I. First progress report (September 1, 2006):
Activities undertaken:
1. Plans formulated and confirmed with target population
2. Forums held re: systematic natural resource management held

Results of activities:
1. Collaborative action plan generated for communities, local CBOs and other major stakeholders
2. Preliminary natural resource inventories compiled for all participating locations
3. Community-scale working groups created
4. Target population exhibits increased technical capacity in natural resource management

II. 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.

III. Second progress report (March 6, 2007):
Activities undertaken:
1. Target population?s technical capacity to assess biodiversity increased in 10 locations
2. Workshop on local curriculum development held in five locations
3. Six learning centers (or ?local museums) established

Results of activities:
1. Project members display increased capacity, as apparent in continuity of activities, creation of local curriculum and ability to suggest creative ideas for improvement
2. 10 sets of traditional natural resource management techniques documented in target population
3. Project activities adopted by community schools, CBO and TAO

IV. Project completion visit from NC and three NSC members (April 8-9, 2008):
On April 8 and 9th 2008, the National Coordinator and three National Steering Committee members visited THA-05-22 to assess project results, and interact with the target population and other stakeholders to gauge their satisfaction. The two-year project is nearing completion in several months.

The visit began with a presentation and discussion of project activities and results; participants included the assessment team, project members, and three staff from the Land Reform Scheme (supported by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation).
Of particular interest were the project?s knowledge management products, including:
? Encyclopedia of local traditions
? Guidelines for documenting traditional knowledge
? Curriculum for teaching traditional knowledge

The assessment team was then taken to the Natural Medicinal Mushroom Museum, a 150 m^2-space that shows how Northeastern Thais use mushrooms for food and medicine. The museum is funded by the business sector, and benefits from institutional support from Mahasarkharm University.

The visit concluded with a trip to Baan Nongkharm in Borabu District to interact with a beneficiary community. An hour-long discussion of the community?s experiences with the project left the NC and NSC with the impression that the grantee?s capacity had increased. One indication of this increase was the establishment of a museum in the village school showcasing local biodiversity and traditional knowledge. Additionally, during a walk through the village?s public forest, community members (including the youth group) were able to identify plant species of nutritional and medicinal value.

V. Completion report (April 17, 2008):
Date of Participatory Evaluation: March 14, 2008
Number of project beneficiaries:
Women: 2,570
Men: 2,645
Children: 1,500
Number of people attending trainings, seminars, and/or study tours:
Women: 342
Men: 480
Children: 354
Project expenses:
Total: THB 2,374,687.57
Amount from SGP: THB 1,620,007.57
Amount from other: THB 543,000 (Mahasarakharm University)
Amount contributed from grantee: THB 211,680

Activities undertaken:
1. Capacity-building activities conducted re:
? Compilation of natural resources inventories
? Preservation of indigenous species
? Documentation of traditional environmental management techniques
? Establishment and management of local museums
2. Community forums held to discuss collaborative natural resource management

Results of activities:
1. Project members? stories about traditional approaches to maintaining biodiversity recorded
2. Local curriculum approved in five schools
3. Five local museums established and used as community learning centers

Project impact:
? Baan Mekdam School (Phayakhaphumphisai District) and In Paeng Network (Sakonnakhorn Proveince) conducted two trainings on local ecology for 150 community members.
? Network has expanded activities to five provinces, i.e. Sakonnakhron, Nakhornphanom, Mukdaharn,Kalasin and Yasothorn.
? Between 2005 and 2007--with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment--THA-05-22?s model for inventorying natural resources was replicated in seven districts of Amnartcharoen Province. Coverage is expected to expand to include another 12 districts in Sakonnakhorn, Mukdaharn and Nakhornphanom Provinces.
? In 2007, project leader was invited to participate in a meeting with network members in India and Sri Lanka. During the meeting, network members agreed to formulate an instructional manual for using traditional knowledge to maintain biodiversity. (The manual would be used on an experimental basis in members? countries, and then adapted/generalized to create a global version.)

Issues with project implementation:
? Open forum to solicit experience-sharing from community elders was unsuccessful because elders were too weak to effectively participate. Direct interviews were more appropriate.
? In accordance with Northeastern gender roles, men dominated conversations about traditional knowledge. Small group sessions allowed both sexes to contribute.