Environmental policy and administrative management

The project area is a watershed of the Wang River, one of the four major tributaries of the Gulf of Thailand s Chao Phaya River. In spite of limited flat land for cultivation, 80 % of the population earn their living by agriculture. 95% of that portion focuses on mono-cash crop where rate of chemical application exceeds the safe limit thus become detrimental to human heath. The chemical application, in term of fertilizer , insect killing and other yield-maintaining compound and solution, appears to be on progressive rate. Consequently, 70 % of the population is debt-ridden, estimated at Baht: 50,000 per person and over , while 60 % of that owes the debt to more than two financial institutes. Other witnessed effects within the past 10 years are the loss of more than 10 species, undrinkable degraded water quality in two village wells. Direct sufferers from such mono-crop practice are women who are planning and working in the fields to sow the seed and harvest the result. They come into direct contact with these chemicals while working in the field and consuming polluted products of their own. In addition, younger generation have not been made aware enough of this adverse effect. Under the implementation of the two networks, the project launches activities to address issues on land degradation, unregulated use of natural resources including land development of sustainable agriculture all would pave a sure way to food security , biodiversity conservation and financial viability. Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1. Community members in 12 villages are direct beneficiaries 2. Rajabhat University Lampang 3. Centre for Non-formal Education of Muangparn District 4. Academic Institute Committee in target area (Community Schools) 5. Muangparn Natural Resources Network 6. Mae Soi Watershed Management Unit 7. Wang Basin Development Unit Activities to be carried out under project: -Launching, for women, open forum, study tours, compilation of local knowledge, and sustainable agriculture -launching, for youth, training, study tours, compilation of local knowledge and sustainable agriculture -Summarizing lessons learnt, developing local curriculum, disseminating result at basin-wide and at district level -Establishing centre for exchange data and information and 20 plots for demonstration of local approach on land rehabilitation and sustainable agricultural system Anticipated Results of Projects: - 600 women and 400 students being aware of the effects of chemicals from mono-cash crop cultivation upon natural resources - At least 200 women being aware of the significance of land rehabilitation - At least 60 women capable of retraining - Emergence of youth network supporting production of herbs and organic fertilizer - Women and youth role on land rehabilitation being recognized by both private and public sectors - Emergence of at least one plan to support sustainable agriculture in target area and in concerned TAO - Emergence and use of local curriculum on land rehabilitation and sustainable agriculture in schools - 600 sets of project activities/results being disseminated quarterly - The centre being used monthly by network members to share experience, voice concern and for capacity building activities - The 20 plots demonstrating perfect modeling of sustainable agriculture with 80% of target population replicating the result

Thailand