2020: Promoting, Supporting and Expanding the Implementation following H.M. the King’s Initiative on Water Resource Management
06/02/2024
Under this project in 2020, HII supported the implementation of “Bajrasudha Kajanurak Project” for H.M. the King’s inheritance, preservation and expansion.
Bajrasudha Kajanurak Project was initiated by H.M. the King and the Queen’s care, who aware of the conflict between local communities and wild elephants in the five Eastern provinces of Thailand, i.e., Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Sa Kaeo. Therefore, the Majesties graciously initiated the Bajrasudha Kajanurak Project and appointed Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati as the Chair of committee.
Bajrasudha Kajanurak Project initiated by the Majesties, aimed to resolve the problem caused by wild elephants invading and destroying the communities, conserve and develop natural resources, and improve quality of life in the connected five Eastern provinces of Thailand.
Hydro-Informatics Institute (Public Organization) as the working group of information and management systems, we have served as creating infrastructure, data and management systems, including improving the potential and strengthening capacity building among the communities. Aimed to enhance communities’ knowledge on GPS technology for surveying water direction survey, planning, improving, restoring and developing water resources across the five provinces. The outcome was to support water capital for career and consumption that completed the project implementation.
“Bajrasudha Kajanurak Project” operated align with the master plan for balanced local communities and wild elephants.
The implementation provided into 3 area as below.
• The forest conservation area to develop and provide water and food sources for wild elephants.
• The buffer zone or elephant resting point to develop and provide wild elephants’ water and food sources for luring wild elephants into forest and far away from communities. Additionally, established “Kajanurak Operation Center” to warn the public be aware and prepare the solution for wild elephants back into the forest.
• Community area to enhance knowledge and understanding on the elephant behavior, develop livelihood, and create warning system to the community. In 2019, developed potential of 5 leader villages namely “Kajanurak village” in the five Eastern provinces. In 2020, expanded more outcome to 3 Kajanurak villages. HII organized training session on GPS technology for mapping, the new-theory agriculture, fund management knowledge, and transferring water management through the good practice model from live museum on community water resource management following H.M. the King’s Initiative.
The result of implementation on water resource restoration and development in Kajanurak village
Implementation with Community Development Department and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and funding by SCG Foundation and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, as details below.
1. Chachoengsao Province: Developed the Monkey Cheek Pond area with capacity of 300,000 cubic meters in Ban Khlong Mahat village, No.14, Tha Takiap Sub-district, Tha Takiap District that provided to water capacity storage for consumption, covering 250 households, approx. 1,000 livestock, and cultivation of animal fodder grass approx. 0.16 sq.km. Additionally, developed solar cells water pumping system on buoy, and less water distribution system for integrated agricultural plot area.
2. Chonburi Province: Developed solar cells water pumping system on buoy and less water distribution system for agricultural community enterprise. People live with forest project was in Ban Khao Yai village, No.4, Pluang Thong Sub-district, Bo Thong District, covering area approx. 0.112 sq.km., and 25 household members. The community cultivated crops which bad taste for elephants to generate income for the enterprise.
3. Rayong Province: Developed solar cells water pumping system on buoy and less water distribution system for agricultural community enterprise in Ban Khao Chan village, No.7, Huai Thap Mon Sub-district, Khao Chamao District, covering area approx. 0.008 sq.km., and 30 household members. The community cultivated crops which bad taste for elephants to generate income for the enterprise.
4. Chanthaburi Province: Constructed weir for water storage in Phawa Phlu canal. Benefiting to community’s village No. 2 and 3, Phawa Sub-district, Kaeng Hang Maeo District that covering approx. 30 households, and agricultural area approx. 0.48 sq.km.
5. Sa Kaeo: Restored and improved water sources and water direction, reinforced check dam, constructed water control structure, and developed solar cells water pumping system on buoy and less water distribution system for herb plot in Wangnamyen Botanical Garden. The outcome was to support herbal plnat cultivation learning among public.
HII managed water resources following H.M. the King’s Initiative to ensure water security for livelihood in Kajanurak community. This enables communities to increase income and career options, leading to adaptive actions aligned with local conditions and encourage collaborative effort in the future.
“Nong Krathing village with over population 200 households, mostly experienced impact from wild elephants. The villagers participated in Bajrasudha Kajanurak Project for integrated agriculture activity in 0.027 sq.km. HII supported reinforcing the water pumping system from solar powered to storage tank, and link water distribution to agricultural plot. The outcome for the villagers who affected from elephant, to receive income from agricultural productivity. Currently, there are 35 members receive average income approximately 1,5000-2,000 Baht/month. Furthermore, HII organized training session on the new-theory agriculture to the community that effectively enhanced knowledge on agriculture and cultivation planning. The integrated agricultural of Kajanurak village and Nong Krathing village are the good practices model for other community networks and nearby communities”.
