*if we do want to mention sugar* sugarcane farmers in the Northeast region generally plant their cane in October and November, and in the Eastern Central Plains region, November to February. Planting in the irrigated area of the North region is December to April and May to June in the rain-fed area. In the Western Central Plains area, planting in irrigated areas is from January to March and in the rain-fed area May to June. While the sugarcane crop calendar varies by region, the growing period is about 10 to 14 months depending on the variety of cane.

Each nut is sold at one Thai Baht, while the betel nut leaves are sold at 100 leaves per 50 Baht. Mun Doo Jam, a 74 year old Khon San local, currently has betel nut trees on his land that have been growing for 30 years. Throughout his lifetime, he has only planted betel nut trees twice.        *Villagers are fearful that company will exhaust their water sources.* *eventually mention that only 2 of the 8 sub-districts are benefitting from it- the 6 affected sub-districts are the ones being hurt*

Introduction

Khon San district is located in Chaiyaphum province in northeastern Thailand. Home to over 60,000 villagers, it is approximately 967 square kilometers and consists of 8 sub-districts and 85 villages. The main occupation of villagers is farming, at 80 percent, with para rubber farming making up only 10 percent of the overall occupations. Despite its small percentage, para rubber farming is receiving immense attention due to the controversial construction of a rubber factory.

The construction of the rubber factory will jeopardize the livelihood of six sub-districts. The effects will range from the contamination of water, to the disruption of farming and severe changes in biodiversity. Smells from the rubber factory will also have an impact on individuals occupying government office buildings and schools within the 5 kilometer radius.

*better transition* Kon Saan’s staples include betel nut, betel nut leaf, colocasia and vegetable fern.

The contamination is salient due to the citizens’ heavy dependence on the area’s natural resources, such as forests and underground water sources. These water sources include rivers and geysers.

Currently, Kon Saan villagers are preparing for their lawsuit against the Administrative Court, which approved the permit for the construction of the rubber factory. As the fight against the rubber factory continues, it is important to understand the current ecology of Kon Saan and what is at risk of depletion/being eradicated.

This ecology report gives insight into Kon Saan’s community history and discusses the biodiversity of the district through a series of human perspectives and surveys of the area.

*Vilagers are fearful that company will exhaust their water sources.* **eventually mention that only 2 of the 8 sub-districts are benefitting from it- the 6 affected sub-districts are the ones being hurt

Community History *talk about how the district was established* *talk about the additional agricultural produce relevant to Khon San:

coconut, banana, pineapple* *talk about the 4 primary water sources* PHYSICAL INFO OF THE AREA Human perspectives

Konsan District 966.665 square kilometers Climate: typical monsoon climate 3 seasons Administration info:

o 1.8 sub-districtso 2. 85 villageso 3. 1 municipalityo 4. 8 sub-district administrative organizations (TAO)

Economic Infoo 1.Main occupation:

Farmer 80% Hiring labor 15% Others 5% Rubber farming makes up 10%

o 2.Additional occupation: soybean farming after harvest season, and raising animals

o 3.Number of banks One bank: Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural

Cooperations There are 4 high schools Should this (below) be included in community history or a section

about ecological area? Significant natural resources: forest Population:

o 1. total 61,229 peopleo 2.male 30,805 pplo 3.female 30,224 pplo 4.density of population 63.34 ppl/km2

Agriculture and industry 1.significant agricultural produce: rice, sugarcane, soybean,

cassava and pararubber o 2.significant water sources

Soen river, NamSu river, Thaplao (geyser), and Nalao (geyser) and Puhinladd (Water springing up from under the ground throughout the year)

o 3.Industrial factory: -

community based natural resource management Talk with the Mehs in the past villagers would grow rice and kanit (?) right now they grow a lot of sugarcane rice farming decreased because sugar cane price became very high places with good water sources grow rice more than once a year

expansion of family members causes them to cut down coconut trees there are limestone mountain areas, caves and underground water

sources mountains are on the west of Kon Saan and the water flow is from the

east side

One elderly woman, who the heck was she?!, explained that the current farming habits have changed over time. While rice and Kanif were commonly grown crops in the past, villagers have moved away from rice farming and into the production of sugar cane, due to the rapid increase in sugar cane’s price. Farmers with access to good water sources still grow rice more than once a year, though. Need a transition here. With the expansion of families and growth in population, coconut trees were cut down to create more room. Other natural resources she mentioned include limestone mountain areas, caves and abundant underground water sources. The limestone mountains lie to the west of Kon Saan and the water flow lies to the east.

Key Players(Bios on old village man, people who love khon saan leader, maybe the spiritual medium elder lady)

Mun Doo Jam Room 74 years old born in this village since he was born, his family has been growing betel nuts he has grow two sets of betel nut tress the betel nut tress currently on his land have been there for

over 30 years villagers, including him, in the area grown coconut, mangos,

bananas, jackfruit, rice, betel nuts after consumption, the rest is sold selling fruits in the livelihood the betel nut leaves are sold at 100 pieces for 50 baht he digs up the underground water himself he says the entire Kon Saan district will be impacted by

factory he also sells the core of the coconut leave he has no idea what he will do post factory the geyser is 3km from him

Elder Yang Tupehd 82 years old ancestors, grandparents and parents lived here medium between here and spiritual world will maker predictions about rubber factory before it was hard for outsiders to come in

o there was sickness and mountains and forest area closed off the are

there are 4 main geysers in the district

Leader of People Who Love Kon Saan Wheat Ched Ud Santia former director of Kon Saan school for 8 years

retired from 3 years he has built his house over the last 7 years the group formed after they learned about the construction of

rubber factory there have been activities to protest, collaborate with local

organizations, marching protests they are fighting against factory and high ranking officials who have

been trying to get the factory built the one time they weren’t able to keep up the plans for the rubber

factory, officials took this opportunity to give the factory its license - this was during a time of high political chaos

right now the movement is focusing on legals actions so the divide among villagers isn’t posing as many issues

government officials will always side with the campaign of the investors - this is intense capitalism

the factory will be 200-300 meters away from his house there will be a strong smell and air pollution - sulfur dioxide and

hydrocarbon villagers won’t drink rain water the transportation of rubber will cause chemicals to fall into the

strees 10 km radius will be very smelly especially at the intersection eventually they will have to move out there will be more motorcy accidents the factory will construct a reservoir and pump up the water they will dig deeper than villagers typically do factory will construct polluted ponds, which are at risk of flooding the next move will depend on the impact of the factory Species: there are seagulls that fly to Kon Saan during cold season

o wild rabbitso fresh water types of fisho kai pam (?)o in dry season you will find crabs under rockso wen (?) - fresh water morning glory

a small fraction of villagers will get jobs from factoryo act the beginning it’ll be locals but they’ll resign because of

the smell and then immigrant labor will be used it will benefit rubber farmers who won’t have to travel as far the market price of rubber will be the same but if farmers team up

as a co-op and sell rubber they’ll benefit the governor of the area has a strong relationship with the rubber

factory and has a rubber farm - he invited the factory overo he will get commission

Physical Info of Area [Natural Resources] 4 main geysers in the district (Do they have names or locations we could

put on a map?) nah, we’ll have to ask cause this is what the elder said

The district of Khon San has four main natural spring sources: Nam PHut Thap Laos, Nam PHut Na Wong Duan, Nam Phut Hin Lat, and Nam Phut Na Lao. the links have locations that we should include on the map!!!!!

There are 4 main natural spring water spots in Khon San, includingo 1. Nam Phut Thap Laos

https://plus.google.com/114414415918244700466/about? gl=th&hl=en

16°32'32.7"N 101°51'06.1"E

16.542408, 101.851697o 2. Nam Phut Na Wong Duan

https://plus.google.com/113033113472966692284/about? gl=th&hl=en

16°34'28.7"N 101°53'56.0"E

16.574630, 101.898901o 3. Nam Phut Hin Lat

https://plus.google.com/113033113472966692284/about? gl=th&hl=en

o 4. Nam Phut Na Lao https://plus.google.com/109216884846321856288/about?

gl=th&hl=en

Image of Species Name and Description of Species

betel nut trees - The chewing of betel nuts is most common among elders. A mortar is created using betel nut leave and the bark of the tree. Research suggests that chewing betel nut can strengthen one’s immune system as well as gums and

teeth. However, there are studies that counter the suggested benefit of betel nut. Individuals who chew the nut are at high risk of mouth, esophageal, throat and stomach cancer. *indicative of culture*. *idk how much we want to talk about the health benefit because it seems like the costs outweigh the benefit and that kind of works in favor of the construction of the rubber factory. maybe we should focus more so on the economic benefits*

Paag Naam

Paag Kah

Toon

Dan See Et

Tdoy leaf

Chili

fish (snakehead & catfish)

crabs

wild rabbits

Cai Pam

morning glory

seagulls

coconut

sugarcane

cassava

Vegetable Fern/Pak Good

Colocasia/Bon is native to southeastern Thailand. I can be eaten as a potato and the leaves can be boiled in coconut milk to make a soup.

1.(Around Mun Doo Jam Roon’s Crib)

How do I introduce where we were (fix thisssss) Around this area, chilis are grown and picked for fresh consumption or laid out to dry. Sugarcane, another crop grown in the area, is watered using the four (?) underground water sources. This water comes up from underground and flows through various creeks, allowing farmers and fellow villagers from all over to gain access. But the rubber factory will threaten this easy access and contaminate the water sources for the villagers. During dry periods of the year, the factory will pump water out of the underground sources, capitalizing on the year-round flow of water. Once the weather transitions into the rainy season, rain will wash pollutants down from the factory, contaminating the water.

The villagers are not sure if they will be able to stop using the water, despite contamination, because it is very important for farming. Furthermore, much of the ecological life in the area will be threatened. Before the factory, the villagers collected vegetables, fish, crabs, and shells from their surrounding area. With the factory, however, the villagers are not sure if the fish will survive. Some species of these fish are…….. The local extinction of these fish will force the villagers to buy their food at markets, which is an expensive change in lifestyle. A LOT NEEDS ADDED TO THIS

There is chili picking - fresh and dry underground water comes up and flows through creek the water is used for watering sugarcane spring water/geyser is the source of the creek and is the water source of

villagers

Big leaf from betel nut trees - (piper betle) before entering the villager there is a creek that comes from another

geyser in the rainy season, rain will wash down from the factory and contaminate

the water when it’s not rainy season, the factory will pump out water from the geyser

because it flows all year around the villagers don’t know if they’ll stop using the water because it is very

important for farming they collect vegetables, fish, crab and shells they don’t know if the fish will survive there is a Thank You River Festival (name in thai?) held by creek other local vegetables are Pac Nam(?) and Pac Ka(?) Species of fish - snakehead and catfish villagers will have to buy at the market betel nut is used for Thai snacks other local vegetables: toon(?) skin of the tree (dan see et?) will dry and be chewed with betel nuts, which

makes the red color Tdoy leaf(?)

o natural food coloring for dessertso makes herbal drinkso mixed with flower and offered to buddha image/monk

2. **Refer to Chapter 2 of Myanmar biodiversity report SPECIES BIOS? Bio on betelnut tree

betel nuts are exported to Taiwan, India and a tribe (name?) that exists in Northern Burma and Thailandvillagers used to grow a lot of betel nuts

used to be a cash crop people grow it in the garden in the back of their

house

Two column table (pictures of species with associated info, stories, history, etc)

Trends and changes in biodiversity??o vegetation, native species, introduced/invasive species, animalso threatened species?

Dependence on water???o Soen River Basin?

Threats to biodiversity: place to include rubber factory info?? underlying factors

3. Visit to Hin Roy Moy(?) River/Soluke(?) Creek water will flow through canal concern that factory will contaminate water species in the area

o before there was more water

o villagers would collect their water from river with basket - now there is a water supply

o buffalo/cow/cattle with come here for watero villagers will catch fish hereo local veg - morning glory, lotus, wen(?)o there will be less fish, crab, shells

full of water in the rainy season villagers use vegetables for food and the rest are sold villagers will be scared to use vegetables after the construction of the

factory the alternative will be to buy from the market Soluke(?) Creek

o water from the creek is used for farmingo they don’t think that they will be able to grow rice anymore once the

factory is builto growing anything will require water from the creek

may stop farming cassava and sugar cane is what one of the mehs currently grows in dry season she pumps underground water she is afraid that the factory will use up most of this water rice uses the most water, sugarcane and cassava don’t use much water

but it will still be hard to grow because all the water sources will be used

o villagers uses

**Current land uses Use previous anti-factory document to create boxed lists of

schools, communities, government offices, and local government/organizations within 5km radius of factory

Identify as many species as possible Flora and fauna within 5km radius of factory Trace rivers

ask about their specific purposes will/how will the rubber factory destroy these resources? how will this affect their livelihoods?

HUMAN IMPACT within 5km of factory site

COMMUNITIES Nam Phu Pangwua Village Na pRong Village Khon San Sub-district Sum Chompu Village Sum Phuthong Village Thung Nalao Sub-district Non Puem village Tai Thung village Don Udom village Doa Dae village Non Champa village

Huay Yang village Muang Village Na Bua village Fai Din Saw village Dong Bang Nua village Dong Bang Tai village Non Wan Prai village Sai Sa-aat Dong Bang Sub-district

SCHOOLS Khon San Technology School Nawong Duen School Pang Namphu School Fai Din Saw School Ban Muang School Na Bua School Dong Bang School Khon San School Anuban Supamon School Anuban Nattapan School Non Puem School Don Udom School Huay Yang School Non Huana School Kon San Wittayakom School Nakoh School Nam Phu Hin Lad School

GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES Khon San Farmer Cooperative Khon San District Office Khon San Olice Station Huay Yang Police Station Khon San District Hospital Huay Yang Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital Dong Bang Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital Thung Na Lao Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital

LOCAL GOVERNMENT/ORGANIZATIONS Khon San Sub-district Administrative Organization Khon San Municipality Office Dong Bang Sub-district Administrative Organization Thung Na Lao Sub-district Administrative Organization

Huay yang Municipality Office

Mapping River Flow1. Number of bodies of water?

Soen River Basin?o Page 1 of Chapter 1

2. Structure of Water Sources (GIS) Soen River Basin

o Physical geography - Page 1-2 of Chapter 1o Boundary and scope - map on page 3 of chapter 1

Descriptive Analysis Maps (GIS) Google Earth?

Rubber Factory Information (Timeline in appendix)

Pictures of protesting:

1. http://www.dailynews.co.th/Content/crime/75398/%E0%B8%8A %E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2

2. http://prachatai.com/journal/2013/10/49182 3. http://thaingo.org/thaingo/node/2426

Much of the info about factory overlaps with the info about fight against factory- could combine the sections?

Currently, villagers are trying to get Administrative court to dismiss the license given to the factory

Some of the villagers were not happy due what was said at the meeting in an aggressive and violent tone

In fact, some villagers refuse to sign the petition against the Administrative court

Villagers in this(?) village buy trees to make charcoal Half of the villagers moved here from other areas to live in Kon Saan They are bakers in a lot of city areas The factory has spent 300,000 baht per rai of land The factory is waiting on a real estate agent to help them purchase the

rest of the land required Meanwhile, the owner of the land continues to grow cassava on the land the owner has cut down trees in order to farm The rubber factory cuts down trees soon after putting a deposit down on

the land Cassava takes about a month to harvest, while sugarcane takes about a

year So, the land that is about to be sold to the factory is more suitable for

cassava

Monk Plasma(?) - process by factory to reduce pollution but they will do this only

where there are sufficient number of complaints there is only 2.5 km between plant and hospitals and other government

offices will be one of the top 5 largest rubber factories in thailand the like the location to highway, connects to the north, less of risk of

flooding for the factory specifically and there are power plants nearby Kon Saan covers 8 subdistricts and only 2 districts were in favor of the

plant the 2 districts are about 20 km away from the plant and grow rubber

Plan for Fighting Against Rubber FactoryIn the plan against the rubber factory, Khon San community members have chosen to file a lawsuit against the Administrative Court. As mentioned by Chead, the Administrative Court took advantage of the heated political climate to grant a permit for the construction of the factory. The calamity surrounding the Thai government momentarily shifted the focus of Khon San villagers. The TAO saw an opportunity to follow through with the documentation necessary for the factory.

Although the construction of the factory has been approved, Chead reveals that there is still a possibility that the decision can be overturned. According to lawyer representing Khon San *we should find out his name*, the documents given to TAO for approval were incomplete.

The land designated for the factory was previously covered with mushrooms, pac wan and pac sab. Now, many of the trees have been cut down by both officials and farmers to prepare for construction. The farmers who plan to sell their land to the factory and are waiting for a downpayment cut down trees in order to plant cassava *fix this*. Cassava takes approximately a month to harvest.

Join People Who Love Kon Saan right now the group is suing lawyer said it was possible to win the case because the documents

for approval that were given by the TAO weren’t completewhere the factory is being built there used to be mushrooms, pac wan, pac sab (?)in the rainy season, the frogs would come out and eat these plantsvillagers won’t be able to conserve rain water because of air pollutionthey don’t know if relocation is a viable solutionRubber farming is less than 10% of Kon Saan profession

Process of Rubber Factory Recent History

Appendix-include timeline of Rubber Factory

Sources