I. Progress report (30 June 2013):
Activities undertaken:
1.Launching capacity building through workshop and training
2. Launching demonstration of activities: Rehabilitation of forest, wild-fire prevention and organic farming

Results of activities:
1. Over 300 community members participating in capacity-building activities where, according to processed application form, there were more who wished to join, but the project was not able to absorb. The majority was women. It was witnessed that the participants paid special attention to the courses , active in sharing thoughts and ideas, with no one leaving the courses before it was ended.
2. A certain area being surveyed for rehabilitation of forest with suitable species to grow, to ensure optimal results,

Project Visibility and Communication by other organizations/individuals:
None during the period

Emerging problems and issues:
Launching activities , especially capacity-building, was rather difficult because during the timeline targeted communities were busy with sowing and reaping of 2 kinds of crop-paddy and tobacco. So, the project sought other occasion , such as weekends ? the time the children could stay home to look after the house and allowed some free time for parents to participate in the activities. To address the issue, first of all, the project identified one from each participating village as representative to follow up and make know project timeline. Then, suitable venues, which were not too far, were selected. And finally, the training courses were modified for conciseness and more useful.

Project experience and lessons learnt :
1. Livelihood activities of targeted population must be thoroughly understood to be consistent with project activities. In addition, capacity and availability of the grantee must also be considered.
2. Extreme changing weather condition more frequently must be expected, and the project must be prepared , with endurance and persistence.

Project expense:
The project reported the expense of THB: 239,530 out of the first disbursement of THB: 239,530.96
II. Project Site Visit (December 21, 2013):
Findings and Observation:
At the office of the grantee in Baan (village) Nam Choon, Lomsak District, the visiting team interacted with 5 project leaders who gave a brief on undertaken activities with elaborated details of how these were done in a transparent and participatory approach including the way forward in compiling reports for dissemination. Through sets of photos posted, activity appeared to be carried out substantially.

The next location of visit was at the community forest of about 65 ha. The forest was a buffer zone of Khao Khor National Park and other public areas. A few years back, the area was encroached and unlawfully seized by infrastructure investors. Howerev,with a support from the National Environment Fund, the grantee and communities managed to reclaim the area back. Now, under GEF SGP ,the forest would be turned into a community forest with persistent protection of targeted population.

The visiting team later visited two plots of project members situated along the highway from Bangkok to Lomsak. The members had earlier ceased growing tobacco which required much chemicals and time to tend. Now, these members turned to grow other species requiring no or less chemicals. As to the fertilizer, the project resorted to organic ones produced by private sector for members to try. With organic fertilizer, project members believe that the growing plants would attach less insect, because of their moderate growth, compared to the ones applied with chemical fertilizer. In addition, the members planned to grown sunflowers in a symbiosis way since sunflower was believed to have insect-repelling quality.

The team agreed that the project fared fairly. There were still two activities that would be launched in the following months, i.e. demarcation of fire-break zone in the community forest in January and reforestation of the forest in May or June.

As targeted location was not too remote, with scenery appealing for land speculation for hotel/resort investment, and for cash crop plantation, it was interested to see how targeted population would check and reverse this trend ,and become more environmentally-friendly.

III. Completion report (30 June 2014):
Date of Participatory Evaluation(June 30 2014 ):

Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women: 195
Men: 105
Children: 15

Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women:
Men:
Children:

Expense:
Amount received from SGP (2 disbursements): THB: 435,095.73
Total amount spent out of SGP budget: THB: 499,095
Balance: THB: (-63,999.27 )
Amount authorized for the final payment: US$: 1,563.52
Amount Received from others: THB: 450,000 (in kind)

Activities undertaken:
1.Launching capacity building through workshop and training
2.Launching demonstration of activities: Rehabilitation of forest, wild-fire prevention and organic farming
3.Launching dissemination of project results
4.Launching participatory evaluation

Results and indicators:
1.Increased capacity and awareness of target population) witnessed by ability to participate in planning, & put into practice what being learnt, without any further forest and public land encroachment
2. Established two groups of organic farming with 200 members
3. Reduction of chemical use by 50 % based on the current figures of 1,000 kg/year/family of chemical fertilizer and 20 litres/family/year of pesticide
4. Maintained watershed area , increase of at least 50 % of quantity of species in the targeted watershed area , with about 90 % wildfire reduction
5. Non-project members and local public organization providing support and cooperation(about 70 %)


Project Communication:
The project did not mention specifically, except making visible during project activities.

Problems and Issues:
1. Required species of seedlings were difficult to obtain
2. Water shortage and weather condition also a problem for reforestation and protection of the area

In order to have required species of seedlings, a project should have its own nursery, rather than asking from a forestry organization. Besides, rehabilitation and reforestation of degraded area should be carried out during May ? August in conjunction with observation of weather condition. Replacing dead seedlings had to be carried out regularly. A nearby water source should be identified before launching reforestation/rehabilitation.

Experience , Lessons Learnt :
In rehabilitation and conservation of watershed:
Seedlings to be used in reforestation had to be carefully selected, e.g. over six-month old, healthy-looked with green leaves, otherwise, rate of survival would be very low. In transportation, seedlings should be protected against wind to avoid root disturbing thus dying eventually. In term of area, careful investigation should be launched as to determine tree species to plant. For example, Dipterocapus alatus Roxb. ex G. Don was not suitable to plant in project location, as the species would thrive only for two years, then wilt to death. It was assumed that white ants, which were specially fond of the species destroyed the roots.
In reduction chemical use:
The project found that only a few campaigns on ?agriculture for consumption? were effective. This was accomplished by establishing one or two demonstration plots to convince targeted communities. On the contrary, ?agriculture for sales? was rather difficult , as it would take all the times of communities to produce enough to meet market demand.

Plans and Activities for Sustainability:
The project planned to keep on campaigning so that organic farming/environmentally-friendly agriculture become more mainstreamed in the location.