the mono-crop (tapioca) for a few years and so degraded that no other native species could thrive successfully. With the idea of integrated sustainable farming , technical assistance from concerned local government agency , the perseverance of the member, and the recent involvement of the grantee, the plot became a learning place for project members on organic fertilizer production and making use of agro-waste. Some 40 project members were said to replicate the approach. Owing to time constraint, these plots were not visited.

During the visit, community members appeared eager to show to the visiting team their capacity and expressed some degree of satisfaction with the result. It is interesting to witness the cooperation of the three cultural groups working together harmoniously to reverse the degradation of the basin. The group planned to have the evaluation upon completion sometimes in December 2006, after which it would proceed with cooperation wit its neighbouring THA-04-08 upstream and THA-05-18 downstream to expand environmental activities , expecting to cover a certain portion of the Kok Basin.

IV. The completion report was received on August 8, 2007 , detailing results of activities , photos and leaflets.

Activities carried out under project:

1. Launching capacity building by open forum, study tours, training, youth camps on related subjects (renewable energy, biogas /biomass energy , water resources , environmentally-friendly agriculture)
2. Launching resources-and-their-use inventories activities
3. Building 3 biogas facilities, 4 biomass ovens and 13 charcoal-producing kilns (from 200-litres drums)

Results and indicators:

1. Community members teaming up to be administrative and advisory committee with 12 members
2. Emergence of 42 core leaders and volunteers prepared to advance local environment activities in the immediate future based on following community Conservation Plan
3. Twelve demonstration plots of organic farming being materialized with chemical-free food being supplied to community members @ 60 kg/day at an average
4. One biogas pit capable of reducing the use of canned gas by five hours/day , with approximately 10-15 kg. of compost/day
5. One biomass oven capable of drying fishes at 5 kg. / lot reducing the use of grid electricity at approximately 8 hrs/day
6. One charcoal-producing kiln capable of supplying 40 kg. of charcoal / burn thus reducing dependence upon grid electricity and/or canned gas
7. Proclamation of community regulations within the Tambol on sustainable fishery and community waste disposal covering two sub-basins with approximately 160-ha community forest


Participatory Evaluation: Conducted periodically but the one upon completion was on December 28 ,
2006
Participants: About 32 persons comprising committee members, representatives of participating
farmers, youth group, community leaders, Hug Maung Nan knowledge-Sharing
Network
Methods: Open forum for discussion

Future Plan: The project would continue driving community environment activities through
1. promoting grouping and networking communities
2. establishing farmers? school for conservation of paddy species and plantation
by biological process