Bio-diversity

Target Population / Location of project: 2,820 project members ,nearly all earning their living through farming, in five villages of Tambol Namkian, Phu Phiang Sub-district, Nan Province in watershed and cultivated areas - an ecological portion Indo-Chinese Sub-Region Biogeography Environment Problems and Livelihood: Two years ago, when the price of corn was as high as Baht: 4.50/kg. , demanding more cultivated land for the crop was avoidably high thus prompted encroachment of forest land in the watershed. Going along with corn has been the intensive use of chemical substances in term of fertilizer and weed/insect control, and forest fires. All these human activities contribute to degradation of biodiversity, water and soil system. Objectives: 1.To build capacity of target population on protection and sustainable use of biological diversity 2.To promote participatory rehabilitation and conservation process 3.To promote alternative , environmentally-friendly occupation Activities to be taken: 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 ( 15 locations) 5. Building capacity on wild fire protection, production or organic compost 6. Building & putting to use solar dryers 7. Conducting food and drug processing from available biological diversity Anticipated Outputs and Results: 1. Emergence of management plan and forest zoning through increased capacity of ten community volunteers, 50 members of aged group and 57 community leaders 2. Further support from the Tambol Administrative Organization after project completion 3. Evinced recovery of about 50 ha forest area with additional financial support fro the TAO 4. Reduction of flash floods through the effectiveness of the 15 weirs 5. Witnessed increased capacity of 50 community leaders through increased sustainable agricultural practice and skillful communication 6.Increase of income from non-agricultural sector by Baht: 3,000-3,500/family/month ( 80 members of women s group and 28 of traditional medicine practitioners ) 7. Evinced increased capacity of members on renewable energy

Thailand