January 28, 2010
The Government of Japan is extending Grant Assistance under the Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme (GGP) to the project "Conserve Phu Tam Forest". H.E. Mr. Kyoji Komachi, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Mr. Picharn Tipawong, Chairman of the Phu’s Friends Association, signed a contract on January 27, 2010 at the Embassy of Japan.
Phu Tam Forest, a part of the Phu Ra Ngam National Forest which spans Waeng Noi and Waeng Yai districts in Khon Kaen province, is surrounded with the fields of local farmers. People gather resources such as firewood and small animals from the forests. But due to forest depletion, the resources are becoming difficult to find. In order to conserve resources which local people can utilize, the method of recreating a forest on farmland can be adopted. When a forest is replicated on farmland, animals of the forest can live, and mushrooms and various plants grow. It is important to extend this method in order to restore the forest resources, generate income for poor farmers, as well as conserve the environment.
In the project area, there is a village which has no farmland, so that villagers have to depend on forest resources. At the moment, they get a part of their income from forest resources such as mushrooms, red ant’s eggs, frogs, lizards, herbs, etc., and firewood for cooking fuel. However, the resources are depleting little by little. If decent forest management and community development are not undertaken, it is feared that the resources will be exhausted in the future, and life will be less stable. In order to reduce dependence on forest resources, the villagers need a communal farm.
Responding to this situation, the Government of Japan has decided to provide a total of 1,523,800 baht for activities to recreate a forest on farmland, set up a communal farm, establish learning facilities regarding forest conservation for local people, and publicize the project.
Through this project, it is expected that the local people will co-exist with the forest without overusing resources, and that understanding of forest conservation will improve among students and the general public.
The Government of Japan is willing to continue its support for projects which contribute to environmental restoration and protection at the grassroots level through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme (GGP).
