Water resources policy and administrative management

A portion of ecological system of the Mekhong River, the project location is one of the riches forest in Nongkhai Province. With its area of 300 sq.km. the forest is the origin of many tributaries of the Mekhong. It used to provide natural resources in abundance to surrounding communities. Due mainly to the inefficient protection system, the forest has become degraded by slash-and-burn & non-environmentally-friendly agricultural practice, commercial logging ,illegal charcoal burning and ,as a consequence of deforestation, uncontrollable wild-fire. All these have led to the degradation of the ecology of the Mekhong River as a whole. There have been less flow of water into the tributaries , the quality of water has been affected by chemical residue and the desertification is apt to expand. The network comprising leaders of all surrounding communities was established under the government support. The network aims to materialize the protection of the forests in the most effective way. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1.To increase the efficiency of community participation in rehabilitation of the watershed area 2.To build capacity of farmers in carrying out environmentally-friendly farming practices and environment conservation activities 3.To build capacity of the network regarding the development of data & information and cooperating plans with other stakeholders, both locally and nationally Activities to be carried out under project: 1.Launching seminar, workshop and training courses for target groups on the topic of wild-fire protection , environmentally-friendly agricultural practices and renewable energy application 2.Setting up community nurseries and launching plantation 3.Launching forest agriculture among target community members Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1.Responsible government agencies, at tambol, district and provincial level 2.Schools and temples in the projects area Anticipated results of project: 1.A temporary fire-break zone is established with 150 trained personals 2.At least 30 community leaders acquire skill as to the management of watershed area 3.There emerges a watershed management plan for all concerned organizations 4.There exists a database for natural resources, condition of living and environment of the watershed area which would be used in the managerial process. 5.The established nurseries provide continuous seedlings for community plantation.

Thailand