Under GEF involvement, and to facilitate the management, Petchabun Landscape encompasses the implemented area within Petchabun and Loei Province where a number of CBOs and NGOs have been actively collaborating and launching development work. In general, the landscape are mountainous area of different height, from 500-1,571 meters above sea level. High mountains are included in the western area in Phu Kradueng, Phu Luang,Phu Rua, Tha Li, Darnsai and Na Haew District of Loei Province, while plain areas between mountains used for cultivation and residence are in Petchabun Province’ s districts of Namnao, Lomkao and Khao Khor. There are quite limit lowland area in the central part of Loei Province in Wangsaphung, Chiangkharn, and Muang District , with two notable river basins, i.e. Loei River Basin and Mekong River Basin. This lowland area is suitable for cultivation. Another river basin-Parsak River Basin-in Petchabun Province’s Lomkao District is also suitable for cultivation.

Pechabun Landscape is endowed with rich natural resources especially forest resources and watersheds of several major rivers of the country which are integrated ecosystems of GEF international waters. There are 10 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as follows:

1. Phu Rua National Park , with approximate area 121.98 sq,km

2. Phu Suansai National Park, with approximate area 109.33 sq,km

3. Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, with approximate area 897 sq,km

4. Phu Khor Phu Kratae, with approximate area 232.5 sq,km

5. Phu Kra Dueng National Park, with approximate area 265.38 sq,km

6. Nam Nao National Park, with approximate area 974.26 sq,km

7. Phu Pha Marn National Park , with approximate area 355.51 sq. km.

8. Phu Hin Rongkar National Park , with approximate area 304.96 sq. km

9. Thung Salaengluang National Park , with approximate area 12,624 sq. km

10. Khao Khor National Park , with approximate area 483.78 sq. km

Communities of GEF SGP OP5 Year 4 have been launching activities which resulted in emergence of community forest with approximate area of 82.6 sq. km., included both registered and non-registered with Royal Forestry Department.

Major river basin originating in the landscape are Phung River Basin draining into Parsak River, thence passing through Petchabun Province, Lopburi Province and Saraburi Province before converging with Chaophaya River at Ayudhaya Province. The total length of this water is about 350 km. Loei River Basin , 213-293 km long flows down into Mekhong River. Nam Man River Basin (95 km.long) drains into Huang River (140 km.long) ,thence to Mekong River. Phong River Basin drains into Phong River( 275 km.long) in Khonkaen Province, and Khek River Basin drains into Nan River in the west of the landcape.

Social relations in the landscape differs very slightly, slightly but in a large picture it is fairly similar. In Tamblo Khek Noi, Petchabun Province’ s Namnao District , the west of the landscape which is home to a cultural group, Hmong, culture and belief are the main principles to define relations of community members which emphasizes the kinship and ancestor. The majority of community members in this area have been practicing agriculture. As to the eastern part of the landscape , from Loei Province to Petchabun Province’s Namnao and Lomkao District, social relations appear to be that of agricultural community with Thai Loei-Thai Lom-Thai Tai culture. The dialect accent of the group are slightly different. While Thai Loei and Thai Lom possess Luang Phabang Dialect, Thai Tai does the mainstream northeastern dialects from Mahasarakharm and Ubolratchathani Province whose communities had migrated into the landscape during the era of forest concession and promotion of mono-crop plantation under the green revolution of the 3th National Social and Economic Plan. Scattered in Petchabun Province’s Namnao District and Loei Province’s Wangsaphung and Phu Kradeng District, the migration has caused an assimilation on cultural belief, language and harmonious, mutual supporting and community elder-respecting ways of life. This was usually witnessed by solving community conflicts by the intercession of community elders. By-and-large, community members give priority and importance to public activities with due respect to and observation of culturally established community rules and regulations, resulting in a harmonious society.

In general, land use is for agriculture, especially mono-crops. Classified by terrain, plain areas in the valley or between mountains are used for corn, para rubber, tapioca, while lowland plain for paddy, sugar cane, with a few areas for integrated farming. A larger portion of the land is included in forest reserve area. Land ownership is validated through land tax payment ,so called Por Bor Thor 5. General patterns of land use are inconsistent with conditions of the terrain thus have adversely affected the environment in the landscape with persisting complicated problems.

Based on the result of assessment of baseline in the landscape summarized from participatory brainstorming/debates at local level, it was concluded that the main driver of environment degradation was that mono-crop plantation leading to forest encroachment , land degradation, inefficient production process, insecurity of occupation and limited supplementary occupation, shortage of water source for developing system of sustainable agriculture, undermined food security, issues on arable land rights, wildfire problem, draughts, and wild animals intruding into cultivated land. All these have been attributed to inappropriate community behaviour, community context, lack of appropriate management and other system.

The existing capital in the landscape is the strong congregation of CBOs active in natural resources and environment development which takes shape and be seen in community forest network, and environment network. The landscape contains existing forest resources which is the result of joint effort of conservation and collaboration with concerned government agencies under the support of GEF SGP OP 5 Year 4 during December 2015-May 2017. The relevant supporting activities included conserving community forests, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries which constitute strategic area for natural resources and environment, watersheds for major river basins of Thailand and of GEF international water. The other capitals of the landscape are cultural cohesion as well adapted indigenous knowledge/ practices to guide livelihood activities in the landscape.

The landscape location is included within Petchabun and Loei Province which is an area of ecological

significance comprising 10 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries with total approximate area of 5,007.05 sq.km., community forests from community conservation effort of 82.6 sq. km.,and watershed of major rivers of the country and of GEF international water i.e. Nam Phung River Basin, Parsak River Basin draining into Chaophaya River, Nam Man River Basin, Huung River Basin,Loei River Basin,Phong River Basin,Sern River Basin all draining into Mekong River, Khek River draining into Nan River. In addition to the ecological significance, the landscape has been target area for groups of environmental NGOs and CBOs which were the GEF SGP grantees during OP 5 year 4. After the completion of the supported projects, these NGOs/CBOs are still collaborating to further environment development in the location, as well as reaching out to other groups in the landscape. This is the main reason for selecting the landscape as the target location of project implementation.