Environmental policy and administrative management

Approximately 304,000 ha, covering most part of Nakhornsithammarat Province and a portion of Songkhla Provine, the basin is the habitation of approximately 527,5000 people. The project area covers a part of the basin constituting four integrated ecosystems: watershed hilly area, wetland, lowland along the Park Phanang River and coastal area and estuary. In the wake of government s development policy, these areas have been used and degraded through mono-crop culture , inappropriate infrastructure of government project, and aqua-culture. Aiming to boost the export as promoted by the government, these activities have prompted land encroachment, unregulated application of chemicals and non-holistic development plan of government resulting in degradation of natural resources, insecurity of natural food supply , high production cost , debt and migration of population. There are many CBO s active in the area whose main objective is to deal with at-hand financial problem. In order to effectively cope with the integrated problem, the project has initiated capacity-building for the CBO s on holistic management of natural resources and environment. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1. To build capacity of CBO s on management of natural resources and environment 2. To promote and support alternative ,self-reliant ,environmentally-friendly occupation 3. To forge networking of CBO s for campaign and influence upon overall management policy Activities to be carried out under project: 1. Launching capacity-building activities: open forum & seminar, training & study tours 2. Launching reforestation in degraded land and plantation in family forest 3. Demarcating Water Species Conservation Zone 4. Launching networking activities:Key leader meeting, nalysis forum,initiating holistic management plan Project participants and/or beneficiaries: Tambol Administrative Organizations in target area, the Royal Forestry Department ,Walailuck University , Sustainable Agriculture Pilot Project and CBO s in target area Anticipated results of project: 1. At least 20 key leaders of CBO s as able resources persons on conservation of natural resources and environment 2. Emergence of the followings: - at least five connected community action plan - at least 48 ha of usable forest area and 15,000 trees in addition - at least 5 ha of public forest area and 15,000 trees in addition - one water species conservation zone - connected collective action plan and distinctive coordination plan for the five

Thailand