Report of ERECON Extension Programs in 2020
Following extension programs were implemented in theprogram year of 2020 from 1st April 2020 to the end of March2021.
1. Program on Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservationin Asian Countries
1-1 Project on Reforestation for Forest Restoration in Nakhon
Ratchasima Province, Thailand (Phase 3)
In Thailand, natural forests are continuously decreasing due toland conversion. Also, biodiversity has been declined due toinsufficient forest management. In Nakhon Ratchasima Province ofThailand, deforestation has also occurred due to illegal logging andinefficient management of the forests. Accordingly, this project haspromoted reforestation activities with local residents, and establishedthe forest restoration and conservation systems. The project has been
contributing to “Sustainable Forest Management” in SDGs No.15.

Photo. 2 Watering planted trees in Chai Nat Province,
Thailand (Project 1-6)
1-3 Project of Reforestation for Sustainable Forest Managementin Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia (Phases 1 and 2)
The residents in Kampong Cham Province have been prone tofacing hardships by climate change impacts such as droughts andflooding because of low-density forests. This project aims to promotereforestation activities in pagodas and elementary schools bycollaborating with residents through forest conservation andmanagement workshops. It is expected this project contributes toconservation and management of the forest while promoting an
objective of “Sustainable Forest Management” in SDGs No.15. The
reforestation activity in Phase 2 was conducted at two elementaryschools in Stung Trung District with the workshop on “Importance offorest”. Also, the residents formed a forest management group forcontinuous management of the forest in the area.

Photo. 1 Checking planted trees in Nakhon Ratchasima Province,Thailand (Project 1-1)
1-2 Project on Reforestation for Forest Restoration in Chai Nat
Province, Thailand (Phase 3)
In Chai Nat Province of Thailand, the forest area has been
seriously decreasing due to deforestation through illegal logging andlack of effective forest management. Accordingly, reforestation
activities through this project were conducted with local residents forpromoting participatory management of community forests. Throughthis project, it is expected that the community forests are wellmanaged by local residents and contribute to SDGs No.15 as“Sustainable Forest Management”.

Photo. 3 Reforestation activity in Kampong Cham Province,Cambodia (Project 1-3)
1-4 Project on Greening for Satoyama Regeneration in Eastern
Cambodia (Phase 1)
Biodiversity has been severely damaged due to sharp decrease
and degradation of forest owing to land conversion and illegal
deforestation in Mondulkiri Province and Kratie Province, theeastern part of Cambodia. Local residents have interests insustainably managing the forest; however, the knowledge andtechniques are minimal. This project provided the local residents theopportunities for reforestation activities to recover biodiversity andworkshops for deepening knowledge and technique on sustainable
forest management and environmental conservation. The
reforestation activities were conducted at Doh Kromom Village in
Mondulkiri Province and Snoul Ker Pagoda in Kratie Province in
2020. Local forest management groups were formed in each area,
and it is expected the residents of the groups advance themanagement of the planted trees.

１100 Collecting and Shipping Members as well as 800 local farmers
in the region. Workshops on “Irrigation Techniques” for 800 farmers
in all 10 districts were also conducted in the province. Based on acollaboration system between universities and PDAFF/DDAFF built
in this project, lecturers and interns from Royal University ofAgriculture (RUA) and Kampong Cham National Institute ofAgriculture (KNIA) supported the officers and farmers and helped
them to understand the contents properly. In addition, selected
Collecting and Shipping Members joined an agricultural exhibition
held in Kampong Cham City. After attending the agriculturalexhibition, the members realized the importance of choosing/planting
their production based on consumer preferences and demands, theimportance of establishing proper collecting and shipping systems,
and the importance of adjusting the shipment method underuniformed regulation. The members have started to sell their
low-chemical inputs products at the agricultural shops set up in eachdistrict. Additionally, a project evaluation meeting was held on 22
December 2020 with various stakeholders. The results from theevaluation meeting were shared widely through the newsletter.

Photo. 4 Reforestation activity in Kratie Province,Cambodia (Project 1-4)
1-5 Strengthening National Biodiversity and Forest Carbon
Stock Conservation Through Landscape-based Collaborative
Management of Cambodia’s Protected Area System as
Demonstrated in the Eastern Plains Landscape (CAMPAS)
This project aimed to establish the system of community-based
forest management and rehabilitation in community protected areas(CPA) located in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri Provinces, Cambodia. In
2020, a series of workshops were conducted in the project areas toenhance community awareness and understanding of reforestationand habitat restoration. Workshops on composting, bio-fertilizer,bio-pesticides, and easy facial mask and body scrub from naturalingredients were conducted to increase livelihood security ofcommunities in CPAs. Native tree seedlings produced by local
communities were planted for reforesting the degraded areas andcreating the agro-forestry farms. After reforestation, CPAs members
maintained and monitored the reforested areas, especially in the dry
season.

Photo. 6 Shop for vegetable products with low-chemical inputs
in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia (Project 2-1)
3. Program on Environmental Education in Asian Countries

Photo. 5 Reforestation in Veal Kambor Community
Protected Area, Sre Pok Wildelife Sanctuary,
Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia (Project 1-5)
2. Program on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in AsianCountries
2-1 Project on Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Conditions
for Poverty Reduction in Kampong Cham Province,
Cambodia (Phase 3)
In 2020, more than 25 officers from Kampong Cham PDAFF
and DDAFF took the training on “Collecting and Shipping” led byan agricultural enterprise in Cambodia. In the training, the officers
mainly learned the techniques and skills needed for the collecting/shipping process and also how they can disseminate the knowledge
to the local farmers. Based on what they have learned, the officers
provided trainings and workshops on “Collecting and Shipping” toPhoto. 7 Video screen in the online event of 13th Musashino
Environment Festa, Tokyo, Japan (Project 3-1)
3-1 Project on Promoting Carbon Recycling by Citizens aiming
to Low-Carbon and Recycling-Based Society
As climate change is one of the biggest issues facing the global
environment, attention is being paid to carbon storage in forest andagricultural areas. From farmlands all the way down to kitchen２

gardens, soil carbon storage in carbon recycling is expected to bepromoted. This project has been implemented to disseminateawareness of the importance of carbon storage in carbon recyclingfrom farmlands all the way down to kitchen gardens through online
exhibitions such as “Eco Life Stage 2020”, “13th Musashino
Environment Festa” and “14th Civic Collaboration Festival - Machi
Cafe!”, as well as some seminars.

3-2 NGO Intern Program
NGO internship program was conducted for skill developmentof youth in the field of international cooperation by involving themwith NGO’s activities. In the program year of 2020, ERECON
offered the intern program at ERECON Headquarters in Machida,
Tokyo. Although the intern could not go abroad due to COVID-19
pandemic, he could experienced various NGO tasks, such asplanning, implementing and summarizing activities at each centerof Administration, Extension or Research in ERECONHeadquarters.
(Kumiko KAWABE and Mari ARIMITSU, Extension Center)

Photo. 8 Intern supporting PCM training for oversea trainees,
Tokyo, Japan (Project 3-2)

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