Water resources policy and administrative management

The watershed area of Rabom-Siyad Tributary has its origin in the eastern forest area. They drain into the Bang Prakong River and the Gulf Of Thailand. These tributaries supply the Gulf Of Thailand with natural richness which nourish the ecological system of the gulf. Besides, the tributaries are likened as an aorta for people settling on both sides for years. The eastern forest supplies fresh water for tributaries making livelihood in the vicinity complete and simultaneously prevent the sea water flowing up into the cultivated area and freshwater ecosystem. However at present, the forest has been devastated on account of factors and criteria of the National Development Policy. The remaining forest area is estimated to be 192,000 ha - the quantity too small to ensure the whole year supply of water. Worse still, the agricultural practice which encourages the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticide has affected the ecosystem of the tributaries and subsequently the Gulf of Thailand. In order to rehabilitate the ecosystem of the tributaries and the Gulf of Thailand, the cooperation from all related sectors is of utmost important. The communities settling around the eastern forest are main contributors to both degradation and rehabilitation of the ecosystem. Therefore, these communities must be encouraged to use the non-chemical approaches in the production processes such that the rate of chemical substance draining into the water sources will be reduced. And in order to ensure the cooperation from all sectors, the awareness-raising processes must be implemented. Moreover, the promotion of forest agriculture among communities can provide self-reliance as well as generate additional forest area in the cultivated land. The activity on education which is consistent with ways of life of communities will lead to sustainable livelihood and culture of forest agriculture. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1. To raise conservation awareness of farmers, students and youths 2. To increase the area of the eastern forest in the cultivated area of farmers through forest agriculture approach 3. To promote participation from communities in the development of learning process of sustainable improvement of life quality, society and environment 4. To set up environment networking among communities settling in Rabom-Siyad Tributaries to ensure the ecosystem in consistent with sustainable livelihood Activities to be carried out under project: 1. To launch nursery project at least 20 species totaling 200,000 seedlings by communities 2. To set up networking among farmers for conservation and rehabilitation of watershed area in the eastern forest 3. To train and raise conservation awareness among youths and students then reaching out to wider communities around the area 4. To conduct study tours for the development and experience sharing in building capacity of CBOs undertaking conservation work Project participants and/or beneficiaries: Teachers , students , youths and farmers in and around watershed area of Rabom-Siyad Tributaries Anticipated results of project: 1. Farmers, students and youths around the eastern forest possess conservation awareness towards the forest which is the watershed area of the Rabom-Siyad Tributaries. 2. The forest area is increasing in cultivated areas of farmers and this additional forest can serve as buffer zone for the eastern forest 3. Cooperation among communities in the process of instillation of the eastern forest conservation 4.There emerges cooperation network to oversee the tributaries such that their condition will be supportive to sustainable livelihood.

Thailand