In 2005, Floresta came alongside Upland Holistic Development Project (UHDP) in Northern Thailand to provide support and training for marginalized hill tribes. Floresta and UHDP share a remarkably similar vision for helping poor farmers address issues of poverty and environmental degradation. In 2006, UHDP celebrated 10 years of empowering hill tribe communities with relevant and sustainable options addressing issues of poverty, lack of citizenship and related rights, and the loss of access to and degradation of forests and upland fields.
UHDP began with two local hill tribe staff members and has grown to support 13 full time staff along with several student interns working to bring about a higher quality of life and dignity among their own people. Since 1996 UHDP has worked primarily with the Palaung and Kachin hill tribes, and later in 2003, began working with the Lahu and Akha. Currently, there are 18 hill tribes communities in the UHDP focus area. Huay Pong is the first village within this focus area to be supported by Floresta through the Sponsor a Village Program.
Through UHDP assistance within the last two years, over 100 farmers have begun to adopt agroforestry and sustainable farming practices and the agroforest network has grown to 69 members. Backyard agriculture workshops have assisted over 100 families, promoting home gardens and the raising of pigs and catfish. Expanded and improved village water systems have provided 8 communities with year-round access to clean water. Among the UHDP focus areas, over 3700 residents have received citizenship/legal residence. New microfinance programs have benefited over 80 families with loans for livestock and micro-enterprise. Over 2000 women have participated in capacity building workshops and trainings in handicraft production.
In partnership with UHDP in 2007, Floresta worked with farmers in the Northern hilltribes, providing training in agroforestry and sustainable farming, as well as on-site research support.
- More than 100 farmers have begun to adopt agroforestry and sustainable farming practices
- 69 individuals joined Floresta and UHDP’s network of agroforestry farmers
- Backyard agriculture workshops assisted over 100 families, promoting home gardens and the raising of pigs and catfish.
- Expanded and improved village water systems provided 8 communities with year-round access to clean water.
- Microfinance programs benefited over 80 families, providing them with loans for livestock and small business enterprises.
- Over 2000 women participated in capacity building workshops and trainings in handicraft production.
- Floresta provided UHDP with technical support in agroforestry and microfinance, assisting in related village based plant trials and staff and network member trainings.
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