I. The first progress report was received on 1 May 2006 , with following details:

Activities Carried Out:

1. Conducting survey on local resources to be used for planning
2. Building capacity of target population on management of biological diversity through study tours
3. Conducting training for community radio announcers to promote participation in planning and conservation process
4. Building watershed weirs and demarcating fire-break areas
5.Conducting food and drug processing from available biological diversity

Results and Indicators:

1. Emergence of a 25-member volunteer group comprising persons from various walks of live
2. Acquired financial support from the Tambol Administrative Organization of current value of Bath: 100,000:
3.Completed 20 watershed weirs with evinced reduction of soil erosion
4. Established community regulation on setting fire in forest area with 722 families demarcating fire-break zone around their premises
5 Increased capacity of 50 families on the sustainable use and conservation of native species being witnessed through additional plantation by 10-12 trees per families

II. The second progress report was received on 1 September 2006 , with following details:

Activities carried out:
1. Conducting survey of trails for classification of uses and demarcation
2. Conducting study tours to areas/communities with successful management of biological resources
3. Providing training on fire protection
4. Launching reforestation of the degraded forest lands
5. Launching processing of plants with medicinal values

Results and Indicators:

1. Availability of rare species list / visibility of demarcating areas and community regulations reminding surrounding communities (the activities was carried out by 60 project members)
2. Established a community forest as a learning place for the local high school and for community members
3. Evinced increased capacity of 75 members of youth group by their ability to explain interrelation ships of biodiversity in forest ecosystems and their initiative on a research project
4. Substantial participatory and supports from TAO, Provincial Forestry Office and Watershed Management Unit through providing seedlings and technical advices
5. Additional 3,000 native trees and certain amount of plants with medicinal value
6. Emergence of a fire protection volunteer group with 42 members and an elder group for processing medicinal plants with 60 members

Project Communication:

There were two levels of communications: community level through community forum during meeting of Namkian TAO , during each village meeting and community loud speakers. Provincial level through community radio every Tuesday and Thursday, and mobile radio of FM 94.75 MHz. Besides, communities launched campaigns through the visits of executives of organizations who paid visits to communities such as the governor, Chinagmai University, Chulalongkorn University, Ramkamhaeng University and Srinakharintharawiroj University etc.


III. During 18-20 October 2006, leaders of the project participated in the mid-course evaluation. The observation is as follows:

Baan(village) Busai, one of the target village of an OP2, year-4 project, was a venue of the workshop where 45 attendants from 13 projects of OP3 year 2, NSC members, NC and PA gathered together to meet. Literally, these 13 projects were dubbed among SGP Thailand as GEF SGP Class 7/1 with project number starting from THA-05-01 to THA-05-13.

Workshop AT-A-Glance

As the venue was situated in target area of a back project THA-02-18 and adjacent to that of THA-04-22 which had been launching activities to reverse land degradation in watershed area of Lower Mekhong ecosystems, participants had learnt and shared experience with leaders of the two projects during field visits and briefing session. That was the first day.

First session of the following morning saw the NC occupying the floor confirming strategy of GEF SGP: Environment Protection , Community Empowerment, and Poverty Reduction. Then the floor was handed over to participants to conduct the session on sharing and discussion. Each project was given 30 minutes to relate background, activities undertaken and immediate results, problems/issues as well as questions and answers. The session was able to effectively cover 10 projects. That was the second day.

The morning of third day was given to the three remaining projects to cover their stories, to the NSC for observation and suggestion , to the NC to remind the grantees of what to do next according to the MOAs and finally to the grantees to collectively plan activities to strengthen this fledgling SGP environmental network and friendship. At the end, the chairperson , vice-chairperson and coordinator of Thailand GEF SGP class 7/1 emerged to take up coordinating role for all 13 projects. That was the final day of the workshop.

Each grantee was capable of articulating details of undertaken activities and their immediate results to the audiences. Project results were rated as promising. Some even gained recognition and financial supports by other stakeholders. Community members of two projects were able to increase their technical capacity in biogas technology. At an average, three projects were ahead of their proposed timeline , three a little bit behind, and seven just on time.

Nine projects presented through Power Points and audio-visual equipment, even though they are of Community ?Based Organization and not a national, tighter organization. There were four projects who accomplished their jobs by sets of photos and detailed documents.

IV. On October 21, 2007, the NC and three members of the NSC paid a monitoring visit to the project. The findings and observation were as follows:

The first interaction took place in the office of Namkian Tambol Administrative Organization where the visiting team was briefed about project activities, their results and other relevant data and information. One topic discussed and shared was the imminent environmental threats from public promotion of current alluring para-rubber tree plantation to replace the environmentally and financially notorious corn. The interaction gave a sense of existing and increased environmental awareness and wise options for livelihood activities. In addition, the interaction was one of a few cases of SGP where the management staff of Tambol Administrative Organization directly and substantially involved in development of community environment.

A few miles from the TAO office were two plots of community forest, each of approximately 50 ha, which community members from two villages managed the conservation and use under the participation of the TAO and other responsible government agencies such as District Office of Forestry. The forest was quoted as a supermarket for communities where they obtained food and other things of necessities such as wood for house repair and etc. Reforestation to increase landrace and plants of medicinal values was also said to have been taking place continuously.

Another community premises in the vicinity was later visited. This one was a marginal public area of around two acres. It was built and equipped with training facilities - from organic compost production, sustainable use of fire-woods , reduction of Persistent Organic Pollutants in agricultural practice, and a few other livelihood options. The TAO was a major financier of the place aiming to build environment capacity of communities thus reduce threat to forest ecosystems and its watershed.

Despite of the short interaction and witness, the visiting team expressed special satisfaction with the results, especially, the leadership and good example of the TAO management staff. A sense of satisfaction and will of community leaders to keep project activities was also evinced.

The project would undergo participatory evaluation upon completion with other 12- SGP supported projects , during November 7-9, 2007. The evaluation forum was designed to encourage knowledge sharing ,building stronger network and paving ways to wider impact of local and global environment.

V. Note: on a participatory evaluation upon completion:

GEF Small Grants Programme: Evaluation upon Completion Workshop At-a-Glance

Country: Thailand
Project Number: THA-05-01 to THA-05-13
Date of Workshop: November 7- 9, 2007
Location: Boy Scout Camp, Khao Khitchakut District, Chanthaburi

1. BACKGROUND OF THE WORKSHOP

Specified in the Country Programme Strategy and long encouraged by Thailand GEF SGP, the workshop aimed to strengthen the participatory evaluation process, build capacity of target communities, and contribute to the formation of a strong network of GEF SGP grantees. The 3-day workshop provided an opportunity for these 13 projects?all nearing completion after 24 months?to present overall results, problems/issues and their solutions, to share lessons learned and to forge partnerships for sustainability.

2. WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

The Chanthaburi Boy Scout Camp in Khao Khitchakut District, the venue for the workshop, hosted 45 participants from 11 projects of OP3 Year One, a GEF SGP team (composed of a NSC member, the National Coordinator, and Programme Assistants), and a few other major stakeholders. The 11 projects were dubbed ?GEF SGP Class 7/1,? and assigned a project number between THA-05-01 and THA-05-13. In addition, four members from THA-06-02?a project of OP3 Year Two or ?GEF SGP Class 8/1??were present to share experiences. The participants showed great geographical diversity; they had traveled from Nan, Tak, Loei, Mahasarakharm, Kanchanaburi, Ayudhaya, Phayao, Nakhornsithammarat, Songkhla and Pattani Provinces.

3. Workshop At-a-Glance

Beginning in the afternoon of November 7th, several project members began preparing dissemination materials. Photos depicting project activities were posted in the meeting hall; brochures, completion reports, instruction manuals and project products were also available.

To allow all parties to arrive and set up, the exhibition did not commence until the morning of the second day. November 8th began with the official opening ceremony, in which the chief of district officers of Khao Khitchakut District presided and gave an encouraging keynote speech. Following the chief, the GEF SGP National Coordinator delivered his welcoming remarks by reviewing the history of GEF SGP and how he felt about this get-together. After the official opening, the chief spent almost half-an-hour visiting and conversing with project members at their respective dissemination stations in the hall. Also in attendance were other district officers, including staff from local schools and the Provincial Corrective Department, which was a major stakeholder of the host grantee (THA-05-13). The chief, when requested to give his reaction regarding what he had seen and heard, offered relevant and enthusiastic feedback.

The sharing of project summaries and results then began. Throughout the day, ten projects were presented, eight of which used PowerPoint and audio-visual equipment, (an impressive feat considering the limited resources and IT skills of most community-based organizations). Three projects relied upon sets of photos and detailed documents. The remaining session of the day was spent on a site visit to the host grantee?s project.

On the third day, the National Coordinator and his team took the floor to explain the future plan of GEF Phase 4, during which the grantees would work to upscale their current activities, and build and solidify their network. Advice on using interactive online mapping to strengthen the network was also given.

It will be interesting to follow how this group would proceed with their future plans. It is notable that during the workshop, the term global warming was often heard, even from two projects whose activities did not directly address this issue.

VI. The completion report was received on 13 November, 2007 with following details:

Date of Participatory Evaluation 21 September 2007
Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel
Women: 1,292
Men: 1,388
Children:
Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours
Women: 1,292
Men: 1,388
Children:
Expense Total: Baht: 498,500
Amount received from SGP: Baht: 415,633.82
Amount received from other : Baht: 70,000
Amount contributed by grantee/community: Baht: 1,924,575

Undertaken activities:

1. Conducting survey on local resources to be used for planning
2. Building capacity of target population on management of biological diversity through study tours
3. Conducting training for community radio announcers to promote participation in planning and conservation process
4. Launching rehabilitation activities:
- reforestation of degraded area
- fire-break
- soil humidity retaining weirs ( 20 locations)
5. Building capacity on wild fire protection, production or organic compost
7. Building & putting to use solar dryers
8. Conducting food and drug processing from available biological diversity

Descriptive results:

1. Established volunteer and core community leaders group of 25 members conducting survey on community livelihoods and local knowledge
2. Increased capacity of community members witnessed through utilizing data/information acquired from 1 in planning water use in agriculture , selecting compatible rice and other plant species-prompting participatory clear plans to manage forest resources, watershed and community forest
3. The Tambol Administrative Organization and school making use of and referring to the results of the survey for planning community development and the local curriculum ? Our Nam Kian?
4. Emergence of committee and volunteer group on forest surveillance and wild-fire protection ? wild fire being kept at minimal level
5. The 20 weirs contributing to slowing down soil erosion , to a certain extent
6. Increased capacity of 60 community members on radio announcement skill with four passing the test of the Department of Public Relation
7. Additional 3,000 trees of native species in the degraded forest area
8. About five ha of cultivated land being applied with produced organic compost and insect repellence ( 12 tons of organic compost and 400 litres of repellence had been produced- free or minimizing chemical substances)

Impact:
1. Owing to the increased capacity and awareness of target population, there established a common regulations to consume the provisions of the forest ecosystems. The regulations were well observed and respected leading to the annual plan to make fire-break zone in cultivated areas and forest areas.

2. Target community , in addition to their daily consumption, earned supplementary income by selling the provisions of forest ecosystems, such as native vegetable, insects and medicinal products.

3. Target community reached out ,for wider networking , to Baan (village) Huay Kham, Huay Kuang, and Dong Parsak.

4. Namkian Tambol Administrative Organization provided further support by developing community forest management approach into a holistic learning centre, building an ecological study trail in the community forest and soliciting proposal for financial support from community on certain activities such as fire-break demarcation, youth camp, reforestation, community waste management campaign, and establishment of farmers school consistently.