Two dozen years ago, the lives of villagers in the seasonally flooded lower part of tambon Kho Nua, Muang district, Yasothon province, were forever altered. The year 2000 saw a pivotal visit from His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, then the Crown Prince. His royal initiatives to dredge Nong Ung, a formerly parched 430-rai swamp, breathed life back into the local soil and rejuvenated a devastated forest, ultimately enhancing the villagers’ livelihoods.
“His Majesty the King spearheaded the dredging of Nong Ung to serve as a water reservoir for agriculture and fish farming, while also improving the surrounding area, encouraging sustainable living within the forest,” Yasothon governor Nikorn Sooksai remarked back in 2018.
Notably, what used to be a flood-prone area during the rainy season has transformed. Fish are plentiful, and the royal project site has captivated the attention of educational trips and youth camps. Children immerse themselves in overnight stays, treks, and the fundamental principles of natural resource conservation.
The project area of 150 rai around Nong Ung now empowers locals to thrive by cultivating large trees, fruits, and vegetables. Part of the produce serves as food for their families, and the surplus is sold, boosting economic stability. Nearby, the Ban Kham Nam Sang sufficiency economy center and the Support Foundation project stand as shining examples, offering learning opportunities for many.
In days gone by, seven out of fifteen villages in this tambon regularly battled chronic flooding. The low-lying plains, conduits for water from the Chi River and Yang stream, would inundate the area each rainy season, disrupting rice fields and making roads impassable. Dry seasons brought harsh water shortages, driving villagers to encroach upon over 1,000 rai of the 3,006-rai Dong Mun community forest for makeshift farming, wild product harvesting, and firewood gathering. The severe degradation of land forced many to seek employment in the sprawling urban centers.
According to Somsak Tawinan, chief of the royally initiated Nong Ung development project, seasonal floods once isolated four villages in this tambon, only accessible by flat-bottom boats. Only off-season rice farming was viable due to the high water levels.
On November 28, 2000, then-HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit visited the flood-stricken villagers in tambon Kho Nua. Descending by helicopter at Ban Nam Kham School, the Queen emphasized empowering locals with new skills, while the Crown Prince resolved to investigate Nong Ung’s flooding issues directly.
Damrongsak Thepwathee, president of the Kho Nua Tambon Administrative Organisation, vividly recalled the visit: “After formal greetings, the Crown Prince declined an invitation to another swamp and insisted on visiting Nong Ung after spotting it from the royal helicopter.
He and a handful of aides went on a spontaneous tour to the swamp, navigating through rough dirt roads. When their vehicle got stuck, the Crown Prince strolled toward the swamp and engaged a local buffalo herder in conversation. Learning from the villager that drought had dried up the swamp, he enquired if it needed dredging. The villager’s affirmative answer set the stage for significant changes.
The Crown Prince initiated three major reforms to enhance the area. Firstly, Nong Ung was dredged to become a reliable water source for farming and aquaculture. Secondly, surrounding soil improvement through tree planting and vetiver grass cultivation aimed at combating erosion. Lastly, revitalizing the forest was essential for fostering a sustainable coexistence between the villagers and their natural habitat.
“The villagers were overjoyed by the visit of the Queen and the Crown Prince. The transformation was phenomenal. The dry, weed-covered swamp I knew since childhood now has year-round water, benefiting all of us,” Mr. Damrongsak fondly noted.
Post-royal visit, significant effort went into dredging Nong Ung, creating more water storage and promoting fish breeding. Soil from the dredged swamp enhanced 100 rai of surrounding land, distributed to 120 former encroachers, adhering to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s sufficiency economy principles.
A public hearing eventually facilitated the return of encroached forest land, primarily used for watermelon cultivation, back to forest conservation efforts. Inspired by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s appeals, residents collaborated in revitalizing the land, noted by Tianchai Setsuwan, a former village headman and land encroacher.
Mr. Somsak highlighted the strong communal spirit in rejuvenating Dong Mun forest, selecting appropriate trees like ironwood for reforestation. Since 2003, the forest has thrived, producing an array of mushrooms, including high-demand termite, puffball, and other varieties.
Today, the 7,000 residents of tambon Kho Nua benefit significantly from the forest’s bounty. Mushroom prices have soared from 100 baht to 300-350 baht per kilogram, enriching villagers. The forest’s wild product yield has skyrocketed to four million baht annually, doubling past figures, attributing two million baht solely to termite mushrooms.
The Nong Ung development project now boasts co-operatives and facilities to can mushrooms, red-ant eggs, and other wild products under the celebrated Wanathip brand. The community’s unity and dedication have turned the forest into a fertile, lucrative asset, significantly boosting their livelihoods, as Mr. Tianchai attested.
Aside from Yasothon’s Nong Ung development, the Royal Development Projects Board, the Royal Irrigation Department, and water resource agencies took King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s initiative further. Thirty-three years ago, they constructed five reservoirs in Ratchaburi, responding to villagers’ pleas during the Crown Prince’s visit to Ban Thai Prachan in tambon Yang Hak, and Ban Huay Muang in Suan Phung district on April 10, 1991.
The Crown Prince’s vision saw these reservoirs capturing watershed runoff from the Tanaosi mountain range and rainfall, ensuring a stable water supply for farming and daily use.
The King’s initiatives truly revitalized the community. It’s impressive how a single visit could spark such profound changes.
It’s amazing, but let’s not forget it was also the dedication of the locals that made it happen.
True, but without the initial push from the King, would the locals have had the resources to transform Nong Ung?
It’s a joint effort. The King provided the vision and resources, and the villagers worked hard to implement it.
I find it hard to believe that one visit can change so much. Seems like more of a PR stunt to me.
It’s not just about the visit; it’s about continued support and commitment. The results speak for themselves.
Skepticism is healthy, but the documented improvements in the area are real. Economic stability doesn’t just appear out of thin air.
I get it, but I still wonder if this money could have been better spent elsewhere. Only time will tell if the benefits last.
We’ll see, but so far the impact has been overwhelmingly positive, and that’s what matters most.
Let’s not forget how these royal projects encourage self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship. That’s a lesson for communities worldwide.
It’s inspiring to see the integration of modern development with traditional practices. It creates a sustainable balance.
I remember the flooding in Yasothon. It was devastating. The transformation is nothing short of a miracle.
Absolutely, the dredging made all the difference. Now the community can thrive instead of constantly battling natural disasters.
It’s true. When we were younger, we had to leave during the floods. Now my kids are growing up in a flourishing environment.
It’s great your kids have a brighter future, but we need to ensure that other areas receive the same attention.
It’s always about balance. Development needs to be sustainable. Let’s hope this success is replicated elsewhere.
It’s heartwarming to hear how the projects not only improved the economic status but also kept the cultural and educational elements intact.
But what about the environmental cost? Dredging and deforestation have their own negative impacts.
They addressed that with reforestation efforts and soil improvement techniques. It seems like a well-balanced approach.
I hope you’re right. It just feels like there’s always a trade-off somewhere.
We have to monitor and adapt. The fact they’re using native species for reforestation is a good sign.
Watching the transformation firsthand was incredible. The fish population alone has been a huge boon for the community.
The increased prices for mushrooms, especially termite mushrooms, has really upped the villagers’ income. It’s a win-win.
And it’s not just about money. The educational benefits for the children with youth camps and conservation activities are invaluable.
Absolutely, teaching kids about sustainability early on can lead to a future generation that prioritizes the environment.
I agree, but we also need to ensure that these projects remain well-funded and supported long-term, or they could collapse.
True, consistent oversight and funding are critical. Hopefully, the success in Yasothon sets a precedent for future initiatives.
The community’s unity and dedication played a massive role. This kind of collaboration is what all development projects need.
It looks like a model for how communities can work together with government support to create sustainable futures.