Water resources policy and administrative management

Phou Pha Khao ( or Pha Khao Mountain) is situated in the area of Phou Kradung and Pha Khao District. It is an origin of streams that form Lam Nam Phuay and Lam Nam Phong whcih drain into the Mekhong River. The total area is approximately 1,300 ha and inhabited by 8 small villages. Because of the geographical limitation ,the majority of population are planting rice for daily subsistence only while the main agricultural products are other cash crops.However, this agricultural practice is not providing subsistence due to inadequate planting area. Some families do not have any farming land at all. The migration into big towns is very common. The persisting environmental problems in the area can be outlined as follows: 1. The mono-culture of cash crop which focuses on commercialization causes the degradation of land. The yearly wildfire has devastated the forest area which subsequently brings about the reduction of resource potential in the land. 2. There has been efforts to set up grinding - stone factories by some groups of businessmen against the will of the local people which are trying to promote the area to become a protected area. Through this promotion , the rich natural resources in the area can be better conserved and protected. After the implementation of the project in phase I with only 1 target community, the project has scaled-up the area of implementation to other 7 surrounding communities. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1.To promote learning process among CBOs and networks of Phu Pha Khao Conservation Group so that they fully participate in the sustainable management of natural resources in the mountain 2.To promote environmentally-friendly agriculture to protect watershed area 3.To instill conservation awareness among youth group Activities to be carried out under project: 1.Building capacity of community groups leaders through workshop, seminar and study tours 2.Launching fire-preventing activities, making fire-break and no-entry campaigns 3.Launching activities on environmentally-friendly agriculture Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1.Pha Khao and Nong Hin Tambol Administrative Organization 2.Primary schools in Tambol Pha Khao 3.Two high school and 5 temples in the 2 tambols 4.District Forestry Office of Tambol Pha Khao and Nong Hin Anticipated results of project: 1.There emerge 6 CBOs with the right capacity on natural resources management 2.There emerges a network of 8 CBOs with 180 members 3.There increase in numbers of members who practice natural farming from 23 to 50 4.There emerge at least 2 well-managed women s group and one youth group

Thailand