Report of ERECON Programs in 2015
Following programs were implemented in the program year of2015 from 1st April 2015 to the end of March 2016.
1. Program on environmental rehabilitation and conservationin Asian countries
1-1 Project on Encouragement for Rehabilitating Soil
Environment in Salt Affected Area of Northeast Thailand
Salt accumulation is a big environmental concern in northeastThailand. Spread of deforestation in northeast Thailand degraded soil
quality in the area. This project aims to rehabilitate soil environment
and to promote sustainable condition for agriculture in salt affectedarea of Khon Kaen. In 2015, reforestation activity was implemented
for promoting agro-forestry system.

Cham Province, Cambodia (Phase 5)
This project aims to build sustainable agriculture based on thecyclical use of natural resources in 11 villages and 10 elementaryschools in Samroung Commune, Kampong Cham Province,Cambodia. In 2015, the final year of this project, technical training
on collecting and shipping low chemical input agricultural products
was held for deepening the perception of local farmers. At theelementary schools, the textbook on Food, Agriculture andEnvironment Education was published and delivered among 10
elementary schools. In addition, the final presentations and reports
were shared and acknowledged among stakeholders.

Photo. 1 Reforestation activity in Brgy Kananga, Leyte,Philippines (Project 1-2)

Photo. 2 Project site in Kampong Cham visited by Agricultural
Association from Takeo, Cambodia (Project 2-2)

1-2 Project on Reforestation for Community Reconstruction inTyphoon Affected Areas in Leyte, Philippines (Phase 2)
Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded,
hit Philippines, especially eastern Visayas region in November 2013.
It brought enormous damage to infrastructure and livelihoods.
Although coconut is a major crop for agricultural income in Leyte
Province, local farmers lost many of coconut trees by this naturaldisaster. Accordingly, this project aims to reconstruct thecommunities affected by the typhoon and to strengthen its resiliencein farming practices to natural disasters by introducing
rainforestation, which is one choice for sustainable reforestationconsisted of indigenous trees and fruit trees. Various activities suchas workshops and reforestation activities were held to promote
rainforestation in typhoon affected areas.
2. Program on sustainable use of natural resources in Asiancountries
2-1 Project on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources withConserving Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes in
Rural Areas of Cambodia (Phase 2)
This project aims to promote technologies and knowledge onsustainable use of natural resources for conserving the socioecological production landscapes in the provinces of Mondulkiri,
Kampong Cham and Battambang. The project included various
workshops and reforestation activities collaborated with local
farmers and elementary school students, including delivering
pamphlets on forest degradation and restoration. Also, thenetworking among the elementary schools in Mondulkiri, Kampong
Cham and Battambang Provinces was enhanced.
2-2 Project on Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Kampong

2-3 Project on Promoting Non-formal Education for Sustainable
Development in Kratie Province, Cambodia (Phase 3)
This project dealing with steering farmers schools andpromoting organic agricultural materials was a 3-years project fromApril 2013 to March 2016. The target areas were 7 villages in Snuol
Commune, Snuol District, Kratie Province, Cambodia. The local
farmers have become accessible to the non-formal education ofKhmer, mathematics and environment on a regular basis through thisproject. Also at the pellet compost center, the steering committee ofpellet compost center has been promoting to produce and sell organic
agricultural materials made by the organic agricultural materials
producer groups in Snoul Commune.

Photo. 3 Technical training for production and sale of organic
agricultural materials in Kratie, Cambodia (Project 2-3)

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3. Programs on environmental education in Asian countries
3-1 JICA ABE and PEACE Training Program
ERECON accepted one Ph.D. course student in JICA project for
the Promotion and Enhancement of the Afghan Capacity forEffective Development (JICA PEACE) and two Master course
students in JICA project for the African Business Education Initiative(JICA ABE), who study at Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo
University of Agriculture. The trainees could accumulate theexperiences on soil environmental evaluation and soil conservation
measures.
3-2 JICA Nikkei Training Program
The mono-culture has been adapted widely in Latin America for
producing cash crops. Thus, soil conservation is recognized asneeded for sustainable agriculture in Latin America. This course isarranged for JICA Nikkei Trainees under the collaboration with
Tokyo University of Agriculture. In the course, one trainee learned
the methods and technologies on soil conservation, participatory
approach for achieving to promote sustainable agriculture in local
context, as well as the evaluation methods for extension projects, etc.

3-3 International Green Volunteer Training in Philippines
The International Green Volunteer Training was implemented
from March 22 to 30 in 2016 in Leyte, Philippines. The training tour
became the 7th time organized by ERECON under the Green Fundfrom the National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization. Theobjective was that Japanese trainees deepen their understanding andgain knowledge about the importance of reforestation as well asafforestation, environmental conservation and international
environmental cooperation. The ten selected Japanese trainees
experienced educational and fruitful 9 days in Philippines. They
attended lectures about forest facts of Philippines and Haiyan
Typhoon, visited several rainforestation and reforestation project sites,
conducted research on several environmental topics and presented in
the international symposium. In this time, ten students from Visayas
State University accompanied and helped the Japanese trainees learn
the local forest and environmental issues as well as local culture andlanguage.

Photo. 5 Green Volunteer Training at ERECON reforestation
project site in Leyte, Philippines (Project 3-3)
(Kumiko KAWABE, PM)
Photo. 4 Training of charcoal making by JICA Nikkei Traineein Tama, Japan (Project 3-2)

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