Water resources policy and administrative management

The project location is situated in the west coast basin, an ecological part of the Indian Ocean. The adoption of modern agriculture about 50 years ago has degraded the ecology of the project location. Chemical substance required for mono-crop has been applied at very large scale resulting in residue depositing in water courses and cultivated land. Moreover, there is a problem on soil erosion in the watershed area. A number of community members have become migratory workers thus undermining the harmony of society. Established 10 years ago, the network , a result of effort of farmers, consumers, government officials and NGOs, who realized the failure of modern agriculture has launched programmes to rehabilitate the environment by developing and disseminating alternative agriculture which is in harmony with the way of life of the southern people.With its rich experience, the network has the target area covering 11 southern provinces. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1.To develop knowledge , launch campaigns to disseminate local approaches and alternatives for the management of natural resources in the Banthad Range 2.To build capacity of 210 farming families on sustainable agriculture, processing of products and green marketing 3.To build capacity of 5 groups of network members in the Banthad Range Activities to be carried out under project: 1. Compiling and disseminating local approaches 2. Organizing seminar and study tour on alternative agriculture and product processing 3. Organizing seminar to compile lessons learnt on watershed management Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1.Agricultural Research and Development Office, Region 8 2.Songkhla Rubber Research Centre 3.Working group of Southern Community Forest Network 4.Environment Office , Region 12 5.Songkhla Region Forestry Office 6.Southern River Basin Management by Community Project Anticipated results of project: 1.There emerges compiled indigenous knowledge on the management of natural resources which is a result of participatory research. 2.The target 210 families adopt alternative agricultural practices. 3.There emerges plan for natural resources and alternative agriculture management in 5 network members. 4.There emerge at least 5 key volunteers who are experienced in R & D to continuously monitor the going-on activities.

Thailand