Environmental policy and administrative management

Owing to the influence of the lower Ping Basin of the Chaophaya River,the project area is a flat lowland recognized as one of the most fertile area . Before 1995, agricultural communities practiced one crop a year. Since then, the government policy on extension of agriculture had prompted commercialized-scale three crops a year. The increase numbers of farmers practicing modern agriculture has produced direct effect upon local environment. Cultivated lands have been used without sufficient fallow period thus prompted an expansion of land degradation. Natural water quality has been degraded by excessive chemical run-off. Biodiversity which is supporting agriculture and providing foods for communities has been reduced ,or extinct in some instance. Remaining forest spots have been encroached and turned into cultivated lands. Consequently, community livelihood has been adversely affected ,becoming less self-sufficient but more dependent upon outside factors and supports which, as a rule, involves more expense and increased debts. Sustainable agriculture is one solution. If persistently applied in small , medium and large plots in the area, both local and global environment degradation will be gradually reversed , while quality of life would be upgraded in a longer term. Project participants and/or beneficiaries: - 50 families in the project area are direct beneficiaries. - Academic institutes (schools) in project area supporting in term of pre-existing facilities and personnel - Religious institutes (temples) supporting in term of pre-existing facilities and personnel - Tambol Administrative Organizations supporting personnel and finance Activities to be carried out under project: 1. Launching capacity-building activities on principle and technicality on sustainable agriculture through study tours 2. Putting into practices sustainable agriculture in plots of 50 families 3. Establishing joint committee amongst monks, schools teachers and community members 4. Conducting experience-sharing forum 5. Launching sustainable agriculture in temples and schools 6. Launching reforestation in marginal public lands 7. Compiling lessons learnt and local knowledge Anticipated Results/Immediate Outputs of Project: 1. About 80 % of participants being able to articulate the definition of agriculture , to plan the use of their plots and produce organic compost correctly 2. About 60 % reduction of expenditure and 10% of incurred debts 3. At least 24 ha of land being gradually rehabilitated 4. Emergence of two temple and two schools practicing sustainable agriculture of four ha 5. Emergence of two ha reforested area in marginal lands 6. Expected 60 % of project area being visited by interested individuals/groups 7. Complete compilation of project experience

Thailand