The project focuses on increasing local awareness of the importance of environmental conservation and restoring natural resources to generate a sustainable income and enhance biodiversity. Project activities include the introduction of sustainable agriculture, multi-cropping, agro-forestry and reforestation. Activities geared towards elementary schools are also implemented to educate children on the significance of biodiversity conservation. Target Villages The target villages are located in areas at 560 to 630 meters above mean sea level. The villagers are mainly from the ethnic group called Phnong, and their farming system is based on the slash and burn practice. In the villages, the forest area decreased from its original size in the past 30 years as the villagers cut trees for agricultural cultivation and collected timber to sell at markets. Agricultural practices in this area are also based on cropland rotation and shifting cultivation. Normally, villagers would divide agricultural land into two or three parts and practice shifting cultivation every few years. Land Use Changes The forest area is now only 20 per cent of the forest cover 30 years ago. For crop cultivation, the villagers used to grow rice associated with corn, banana or pineapple. However, there was a tendency for the rice yield to decrease each year. Villagers currently plant more fruit trees such as cashew nut, jackfruit and mango, which give them 24 THE ASIA REGIONAL FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY income. To address their daily needs, new areas are cultivated for rice and other crops through the slash and burn practice. Crop Production Currently, the main crop is rice, which is mainly produced for household consumption, while the main source of income is from collecting fruits, gum, resin and honey. Crop schedules are: rice cultivation, May to December; cassava cultivation, April to December; pineapple cultivation, whole year; corn cultivation, April to July; and pumpkin, cucumber, gourd or marrow cultivation, April to September. Types of Forest The types of forest in the target villages include natural forest managed by government; forest community area managed by committee members of the villages; and forest in the villagers’ farmlands (rotation farms managed by ethnic group). In the past, the Phnong had access to any land in the forest and would plant anywhere. However, since a land tenure system has been established by the government, there are now specific boundaries for each household based on the household size. The area assigned to each household ranges from two to five hectares. As such, each family has its own land and holds the right to use resources in their specific areas. Utilization of Natural Resources Forest resource utilization. Natural resources such as wood and hedges are used in household Figure 1. Deforestation for agricultural and wood purposes.
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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