I. First progress report (August 7, 2006):
Activities undertaken:
1. Organic substance-producing group established, and turned into a community-scale business
2. Substance applied to 1 ha of cultivated land

Results of activities:
1. Construction of organic composting facility capable of producing 500 kg; this was distributed free to project members to apply to their cultivated land.

II. Second progress report (January 12, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Organic composting facility constructed
2. Traditional life-prolonging rite held for the Mekhong River
3. Fish conservation zones established
4. Study tour conducted to Baan Tonphung (Lao PDR) re: step cultivation of local species

Results of activities:
1. Composting facility ready for use
2. Additional resources of THB 20,000
3. Project members are environmentally-aware, and display increased technical capacity
4. Natural environment network formed and functioning

III. Mid-course evaluation workshop (February 20-22, 2007):
After a brief presentation by the National Coordinator (NC) reiterating the objectives of the GEF SGP, representatives from each project spent 30 minutes explaining project background, activities undertaken, immediate results and challenges. The National Coordinator encouraged candid discussion of problems and problem-solving strategies, and each presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session.

Project representatives also spent an afternoon interacting with community members from THA-05-14 (Local Scenes for Environment Protection). Workshop attendants learned about the old ways of life in the central area and how local ecologies had been altered. The final day was allotted to the two remaining project presentations, the National Steering Committee's observations and suggestions, and the National Coordinator's reminder of next steps.

Progress-related observations at Workshop:
--Of 14 projects, 12 were on time regarding activities and submission of reports. All were capable of articulating details of their activities and immediate results, which were deemed promising.
--Several projects secured financial support from other stakeholders.
--Leaders from at least four projects demonstrated increased capacity, both technically and institutionally. (National Steering Committee members expressed special satisfaction with this.)
--Eleven projects used Power Point and audio-visual equipment; the remaining three presented sets of photos.

IV. Monitoring from National Coordinator (May 10, 2007):
Baan Huay Luek is a hometown of a hundred families whose forefathers migrated across the Mekong River from Lao PDR over a hundred years ago. Many inhabitants are trilingual; they speak Northern Laotian, Northern Thai, and Thai. The village is situated along the banks of the Mekong. Community livelihood depends upon rice, fish, oranges and other fruits and vegetables.

The visit commended with the opening ceremony for the organic composting facility. Project members selected an auspicious day for this event, and religious rites were performed alongside official activities. Those in attendance included project members, representatives from district government agencies, an NGO and seven community leaders from two Laotian villages across the river. The District Chief presided over the ceremony, and vowed to provide support to the project as appropriate.

The National Coordinator then toured the 300-meter conservation zone along the riverbank. Project members confirmed that the conservation was very successful, and the zone would be extended to 700 meters.

Overall, participants were very satisfied with the project?s progress and results. Two concerns were mentioned: (1) an unexpected short supply of agro-waste, and (2) the dampness of compost. The former could be addressed by engaging in trade with Laotian communities (and soliciting more active participation from community members). The latter could be solved using solar drying, a technique other UN SGP grantees would happily teach.