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 28 February 2006 with one photos album of about 30 pictures depicting on-going activities:

Activities carried out :
1. Launching capacity-building activities such as youth camps, experience-sharing forum and group sessions/seminars
2. Launching dissemination and campaign on environment and natural resources
3. Establishing environmentally-friendly incinerating facilities
4.Launching reforestation in degraded forest area and once Eucalyptus areas
5. Training on plant propagation and organic compost production
6. Conducting resources inventories process
7. Launching activity to exchange native species among neighboring communities

Immediate Outputs/Results:

1.Emergence of the followings:
- three youth leaders group (34 members)
- three forest restoration committee
- one community waste management committee
- plans for reforestation and regulations for forest use
2. Evinced increased capacity and awareness of target population

3. Emergence of 71,950 new trees of 38 native species grown to be a sources of food and medicine for communities
4.Acquired criteria for resources inventories
5. Operation of website for dissemination www.tungkula.com

III. The project was visited on 5 August 2006, finding and observation are as follows:

A short walk ?and - talk together with 12 project members about the community forest of Baan (village) Nong Phia Khan-one of the many participating villages, gave a sense of environment capacity of the members and immediate outputs of activities i.e. thriving native saplings and fairly intact community forest. Nearly all of them were able to explain the types and uses of plant species that came into sight and relate history of land resources use and future plans to reverse degradation. Covered an area of about 100 ha, the community at this spot has been shared and well overseen by community of six villages, who formed a conservation group in each village. Within these groups, there are one or more members of Tambol Administrative Organizations who are mandated to be responsible for managing natural resources and environment in their constituency.

In order to witness progress in another project location, a public plot of Baan Nong Hoi situated about 15 km away was visited. Here the reforestation was not very successful ,since the saplings had to fare amid the aggressive and long enduring eucalyptus. About a decades ago, the forestry department launched a promotion to plant eucalyptus in public lands just to show how well the alien species would thrive and contribute to supplementary income for communities. The promotion was fairly successful giving a series of harvests and coppices. However, the plot was left unattended after the show , prompting community members to rehabilitate it.

The next visit at the reforested plot in a temple premises of Baan Nong Hoi witnessed a mores successful output. It was said that soil condition and existing thriving species contributed a lot to the growth rate of saplings.

In addition to activities on biological biodiversity and land degradation, the visiting team witnessed an activity on sustainable use of fire-woods through efficient charcoal production in one spot of project location.

This brief project visit sensed a certain degree of community satisfaction and biological diversity benefit at both community and regional level. However, the current public promotion of a new species of eucalyptus would , to a large degree, cause a complication in environment development activities in the area , both in an immediate and long term.

IV. The completion report was received on May 3, 2007 , with following details:

Activities carried out :

1.Launching capacity-building activities : two youth camps, six community-based conservation activities, six experience-sharing forums , three forums to formulate plan to manage community forest
2. Building environmentally-friendly incinerators
3. Launching reforestation in degraded forest area and once Eucalyptus areas
4. Supporting eight schemes in three schools on nursery , propagation and sustainable use of native species in community forest
5. Conducting resources inventories process and putting into database

Results and indicators:

1. Emergence of four curriculums to implant conservation values by learnt community members
2. Emergence of three core youth groups carrying out campaigns throughout targeted and neighboring areas
3. Increased capacity of at least 150 community members in three target areas being witnessed through active participation, sharing thoughts and ideas for reversal of degradation of local environment
4. Emergence of four Community Forest Committee and one committee on community waste management
5. Smooth cooperation from two Tambol Administrative Organizations, one allowing community members to make use of degraded eucalyptus plantations, the other providing financial support of Baht: 40,000 for project activities
6. Emergence of 11 families volunteering to segregate community waste and keep records.
7. An area of about 71 ha being reforested with 111,250 trees of native species with over 50 % surviving , and 70 % new seedlings in the area
8. Witnessed participation and cooperation of 100 student leaders and teachers/learnt community members/NGO)
9. WWW.fry1985.org being accessible for database

Project Communications:
In addition to communicating through major stakeholders in Roi-et province, project activities were aired in the ?Khon Thai Huajai Mai Thor or Thai with persistent heart? on TV channel 5 on March 31, 2007 and local newspaper and community radio.

Participatory Evaluation:
Conducted twice , the first on June 27, 2006 , second on March 7-9, 2007, at Lung Choke Garden, Wang Nam Khiew District, Nakhornratchasima Province

Participants:
24 persons representing community leaders, the grantees, and from Wildlife Fund Thailand

Method:
Participation from target population

Impact:

1. In addition to various small evinced impacts of the projects, emergence and planned cooperation with environment network in the province were quite outstanding., e.g. with Munag Roi-et Forest Concern Network, Roi-et Natural Resources and Environment Network.
2. The Roi-et Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment officially appointed the Project Manager (Ms. Nithima Rojanawong) to be a member of the Drafting and Monitoring the Action Plan for Management of Environment Quality of Roi-Et Province for the fiscal year 2008-2011.

Future plan:
There are six following approaches.

1. Establishment of a community centre in community forest of Dong Nong Iad Forest
2. Multiplication of support of data , coordination and experience sharing among community forest committee
3. Community waste management in a suitable way
4. Promotion of biogas from animal manure
5. Promotion of energy efficiency
6. Green Communities, especially on waste for energy