Forestry and
Environmental Protection 
Growing trees for the Village Bank
PDI - PDA focuses on building awareness of how communities can influence
their social condition through sustainable environmental activities.
PDI - PDA believes the notion that by focusing on environmentally
sustainable activities, barriers to economic success can be removed
within these communities, thereby empowering their residents. The
genius behind integrated development projects is that they recognize
the complex interconnectedness of a person’s health, the health
of his or her environment, and their ability to generate income, taking
advantage of this interconnectedness.
The main focus of PDI - PDA’s forestry and environmental programs
is to generate funds to be used in community development projects,
by planting trees in degraded forest land. For each tree planted and
sold, funds are earned, reinvested and saved. With management guidance
from PDI - PDA, the funds are saved in the Village Bank; a community
micro-credit loan where residents can collectively save funds earned
which then allow the Bank to
lend money for youth operated businesses. |
|

Youth getting involved
Community members will be
asked to generate savings and to buy some shares in the Village Bank.
The Bank is managed by trained community members, comprised of 50%
women, and supervised by PDI - PDA and a local bank. Prior to borrowing,
villagers are encouraged to deposit savings and buy shares in the
Bank. The children in the community watch as the trees mature, providing
continuing protection.
For example:
# of trees |
Amount deposited to the Village
Bank |
1 |
40 Baht (around US $1.25) |
10,000 |
400,000 Baht (around US $12,500) |
PDI has created a model for development that has proven to be highly
effective, not only according to our impact studies, but also by the
enthusiastic embrace of the model by the local residents and officials,
and their desire to take an active part in its proliferation. Children
especially enjoy getting involved! |