Report of ERECON programs in 2011
Following programs were implemented in the program year of2011 from April 2011 to March 2012.
1. Programs on environmental rehabilitation and conservationin Asian countries
1-1 Encouragement Program on Rehabilitation of Soil
Environment in Salt Affected Area of Northeast Thailand
Salt accumulation is big environmental concern in NortheastThailand. Deforestation spreading in Northeast Thailand degradedsoil quality in the area. This program aims to rehabilitate soil
environment and to promote sustainable agriculture in salt affectedarea at Khon Kaen, Northeast Thailand.
In 2011, soil survey was conducted to promote agro-forestry.
In addition, the workshop on reforestation was conducted inJanuary, 2012.

Photo. 2 Program (1-2) conducted in Bohol, Philippines
1-3 Program on Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation
through Reforestation of Mangrove with Local Group in Tsunami
Affected Area in Southern Thailand
Thung Lak village in Pang Nga province, Southern Thailand
was affected by Tsunami in 2004. This program aims to rehabilitate
mangrove forest affected by Tsunami through planting trees withThung Lak Reforestation Group and establishing Green GrowthSociety under the collaboration of local people.
Following activities were conducted in 2011; planting Nypa
fruticans with Thung Lak Reforestation Group, editing anddistributing guidebooks to local people to foster better understandingon the importance of mangrove reforestation.

Photo. 1 Program (1-1) conducted in Khon Kaen, Thailand
1-2 Program on Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Bohol ofPhilippines
At Corella and Tagbilaran in Bohol province, local farmers
have been conducting the slash and burn shifting cultivation on
deforested slopes. Thus massive loss of surface soil occurs withheavy rainfall. Accordingly, land degradation becomes one ofserious problems.
This program aims to promote sustainable farming system forconserving soil and water environment with local farmers. In
addition to 5 model farms established in 2010, 5 model farms wereestablished in 2011; 3 were in Corella, one in Tagbilaran and one in
Valencia. Also in 2011, the workshops on making buffer strips withcoconut husks and on making compost were held for farmers'
groups as well as the distribution of pamphlets and posters.

Photo. 3 Reforestation program (1-3) conductedin Pang Nga province, Thailand
1-4 Program of Planting Trees in Commemoration of theInternational Year of Forests in Cambodia
In commemoration of the International Year of Forests,
reforestation was conducted through planting memorial trees inTakeo of Cambodia under the collaboration of the Ministry ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodia and the Royal
University of Agriculture. Acacia and Dipterocarp trees were planted
in 2.5 hectares of degraded land in Takeo. Also, tree nursery was set
up to grow seedlings for reforestation. Pamphlets were edited anddistributed to local people to promote the importance of reforestation.
In December 2011, the survival rate of Acacia and Dipterocarp were１

92% and 88%, respectively. It was confirmed that they were growing
well in Takeo of Cambodia.

Photo. 6 Eco contest in program (2-1) conductedin Nan, Thailand
Photo. 4 Program (1-4) conducted in Takeo, Cambodia
2-2 Program on Natural Resources Utilization and Management
through SATOYAMA Restoration in Rural Areas of Cambodia(Phases 1 and 2)
In Kampong Cham, Mondulkiri and Battambang provinces ofCambodia, natural resources were badly damaged by illegal
deforestation and land conversion for agricultural purpose. So, thisprogram aims to promote reforestation for conserving soil andwater environment as well as sustainable use of natural resources
through SATOYAMA restoration. Institute of Environment
Rehabilitation and Conservation (ERECON) has been
implementing this program under the collaboration of organization
members of International Partnership of SATOYAMA Initiative;
United Nations University, Institute of Advanced Studies(UNU-IAS) and Ministry of Environment, Cambodia (MOE).
In 2011, seedlings for reforestation have been grown at thenurseries in 3 areas under the collaborationof local farmers. InNovember, leader training was held in Phnom Penh for local
farmers and school teachers from 3 areas. This training aimed todevelop SATOYAMA conservation strategy at each area throughincreasing knowledge of forest ecosystemand to introduce themtechnical methods of seeds propagation.

1-5 Program on Renovation of Mangrove Learning Center andReforestations in Surrounding Area
Mangrove Learning Center has been functioned as a base for
local mangrove conservation activities. However, it was badly
damaged by the torrential monsoon in 2009. In this program, thecenter was renovated for lasting local activities on mangrove
conservation and reforestation.

Photo. 5 Damaged Mangrove Learning Center in program (1-5)
in Pang Nga province, Thailand
2. Programs on sustainable use of natural resources in Asian
countries
2-1 Guidance of Sustainable Organic Agriculture andReforestation for Local Farmers (Phase 5)
The sloping area in Nan province of Thailand has beendamaged by heavy rainfalls. The damage tends to be accelerated bydeforestation and burning practices. For improving the serious
situation, this program dealt with the conservation of naturalresources through reforestation and the sustainable agriculture
based on organic farming systems.
In 2011, the last year of this program, several trainings wereconducted to those who have been engaging in reforestation andsustainable agriculture in Nan for several years since initial stage ofthis program in 2007.Following activities such as the workshops onfood, agriculture and environment education, the eco contest and theseminars on reforestation and sustainable agriculture were conductedfor elementary school students and local farmers in Nan of Thailand.

Photo. 7 Satoyama leader training in program (2-2)
conducted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2-3 Program on promoting Sustainable Agriculture throughEri-culture in Greater Phnom Penh
Eri silkworms are susceptible to chemical pesticide. Therefore,
it was expected the amounts of chemical pesticide applied infarmlands may be reduced through promoting eri-culture.

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It is also expected that farmers’ income may increase by
selling pupas, as pupas of eri silkworms are valuable source ofprotein and vitamin. Thus eri-culture is expected to be an incentive
for implementing sustainable agriculture.
In 2011, several workshops including demonstration oferi-culture were conducted at two villages of Kampong Cham. Inaddition, the activities of leader training, distribution of pamphlets
and seminar at elementary school were advanced.

2-5 Program on Capacity Building for Agricultural and Rural
Development for Increasing Productivity and Farmers’ Income
This program was conducted at Roung Kor village ofKampong Cham province, Cambodia for supporting the Japan
Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture andForestry (JAICAF). The program aimed to increase agricultural
productivity and farmers’ income through promoting organic
agriculture and sustainable farming systems.
In 2011, following activities were conducted; making andapplying compost and bio-pesticide, guiding safety usage ofchemical pesticide, introducing new rice species, strengthening
farmers’ organization and developing the marketing channels ofagricultural products.
3. Programs on environmental education in Asian countries
3-1 International Training Course at Cambodia for International
Green Volunteers
This international training course was implemented for 8 days
from August 15 to 22 in Cambodia to deepen knowledge ofvolunteers who are expected to play active roles in international
greening activities.

Photo. 8 Eri-culture in program (2-3) conductedin Kampong Cham, Cambodia
2-4 Program on Promoting Sustainable Agriculture at Kampong
Cham Province in Cambodia
Since 2000, the end of the civil war, mono cropping
depending on chemical fertilizer and pesticide has been spreading
rapidly. Rising costs of agricultural materials are intensifying
economic difficulties for farmers. So, this program aims to increasesustainable agriculture based on natural resource circulation at 11villages in Samroung commune and 10 elementary schools inschool cluster at Kampong Cham province, Cambodia.
In 2011, the first year of this program, after conducting baseline survey, facilities such as compost boxes, tanks for making
bio-pesticide or liquid fertilizer and anti-insect nets weredistributed to target local farmers. And then, technical trainings onsustainable farming practices were conducted at each village inSamroung commune. In addition, market survey of agriculturalproducts was done to promote sales of low chemical input products
cultivated in Samroung commune. Also, the preparation on thefood, agriculture and environment education has been advanced atelementary schools.

Photo. 10 International green volunteers in program (3-1)
conducted in Cambodia
The participants observed the activities on reforestation andsustainable agriculture practiced by local farmers in Cambodia
including SATOYAMA restoration program. In addition, theyjoined reforestation activity in commemoration of the InternationalYear of Forests “Forest development for good relationship” andconducted workshops for local elementary school students.

Photo. 9 Sustainable agriculture in program (2-4) conductedin Kampong Cham, Cambodia

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