Project Results
I. Progress report (26 June 2013):
Activities undertaken:
1.Launching capacity building through training & transferring of knowledge
2. Launching demonstration of activities: biogas, waste water treatment and blue carbon stock
3. Launching dissemination of project results
4. Launching participatory evaluation
Results of activities:
1. Increased capacity and awareness of targeted population ( 60 members) witnessed by active participation in project activities , initiating reversing local environment degradation through various aspects, from community waste management to meticulous use of natural resources and putting into practice what were learnt about biogas.
2. Completion of premises for biogas facility with about 80 % completed biogas pit.
3. Nearly all targeted location being planted with sea grass with 4 protected marine species being spotted
4. Substantial participation and supports from both private and public sectors , including the Chanthaburi Provincial Energy Office
Project Visibility and Communication by other organizations/individuals:
1. On 6-12May 13, Red Bull Co;Ltd (Thailand) participated in community activities on seagrass plantation.
2. On 28 May 13,Rajabhat Ramphaiphanni University , Chantaburi visited the project to survey and research on CO2 sequestration by sea grass and shared experience with communities.
3. On 7 Jun 13, the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board visited the project to witness biogas production , sea grass plantation and give some advice.
Emerging problems and issues:
1. Inadequate facilities for volunteers, such as bigger boat, in launching campaigns of activities
2. Weather condition was not supportive of detailed resources inventorying
3. Lack of relevant skill of communities on carbon sink research and different ways of estimation
4. Swift Water flow from ridge to reef, thus turbidity, during Monsoon obscured planted sea grass
5. Capacity building on mangrove plantation took more time because of the requirement on details of site conditions, some sites too remote and difficult to perceive during training
These were addressed by
1. Proving 10 more smaller boats and lengthening time for activities to 18:00 made the volunteers satisfied
2. Waiting for a more favourable weather condition
3. Coordinating with R & D agencies, especially universities in the eastern region to give additional technical advice
4. Re-scheduling activities based on local knowledge on monthly tide movement and re-locating plantation area as appropriate
5. Selecting training venues as near as possible to planting sites and coordinating with relevant sectors for additional supports
Project experience and lessons learnt :
Well planned and persistent oversight of project activities had contributed to a fairly smooth implementation. Project members had to realize their contributing role seriously. Data & information from internet was also of great helps. Less well planned activities could lead to discouraging of members, especially those who were volunteering to help.
Project expense:
The project reported the expense of THB: 521,900 out of the first disbursement of THB: 553,466.25
II. Project Site Visit (August 15, 2013):
Findings and Observation:
At the learning centre of Chao Lao fishing community in Tambol (Sub-district) Khongkhud, the visiting team interacted with about a score or so of representatives from two of the four participating Tambols. Using a power point presentation, one project leader showed and told activities that had been carried out and some of their immediate outputs. Two notable activities included technical capacity building on biogas technology, mangrove and sea grass resources inventorying / monitoring, as well as putting what had been learnt into practice, especially, construction of a biogas facility and solar dryer to be used by project members. Besides, the presentation led the visiting team to learn about how the project cooperated with other stakeholders, making the project more visible and produce some impact in term of additional supports.
On the same premises, the visiting team was showed how the biogas facility and solar dryer function. As to the biogas, the project related that the construction had been completed and supplying usable compressed gas for over 20 households since April 2013,without any technical problem. However, the team did not witness a performance of the solar dryer, which had also been completed in construction, because the period fell under the monsoon months and fishing activity was very limited - no fishes drying to show.
Proceeding to Tambol (Sub-district) Takardngao, another participating community, the team witnessed a result of community continuous mangrove rehabilitation effort where about 100-ha degraded mangrove had been reforested with over one million seedlings, some of which was under SGP activities. In addition to this, it was found that the project had carried out an activity on ?cleaning sea bed? as a preparation for sea grass planting. Thousands of plastic bottles were collected from this activity and used as floats to demarcate an aqua-culture (oyster) plot.
The team agreed that the activities had been in progress as stated in the progress report. Both technical and institutional capacity of project leaders were fairly outstanding. It was also related that during this reporting period, the project had been visited by four organizations, including the secretary-general of the Royal Initiative Project and two national TV programmes.
III. Completion report ( July 21, 2014 ):
Date of Participatory Evaluation(June 28, 2014 ):
Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 3,784
Men: 2,962
Children: 880
Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 1,882
Men: 810
Children: 378
Expense:
Amount received from SGP (2 disbursements): THB: 1,018,348.81
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 1,176,756
Balance: THB: (- 158,407.19)
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 3,612.70
Amount Received from others: THB: 194,656 (in cash)
THB: 59,563,646 (in kind)
Activities undertaken:
1.Launching capacity building through training & transferring of knowledge
2. Launching demonstration of activities: biogas, solar drier, waste water treatment and blue carbon stock
3. Launching dissemination of project results
4. Launching participatory evaluation
Results and indicators:
1. Increased capacity and awareness of target population including youth group (about 350 persons) on renewable energy and ecosystems issues witnessed by ability to articulate what being learnt , actively participate in project activities and put into practice successfully
2. Reduction of CO2 as follows:
12,771 kg/year from using biogas
3. Sequestration of CO2 as follows:
14,592 tons/year from sea-grass
956.16 tons/year from mangrove
4. Cleaner dried fishery product from solar dryer with reduced time and burden of project members resulting in additional sales and income 200-300 kg of dried fishes /dry and THB: 3,000 ? 15,000 in addition )
5. Evinced improvement of coastal and marine ecosystems (less waste water being draining into the sea)
Project Communication:
In addition to the previous communication, there had been 5 visitations from public agency, mass media and private sector.
Problems and Issues:
1.Leaking of biogas pit (made from PE) at pipe connecting point .The leak was sealed by using two kinds of glue in succession
2.No continuous coordination or misunderstanding between major stakeholders ( private sector) and communities resulting in failure of planting sea-grass. The communities had to mobilize members including youth group to replant the sea-grass
Experience , Lessons Learnt :
The project made a good impact on conservation awareness and discipline of communities including youth groups. Some results of activities were proposed to relevant stakeholders to further participate in activities. Entrepreneurs in location including owner of restaurants, hotel and resorts provided food waste to the project for making biogas. Experience and lessons learnt of the project in all activities were shared with wider audiences.
However, in working with multiple stakeholders of different nature, continuous collective planning had to be made clear to avoid misunderstanding thus failure in specific technical aspects, especially in rehabilitation and replantation of sea-grass.
Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
1. The project would encourage local discipline regarding reuse/recycle to reduce solid waste. In addition, turning these wastes into electricity was one idea.
2. The project would keep on with conservation/protection of coastal & marine resources. Among other things, giving incentives to volunteers who were injured during surveillance was to be considered.
