Background  Information

Pollution from both point and non-point sources have been discharged into the second most important river cathment in Thailand, the Thachin River Basin major point sources of pollutants include domestic and industrial waste discharges as well as some agricultural point sources such as pig, duck fish and other farms. In may, 2000 the Thachin River experienced a serious contamination event resulting in massive fish kills and critical pollution level being exceeded, the situation arose following heavy.
Rain in April when trapped putrid water from the flooded fields were discharge directly to the river almost all the same time. This event highlighted the lack of coordination between government agencies and civil society. 
Thus, a significant environmental mishap has triggered the first step on the road to integrated basin management and also presented an opportunity for unprecedented levels of cooperation between the public and private sectors. The We Love Thachin RiverSocieties of Chainat, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon Provinces. They are committed to working collaborative to restore water quality in the watershed.

Contents of activity

Several main  activities have been conducted for a year in order to contribute healthy river which can briefly conclude as following detail.

1. Expanding the network in order to cover the canal receiving waste water from various sources and finally flow to The  Thachin River . The member of canal  must be the model and the leader in watching and tending as well as suggest  concepts and ideas to remedy their canal  through several related activities. Conducting  those activities resulting in better quality of life. For example, in some canals that orchard have been converted from chemical agriculture to organic agriculture it has been found that not only better environment and good health can be clearly observed but also their income increase significantly from eco-tourism and organic agricultural added more value to their product.
   
2. Bolstering fish raising zone in the temple along the river. From this activity there are many temples along the river become the destination for tourist and the advantage connect to the temple and people. Since temples can collect more income from selling fish’s  feed for tourist and people nearby that area  can also release their agricultural product  for tourist.
   
3. Building public awareness through several activities; Establishing Loving Thachin Youth Group  in the educational institute to create the successor in order to proceed the intention of previous generation and using this channel to transfer environmental awareness and responsibility to their parent. Cruise drawing contest. Thachin’s essay contest. Thachin’s speech contest. Managing environmental youth camp. Train the trainer. Learning by doing by embedding  environmental friendly habit in daily life. Monitor and survey aquatic environment and water quality in various items such as chemical, biological, physical items and  aquatic plant and animal by using simple method and local wisdom ; more over, it be inserted in the ordinary lesson of school.  Campaign and public relation in  a special day such as earth day, canal conservation  day  etc.
   
4. Induced and motivated government  to stop  water gate project. Since they learnt from Bangkphakok’s experience.Water gate has brought a serious problem to aquatic environment and it’s impact has change people way of life. They can’t utilise water resource in daily life as usual  .Thus people in The Thachin River Basin   made a lot of effort to prevent  those events from their river  . After it had been in public consensus process around one year, finally their strong power ,benefit  suggestion, and reliable information could convince government to re-considerate and this project has been suspended.
   
5. Rehabilitate and restore the canals by dredging sediment and collecting  water hyacinth in waterways. Since the sediment and water hyacinth are also a copious problem and increase degree of water pollution. This group of people try to return fertile and healthy to these canal by dredging sediment and collecting water hyacinth as much as fund ,man power and situation can give them the opportunity.
   
6. Coordinate and work together with other organization include local, provincial, region, and central government as well as business sector ,educational sector, religion sector ,community and press and media sector. Looking further at the ultimate goal it is no use blaming and separating other partner from the their river on the other hand they try to convince until they discern and become the partner  working  and walking  to reach the goal together.
   
7. Raising fund for conducting related  activities can benefit not only the money for supporting their activities but  also can rise public awareness and attract more people to get involved as well as can remind them that they have duty  to tend their river start from donation their money.

Points of success and factors

Can expand the networking to 10 canals. School and Temple adopt their concepts and ideas as well as promote it to children and communities. The youth group participate in water quality monitoring as a part of the lesson. And can be the role model for other watershed organization.  

The most important factor that encourage and pushing this group to move  forward without discourage is their ultimate destination for healthy river, although working in the field of environmental promotion is a arduous task and consume a long distance. However they cherish cooperative manner and positive attitude and persuade  community, temple and school to be a powerful base.

Reference:

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