This royally-initiated project is in Kho Nuea Subdistrict, Mueang Yasothon District, Yasothon Province. While accompanying their Royal Highnesses King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit on 28 November 2000, King Rama X, who was the Crown Prince at that time, advised the officials to dredge the Nong Ueng Swamp so that it could provide water for agriculture and serve as a fish breeding environs, to improve the area and the soil condition around the Nong Ueng Swamp, as well as growing vetiver grass and trees to prevent surface soil from being eroded, and to rehabilitate local forests as a whole in order to promote the symbiosis between forest and human. The Nong Ueng Swamp area covering 24.80 hectares (155 rai) was then dredged for the swamp depth of 2.50 metres in order to achieve the waterretaining capacity of 640,530 cubic metres. A 6-metrewide earthen embankment was also erected around the swamp with adjoining structures. To prevent the surface soil from being eroded, vetiver grass was planted along the entire embankment. Also, a total of 11 arches displaying useful information on natural resources were erected in the area of the natural classroom project at the Dong Man Community Forest. There are also the following activities: studying and developing techniques to increase wild mushrooms in the community forest; planting bamboos to create a buffer zone and provide food for the community; planting more trees in lowland floodplain forest; procuring seedlings for locals to grow precious trees; enhancing the watershed ecological system in the Dong Man Community Forest; cultivating rubber seedlings; and cultivating mycorrhiza or fungus-root in mushrooms. In addition, this project has trained and promoted 300 local members of the forest conservation network according to the royal initiative. An agreement has also been made on the management of the Nong Ueng Community’s water source to obtain the maximum benefits for all parties and for minimising impacts from excessive resource usage.

Moreover, agricultural plots of land were also designated to become a Community Food and Herbs Bank. To promote conservation, the project has developed and strengthened forest networks in 15 villages in response to the royal initiative. A youth network has been developed in six schools in accordance with a royal initiative on forestry teachers. Under the project, forestry development training has also been conducted for 60 participants.

People would acquire additional knowledge and support regarding basic production factors for their livelihoods. Furthermore, knowledge of natural resource management would also transfer to the local populace so as to strengthen networks for natural resource conservation and management.