Global Environment Facility
GEF/C.8/10
September 4, 1996
GEF Council
October 8 - 10, 1996
Agenda Item 10
I. INTRODUCTION
II. GEF COUNCIL MEETINGS
III. OPERATIONAL STRATEGY
IV. OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
A. Enabling activities and implementation of Article 6 of the Convention
B. Project Preparation Financing
C. Projects in the Area of Biodiversity
V. IMPLEMENTATION OF CONVENTION GUIDANCE
Guidance from the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties
(November/December 1994)
Guidance from the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties
(November 1995)
VI. OTHER MATTERS
A. Outreach to Countries
B. Clearing-house Mechanism
C. Incremental Costs
TABLE 1: PROJECT PREPARATION
FINANCING IN THE AREA OF INTERNATIONAL WATERS INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT
BIODIVERSITY COMPONENTS 8
TABLE 2: PROJECT PROPOSALS IN
THE AREA OF INTERNATIONAL WATERS INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT BIODIVERSITY
COMPONENTS 9
TABLE 3: PROJECTS ADDRESSING
IN-SITU CONSERVATION
TABLE 4: PROJECT PREPARATION
FOR IN-SITU CONSERVATION
ANNEX A: PROJECT PREPARATION
FINANCING APPROVED IN THE REPORTING PERIOD 29
ANNEX B: PROJECT PROPOSALS APPROVED
IN THE REPORTING PERIOD
ANNEX C: LIST OF PROJECT IDEAS
SUBMITTED BY ELIGIBLE PARTIES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD AND
THEIR STATUS
ANNEX D: COMPLETE LIST OF GEF
EXPENDITURES IN THE AREA OF BIODIVERSITY
I. INTRODUCTION
1. At its first meeting, the
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
requested the GEF to prepare and submit through the Convention
Secretariat an annual report on its operations in support of the
Convention. At its second meeting, the Conference of the Parties
requested the GEF "to take the following comments into account
when preparing the report to be submitted to the third meeting
of the Conference of the Parties:
(a) Detailed information should
be provided on the conformity of the approved work programs with
the guidance of the Conference of the Parties;
(b) A list of projects submitted
by eligible country Parties and information on their status should
be included."
2. At its meeting in April 1996,
the GEF Council approved an approach for reporting to the Conference
of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity consistent
with the guidance of the Convention. This approach is to submit
to each Conference of the Parties the most recent GEF Annual Report
and Quarterly Operational Report, together with a report prepared
specially for the Conference of the Parties containing factual
up-dates to the two documents and an analysis of the GEF activities
in the area of biological diversity demonstrating how the Convention's
guidance has been implemented.
3. This report has been prepared
in response to the request of the Conference of the Parties for
the GEF to report on its activities in the area of biological
diversity. It has been approved by the Council for submission
to the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention
on Biological Diversity together with the GEF Annual Report
for 1995 and the Quarterly Operational Report (July 1996).
The GEF Annual Report, Section II, Biological Diversity, covers
the activities of the GEF in the area of biological diversity
for fiscal year 1995 (July 1, 1994 through June 30, 1995). This
report covers the period of July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996, and
addresses the year's activities since the last report to the Conference
of the Parties.
II. GEF COUNCIL MEETINGS
4. The GEF Council met three
times during the period July 1, 1995 to June 30 1996: July 18
to 20, 1995, October 25 to 27, 1995, and April 2 to 4, 1996. At
each Council meeting the Convention on Biological Diversity was
represented by the Executive Secretary of the Convention. The
Executive Secretary addressed each meeting and participated in
a question and answer session with the Council.
5. During the reporting period,
the Council made the following decisions of direct relevance to
GEF biodiversity activities:
(a) Approval of the GEF Operational
Strategy;
(b) Approval of two work programs,
which brings the GEF financing for biodiversity activities to
a total of US$ 437.11 million through June 1996. These
projects include US$ 293.79 million of co-financing, which results
in total project financing for biodiversity activities amounting
to US$ 730.90 million.
(c) Approval of expedited procedures
and an initial allocation of $30 million to support enabling activities;
(d) Approval of terms of reference
for the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP). In reviewing
the terms of reference, the Council requested that STAP interact
in a collaborative and cooperative manner with the scientific
and technical bodies of the Conventions. The Council noted that
STAP's work should be complementary, and not duplicative,
to the work of the Convention bodies;
(e) Approval of the GEF policy
on public involvement in GEF-financed projects; and
(f) Agreement to request that
the Secretariat prepare for Council consideration a proposal on
ways to streamline the processing and financing of medium-sized
projects.
III. GEF OPERATIONAL STRATEGY
6. The GEF Operational Strategy,
which fully incorporates the guidance of the Conference of the
Parties, was developed to guide the GEF in the preparation of
country-driven initiatives in its four focal areas, including
biological diversity. Specifically, the GEF Operational Strategy
chapter concerning biological diversity activities recognizes
that:
"The GEF's objectives
in biological diversity derive from the objectives of the Convention
on Biological Diversity: "the conservation of biological
diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair
and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization
of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic
resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies,
taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies,
and by appropriate funding." All GEF-funded activities in
biodiversity will be in full conformity with the guidance provided
by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity."
7. The GEF Operational Strategy
was prepared on the basis of consultations and preparatory work
of the GEF Secretariat and the GEF Implementing Agencies. The
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity was invited
to attend relevant meetings so as to ensure that the strategy
fully integrated the guidance approved by the Conference of the
Parties.
8. In accordance with the guidance,
the GEF Operational Strategy provides for three categories of
activities: (i) operational programs encompassing long-term measures,
(ii) enabling activities, and (iii) short-term response measures.
Land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation,
as it relates to biodiversity issues has also been addressed in
the strategy for biological diversity activities.
9. The strategy provides that
long-term measures are to be developed within the context of an
operational program. An operational program is a conceptual and
planning framework for the design, implementation, and coordination
of a set of projects to achieve a global environmental objective.
It organizes the development of country-driven projects and ensures
systematic coordination between the Implementing Agencies and
other actors.
10. In the area of biological diversity, four initial operational programs have been identified:
(i) Arid and semi-arid ecosystems;
(ii) Coastal, marine, and freshwater ecosystems (including wetlands);
(iii) Forest ecosystems; and
(iv) Mountain ecosystems.
11. Copies of the GEF Operational
Strategy will be made available at the third meeting of the Conference
of the Parties.
IV. OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES
IN THE AREA OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
A. Enabling activities and
implementation of Article 6 of the Convention
12. Both Decision II/6, Financial
Resources and Mechanism and Decision II/7, Consideration
of Articles 6 and 8 of the Convention, adopted by the second
meeting of the Conference of the Parties, requested the GEF to
facilitate urgent implementation of Article 6. Decision II/6 states:
"The Conference of the
Parties requests the interim institutional structure operating
the financial mechanism to facilitate urgent implementation of
Article 6 of the Convention by availing to developing country
Parties financial resources for projects in a flexible and expeditious
manner."
13. The GEF Operational Strategy
defines enabling activities in biodiversity as;
"[Activities] that prepare
the foundation to design and implement effective response measures
to achieve Convention objectives. They will assist recipient countries
to develop national strategies, plans or programs referred to
in Article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and to
identify components of biodiversity together with processes and
activities likely to have significant adverse impacts on conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity pursuant to Article 7 of the
Convention on Biological Diversity. They will normally involve
the review and assessment of information and will assist a recipient
country to gain a better understanding of the nature and scope
of its biodiversity assets and issues as well as a clearer sense
of the options for the sustainable management and conservation
of biodiversity. Enabling activities include supporting country-driven
activities for taking stock of or inventorying biodiversity based
on national programs and relying on studies, without new primary
research; identifying options and establishing priorities to conserve
and sustainably use biodiversity; preparing and developing biodiversity
planning exercises, such as national strategies, action plans
and sectoral plans; and disseminating of information through national
communications to the Convention on Biological Diversity.'
14. In order to facilitate and expedite the preparation and implementation of enabling projects, the GEF has taken the following steps:
(a) Operational Criteria for
enabling activities in the area of biological diversity have been
prepared. These criteria will facilitate project preparation and
adoption. The criteria have been developed in consultation with
the GEF Implementing Agencies and the Convention Secretariat;
(b) an expedited process for
approving enabling activities project proposals consistent with
the operational criteria was approved, recognizing the urgency
for implementing these activities and in light of their preparatory
nature to enable countries to move forward in implementing the
Convention;
(c) an initial allocation of
US$ 30 million was approved for enabling activities to expedite
a broad effort of enabling activities in support of biodiversity
and climate change conventions;
(d) the GEF and the Convention
Secretariats have taken steps to inform eligible countries of
the availability of financial resources to assist the implementation
of enabling activities.
15. In the period addressed by
this report, fifteen project proposals for enabling activities,
with GEF-financing of US$ 3.926 million, have been approved. Of
these, fourteen were approved under expedited procedures. With
these projects, the GEF has provided enabling assistance to 41
countries, including country studies, national plans and other
enabling activities components. Total funding for these activities
to date is US$ 64.18 million. The developing country Parties assisted
include:
Albania, Argentina, Bahamas,
Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, China, Chile, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Congo, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia,
Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhastan,
Kenya, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Syria, Uganda,
Vietnam, Yemen and Zaire.
16. In addition, during the reporting
period, ten proposals for project preparation financing were approved
to prepare projects that will provide enabling activities in the
following eligible countries:
Argentina, Benin, Botswana, Ghana,
Lesotho, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Uganda, and Zaire.
17. Given the urgency of activities
to enable developing country Parties to implement the Convention
on Biological Diversity, the Implementing Agencies expect to submit
an additional 40 enabling activity projects proposals during the
1997 fiscal year (July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1997).
B. Project Preparation Financing
18. The Project Development and
Preparation Facility (PDF) provides GEF financing for preparing
project proposals. 49% of PDF resources approved to date are for
the preparation of biodiversity projects. An analysis of the GEF
pipeline suggests that a large number of PDF-funded proposals
mature into full projects. Therefore, PDF proposals can provide
the Conference of the Parties with an idea of future GEF activities
in the area of biodiversity. During the reporting period, 35 PDF
proposals were approved in the area of biological diversity, totaling
US$ 4.67 million in project preparation funds. It is estimated
that the PDF financing approved during this reporting period should
result in approximately US$ 120 million in GEF support to biodiversity
projects. A list of approved PDF resources is contained in
Annex A to this report. At the Council meeting in April 1996,
the Implementing Agencies informed the GEF Council that a number
of projects in the area of biodiversity are in an advanced stage
of preparation.
C. Projects in the Area of
Biodiversity
19. The Council approved all
biological diversity project proposals presented in the two proposed
work programs submitted to it during the period addressed by this
report. In preparing proposals for inclusion in the proposed work
programs, the Implementing Agencies fully took into account the
guidance provided by the Conference of the Parties at its two
meetings. The views of the Convention Secretariat were solicited
on each project proposal in the area of biological diversity when
the project proposals were reviewed at the meetings of the GEF
Operations Committee prior to submission to the GEF CEO for inclusion
in the proposed work program.
20. Twenty biodiversity project
proposals were approved by the GEF Council or by the GEF Chief
Executive Officer during the period July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996
with GEF-financing of US$ 25.93 million, and total project financing
of US$ 57.10 million. Fifteen proposals are for enabling activities
(see above) and five are investment and technical assistance project
proposals. The developing country Parties implementing the latter
project proposals are:
Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Peru, South Africa, Swaziland, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
21. A list of approved biodiversity
project proposals is included in Annex B to this report. A fuller
description of each project proposal is included in the Quarterly
Operational Report (July 1996).
Small Grants Programme
22. The GEF Council approved
in October 1995 an additional allocation of US$ 24 million for
the small grants program. The small grants program was established
to complement the larger GEF work program by focusing specifically
on community-based activities, often implemented through NGOs,
to address local aspects of global environmental challenges. 147
small grants have been allocated in the area of biodiversity,
and an additional 21 grants are for projects that address all
four focal areas. These projects represent approximately 70% of
the small grants financing allocated during the reporting period.
For detailed information, please see the Quarterly Operational
Report (July 1996). Small grants have been allocated for biodiversity
activities in the following developing country Parties:
Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mali, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.
Financing for biological diversity activities outside the financial mechanism
23. The GEF Instrument provides
that when financing is provided outside the framework of the financial
mechanism of the Convention, GEF grants for activities within
the biodiversity focal area are only to be made available to eligible
recipient countries that are party to the Convention. Furthermore,
the GEF Operational Strategy specifies that when GEF provides
assistance outside the financial mechanism, it will ensure that
such assistance is fully consistent with the guidance provided
by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. With regard
to the period addressed in this report, two project proposals
are for activities in countries not eligible for financing under
the financial mechanism (Lithuania and Ukraine). Even though these
projects are financed outside the financial mechanism, the guidance
of the Conference of the Parties has been followed by the Implementing
Agencies in preparing the project proposals, and the views of
the Convention Secretariat were sought on each proposal.
Leveraging
24. One of the ten operational
principles of the GEF Operational Strategy provides, "in
seeking to maximize global environmental benefits, the GEF will
emphasize its catalytic role and leverage additional financing
from other sources." In the present reporting period, the
project co-financing exceeded that provided by the GEF: total
project financing was approximately US$ 57 million of which over
US$ 25 million was provided from GEF resources and almost US$
32 million was leveraged from other sources. In totality, financing
for biodiversity activities through June 1996 was US$ 730.90 million
of which over US$ 437 million was provided from GEF resources
and almost US$ 240 million was leveraged from other resources.
International waters projects
25. It should also be emphasized
that many projects in the GEF focal area of international waters
include significant biodiversity activities. The following international
waters project proposals and proposals for project preparation,
approved during the reporting period, contribute directly to the
conservation and sustainable use of fresh, marine and coastal
biodiversity elements. Total GEF financing for these activities
is US$ 40.2 million and total project financing is over US$ 90
million.
TABLE 1: PROJECT PREPARATION FINANCING IN THE AREA OF INTERNATIONAL WATERS INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT BIODIVERSITY COMPONENTS
|
|
| |
|
Lake Ohrid (Albania/Macedonia) | 285,000 | 285,000 |
| Aral Sea Basin, Env. Management (Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan) | 340,000 | 340,000 |
| Bermejo River (Argentina/Bolivia) | 280,000 | 280,000 |
| Red Sea and Gulf for Aden (Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen) | 340,000 | 340,000 |
| Okavango Delta (Angola, Botswana, Namibia) | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| Lake Chad Basin (Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria) | 347,000 | 347,000 |
| Dnieper River Basin (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine) | 261,000 | 261,000 |
| Black Sea (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine) | 49,000 | 49,000 |
| Danube River Basin (Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tcheck., Ukraine) | 290,000 | 290,000 |
|
TOTAL FINANCING | 2,542,000 | 2,542,000 |
INTERNATIONAL WATERS INCLUDING
SIGNIFICANT BIODIVERSITY COMPONENTS
|
|
| |
|
Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) | 35,000,000 | 77,800,000 |
| Gulf of Aqaba (Jordan) | 2,700,000 | 12,670,000 |
|
TOTAL FINANCING | 37,700,000 | 90,470,000 |
V. IMPLEMENTATION OF CONVENTION
GUIDANCE
26. In response to the request
of the Conference of the Parties, this section summarizes how
the financial mechanism has responded to the guidance of the Conference
of the Parties.
27. The policy, strategy, program
priorities and eligibility criteria for access to utilization
of financial resources adopted by the first meeting of the Conference
of the Parties were taken fully into account in preparing the
GEF Operational Strategy, and are being further incorporated into
the biodiversity operational programs under development pursuant
to the strategy. The strategy also provides that "the GEF
will maintain the flexibility needed to respond to new developments
and incorporate continuing guidance from the relevant Conventions
and the GEF Council."
Guidance from the first meeting
of the Conference of the Parties (November/December 1994)
28. The Conference of the Parties identified thirteen program priorities at its first meeting. The GEF has funded a number of activities in response to these priorities. The following describes the GEF activities approved during the reporting period which respond to each of the program priorities.
(a)
Projects and program that have national priority status and
that fulfill the obligations of the Convention
29. The GEF Operations Committee
(GEFOP) ensures that GEF projects are country driven. Project
proposals are prepared in accordance with the GEF Operational
Strategy, which specifies "GEF programs and projects will
be country-driven" The GEF project cycle specifies that a
letter of endorsement from a country's national operational focal
point must accompany each project proposal. The Conference of
the Parties has determined that only developing country Parties
are eligible to receive GEF financing under the Convention's financial
mechanism. The view of the CBD Secretariat concerning eligibility
is sought on each project proposal.
30. The GEF Instrument also specifies
that a country must be a party to the Convention on Biological
Diversity in order to receive GEF financing in the area of biological
diversity.
(b)
Development of integrated national strategies, plans or programs
for the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use
of its components in accordance with article 6 of the Convention
31. Enabling activity projects
address this program priority. Fifteen enabling activity projects
were approved during the reporting period. In order to expedite
further enabling activities, a number of measures have been taken
(See paragraphs 12 to 17).
(c)
Strengthening conservation, management and sustainable use
of ecosystems and habitats identified by national Governments
in accordance with article 7 of the Convention
32. One regional project,
Inventory, Evaluation and Monitoring of Botanical Diversity in
Southern Africa, (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South
Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) particularly addresses
this program priority. Other projects have components which respond
to the priority.
(d)
Identification and monitoring of wild and domesticated biodiversity
components, in particular those under threat, and implementation
of measures for their conservation and sustainable use
33. Financing to prepare three
project proposals supporting this program priority has been approved.
They are:
|
| |
|
Africa (Uganda, Zaire) | Survivial for Northern White Rhino |
| India | Coral Reefs Rehabilitation and Management Project |
| Indonesia | Coral Reefs Rehabilitation and Management Project |
(e)
Capacity-building, including human resources development and
institutional development and/or strengthening, to facilitate
the preparation and /or implementation of national strategies,
plans for priority programmes and activities for conservation
of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components
34. The GEF Operational Strategy
provides: "GEF operations will be programmed in three broad,
interrelated categories: Operational programs, Enabling activities
and Short-term response measures." Enabling activities provide
assistance for capacity-building and are aimed at the preparation
of national strategies and plans. (see paragraphs 12 to 17).
35. In addition, the following approved project preparation financing and project proposals address the program priorities described in this paragraph:
|
| |
|
Regional (Anigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago) | Development of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans for Small Island States of the Caribbean |
| Chad | Building Capacity for Biodiversity Conservation |
| Ghana | Development of Policy and Institutional Framework for Bioprospecting |
| Lesotho | Developing a Biodiversity Conservation Program for Lesotho |
| Romania | Biodiversity Priority Setting and Action Plan |
| Zaire | Building Institutional Capacity to Strategically Plan and Manage for Biodiversity and Protected Areas |
|
| |
|
Regional (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela), | Action for Sustainable Amazonia |
(f)
In accordance with Article 16 of the Convention, and to meet
the objectives of conservation of biological diversity and sustainable
use of its components, projects which promote access to, transfer
of and cooperation for joint development of technology
36. The regional project,
Inventory, Evaluation and Monitoring of Botanical Diversity in
Southern Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South
Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) responds to this program
priority.
(g) Projects that promote
the sustainability of project benefits; that offer a potential
contribution to experience in the conservation of biological diversity
and sustainable use of its components which may have application
elsewhere; and encourage scientific excellence
37. Among the projects approved
during the fiscal year, the following respond, in particular,
to this priority:
|
| |
|
Regional (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe), | Inventory, Evaluation and Monitoring of Botanical Diversity in Southern Africa |
| Regional
(Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru) | Biodiversity Enterprise Fund for Latin America |
(h) Activities that provide
access to other international, national and/or private sector
funds and scientific and technical cooperation
38. One of the operational principles
for development and implementation of the GEF's work program is
"in seeking to maximize global environmental benefits, the
GEF will emphasize its catalytic role and leverage additional
financing from other sources." During the reporting period,
the following projects have leveraged additional resources:
|
| |
|
Comoros | Island Biodiversity |
| Vietnam | Creating Protected Areas for Resources Conservation |
| Regional
(Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe) | Inventory, Evaluation and Monitoring of Botanical Diversity in Southern Africa |
| Regional
(Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru) | Biodiversity Enterprise Fund for Latin America |
39. Among these projects, the Biodiversity Enterprise Fund for Latin America will support the establishment of a fund of up to $30 million to make equity and quasi-equity investments in Latin American companies that sustainably use or protect biodiversity.
(i) Innovative measures, including
in the field of economic incentives, aiming at conservation of
biological diversity and/or sustainable use of its components,
including those which assist developing countries to address situations
where opportunity costs are incurred by local communities and
to identify ways and means by which these can be compensated,
in accordance with article 11 of the Convention
40. The following project
preparation financing and project proposals contain innovative
measures, including the use of economic incentive measures to
promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use:
|
| |
|
Brazil | Juruena Feasibility Study for Industrial Production of Non-timber Forest Products |
|
| |
|
Vietnam | Creating Protected Areas for Resources Conservation |
| Regional
(Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela) | Action for Sustainable Amazonia |
| Regional
(Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru), | Biodiversity Enterprise Fund for Latin America |
(j) Projects that strengthen
the involvement of local and indigenous people in the conservation
of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components
41. As stated in paragraphs
35 and 36 of this report, the Council approved a policy
on public involvement in GEF projects. GEF-financed projects will
provide for consultation and participation, as appropriate, of
local and indigenous communities. The following project highlights
in particular the involvement of local and indigenous communities:
|
| |
|
Comoros | Island Biodiversity |
| Vietnam | Creating Protected Areas for Resources Conservation |
(k) Projects that promote
the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity of
coastal and marine resources under threat. Also, projects which
promote the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable
use of its components in other environmentally vulnerable areas
such as arid and semi-arid and mountainous areas
42. Among four initial operational
programs under development in the area of biodiversity, three
address these listed priorities. They are:
(a) Arid and semi-arid ecosystems
(b) Coastal, marine, and freshwater ecosystems (including wetland), and
(c) Mountain ecosystems.
43. Project preparation financing
and project proposals approved during the reporting period, which
respond to this priorities are:
|
| |
|
Regional (Comoros, Madagscar, Seychelles) | A Marine Biodiversity Conservation Programme for the Western Indian Ocean |
| Regional
(Angola, Botswana, Namibia) | Integrated Okavango River Basin Hydro-Environmental Project |
| Regional
(Albania, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia) | Mediterranean Wetlands |
| Regional
(Lebanon, Jordan) | Germplasm for Arid Lands and Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use of Dryland Biodiverity within Priority Agro-Ecosystems |
| India | Conservation and Management of Marine and Coastal Biodiversity |
| India | Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Project |
| Indonesia | Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Project |
| Uganda | Biodiversity and Conservation in Non-Protected Areas |
|
| |
|
Comoros | Island Biodiversity |
| Vietnam | Creating Protected Areas for Resources Protection |
(l) Projects that promote the conservation and/or sustainable use of endemic species
44. The following approved activities
address the conservation and/or sustainable use of endemic species:
|
| |
|
Lebanon | Strengthening of National Capacity and Grassroots In-Situ Conservation for Sustainable Biodiversity Protection |
| Peru | In-Situ Conservation of Native Cultivars and Wild Relatives |
| Regional
(Lebanon, Jordan) | Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use of Dryland Biodiversity within Priority Agro-Ecosystems |
| Sierra Leone | Genetic Resource Network |
|
| |
|
Comoros | Island Biodiversity |
| Regional
(Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe) | Inventory, Evaluation and Monitoring of Botanical Diversity in Southern Africa |
(m) Projects aimed at the
conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its
components which integrate social dimensions including those related
to poverty
45. The GEF Operational
Strategy provides that: "GEF projects will be linked with
national sustainable development efforts;" "sustainable
achievement of global biodiversity benefits ... are related to
appropriate national policy frameworks and plans of sectoral,
economic, and social development; and "GEF activities
will be designed so as to ... be environmentally, socially and
financially sustainable."
46. Project preparation and project
proposals funded by the GEF in the area of biodiversity do integrate
social dimensions, including those related to poverty. Some particularly
relevant examples from this reporting period are:
|
| |
|
Regional (Angola, Botswana, Namibia) | Integrated Okavango River Basin Hydro-Environmental Project |
| Benin | Preperation of a National Parks Management and Conservation Plan |
| Ghana | Development of Policy and Institutional Framework for Bioprospecting |
| India | Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Project |
| Indonesia | Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Project |
| Uganda | Biodiversity and Conservation in Non-Protected Areas |
|
| |
|
Regional (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela | Action for Sustainable Amazonia |
| Vietnam | Creating Protected Areas for Resources Conservation |
Guidance from the second meeting
of the Conference of the Parties (November 1995)
47. After reviewing the guidance
approved by the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties,
it was considered that the new guidance could be addressed fully
within the context of the approved GEF operational strategy. Furthermore,
the guidance of the Convention is being emphasized in the preparation
of the operational programs called for in the strategy. Additional
operational programs will be identified and prepared as required
to fulfill the evolving guidance of the Conference of the Parties.
Specific actions undertaken in response to the requests of the
second meeting of the Conference of the Parties, such as expediting
enabling activities and medium-sized grants and preparing a report
on modalities to provide support to developing country Parties
for capacity-building in relation to the operation of the clearing-house
mechanism, are described below.
Decision II/3, paragraph 9,
requests the GEF to explore the modalities of providing support
through the financial mechanism to developing country Parties
for capacity-building in relation to the operation of the clearing-house
mechanism and to report to the Conference of the Parties at its
third meeting.
48. The GEF and Convention Secretariats
have been consulting closely with one another with regard to the
clearing-house mechanism. The GEF has prepared a report for consideration
by the Conference of the Parties on its efforts to explore modalities
of providing support to developing country Parties for capacity
building in relation to the operation of the clearing-house mechanism.
The report is before the meeting of the Conference of the Parties.
Decision II/6, paragraph 5,
requests the GEF to facilitate urgent implementation of Article
6.
49. A description of how this
request is being addressed is presented in the section of this
report describing enabling activities.
Decision II/6, paragraph 6,
requests the GEF to incorporate fully, on an ongoing basis, guidance
from the Conference of the Parties into the further development
of the GEF Operational Strategy and programs. The Conference of
the Parties also requests the GEF to take the following comments
into account when preparing the report to be submitted to the
third Conference of the Parties:
(a) Detailed information should
be provided on the conformity of the approved work programs with
the guidance of the Conference of the Parties;
(b) A list of projects submitted by eligible country Parties and information on their status should be included.
50. The guidance of the Convention
is being emphasized in the preparation of the operational programs
foreseen in the GEF strategy. Additional operational programs
will be identified and prepared as requested to fulfill the evolving
guidance of the Conference of the Parties.
51. The present GEF report responds
to the requirements contained in Decision II/6. Detailed information
has been provided in the present report on the conformity of the
approved work programs with the guidance of the Conference of
the Parties. A list of projects submitted by eligible country
Parties and information on their status is presented in Annex
C.
Decision II/6, paragraph 7,
requests the GEF to take additional appropriate steps to expedite
the project preparation and approval process.
52. The GEF is continuously seeking
to streamline its project cycle and to expedite the project preparation
and approval process. During the current reporting period, a number
of significant improvements have been made or are under consideration.
(a) The Council agreed to the approval of work programs by mail in the period between regular Council meetings. This will facilitate work program review by doubling the opportunities for Council approval of project proposals.
(b) Recognizing the urgency of
providing assistance to facilitate urgent implementation of Article
6 of the Convention, the Council approved an expedited approval
process of enabling activities. At a recent GEF management meeting
agreement was reached on steps to simplify internal review and
consultation and to promote early disbursement of project financing
after approval of enabling activities projects.
(c) The Council requested the
Secretariat to prepare for its consideration a proposal on ways
to streamline the processing and financing of medium-sized projects.
This proposal will be considered by the Council at its meeting
in October 1996.
(d) At a meeting of GEF Heads
of Agency in June 1996, the Chairman/CEO briefed the Heads of
Agency on the status of programming of GEF financial resources,
commitments and disbursements. It was noted that, while the quality
of GEF projects has risen appreciably over time, and the ability
to commit resources to projects is proceeding satisfactorily,
disbursement of funds continue to be a problem. The President
of the World Bank outlined the steps he is undertaking within
the Bank to streamline its project cycle and documentation and
indicated that he will ask Bank staff to explore ways to reduce
in half the processing time of GEF projects within the Bank's
control. The Heads of UNDP and UNEP indicated that their staff
will also explore opportunities for speeding up processing and
disbursement in their agencies even further.
Decision II/6, paragraph 8, requests participation of a representative of SBSTTA and of STAP in respective meetings of SBSTTA and STAP on a reciprocal basis.
53. On a regular basis,
the STAP invites the Chair of SBSTTA to attend, or send a representative
to, each of its meetings.
Decision II/6, paragraph 10,
recommends GEF to explore the possibility of promoting diverse
forms of public involvement and more effective collaboration between
all tiers of government and civil society, including the feasibility
of a program of grants for medium-sized projects.
54. The GEF Operational Strategy provides that: 'GEF projects will provide for consultation with, and participation as appropriate of, the beneficiaries and affected groups of people.' Under the chapter on biodiversity it is further provided that: 'participation of affected stakeholders is of central importance;' and 'effective involvement of local people in GEF's biodiversity activities must be based on knowledge of their social, cultural and economic context and their impacts on biological resources.'
55. The GEF Council approved
the GEF policy on public involvement in GEF projects at its meeting
in April 1996. Operational guidelines to assist the Implementing
Agencies in incorporating the approved policy in GEF project preparation
and implementation are under preparation.
56. As noted in paragraph 5(f),
the Secretariat has been requested to prepare for the Council's
consideration a proposal on ways to streamline the processing
and financing of medium-sized projects. This proposal will be
considered by the Council at its meeting in October 1996.
Decision II/7, Consideration
of Articles 6 and 8 of the Convention requests the GEF to facilitate
urgent implementation of Articles 6 and 8 of the Convention by
availing to developing country Parties financial resources for
projects in a flexible and expeditious manner.
57. As described above, the GEF
is addressing the implementation of article 6 under the rubric
of "Enabling Activities" and has adopted procedures
for expedited approval of these activities. During the reporting
period, fifteen projects were approved containing components to
assist developing country Parties to develop national strategies,
plans or programs for the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity or adapt for this purpose existing strategies,
plans or programs. With these projects, the GEF has provided enabling
assistance to 41 countries.
58. To date, the GEF has approved
55 project proposals addressing in-situ conservation in pursuance
of Article 8. During the present reporting period, 3 project proposals
and 24 proposals for project preparation financing were approved
that contain elements addressing in-situ conservation. These are
listed in Tables 3 and 4.
|
|
| |
|
Biodiversity Enterprise Fund for Latin America | 5.00 | 30.00 |
| Comoros Island Biodiversity | 2.44 | 3.28 |
| Vietnam Protected Areas | 5.69 | 5.70 |
|
TOTAL FINANCING | 13.13 | 38.98 |
|
|
| |
|
Africa (Central), Regional Environment Information Management | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Africa (Northern), White Rhino | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Africa (Southern), Biodiversity Sup. Program | 24,800 | 24,800 |
| Argentina, Biodiversity Conservation | 289,000 | 289,000 |
| Benin, Protected Areas | 244,000 | 244,000 |
| Brazil, Jurena Forest Protection | 279,900 | 279,900 |
| Dryland Biodiversity | 52,000 | 52,000 |
| Germplasm Arid Land | 55,000 | 55,000 |
| Global, Establishment of a Global Representative System of Marine Protected Areas | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| Honduras, Biodiversity Conservation | 300,000 | 300,000 |
| W. Indian Ocean Marine Program | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Indonesia, Coral Reefs | 280,000 | 280,000 |
| Integrated Okavango River Basin
(Angola, Botswana, Namibia) | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Lesotho, Biodiversity Program | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Meso American Corridor | 348,000 | 348,000 |
| Nicaragua, Atlantic Corridor Biodiversity | 330,000 | 330,000 |
|
| |
Pakistan, Biodiversity Strategy | 338,000 | 338,000 |
| Papua New Guinea, Forest Management and Monitoring Program | 22,000 | 22,000 |
| Peru, In- Situ protection | 171,500 | 171,500 |
| Romania, Biodiversity Conservation Strategy | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Romania, Priority Seating | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Sri Lanka, Medicinal Plant | 345,000 | 345,000 |
| Uganda, Biodiversity Conservation | 289,000 | 289,000 |
| Venezuela, Conservation and Sustainable Management of Biodiversity | 25,000 | 25,000 |
|
TOTAL FINANCING | 3,918,200 | 3,918,200 |
Decision II/8 Preliminary
consideration of components of biological diversity particularly
under threat and action which could be taken under the Convention
59. Although there is no specific request for GEF assistance in the text of this decision, the decision emphasizes the need for capacity-building as well as adequate financial resources for the implementation of the tasks identified in the decision and encourages Parties, as part of their first national report, to identify priority issues specifically related to those components of biological diversity under threat. The GEF is available for assistance in preparing an eligible Party's first national report if so requested by the Party. The GEF is also available to finance project activities aimed at addressing the priority issues identified by the Parties consistent with the guidance of the Convention. The availability of this assistance is made clear in the operational criteria for enabling activities and the GEF Operational Strategy.
60. Two project preparation proposals
totaling US$ 305,000 have been approved during the reporting period
to address endangered components of biodiversity. They are for
the Survival Plan for Northern White Rhino and Indonesia Coral
Reefs.
61. Other policies endorsed in
the preamble of the decision, such as using the ecosystem approach
as the primary framework of action, identifying the driving forces
determining the status and trends of components of biological
diversity, stressing the importance of making full use of existing
knowledge and available expertise, and emphasizing the need for
capacity-building are specifically recognized in the GEF Operational
Strategy and contribute to the framework within which GEF project
proposals are prepared.
Decision II/17, Form and Intervals
of National Reports by Parties, urges the financial mechanism
under the Convention to make available financial resources to
developing country Parties to assist in the preparation of their
national reports.
62. The Operational Criteria
for Enabling Activities in the area of biological diversity provide
that "in response to the request of the second meeting of
the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, for the period
1996-1997, enabling activities may also include financial assistance
to facilitate the submission of information through national reports
to the Conference of the Parties."
63. At the time of preparation
of this report, 15 projects have been approved with a component
for preparation of the recipient country's national report. About
40 enabling activities projects are expected to be approved in
FY97 to address the reporting needs of developing country Parties.
VI. OTHER MATTERS
64. The Council of the GEF would
also like to draw the attention of the Conference of the Parties
to three additional issues: (a) enabling activities; (b) modalities
for providing support through the financial mechanism to developing
country Parties for capacity-building in relation to the operation
of the clearing-house mechanism; and (c) incremental costs.
A. Outreach to countries
65. As noted in paragraphs 5(c)
and 14(c), the GEF Council has approved an allocation of funds
for enabling activities together with expedited procedures for
approving project proposals. In this regard, the Council also
requested the GEF Secretariat to coordinate, in consultation with
the Implementing Agencies and the Convention Secretariat, an outreach
process to inform recipient countries of the availability of resources
for enabling activities and to assess the requests for financial
assistance within the next two to three months.
66. Pursuant to this request,
the GEF Secretariat has informed the GEF operational focal points
in eligible recipient countries of the Council's decision and
the availability of financial assistance for purposes of enabling
activities, and in particular, the implementation of Article 6
of the Convention and the preparation of the country's national
report to the Conference of the Parties. This outreach effort
was drawn to the attention of the Convention's focal points in
the Administrative Report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention
prepared for the Parties.
67. The Conference of the Parties
is called upon to assist in this matter by encouraging all Parties
that are interested in receiving assistance for enabling activities
through the GEF to respond to this outreach effort as early as
possible and to collaborate with the GEF Implementing Agencies
in preparing and implementing country-specific enabling activity
projects.
B. Clearing-House Mechanism
68. As noted in paragraph 28,
the GEF, in consultation with the Convention Secretariat, has
prepared a report on modalities for providing support for capacity
building related to the operation of the clearing-house mechanism.
The GEF report outlines a number of ways in which the GEF can
support developing county Parties with regard to the operation
of the clearing- house mechanism. The GEF would welcome any further
guidance the Conference of the Parties may wish to provide.
C. Incremental Costs
69. The GEF Council has recognized
the need for a flexible application of the concept of incremental
costs. The Secretariat and the Implementing Agencies are collaborating
on ways to apply the approved incremental costs approach to specific
focal areas and projects. As biodiversity projects have presented
the most difficulties, efforts will focus on this focal area,
recognizing that lessons learned will then be applied as appropriate
to the other focal areas. The intention is to develop criteria
for projects (training, capacity building, institutional strengthening
or planning projects) that lend themselves to a rapid incremental
cost assessment. Guidelines will be developed on how to carry
out such assessments, and how to identify items that should be
financed at full cost. For larger investment projects,
such as those that address root causes of biodiversity loss by
building on a sustainable development activity in a way that also
protects the diversity of biological resources, the incremental
costs would need a fuller consideration. Paradigms for such analysis
will be developed.