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 project was visited by the NC and four members of NSC on 17 February 2006. The findings and observations are as follows:


The office of the grantee at Baan (village) Nongkhaihia was a premises accommodating two houses and a building full of looms. About 30 project members ,majority female, met with the visiting team to tell their stories and listen to the visiting team?s.

The activities carried out so far began with a capacity building where target population , including children took a study trip to learn all about native species from a year-1 GEF/SGP project some a few hundred kilometers away. On returning, plantation of 10,000 saplings of three native species took place in paddy field marginal lands, along the fences of village housing and plots in participating schools. Untimely planting resulted in wilting and death of those grown in marginal paddy fields. But those grown around the fences and premises of schools were seen thriving , as it required much less burden to maintain. Nevertheless, project members expressed their patience to learn the lessons , their hope and determination to proceed. The nursery for new native species lots was said to begin very soon and to be planted in the coming rainy season.

The project location is situated in an area well-known as the most arid in Thailand. Target population depends upon paddy farming, raising cattle and weaving. Among these, weaving appeared to constitute a source of main income for some or supplementary income for others in the villages. However, traditional weaving has lost its significance about forty years ago rendering current generation know very little about dying and weaving process their forefathers had practiced. Therefore, revival of this traditional knowledge offered one of the best option, in term of food security, supplementary income and coping with ecosystems degradation. Finally, project members convinced the visiting team that the project would surely meet their expectation to a great extend.

III. The project submitted progress report on March 24,2006 , with following details:

Activities carried out :

1. Conducting study tours and workshop on harmful effects of chemical dyes and healthy effects of
natural dying
2. Preparing nursery of native species

3. Conducting survey and compiling native trees of pigment and with medicinal properties
4. Launching plantation of the native tree species

Results of Projects:

1. 48 project members demonstrating increased capacity through active participation in collecting
and propagating native species
2. 33 native species being compiled by 30 students
3. Area of 20 ha being prepared for plantation in the following rainy season
4. Due to off-season planting, many saplings being unable to survive the drought

IV. The completion report was received on 28 November 2007 with following details:

Activities carried out:
1.Conducting study tours and workshop on harmful effects of chemical dyes and healthy effects of natural dying
2.Conducting survey and compiling native trees of pigment and with medicinal properties
3. Launching plantation of the native tree species
4. Establishing rotating fund for sustainable agriculture
5. Organizing open forum among community elders, community members and youth groups
6. Conducting survey for native trees species- its nature and usefulness
7. Conducting participatory activities for youths
8. Formulating curriculum for revival of pigment native species

Results:

1. Members of housewife groups in three villages gaining insight and, more and more, adopting natural dying process
2. Emergence of model housewife groups for natural dying
3. Compilation and systematic management of native tree species
4. Marginal cultivated land and others of about 22 ha being filled with thriving pigment species ( standing trees, ivy types and bushes)
5. At least 20 families as model for sustainable agriculture
6. Increased sales of weaving product by 40 %
7. At least 100 youth members from three villages gaining insight and demonstrating increased capacity on conservation of native tree species and traditional wisdom and practices on weaving and dying.


Participatory Evaluation: Conducted on November 25, 2007
Participants: 80 persons comprising group members , project leaders, staff from participating schools, a member of Provincial Administrative Organization and the Sida District Officer ,
Methods: Open forum for sharing and discussion
Impact: Two evident impacts were witnessed. The first involved the donation of 100 trees of Indian Jujube for students to plant and take care of from the Centre for Social Development Unit 20 , Nakhornratchasima Privince. The species is giving both fruit and pigments. The second was seen through the adoption of project experience by school staffs who formulated local curriculum to be used in education process.
Future plan: The group would continue its activities, especially, supporting youth groups. One of the future plan is to try to establish the communities as a centre for conservation of culture and environment.