I. The progress report was received on 8 November 2005 , with photos showing reforestation in marginal public lands and integrate farming to increase vegetation . The immediate outputs/results are as follows:

1. 80 % of participants being able to articulate the definition of agriculture , to plan the use of
their plots and produce organic compost correctly
2. 81 families being interested in participating in the project with only 43 families being provided
with supports amounting to total area of approximately 19 ha from seven villages
3. An area of about five ha being re-vegetated and under constant maintenance of established
committee
4. Total number of contributing labour was 2070 man-day


II. The project was visited on 8 December 2005. The findings and observations are as follows:

At the temple of Baan (village) Sukasem, one of 14 participating villages, about 20 project members gave a briefing to the visiting team on history of communities, environmental and livelihood issues and progress of activities. 43 members were said to carry out sustainable agriculture with confidence , some beginning to witness promising results while other just needing more time. Reforestation of about 10 ha marginal public land was reached at the current date. Environment capacity of these group was fairly notable.

Four plots of members were visited. Each plot demonstrated an effort to reduce allotted area for cash crop such as corn, cotton and paddy and increase more area of sustainable agriculture. In each, about 10 species of trees , mostly edible type, were planted, and thriving, with very limited amount of chemical substances use but substantial amount of organic compost application.

Two plots of reforested areas in village temples were witnessed. One in temple Thung Korat was an outstanding success of the network . After about 15 years, the area of about five ha of degraded land became something of natural forest. The network had officially entrusted the overseeing responsibility to the Tambol Administrative Organization. This plot would be treated as a community forest amid cultivated land. As for the other plot in Temple Sukasem, an area of about two ha was witnessed with thousands young trees of various native species , a few feet standing.

One issue to be addressed in this area , as a whole, is excessive withdrawal of underground water, which nearly all farmers have been practicing. Central region of the country has been notorious for intensive paddy farming which heavily consume water, some twice a year, other six times two years. If the practice is being kept on without any corrective measures , land degradation situation would only get worse. In the discussion, community members expressed understanding on the situation , vowed not to struggle with paddy but identify some other edible crops of less water-consuming species.

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. On 11 February 2007, two NSC members, the NC and PA visited the project,participating in participatory evaluation upon completion. The findings and observations are as follows:

The Centre for Learning of Community Network in Baan (village) Nongwai, Tambol Huaykaew was turned into the venue for the evaluation. Approximately 50 persons comprising project members, a representative of community school , local temple and the NGO-coordinating centre of Northern Central region were present. Several written flip charts and photos were posted on two walls of the room. The evaluation was conducted in a traditional style - people sitting orderly on the floor like their ancestors changing thoughts and ideas. On one of the written flip charts, a royal statement His Majesty the King bestowing on December 4, 1989 was being highlighted : Thailand is most suitable for human settlement. But be careful. We must not turned the cultivated land of paddy and orchards in Thailand into a desert. We are capable of preventing desertification from happening.

By objectives of the project and following the flip charts, the project coordinator explained the method of grading results of activities , as well as the results and indicators themselves. The charts displayed the grading and indicators of all 14 locations using the same standard. At a guess, the project met the expectation of majority. Following the explanation, questions /answers and experience sharing were encouraged. GEF SGP team also directed questions and sharing experience enthusiastically. Proposition and thoughts for future plan including marketing of agro-products of the project were put forward for further strategic actions. That was the morning session.

Afternoon session brought participants to four plots of sustainable agriculture and two re-vegetative marginal lands (temple grounds). The differences were witnessed when comparing to what had been seen during the last visit of the NC 12 months ago. All six locations were rated as successful and very successful, even though there were one plot being rated as partially successful due to ignorance of the abbot.

The results of this day activities would be compiled into the completion report then, within a few week to come , sent to the NC to peruse.

V. The completion report was received on 26 February 2007, with following details:

Undertaken Activities:

1. Launching capacity-building activities on principle and technicality on sustainable agriculture through study tours
2. Putting into practices sustainable agriculture in plots of 50 families
1.Establishing joint committee amongst monks, schools teachers and community members
2.Conducting experience-sharing forum
3.Launching sustainable agriculture in temples and schools
4. Launching reforestation in marginal public lands
5. Compiling lessons learnt and local knowledge

Results and Indicators:

1. Increased capacity of 51 families in properly planning land use and producing organic compost
2. Reduction in daily family expense by 95 %
3. The area of 22 ha being rehabilitated
4. The marginal public land of five ha being reforested and under constant maintenance


Dissemination / Public Relation of project:

1. Disseminating project activities twice through exhibition on World Environment Day at Naresuan University with 1,246 Audiences
2. There were 27 groups from various community and government organizations paying visits to the project
3. Disseminating through signboards at demonstration plots of project members
4. Disseminating through the three Tambol Administrative Organizations in project location

Participatory Evaluation: Conducted periodically with final evaluation on February 11, 2007

Participants: The final one saw 63 persons comprising 56 project members, a representative from adjacent non-project community, a representative from NGO-Coordinating Centre of Lower Northern Region and five members from Thailand GEF SGP

Methods: 1. Visiting plots of members and witnessing progress by eight selected project committee members ,who took photographs and rated the success/failure of each plot in the questionnaires.
2. Processing and summarizing the questionnaires to present to the forum
3. Comments and sharing experiences by participants

Impact: 1. The project had stimulated government agencies and Tambol Administrative Organization to pay more attention to environment and natural resources issues , e.g. launching re-vegetation in public marginal areas
2. Community schools turned attention to re-vegetation activities and were willing to adopt as extra curriculum
3. Adjacent villages who were non-project members showed keenest to become project members.

Future Plan: 1. The network would continue to works closely with project members giving technical and moral supports and plan to reach out to neighboring villages.
2. The network would continue to cooperate with religious and government institutes to maintain the reforested areas and reach out to neighboring schools.