56050 M AT T E R S AT T H E W O R L D B A N K toward sustainable development · 2009 Annual Review BAN KI NG O N BI O DI VERSIT Y T Environment Matters 2009 · The World Bank Group he World Bank's Field Guides of guides focus on birds, including the birds of Iraq, which marked a sign of Program has now contributed hope for that war-torn country. to the production of 110 local- language field guides across Asia, Many of the field guide projects have been implemented through and co- Africa, Latin America, and the funded by local and international NGOs, in collaboration with national Caribbean. The field guides scientific agencies and ama- are supported through Bank teur enthusiasts. Calls for projects, Bank-Netherlands Local-Language proposals in 2004 elicited Partnership Program, and grants from the MacArthur Field Guides more than 500 submissions from around the world. It is Foundation. They are tools encouraging that some reg- in promoting environmental awareness ular Bank projects are now also producing local-language guides, but much and capacity building in developing more needs to be done to build local capacity. countries. They provide accessible infor- mation in local languages for strength- Field guides may encourage young scientists and local communities so that ening biodiversity training and park they can better promote and benefit from natural resources and biodiversity, ranger capacity and for improving envi- as well as from alternative livelihoods based on sound biodiversity manage- ronmental assessments of development ment. Some of the bird guides, for instance, have spawned local bird clubs projects. that generate data on the occurrence and abundance of bird species. These data are linked to the global Important Bird Areas Program, which is used The program has supported guides on as part of the World Bank's safeguard project reviews. In addition, some of numerous plant and animal groups, the field guides are being utilized at the local level by village such as the trees of Thailand and Sri ecotourism guides, teachers, and young professionals to in- Lanka; mountain flora of Java; amphib- crease their own knowledge and strengthen the services and ians of Borneo, Honduras, and Mada- information they can provide to others. gascar; reptiles of India and Southeast Asia; the seashore of East Africa; and Local-language field guides contribute to overall capacity for envi- the snails and crabs of Sri Lanka. A sub- ronmental management and impact assessment. Moreover, by pro- stantial number viding access to information in local languages, they provide tools for environmental activists to monitor and improve government- led development programs. The World Bank is currently exploring with an international pub- lisher the feasibility of creating an online compendium of the field guides. WORLD BANK LOCAL- LANGUAGE FIELD GUIDES Let ter from R o b e R t b . Zo e lli c k P r e s i d e n t t h e W o r L d B a n k G r o U P 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, a time for the nations of the world to take stock of how well we are taking care of our planet. Over the past 50 years, people have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than at any comparable period in our history. These changes have contributed to many development gains, but with notable environmental costs: biodiversity loss, land degradation, and reduced access to adequate water and natural resources for many of the world's poorest people. I believe we can--and must--have strong economic growth, help poor people overcome poverty, and serve as stewards of our common environmental heritage. But to accomplish these mutual goals, we need smart development and growth. The mission of the World Bank Group (WBG) is to overcome poverty and support inclusive and sustainable development. The conservation and sustainable use of natural ecosystems and biodiversity are critical to fulfilling these objectives. Biodiversity is the foundation and mainstay of agriculture, forests, and fisheries, as well as soil conservation and water quality. Biological resources provide the raw materials for livelihoods, sustenance, medicines, trade, tourism, and industry. Genetic diversity provides the basis for new breeding programs, improved crops, enhanced agricultural production, and food security. Forests, grasslands, freshwater, and marine and other natural ecosystems provide a range of services, often not recognized in national economic accounts but nevertheless vital to human welfare: regulating water flows, flood control, pollination, decontamination, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and nutrient and hydrological cycling. Terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. Protection and sound management of natural ecosystems maintain carbon sinks and provide natural solutions and services that enable societies to adapt to climate change. Biodiversity and ecosystem services contribute to environmental sustainability, a Millennium Development Goal and a central pillar of World Bank Group assistance. Over the last 20 years, the WBG has built up a rich portfolio of biodiversity projects, worth more than $6 billion, making the WBG one of the largest international funding sources for biodiversity worldwide. A substantial amount of that investment has been dedicated to protected areas, but there is an increasing focus on improving natural resource management and mainstreaming biodiversity into forestry, coastal zone management, and agriculture. Despite these and other donor and government efforts, the world's biodiversity is threatened. The IUCN Red List now shows that one in four mammals face extinction, as well as one in eight birds and one in every three amphibians and corals. Accordingly, new initiatives at the World Bank are lending support to species conservation. We built a coalition to launch the Global Tiger Initiative in June 2008 to mobilize additional support for conservation of this charismatic species. As an umbrella species, the health of wild tiger populations is an indicator of biodiversity and a barometer for sustainability. Conservation of wild tigers therefore also means the preservation of the habitats in which they live and the prey populations that support them. The World Bank and other partners, including tiger-range countries and international NGOs, will come together at a Tiger Summit in September in Russia this year to celebrate the Year of the Tiger and promote solutions for sustainable tiger conservation. The Bank is also a leading partner in the Save Our Species project, which was launched with the Global Environment Facility and IUCN to catalyze new funding from the private sector for conservation of threatened species. Another partnership with civil society, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, is now investing in conservation of threatened species and local livelihoods in 18 biodiversity hotspots around the world. Biodiversity underpins every aspect of human life. Species and habitats are the building blocks on which human livelihoods depend and the foundation for forests, fisheries, and agricultural crops. Of course, biodiversity warrants our respect, even separate from the connections to people. As stewards of our planet and its resources, human societies share a larger responsibility to protect our natural heritage. We need a paradigm change so that the value of sensitive ecosystems and wilderness is factored into the equation Environment Matters 2009 of development; at the WBG, we endeavor to mainstream these values into our own work. The International Year of Biodiversity provides an occasion to celebrate successes and partnerships, but also an opportunity to renew commitments and efforts to maintain a healthy world for a sustainable future. © 2010 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / THE WORLD BANK 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 All rights reserved. Environment Matters is a magazine of the World Bank Group. You will also find the magazine on the Bank's website -- http:// www.worldbank.org/environmentmatters Sustainable Development Network Vice President Katherine Sierra his issue of Environment Matters celebrates the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity Environment Director James Warren Evans and describes some of the challenges and opportunities in protecting biodiversity for Environment Matters is produced by the the benefit of humankind. following World Bank Environment staff: Technical Editor: Kathleen MacKinnon From the world's highest mountain ranges to the lowland plains, and from the great oceans Managing Editor: Jim Cantrell Story Editor: Robert T. Livernash and coastal wetlands to agricultural landscapes, nations and communities rely on the bounty Designer and Photo Editor: Jim Cantrell and services of natural ecosystems. Biological resources and the goods and ecosystem services Associate Editor: Jane Sunderland they provide underpin every aspect of human life and livelihoods, from food and water security Contributing Editors to general well-being and spiritual fulfillment. Claudia Sobrevila Valerie Hickey Special Contributors In many countries, it is the poorest of the poor who are most dependent on these benefits. Linda Starke Amanda MacEvitt Yet, as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment showed, biodiversity is under severe threat, as Jeffrey Lecksell ecosystems are being lost and degraded more rapidly and extensively than at any comparable Jeffrey A. Brez Clare Fleming period in our history. Habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation of resources, pollution, invasive alien species, and, increasingly, climate change will all lead to further biodiversity loss. One of the key challenges of the coming decades will be how to reconcile biodiversity Notes: conservation and development if we are to achieve the twin goals of poverty alleviation and a All $ = U.S. dollars except where noted. All tons = metric tons. sustainable future for all. IBRD maps numbered 31562 through 31567 contained in the Regional section of the magazine were produced by the Map The World Bank is already a major global funder of biodiversity initiatives, including support to Design Unit of the World Bank. The bound- aries, colors, denominations, and any other more than 624 projects in over 122 countries during the last 20 years. It is actively supporting information shown on these maps do not imply, on the part of the World Bank Group, national actions to safeguard biodiversity and improve natural resource management. Many any judgment on the legal status of any ter- ritory, or any endorsement or acceptance of of these projects have supported globally important protected areas, but efforts have also been such boundaries. The countries identified by name on these maps are countries to which made to mainstream biodiversity conservation in the production landscape. As well as national the Bank provides development assistance in the form of loans or advisory services, efforts, the Bank has supported numerous partnerships with international NGOs to promote and for which the Bank has a designated official responsible for the country. global and regional biodiversity initiatives. Images appearing on pages 26­27 are by Shutterstock Images LLC, except where noted. Kathleen MacKinnon Technical Editor Lead Biodiversity Specialist Environment Department COVER IMAGE One of the more than 20,000 species of orchids worldwide, the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) is a perennial, temperate climate species of orchid. It is a common plant in the Mediterranean region eastward to the Black Sea. This hardy orchid grows to a height of 30 cm. Bees in the past have promoted the evolution of bee orchids. Male bees, over many generations of cumulative orchid evolution, have enhanced the bee-like shape of the orchid through trying to copulate with the flower. Printed with soy ink. A positive effect is the resulting increase in pollination. World Bank Publications Information: © Alexander Belokurov / WWF International / www.imagenature.com 202-473-1155 General Inquiries: 202-473-3641 Department Fax: 202-477-0565 Web address: www.worldbank.org/environment Dear Readers -- Please help us update our subscriber database by sending your The World Bank Group 1818 H Street, N.W. current email address to ematters@worldbank.org. We will use it to notify readers Washington, D.C. 20433 electronically about future issues and new online data on our website. Thank you! Contents Annual Review · 2009 Local-Language Field Guides inside front cover A Letter from Robert B. Zoellick, 1 President of the World Bank Group Director's Overview -- James Warren Evans 4 V iewp o i n t s The Importance of Indigenous Peoples in 6 Biodiversity Conservation Victoria Tauli-Corpuz comments on how indigenous peoples, living in biodiversity-rich ancestral homelands, place a high priority on using their resources sustainably. Save Our Species 23 A Bank-GEF-IUCN project seeks to leverage funds from private Protected Areas for Life's Sake 8 companies that use animals and plants in their logos to support Nikita Lopoukhine illustrates the critical role protected areas-- coordinated species conservation efforts around the world. now covering nearly 14 percent of the Earth's land surface--play in the effort to conserve biodiversity, native plants, and animals. Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund 24 CEPF provides grants for NGOs and private sector organiza- Marine Biodiversity Matters! 10 tions to help protect biodiversity hotspots, the Earth's most Dan Laffoley notes that replenishing the world's severely de- biologically rich yet threatened areas. pleted marine resources requires an expansion of protected areas, stronger protection in existing areas, and greater recognition of D iD Yo u Kn ow? 26 the role of the oceans and coasts in mitigating climate change. Large and small facts and figures about the world's biodiversity. Invasive Species and Poverty -- The Missing Link 12 r egio n al r e Views According to Dennis Rangi, invasive species pose a well- recognized threat to biodiversity; less recognized is the threat to Reviews of work in the Bank's six Regions focus on efforts to food security and poverty alleviation. preserve and maintain biodiversity. Sub-Saharan Africa Region 28 Featur e ar ti c l es East Asia and Pacific Region 32 Biodiversity Funding at the World Bank 14 Europe and Central Asia Region 36 World Bank financial support has played an important role in Latin America and the Caribbean Region 40 helping developing countries meet their obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Middle East and North Africa Region 44 South Asia Region 48 Natural Ecosystems -- Convenient and 16 Cost-Effective Solutions to Climate Change in s titutio n al Ecosystem-based approaches can be important tools in the response to climate change and biodiversity conservation, as well New Funding Opportunities for Biodiversity 52 as in providing benefits to poor, marginalized, and indigenous communities. through "REDD plus" Reducing carbon emissions from tropical forests--an agenda Birds, Bats, and Natural Habitats -- 20 known as "REDD plus"--is a major component of international climate change negotiations. Making Wind Power Safer for Biodiversity Wind power is an important source of low-carbon energy, but it can have potentially significant impacts on biodiversity. Setting and Complying with Voluntary Standards -- 54 A Private Sector Approach to Biodiversity Impacts Through its participation in commodity roundtables, IFC helps par tn er s hi ps in the development of new global standards for agricultural commodity production, processing, and trading; these standards Global Tiger Initiative 22 can play an important role in biodiversity conservation. Without urgent action, tigers--now numbering only about 3,200 animals--could disappear during the next decade. News Updates inside back cover OV ER V I E W D I R EC TO R 'S T -- James Warren evans Director, environment Department he sustainable use of natural resources is essential for poverty reduction and economic growth. But--as is forcefully pointed out in many articles in this year's Environment Matters--development that also results in biodiversity loss undermines long-term economic growth and is particularly counterproductive in the poorest communities in developing countries. Absent further investments in biodiversity conservation and management, these communities will increasingly be affected by the impacts of biodiversity loss, further compounded by climate change. The value of biodiversity resources is indisputable. Biodiversity is critical for maintain- ing ecosystems and the services they provide and is a vital source of innovation in fields such as medicine. Yet in many cases these values are unrecognized. For example, one and a half acres of rain forest are lost every second. Solely as a result of rain forest losses, we are losing 137 plant, animal, and insect species every day; that equates to 50,000 species a year. Among other things, those losses will have significant implications for human health, since about 25 percent of modern pharmaceuticals are derived from rain forest ingredients--yet less than 1 percent of tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists. In light of these trends, one the most important challenges to all who are charged with supporting sustainable development will be to reverse the current degradation of biodiversity resources and the loss of these ecosystem services. The World Bank Group has a major role to play through lending and grant support to developing countries, as well as through a range of partnerships intended to support action at the local, national, regional, and global levels. In the past several years, the WBG provided biodiversity conservation support to most of our developing country partners and through 60 multicountry efforts. We manage a $6.5 billion portfolio of biodiversity conservation projects and programs. This portfolio is supported by about $2 billion in loans and over $1.4 billion in Global Environment Facility resources; the balance is from other sources of cofinancing, including substantial contributions from developing countries' own resources. The portfolio includes local activities such as the production of local-language field guides and protecting relatively small but very critical habitats with communities and indigenous peoples. It includes programs to establish and manage national protected areas, as well as national environment and protected areas trust funds. The Bank also supports regional and global initiatives to increase awareness and the capacity of stakeholders to join forces in conserving natural resources. As noted in Nikita Shutterstock images llc 4 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE World Bank Group Di recto r's O ve rvi e w Lopoukhine's article, effectively manag- only losing their developmental support particularly affecting already vulnerable ing protected areas or community-based functions but rather, when combined with communities. conservation areas is essential. the impacts of climate change, hindering poverty reduction and economic growth. We also need to better understand our The Bank, including the International The very ecosystems that protect cities role as a multilateral development bank Finance Corporation, also can point to and agricultural areas from flooding, in addressing the global threat of reduced significant achievements in each region conserve soils, sustain water yields, reduce marine productivity. As noted by Dan Laf- in supporting the protection of critical vulnerability of communities to coastal foley, the WBG could increase its support habitats. Experiences working with in- storms, and produce food and shelter are to developing country partners to improve ternational and local nongovernmental already degraded or are threatened in many the management of existing marine conservation organizations--through developing countries that are the most protected areas. We know that many of our vehicles such as the Critical Ecosystem vulnerable and least resilient. partner countries will be severely impacted Partnership Fund--have also been highly by the reduced productivity of marine and rewarding. These efforts have succeeded in Several contributors to this issue provide coastal ecosystems due to a combination strengthening local capacity, in building some important guidance on issues in which of factors, from local pollution to climate bridges between these organizations and the Bank needs to strengthen its focus. For change. Looking forward, it will be increas- local and national governments, and in example, the WBG has worked closely over ingly important to support national and protecting threatened ecosystems. New ini- the last few years with indigenous leaders global efforts to reduce the threats to these tiatives such as the Global Tiger Initiative to strengthen our understanding of the ecosystems. and Save Our Species program are breaking special needs, concerns, and contributions ground in how and whom we work with of indigenous communities. Victoria Tauli- Finally, it is clear that the global focus on biodiversity conservation. Corpuz points out that much of the world's on climate change may actually provide remaining natural areas are still inhabited opportunities to improve biodiversity The WBG also recognizes that the process by indigenous peoples, who place a high conservation. The WBG's support for of development, and therefore development priority on protecting and sustainably biodiversity conservation and natural projects financed by the WBG, can have using their biodiversity resources. As the resource management is already contribut- severe impacts on natural resources and global community increases its attention to ing to effective mitigation and adaptation biodiversity. The WBG's environmental protecting our remaining ecosystems--and strategies. We need to quickly demonstrate safeguard policy framework is intended particularly as the global community makes the potential for integrating ecosystem- to minimize adverse impacts and mitigate decisions relating to the use of forests and based adaptation into broader adaptation unavoidable impacts and where possible to other natural areas as part of a global strategies and to scale up efforts to protect improve environmental quality. Of critical climate pact--we need to find ways to forests, wetlands, and grasslands and importance to achieving the objectives of more effectively learn from and work with improve agricultural practices as part of our safeguard policies is effective policy indigenous communities, while respecting national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas and planning and strong governance to see and supporting their rights. emissions. The cobenefits of such efforts that plans are effectively implemented. Our in terms of improved ecosystem service support to governments and stakeholders Similarly, we need to better understand delivery and biodiversity conservation are in setting an appropriate policy framework, how the WBG, through its country- only now beginning to be understood. planning environmentally sustainable de- based operations and global partnerships, While doing so, the WBG--working velopment, and strengthening the ability to might strengthen awareness and action with a range of partners--will need to ensure such development will continue to to reduce the threats to the health of dramatically strengthen the ability to be a cornerstone of the WBG's support for numerous ecosystems caused by invasive measure the value of these ecosystems and protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. alien species. Dr. Dennis Rangi reports their support to sustainable development. that invasives cause an estimated $1.4 It is now vitally important to measure Nevertheless, the global community clearly trillion per year in damages, as well as them as assets, so that national decision is not succeeding in its mission to conserve increasing the global threat to biodiversity. makers can balance short-term gains from our natural resource base. Several interna- Climate change is almost certainly going unsustainable exploitation against long- tional, regional, and national studies have to exacerbate the loss of ecosystem services term benefits from continued delivery of shown that many critical natural assets are caused by invasive species, leading to even ecosystem services. being lost or degraded to the point of not more severe economic and social costs, annual rEviEW · July 2008­JunE 2009 (Fy09) 5 The ImporTance of IndIgenous peoples In Victoria Tauli-Corpuz BIodIversITy Chairperson UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues conservaTIon B iodiversity erosion is a serious concern for us--indigenous Clearly, this is the proof of the long-term viability of our tradi- peoples--because the loss of flora, fauna, and micro- tional values and practices of stewardship, reciprocity, and inte- organisms and the destruction of ecosystems are not just gration with nature. It also confirms a highly advanced knowledge physical losses. This also means the loss of indigenous of how to be in the world; the rules, limits, and practices of sus- knowledge systems, cultures, languages, and our identities. tainability. Studies (Maffi 2002) have shown that "small-scale so- Our very survival as peoples and cultures rests on how well we have cieties with a history of continued and unchallenged occupation conserved and sustainably used the biodiversity and ecosystems of given territories will over time tend to develop and maintain in our territories. detailed and accurate knowledge about their ecological niches, as well as sustainable ways of extracting, managing natural resourc- A significant number of the world's remaining indigenous peoples es. Their ways of speaking, oral traditions, and verbal art forms still live in their ancestral territories in spite of the tragic histories will transmit this knowledge." of colonization and displacement. Those of us who still do live there put a high priority on protecting and using sustainably the biodiversity in our lands and waters. Biodiversity and Cultural and Most of our struggles are to protect and save our lands, territo- Linguistic Diversity ries, and resources and assert the right to use and control our The links between biodiversity and cultural and linguistic diver- indigenous knowledge systems and customary laws, which gov- sity are not lost in the biodiversity and culture debates. It should ern our relationship with nature and with the rest of humanity. not be difficult to understand why the vitality of indigenous lan- Our contributions seek to ensure the protection and conserva- guages is directly proportional to the vitality of biological diver- tion of biodiversity, as well as to strengthen the links between sity. The disappearance of species of plants, animals, or insects biodiversity and the development of our culture and identity. So, and the destruction of an ecosystem means the disappearance as we celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity, we need to of related languages and knowledge. These knowledge services be reminded that indigenous peoples still inhabit territories that provided by biodiversity are still very much unappreciated and contain some of the richest biodiversity on this planet, as well undervalued. Parts of the living library of life sciences are en- as the knowledge systems and cultures that come along with its coded in the language and minds of indigenous peoples, who conservation and use. are still dependent on biodiversity for their continuing existence. 6 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · tHE WorLD BanK GroUP VIEWPOINTs "Linguistic ecologies and biological ecologies are mutually related holistic knowledge that accommodates other world views. Doing through human knowledge, use and management of the environ- our own research, which is guided by our own epistemologies ment and through the languages used to convey this knowledge and our own ways of knowing and understanding, will pro- and praxis..." (Maffi 2002). duce knowledge that can help save the world's remaining bio- diversity and the cultural diversity that comes with it. We argue The multiple crises of biodiversity loss, ecosystem destruction, that the reciprocal interactions between the social, cultural, and and overall resource depletion, as well as climate change and the ecological spheres should be examined and addressed because it global economic crisis, tell us that we cannot continue with busi- is the balanced interaction between these that brings about our ness as usual. This is the time to shift our thinking and ways well-being. toward a holistic development path that is influenced by the ecosystems-based approach and human-rights-based approach. The whole issue of access and benefit-sharing is another major There are many efforts toward developing measures of progress concern of indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples are actively beyond the gross domestic product. The Human Development engaging in the negotiations for an international legal regime on Index, Happy Planet Index, and Gross National Happiness are ABS (access and benefit-sharing) at the CBD. Our efforts focus just a few examples. The aim of these efforts is to factor in the on various issues. One is ensuring that our free, prior, and in- wear and tear of natural capital and social costs into national formed consent is obtained for anyone conducting research and systems of accounts. The shift toward a different paradigm re- seeking access to and use of biogenetic resources from our ter- quires us to develop ways of measuring progress, well-being, ritories and using our indigenous knowledge. We also would like and sustainability. This is where the development of indicators to ensure that an ABS international regime will recognize and re- comes in. inforce the protection of indigenous peoples' knowledge systems, as well as the use of customary systems of protection of genetic Indigenous peoples, together with the Permanent Forum, have resources and associated knowledge. started work toward the development of indicators of indigenous peoples' sustainability and well-being. It is a collaboration be- tween the IIFB (International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity) Conclusion Working Group on Indicators, Indigenous Peoples' International The celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity provides Center for Policy Research and Education, and the UN Perma- indigenous peoples many opportunities to articulate their per- nent Forum on Indigenous Issues. As biodiversity loss means the spectives on biocultural diversity and the linkages between bio- loss of not only natural capital but social capital, indicators reflect- diversity and their own development. Our efforts to date have ing this loss have to be developed. The Convention on Biological succeeded in creating changes in approaches as well as thinking, Diversity (CBD) has ventured into developing indicators. but much more work needs to be done. It is our hope that states, intergovernmental systems, NGOs, academia, and the private sec- One proxy indicator to measure biodiversity loss is the status and tor will increase their efforts in understanding our concerns and trends of linguistic diversity and number of speakers of indig- using the ecosystem- and human-rights-based approach in meet- enous languages. For the 2011­20 targets, the IIFB is proposing ing the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. two more proxy indicators for consideration. One is the status and trends in the practice of traditional occupations; the second is the status and trends in land-use patterns and land security Bibliography in indigenous territories. These efforts are not just meant to add Maffi, L. 2002. "Endangered Languages, Endangered Knowledge." Interna- indicators, but also to reflect the inextricable link between biodi- tional Social Science Journal 173(3): 385­393. versity and indigenous peoples' well-being and sustainability. Mander, J., and V. Tauli-Corpuz, eds. 2006. Paradigm Wars: Indigenous Peoples' There is a proposal to establish an Intergovernmental Science- Resistance to Globalization. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. This is a body like the IPCC of the Climate Change Convention. This entity should ensure that indigenous knowledge holders and ex- Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chair, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, United Nations, perts are included as experts. Interdisciplinary and intercultural 2 UN Plaza, Room DC2-1772, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. approaches in research increase the chances of producing more www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii annUaL rEviEW · JULy 2008­JUnE 2009 (Fy09) 7 proTecTed areas for Nikita Lopoukhine lIfe's sake Chair IUCN World Commission for Protected Areas P rotected areas are now recognized as the cornerstones of Now people are embracing protected areas as a tool to ensure that biodiversity conservation. The modern era of protected areas both their homeland and nature-dependent lifestyle are protected began during the latter part of the 19th century, when the for future generations. Native land claims in Australia, Canada, iconic Yellowstone National Park in the United States and and South Africa are examples of local community values turning Banff National Park in Canada were created. The initial to protected areas as a solution. founding criteria were not at all kind to the people living within these areas. The model was to expel local communities, eliminate According to the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Cen- predators, and place restrictions on activities within these areas. tre, 150,000 protected areas cover over 13.9 percent of the Earth's In time, the overriding purpose of these and subsequent protected land surface. The percentage is even higher if one includes pri- areas focused more on the conservation of nature. vately protected areas or community-based conservation areas, which are presently not enumerated in the UNEP global da- Starting in the latter part of the 20th century, new forms of man- tabase. In her opening address at the World Parks Congress in agement and different approaches to governance of these areas 2003, Queen Noor of Jordan stated that this growth is "one of emerged. Conserving the diversity of nature continued to be a the most significant collective land use decisions in history." Ma- primary consideration, but alongside that concern there was a rine protected areas are lagging behind terrestrial protected areas, clear accommodation for people within these areas. Today, the with less than 1 percent of coverage. responsibilities for decisions governing these areas are increas- ingly being shared. In many parts of the world, protected areas Why has this growth in protected areas occurred? A definitive are home to indigenous and traditional peoples who depend on driver is the recognition by the signatory parties of the Conven- the areas' health and viability for their very survival, and who in tion on Biological Diversity that protected areas are critical to turn through their continued practices have assured the ongoing conserving in situ biodiversity, native plants, and animals. protection of native plants and animals. Protected areas provide for life's essentials. They protect the natu- Science tells us that protected areas are good for protecting na- ral resources that are critical to many people on Earth. Within ture. Yet, it is not science alone that drives the establishment of these areas, genetic diversity is permitted to evolve in response to protected areas. Emotions are part of the equation: people feel natural selection pressures. These genetic resources are a source strongly about the beauty of a landscape or the possible loss of of many new products. Biodiversity also serves to protect major charismatic species such as the grizzly bear or the white rhino. ecosystem services essential to us all. Water, food, clothes, shelter, 8 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · tHE WorLD BanK GroUP VIEWPOINTs transport, and medicines are thus available within and beyond tected areas saved lives and livelihoods. Floods, landslides, and the borders of protected areas. Without a doubt, these values storm surges are all mitigated by intact ecosystems; wetlands ab- have driven the creation of protected areas, but there is more to sorb rising water levels; intact forests on slopes hold soils from protected areas than just conserving biodiversity. sliding; coral reefs buffer storms; and vegetated shorelines absorb wave pounding. With the predicted enhanced frequency and in- Protected areas are important to the people living within and tensity of disasters to be unleashed by climate change, we will around them. They provide jobs through tourism and direct em- need protected areas more than ever. Furthermore, maintaining ployment. However, the ecosystem services derived from these intact ecosystems in protected areas prevents further emissions of areas are an even more important consideration. Clean water is harmful carbon into the atmosphere. an example of such a service. Of the 105 major world cities, 33 depend on adjoining protected areas for their source of water. The case for protected areas is stronger than ever before. Their The economics make sense. For example, in 1997 New York City value cannot be underestimated. acquired and invested in protecting the watershed that provides the city's source of water. The city anticipated saving $4­6 bil- lion over 10 years by taking these protective measures rather than How well Do ProtecteD AreAs the alternative of building new reservoirs and water purification conserve Forests? facilities. Protected areas (PAs) cover a quarter of the tropical forest es- tate, an area the size of Argentina and Chile combined. Many A growing body of evidence proves the importance of nature to PAs were set up in part to reduce deforestation, so they provide human health, both physical and mental. Intact ecosystems in potential lessons for implementing REDD (reducing emissions protected areas and the opportunities for visitors to experience from deforestation and degradation). nature add materially to the well-being of people. Healthy people The World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group evaluated the contribute to strong economic outputs. Illness causing absentee- impact of protected areas using satellite data on forest fires-- ism has a devastating economic toll. Australia reports 6 million as an indicator of deforestation--and a "case-control" statistical working days lost annually to illness. Protected areas can provide comparison of protected versus unprotected forests. The study an antidote. Studies in the United States found that active users found that strict protected areas--where forests are devoted of protected areas were healthier than non-users on a number of solely to conservation--are indeed effective in reducing defor- counts, including blood pressure, body mass index, and levels of estation. Perhaps more surprisingly, they found that mixed-use protected areas--where local people can carry on some forms depression. of sustainable forest and land use--are even more effective than strict protected areas. Most effective of all were indigenous Nature's contribution to addressing human health problems does areas. not stop with the above. Indeed, half of the synthetic drugs used today originate from nature. Unfortunately, this immeasurable The findings are important because they show that there is suc- cessful experience, on the ground, with decelerating deforesta- service is at risk, given that up to 70 percent of the world's plants tion. And they show that it is possible to combine productive are recognized to be in jeopardy. On the other hand, protected forest use with forest conservation. This may suggest ways to areas contain 80 percent of the IUCN Red List species, so they implement REDD in a manner that protects both forest biodiver- provide a level of insurance that there may yet be future pharma- sity and local livelihoods. ceutical discoveries. In addition to medicinal plants, protected Source: Nelson, A., and K. Chomitz. 2009. Protected Area Effectiveness in Reducing Tropical areas around the world harbor wild relatives of important crops, Deforestation: A Global Analysis of the Impact of Protection Status. Independent Evaluation assuring DNA sources to combat possible diseases and pests af- Group, Evaluation Brief 7. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTOED/Resources/protected_areas_eb.pdf fecting the world's food supply. The insurance role of protected areas is further exemplified in the face of natural disasters. Intact ecosystems have repeatedly Nikita Lopoukhine Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas proved to be a good investment, and never more so than during IUCN, Rue Mauverney 28, Gland, 1196 Switzerland the 2004 Asian tsunami. Intact coastal mangroves within pro- www.iucn.org/wcpa annUaL rEviEW · JULy 2008­JUnE 2009 (Fy09) 9 marIne BIodIversITy Professor Dan Laffoley maTTers! Marine Vice Chair IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and Principal Marine Specialist Chief Scientist's Team at Natural England A s this is the International Year of Biodiversity, it is time most of the water and silently processes our waste. It is the blue to take action to better protect the "blue heart" of the heart of the planet. Keeping the ocean in good shape is not just planet--the 70 percent of sensible and wise, but also essential. the world that is covered by ocean. Why we must raise our ambitions, pick Over many decades, human actions up our pace, and dramatically increase have taken a severe toll on marine Over the past three decades tremen- the scale and quality of protection for life. Simply too much has been taken dous progress has been made in es- the ocean. from the sea for it to be able to main- tablishing about 13.9 percent of the tain a healthy state. Most of the larg- world's terrestrial surface as protected est predatory species of fish have now areas. These areas are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation been removed. Sharks, turtles, and other large ocean-dwelling and fundamentally important for human health and livelihoods. species--once incredibly abundant--have suffered catastrophic Yet, despite these good efforts, less than 1 percent of the marine declines. Seamounts--underwater mountains--and deep-water environment has been protected. Without having sufficient areas seabed features such as coral reefs, which have endured over the set aside for the conservation of marine biodiversity--the variety centuries and perhaps even for up to 8,000 years in some cases, of life in the seas--little hope remains of ensuring that the ocean have been swept away in the geological equivalent of a blink of an has the breathing space for recovery and replenishment from the eye. The ceaseless quest for fish moves farther away from the shore sustained depletion of its natural resources. into ever deeper waters, leading to the collapse of fish stocks, and it will not be long before the consequences of such actions come As a new decade begins, why should the world care about this back to haunt us. Unless we rapidly change our ways, we face lack of protection for the ocean, and why should more be done the very real prospect of running out of fish to feed a growing alongside all our other problems and priorities? world population, dealing with the economic collapse of coastal communities, and facing social unrest when protein sources and The most compelling argument for protecting the ocean is that it incomes dry up. ultimately provides for our well-being. It absorbs about a quarter of the carbon dioxide sent out from land, produces some two- As awareness grows of ocean's role in climate change, we begin to thirds of the oxygen we breathe, and shapes our climate. It holds see it not just as the pretty blue marble seen from space but as a 10 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · tHE WorLD BanK GroUP VIEWPOINTs fundamental lifeline to each and every one of us. The ocean has The IUCN has spearheaded a process to bring the ocean into the buffered the world from the severe impacts of climate change by climate change debate. Together with UNEP, Natural England, absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Paradoxically, it is the and the Lighthouse Foundation, we recently published scientific ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide that is now beginning to data showing how effective many coastal habitats--such as salt threaten the ocean itself. As the ocean absorbs greater amounts marshes, seagrass meadows, and kelp forests--are in their role as of carbon dioxide at increasing rates, the result is a shift to more natural carbon sinks. This work forms an important component acidic conditions--a process known as ocean acidification. Put of the "Natural Solutions" work championed by the IUCN and simply, carbon dioxide from the air reacts with the surface waters its World Commission on Protected Areas, with support from to form carbonic acid. This spells bad news for coral reefs, essen- the World Bank and others. It demonstrates how the protection tially progressively depriving coral polyps of the very chemicals of natural systems can be an effective and cost-efficient means of they need to form the reef structure. No reefs means no food for mitigation and adaptation. millions of people who live in the tropics, no tourist industry, and the undermining of the poverty reduction efforts that the World Work on the role of the ocean as a carbon sink is expanding, Bank has promoted over decades. Perhaps even more worrying bringing new evidence and perspectives to bear on conventional are the negative impacts of increasing acidification on plankton, views of life in the ocean. Hopefully, this will spur on politicians the very basis of the marine food chain, potentially placing at risk to take immediate and firm action to protect the ocean outside of many of the marine ecosystems we now know. To put this into the national jurisdictions--the High Seas that cover an amazing context, acidification is happening at a pace not seen for at least 50 percent of the Earth's surface. 55 million years. Finally, the quality of the management of existing marine pro- Recent science indicates very clearly that about half the biological tected areas needs to be improved. The World Bank and its part- carbon stocks on Earth are stored in marine species like plank- ners have particular roles to play to help make this happen. We ton, mangroves, and salt marshes. By improving the management urgently need to ensure that our efforts and investments to pro- of coasts and fisheries, and by protecting mangroves, seagrass duce best-practice guidance get used by those who need it, but meadows, and salt marshes from other negative human impacts, this needs investment to translate and distribute guidelines and there is an immense potential to sequester carbon. We need to improve capacity building. Making this happen would empower recognize the essential role the ocean plays in mitigating climate many people worldwide, and for very modest cost. Marine pro- change, and take far more ambitious actions to safeguard these tected areas with full protection show the greatest proven benefits habitats and their ecosystem services. for marine biodiversity, yet few areas have such full protection. This approach needs to be consistently championed and used There is still considerable scope for hope and optimism that we much more extensively. Most important, the World Bank and can help the ocean, and in so doing help ourselves. The oppor- the United Nations Development Programme must now play a tunity must be seized to build support for the ocean. A vital step pivotal role in promoting the role of coasts as carbon sinks and is to engage the general public and help them to discover the finding ways that this can be done so as to improve the liveli- wonders of the ocean and understand the essential role it plays in hoods of the billions of people who depend on the ocean. conserving biodiversity and in maintaining our own well-being. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has Let us not dither but resolve to act with renewed pace and ambi- already made a start with Google Earth to bring a three-dimen- tion. Let us help the oceans to help ourselves. sional ocean to everyone's desktop. A potential audience of over half a billion people can now re-engage with the ocean at their leisure, explore marine life, and see for themselves just how little of the "blue" is actually protected. They can now directly interact with any of the 4,500 or so marine protected areas and upload their own pictures to show why such places are so important. Professor Dan Laffoley The IUCN is now busy planning new ways to reach this global Marine Vice Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, and Principal Marine Specialist in the Chief Scientist's Team at Natural England audience, such as using the Internet to show political leaders and IUCN, Rue Mauverney 28, Gland, 1196 Switzerland others what else should be protected. www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_what/wcpa_marine annUaL rEviEW · JULy 2008­JUnE 2009 (Fy09) 11 InvasIve specIes and poverTy Dr. Dennis Rangi The mIssIng lInk... Chair Global Invasive Species Programme I nvasive alien species are now recognized as a great threat to Assessment as one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss and biodiversity. They also constitute a threat to the environmental changes in ecosystem services. Invasive species are responsible and economic well-being of our planet, costing an estimated for 33 percent of threatened birds (but up to 67 percent on is- $1.4 trillion per year, or nearly 5 percent of global GDP lands), 26 percent of threatened amphibians, and 16 percent of (Pimentel and others 2001). threatened mammals. Their status as the second biggest threat to biodiversity--and in many ecosystems, such as small-island Invasive species are not a new phenomenon. Farmers have been developing states, the biggest single threat to biodiversity--has fighting weeds since the beginning of agriculture, and through- been well documented and is well deserved. out history epidemics of human diseases--such as malaria, yel- low fever, and bubonic plague--have been recorded. Yet in the 50 The links between invasive species and poverty, specifically food years since Elton first coined the term, the issue has assumed large security, continue to be poorly understood and frequently under- proportions. Invasive species are plants, animals, or microorgan- estimated. In most countries, invasive species are viewed exclu- isms whose accidental or intentional introduction into a new eco- sively as a biodiversity issue and thereby confined to the mandate system threaten biodiversity, food security, human health, trade, of the environment sector--traditionally not a priority for devel- transport, or economic development. What is of most concern is oping country governments. As a consequence, the threat posed the rate at which invasive species are being introduced, coupled by invasive species to food security and poverty alleviation has with increases in their distribution as a result of globalization, in not been given adequate recognition by policy makers. particular increasing tourism, travel, transport, and trade. Emerg- ing conflicts with commercial interests promoting the utilization In developing countries--where agriculture accounts for a higher of potentially invasive species, such as those used in biofuel pro- proportion of GDP, many ecosystems are fragile, and infrastruc- duction, are further confounding efforts to combat the problem. ture is often weak--the negative impacts of invasive species on Moreover, the threat of climate change will favor species that food security and economic development could cost as much as are adaptable or opportunistic, a characteristic of many invad- 20 percent of GDP. Food security is highly dependent on the ers. Climate change will inevitably exacerbate this problem, with adequate production of staple foods, yet this is precisely where consequences for biodiversity and human livelihoods. the impacts of invasives species are most acute. For example, the larger grain borer costs Tanzania $91 million in lost maize pro- Invasive species occur in all taxa and affect virtually all ecosys- duction, while soybean rust costs Brazil $1 billion annually. More tem types. They were identified by the Millennium Ecosystem than half the staple crops planted in developing countries are rou- 12 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · tHE WorLD BanK GroUP VIEWPOINTs tinely destroyed by invasive species, pre- and post-harvest. Data and 1970s as a "miracle tree," used primarily for firewood. In for just eight staple food crops indicate that these yield losses cost many parts of Africa, the tree has since become invasive, threat- $12.8 billion per year. If maize stemborers could be controlled ening biodiversity and food security. Commercial farms currently in the maize-producing countries of eastern and southern Africa, spend considerable sums of money trying to control Prosopis, up- enough maize would be saved to feed another 27 million people. rooting them with bulldozers and burning Prosopis trees found If we are to address Millennium Development Goal 1--to halve on farmland, roadsides, and irrigation and drainage canals. In hunger and poverty by 2015--then we must recognize the threat severe cases, farmers in Ethiopia have been forced to abandon of invasive species. their farms and livelihoods as a direct result of P. juliflora. Trade is a conduit for introducing invasive species. As the levels of To a great degree, we have the knowledge and the technology import and export trade increase, so does the risk. For example, to prevent, control, or manage most invasive species, thereby shipping is a major pathway for the unintentional introduction of avoiding adverse consequences. What appears to be lacking is an aquatic invaders, carried in ballast water and/or as fouling organ- awareness of the multisectoral nature of the threat, an interna- isms on the hulls of vessels. There are 6 million containers on the tional framework for addressing invasive species, and the political High Seas currently, and it is estimated that the global shipping wherewithal to take the immediate action necessary to remove industry will more than double by 2020. Other pathways of im- this particular barrier to food security and poverty alleviation. portance include civil aviation, aquaculture, and the pet trade. The Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) was established Even international assistance programs are not immune to the following the recommendations of the first international meeting impacts of invasive species. In 2001, as millions of people in Af- on invasive species held in Trondheim, Norway, in 1996. GISP is rica were facing starvation due to droughts and floods, the food an international, not-for-profit partnership dedicated to tackling aid shipments also acted as pathways for invasive species. For ex- the global threats of invasive species through policy development, ample, Parthenium seeds entered Africa as "hitchhikers" and sub- awareness-raising, and information exchange. GISP's mission is sequently invaded surrounding ecosystems, causing irreversible to conserve biodiversity and sustain human livelihoods by mini- damage. Parthenium competes with native and useful introduced mizing the spread and impact of invasive species. GISP's goal is plants; causes allergenic reactions and skin irritation; contami- that by 2020, a majority of countries will have the necessary poli- nates seed, grain, and hay; and is toxic to animals. To achieve cies in place to implement their biosecurity strategies and action poverty alleviation, we must begin by removing invasive species plans. GISP's Secretariat--located in Nairobi, Kenya, with offices as one of the main barriers. in Washington, D.C.--is responsible for coordinating GISP's activities globally and facilitating implementation of the global Other species are introduced legally but without an understand- strategy on invasive species. For further information, please visit ing of their potential risk. An example is the agroforestry species the GISP website, www.gisp.org. Prosopis juliflora, which was introduced into Africa in the 1960s Reference Shutterstock Images LLC Pimentel, D., S. McNair, J. Janecka, J. Wightman, C. Sim- monds, C. O'Connell, E.Wong, L. Russel, J. Zern, T. Aquino, and T. Tsomondo. 2001. "Economic and Environmental Threats of Alien Plant, Animal, and Microbe Invasions." Agriculture, Eco- systems and Environment 84: 1­20. GISP is an international association of four founding partners, namely CABI, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, The Nature Conservancy, and the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Dr. Dennis Rangi Chair, Global Invasive Species Programme GISP Secretariat, United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya www.gisp.org annUaL rEviEW · JULy 2008­JUnE 2009 (Fy09) 13 Biodiversity Funding at the World Bank T he World Bank Group (WBG) but there is an increasing focus on improv- nia Natural Resource Management, Mato is one of the major funders of ing natural resource management and main- Grosso Natural Resource Management, and biodiversity and sustainable streaming biodiversity into forestry, coastal National Environmental projects, whose natural resources management zone management, and agriculture. Many cumulative biodiversity investment totaled projects. Between 1988 and 2009, the of these habitats provide critical ecosystem $200 million. The emphasis has since shifted WBG approved 624 projects in more than services and can be an important buffer to to lending for a larger number of smaller- 122 countries and in 60 multicountry ef- climate change, providing low-cost options sized projects or components within larger forts. These projects were funded through for adaptation and mitigation, especially in projects, with incremental costs often funded almost $2 billion in loans and over $1.4 bil- countries and regions where communities by GEF (see Figure, top of next page). Al- lion in Global Environment Facility (GEF) are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate most half of all Bank biodiversity projects resources. In addition, they leveraged more change. have benefited from Bank lending, demon- than $2.9 billion in cofinancing, resulting in strating the commitment of client countries a total investment portfolio exceeding $6.5 Patterns of funding for biodiversity have to borrow for biodiversity. billion (see Figure, at right). changed over time. In the early years of the period (1989­92), IBRD funded a few Bank projects directly support biodiversity large projects--for example, Brazil's Rondo- conservation and sustainable use in a range Regional Differences of natural habitats--from coral reefs to Total biodiversity investments by fund- some of the world's highest mountains, from The major share (39 percent) of all funding ing source (FY1988­2009, millions) tropical evergreen and monsoon forests to sa- for biodiversity projects went to Latin Amer- Trust Funds vanna grasslands and unique drylands, from (Including Carbon Finance) ica and the Caribbean (LAC) ($2.42 billion), $150.08 marine ecosystems to freshwater rivers and GEF Resources 2% with 6 percent to South Asia, 29 percent to lakes. About 7.4 percent of investments have $1,470.16 Africa, 12 percent to East Asia and the Pa- 23% supported marine and coastal ecosystems (as cific, and nearly 6 percent to Eastern Europe opposed to terrestrial ecosystems). Many are and Central Asia. Less than 3 percent of to- in centers of recognized global importance tal biodiversity funding went to the Middle for biodiversity: mega-diversity hotspots, East and North Africa. A further 5 percent remaining wilderness areas, the Global 200 has gone to global initiatives, such as the Ecoregions, and endemic and Important Bird Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, coral Loans Co nancing Areas. A substantial amount of that invest- $1,984.31 $2,934.37 reef research, and projects funded under the 30% 45% ment has been dedicated to protected areas, Bank-Netherlands Partnership Program. 14 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group Feature Articles Annual investment of biodiversity projects approved by now being scaled up through the WBG for GEF projects only and for loans only Bank lending. To a lesser degree, biodiversity-related 300 activities have also been in- 250 corporated in investment pro- grams for tourism, transport, Dollars millions 200 Loans the private sector (business and 150 private reserves), land tenure, 100 disaster management, energy, 50 GEF climate, hydropower, and the oil industry. Many biodiversity 0 projects have promoted more sustainable livelihoods and the Bank has supported the establishment of poverty alleviation, seeking to reconcile the numerous conservation trust funds to sup- legitimate needs of both biodiversity and lo- port park operations and provide livelihood cal and indigenous communities. opportunities for the communities in and Klas Sanders around those conservation areas. The scale and variety of Bank financing instruments provide multiple opportuni- The 2010 biodiversity target of the Conven- ties to integrate biodiversity concerns into Among the regions, LAC still has the larg- tion on Biological Diversity is to significantly development assistance and to address the est share of IBRD funding allocated for bio- reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss. To root causes of biodiversity loss and climate diversity, with $688.7 million (68 percent). date, one positive trend is that protected area change. The Bank's leadership and coordi- The relatively poorer Sub-Saharan African coverage--one of the response indicators to- nating role within the donor community, countries have received the largest share of ward the 2010 target--has doubled over the which is complemented by access to trust IDA funding, accounting for 54 percent past 20 years; terrestrial protected areas now funds and lending resources, can help to in- ($502.1 million) of total IDA biodiversity cover over 13.9 percent of the Earth's land troduce biodiversity within national agendas funds. GEF funding for biodiversity mir- surface. The Bank's biodiversity funding has as a critical part of sustainable development rors regular lending. Together the Africa and made a substantial contribution toward this and facilitate dialogue between client coun- LAC regions jointly absorb over 60 percent improved global indicator. tries and other stakeholders on matters such of all biodiversity investments made through as loss of ecosystem resilience, forest law en- GEF, with LAC receiving the highest GEF forcement and governance, wildlife trade, funding overall, a reflection of the high bio- and overharvesting of natural resources. The diversity value of the region's ecosystems and the country capacity to prepare and imple- Mainstreaming new multidonor climate investment funds provide exciting new opportunities to fur- ment projects. Biodiversity in ther benefit biodiversity while addressing Protected areas are the cornerstones of most Production Landscape the climate change agenda. Development of the new Environment Strategy in 2010 national biodiversity conservation strategies. and Sectors provides additional opportunities to reassess More than half of GEF investments--in a the added value of Bank engagement in bio- wide range of countries--have gone toward The Bank is increasingly seeking opportuni- diversity and ecosystem conservation and to protected area projects, including support ties to link biodiversity activities to sectoral explore new tools and financing mechanisms for activities in park buffer zones. In addi- development programs, climate change, to more fully integrate biodiversity conserva- tion to strengthening management of exist- and rural development--as well as agricul- tion in WBG operations. ing protected areas, the Bank has supported ture, forestry, watershed management, land the design, establishment, and operation of management, coastal zone management, and new conservation areas (Georgia, Indonesia, fisheries--especially where there are oppor- Lesotho, Micronesia, Panama) and protected tunities to integrate GEF-funded activities This article was prepared by the Biodiver- area systems (Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Laos, within Bank sector lending. Pilot projects-- sity Team of the Environment Department Meso-American Corridor, Philippines, South such as a pilot project focusing on silvopasto- (csobrevila@worldbank.org). ENV biodiversity Africa). To ensure sustainability of financing, ral and cattle ranching in Mesoamerica--are website: www.worldbank.org/biodiversity. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 15 Natural Ecosystems Convenient and Cost-Effective Solutions to Climate Change T he whole world is talking about Natural ecosystems, especially forests and carbon (1,150 GtC) in plant biomass, litter climate change, promising bil- wetlands, serve as major carbon stores and and debris, or the soil. Globally, about 20 lions of dollars for mitigation sinks, mitigating and reducing greenhouse percent of total GHG emissions are caused and adaptation programs but gas (GHG) emissions from energy-related by deforestation and land-use changes, but rarely considering some of the more cost- or land-use changes. Forests cover about in tropical regions emissions attributable effective, proven, and sustainable solutions, 30 percent of total land area, but they store to land clearance are much higher, up to such as protecting natural ecosystems. about 50 percent of the Earth's terrestrial 40 percent of national totals. Reduction Global warming and changes in climate have already had observed impacts on natu- ral ecosystems and species. Natural systems How Protected AreAs cAn HelP Address such as wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs, cloud forests, Arctic, and high-latitude eco- climAte cHAnge systems are especially vulnerable to climate- MITIGATION induced disturbances. On the other hand, Store: Prevent the loss of carbon that is already present in vegetation and soils forests, grasslands, freshwater, and marine Capture: Sequester further carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in natural ecosystems and other natural ecosystems provide a range of services often not recognized in ADAPTATION national economic accounts but vital to Protect: Maintain ecosystem integrity, buffer local climate, and reduce risks and impacts human welfare: regulating water flows and from extreme events such as storms, droughts, and sea level rise water quality, flood control, pollination, Provide: Maintain essential ecosystem services that help people cope with changes in water decontamination, carbon sequestration, soil supplies, fisheries, disease, and agricultural productivity caused by climate change conservation, and nutrient and hydrological cycling. Enhanced protection and manage- Protected area systems are already established as efficient, successful, and cost-effective tools for ecosystem management, with associated laws and policies, management and gov- ment of these habitats can mitigate the im- ernance institutions, knowledge, staff, and capacity. They often protect the last remaining pacts of climate change and help vulnerable large areas of natural habitats in many areas. Increasing connectivity at the landscape level communities to adapt. and improving management can enhance the resilience of ecosystems to climate change and safeguard vital ecosystem services. Terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems play a Source: Dudley and others 2010. significant role in the global carbon cycle. 16 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group Feature Articles Three of the world's greatest challenges over conserve renewable harvestable resources the coming decades will be biodiversity loss, and genetic reservoirs; and protect breeding climate change, and water shortages. Biodi- stocks, natural pollinators, and seed dispers- versity loss will lead to the erosion of ecosys- ers, which maintain ecosystem health. An tem services and will increase vulnerability. increasing number of Bank projects are mak- Climate change will lead to water scarcity, ing explicit linkages between conservation increased risk of crop failure, pest infesta- and sustainable use of natural ecosystems, tion, and overstocking and permanent deg- carbon sequestration and watershed values radation of grazing lands and livestock associated with erosion control, clean water deaths. Water shortages affect agricultural supplies, and flood control. Better manage- productivity, food security, and human ment of key habitats and natural resources health. Impacts from these challenges are al- benefits poor, marginalized, and indigenous ready imposing severe economic and social communities by protecting ecosystem ser- costs, and they are likely to get more severe vices and access to resources during difficult as climate change continues, particularly af- times, including drought and disaster. fecting already vulnerable communities. Shutterstock Images LLC In response to climate change, many coun- Adaptation is becoming an increasingly im- tries are likely to invest in even more in- portant part of the development agenda. frastructure for coastal defenses and flood Protecting forests, wetlands, coastal habi- control to reduce the vulnerability of human of emissions from deforestation and forest tats, and other natural ecosystems can pro- settlements to climate change. Increased wa- degradation is the forest mitigation option vide social, economic, and environmental ter shortages will increase demand for new with the largest potential for maintaining benefits, both directly through more sus- irrigation facilities and new reservoirs. Nat- carbon stocks in standing forests; rare and tainable management of biological resources ural ecosystems can often complement, or threatened species would also benefit. and indirectly through protection of ecosys- substitute for, more expensive infrastructure tem services. Natural ecosystems maintain investments to protect coastal and riverine Grasslands occur on every continent except the full range of goods and ecosystem ser- settlements. Floodplain forests and coastal Antarctica and constitute about 34 percent vices, including water, timber, and fisheries, mangroves provide storm protection, coast- of the global terrestrial carbon stock. Over- on which human livelihoods depend. These al defenses, and water recharge and act as grazing, conversion to cropland, desertifica- services are especially important to the most safety barriers against natural hazards such tion, fire, fragmentation, and introduction vulnerable sectors of society. Protected ar- as floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis, while of non-native species affect their carbon eas, and the natural habitats within them, wetlands filter pollutants and serve as water storage capacity and may in some cases even can protect watersheds and regulate water recharge areas and nurseries for local fisher- flow and water quality; prevent soil erosion; ies. Traditional engineered solutions often lead to grasslands becoming a net source of influence rainfall regimes and local climate; work against nature, particularly when they CO2. Wetlands--including swamp forests, peatlands, mires, and marshes--are also im- portant carbon sinks and stores; clearance and drainage can lead to peat collapse and further carbon emissions. Coastal and ma- rine habitats such as mangroves and seagrass beds store even more carbon. Enhanced protection and improved management of natural ecosystems can thus contribute to reductions in GHG emissions, carbon se- questration, and biodiversity benefits. Many protected areas, for instance, overlie areas of Shutterstock Iamges LLC high carbon stocks, globally protecting some 15 percent of the terrestrial carbon stock. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 17 countries is likely to decline by 4 to 10 per- cent by the end of this century. Municipal water accounts for less than a tenth of human water use, but clean drink- ing water is a critical need. Today, half of the world's people live in towns and cities, and one-third of urban inhabitants live without clean drinking water. These billion have- nots are unevenly distributed across the globe: 700 million city dwellers in Asia, 150 million in Africa, and 120 million in Latin America and the Caribbean. Governments and city councils are increasingly interested in opportunities for offsetting or reducing the costs of maintaining urban water sup- plies--and water quality--through man- Shutterstock Iamges LLC agement of natural ecosystems, particularly forests and wetlands. Most protected areas are established to conserve biodiversity, but aim to constrain regular ecological cycles, coming invasive. Such events are costly; tHe role of Protected such as annual river flooding and coastal invasives accidentally introduced through AreAs in cArbon erosion, and could further threaten ecosys- tem services if creation of dams, sea walls, development assistance programs include itch grass, a major weed in cereals in South storAge And cAPture and flood canals leads to habitat loss. In- and Central America, and a range of nema- e Madagascar: Around 6 million stead, in Ecuador and Argentina, flood con- tode pests. The economic impacts of IAS hectares of new protected areas trol projects utilize the natural storage and can be expensive, costing an estimated $140 are being created, responsible for 4 recharge properties of riparian forests and million tons of avoided CO2 a year. billion annually in the United States alone. e Tanzania: The Eastern Arc Moun- wetlands by integrating them into "living tains store over 151 million tons of with floods" strategies--simple and effec- Climate change can also be expected to have carbon, 60 percent of which is in tive solutions that protect both communi- serious consequences on water resources. existing forest reserves. ties and natural capital. Melting glaciers, higher intensity and more e Russian Federation: The protection variable rainfall events, and increasing tem- of 1.63 million hectares of virgin Climate change is likely to aid the spread of peratures will contribute to increased inland taiga forests and peat soils in the invasive alien species (IAS), further threat- flooding, water scarcity, and decreasing Komi Republic is protecting their ening agricultural productivity and food store of over 71.5 million tons of water quality. Overall, the greatest human carbon. security through the spread of weeds, pests, requirement for freshwater resources is for e Bolivia, Mexico, and Venezuela: and diseases of crops and livestock. The crop irrigation, particularly for farming in Protected areas contain 25 million introduction of new and adaptable exotic arid regions and in the great paddy fields of hectares of forest, storing over species for agriculture, biofuels, maricul- Asia. In South Asia, hundreds of millions of 4 billion tons of carbon, with an ture, aquaculture, and reforestation presents people depend on perennial rivers such as estimated value of $39­87 billion. a particular challenge. Ironically, the very the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra--all e Brazil: Protected areas and indig- characteristics that make a species attrac- fed by the unique water reservoir formed enous lands in the Brazilian Amazon tive for introduction--fast-growing, adapt- are likely to prevent an estimated by the 16,000 Himalayan glaciers. Current 670,000 km² of deforestation by able, high reproductive output, tolerant of trends in glacial melt suggest that the low 2050, representing 8 billion tons of disturbance and a range of environmental flows will be substantially reduced. Even avoided carbon emissions. conditions--are the same properties that under the most conservative climate projec- increase the likelihood of the species be- tions, net cereal production in South Asian Source: Dudley and others 2010. 18 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group Feature Articles ecosystem services Provided by Protected AreAs e Global: Thirty-three of the world's 105 largest cities derive their drinking water from catchments within forest protected areas. e Global: Marine protected areas lead to increased size and populations of fish. e Global: Over 100 studies in protected areas have identified important crop wild relatives. e Kenya: The protection of coral reefs is providing benefits for coral reef conservation, fisheries, and per capita income for local people. e Colombia: The Alto Orito Indi-Angue Sanctuary was set up explicitly to protect medicinal plants. e Trinidad and Tobago: The restoration and conservation of the Nariva wetlands recognizes their importance as a carbon sink, a high- biodiversity ecosystem, and a natural buffering system against coastal storms. e Sri Lanka: The Muthurajawella protected area provides flood protection valued at over $5 million per year. e Switzerland: Seventeen percent of forests are managed to stop avalanches, worth $2­3.5 billion per year. Source: Dudley and others 2010. many could be justified on the basis of the ecosystem services are already contribut- portunities to protect natural ecosystems other ecosystem services they provide. From ing to effective mitigation and adaptation as part of major energy and infrastructure China to Ecuador and Mexico to Kenya, strategies. Pilot projects that integrate natu- projects. The Bank is also facilitating the protected areas in forest watersheds safe- ral habitats and "green" infrastructure into development of market-based financing guard drinking supplies for some of the watershed management, flood control, and mechanisms and piloting new avenues to world's major cities. The Gunung Gede- coastal defense demonstrate the cost-effec- deepen the reach of the carbon market. New Pangrango National Park in Indonesia, for tiveness of such ecosystem-based approach- initiatives and investment funds such as the instance, safeguards the drinking water sup- es. Climate change highlights the need to Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, Forest plies of Jakarta, Bogor, and Sukabumi and replicate and scale up such interventions. Investment Program, and the Pilot Program generates water with an estimated value of for Climate Resilience provide exciting new $1.5 billion annually for agriculture and do- Promoting further integration of ecosys- opportunities to better protect natural capi- mestic use. tem-based approaches into climate change tal, benefit communities, and utilize cost- responses and national adaptation strategies effective green technology to address the Bank projects and conservation programs will require access to much greater sources challenges of climate change. designed to protect natural habitats and of funding, including capitalizing on op- For more information World Bank. 2010. Convenient Solutions to an Inconvenient Truth -- Ecosystem-Based Approach- es to Climate Change. issuu.com/world.bank. publications/docs/9780821381267. Dudley, N., S. Stolton, A. Belokurov, L. Krueger, N. Lopoukhine, K. MacKinnon, T. Sandwith, and N. Sekhran, eds. 2010. Natural Solutions-- Protected Areas Helping People Cope with Climate Change. IUCN-WCPA, TNC, UNDP, WCS, The World Bank and WWF. Gland, Switzerland, Washington DC, and New York. This article was prepared by Kathleen Shutterstock Images LLC MacKinnon of the Environment Department. ENV website: www.worldbank.org/environment. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 19 Birds, Bats, and Natural Habitats -- Making Wind Power Safer for Biodiversity W ind power is widely re- areas often harm birds, bats, and/or natural Bats tend to be killed by wind turbines at garded as a key part of an habitats. significantly higher rates than birds. The environmentally sustain- higher mortality for bats is because (a) bats able, low-carbon energy Birds are killed by collisions with wind tur- appear to be attracted to rotating wind tur- future because it is fully renewable and in- bines as well as with the barely visible guy bines, rather than simply encountering them volves near-zero emissions of greenhouse wires around meteorological towers. Al- by chance and (b) bats can be killed just by gases (GHGs). Over the past 20 years, wind though modern large turbine blades appear closely approaching an operating turbine power has become the world's fastest-grow- to be moving rather slowly when viewed without even touching it, due to lung dam- ing source of electricity. However, as with from a distance, the blade tip speed is actu- age from rapid decompression. Because bats all large-scale sources of power generation, ally very fast (up to 270 km/hour), so the have low reproductive rates, populations are wind energy poses its own particular set of birds are struck by surprise. For certain spe- potentially vulnerable to the added mortal- environmental challenges. For example, the cies groups, such as large birds of prey, wind ity from wind turbines. inevitable visual impacts of large turbines turbine mortality could become significant across the landscape are widely recognized from a conservation standpoint. For ex- Natural habitats can be lost or fragmented and sometimes controversial. Less widely ample, the 2002­05 installation of 68 wind when they are cleared to establish wind recognized, but potentially significant, are turbines on the Smola archipelago, Nor- power facilities, sometimes with significant the adverse impacts that wind power facili- way (previously designated as an Important risks to biodiversity. For example, wooded ties (turbines, new transmission lines, and Bird Area), caused the breeding population mountain ridge-tops (particularly in the access roads) can have on biodiversity. of white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) tropics) often harbor unique plant and ani- to collapse, declining from about 19 eagle mal species, due in part to their wind-swept pairs to only one. For some scarce, open- microclimate. Long rows of turbines with country species such as North American interconnecting roads along such ridge-tops Biodiversity Impacts prairie grouse, the main conservation threat posed by wind projects is not collisions but can disproportionately affect scarce, highly localized species. Constructing access roads Even though wind power development rather displacement from their habitat, be- to previously remote wind farm sites can overall might benefit biodiversity by reduc- cause the birds instinctively stay far away also lead to the loss or degradation of natu- ing GHG emissions (thus potentially miti- from wind turbines, transmission towers, ral habitats, either (a) directly, through road gating global climate change), land-based and any other tall structures. construction and resulting erosion or (b) wind power facilities located in sensitive indirectly, through increased land clearing, 20 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group Feature Articles or shrub-steppes, and sites near caves. Con- For migratory birds, the most useful form of versely, lower-risk sites tend to have low bird operational curtailment may be short-term and bat numbers (year-round) and do not shutdowns, in which the rotor blades do not harbor species or ecosystems of conserva- turn during peak migration events. These tion concern; they include many cultivated shutdowns can be cost-effective in prevent- lands, non-native pastures, and deserts ing large-scale mortality of migratory birds, (away from coastlines and oases). Once the when species pass through the wind farm general site for a new wind farm has been area for only a few days or weeks per year. selected, adjusting the location of turbine Shutdowns can be scheduled in advance on rows--or even individual turbines--can a precautionary basis to coincide with ex- sometimes minimize biodiversity impacts pected dates of peak bird passage. They can without significantly compromising power also be on-demand in real time, if radar and/ generation or other objectives. or human spotters show sizable flocks head- ed toward the wind farm. This approach has Post-construction monitoring of bird and been effectively demonstrated at the World bat mortality is an essential part of proper Bank­supported Wind Umbrella (La Venta Rafael Villegas Patraca environmental management for any wind II) Project in southern Mexico. power project. Monitoring is indispensable for (a) knowing whether or not a significant bird or bat mortality problem exists at any wood cutting, hunting, or other human ac- given wind farm, (b) predicting the impacts of scaling up development within a par- Forthcoming Report-- tivities facilitated by the improved access. ticular wind resource area, (c) supporting Greening the Wind adaptive management of wind farm opera- A recent World Bank study examined the tion to reduce bird or bat mortality, and (d) environmental and social implications of Reducing Biodiversity advancing scientific knowledge. Such moni- toring, which involves searching for bird rapidly scaling up wind power develop- Risks and bat carcasses around turbines, towers, ment. The study's technical report, Greening the Wind: Environmental and Social Con- and transmission lines, should be carried Various options exist to minimize the ad- siderations for Wind Power Development, is out during the first two or so years of wind verse biodiversity impacts from wind pow- scheduled for publication later in 2010. This farm operation and continued if significant er. Among the most important of these are mortality is found. report (a) identifies good practices for man- project site selection, post-construction aging the biodiversity and other environ- monitoring, and (under special circum- Operational curtailment refers to selected, mental and social issues associated with wind stances) operational curtailment. short-term periods when turbine rotor power development and (b) offers practical blades are intentionally kept from rotating. advice on how best to address these issues in As with other infrastructure development, For bats, the most cost-effective type of op- project planning, construction, and opera- project site selection is generally the most erational curtailment appears to be a mod- tion. The World Bank Group will continue important tool available for making wind est increase in cut-in speed, the lowest wind to collaborate with our clients and develop- power safer for biodiversity. Where multiple, speed at which the rotor blades spin and ment partners in supporting wind power in feasible choices exist for wind power expan- generate electricity for the grid. Recent, cut- ways that effectively address environmental sion, locating projects away from the most ting-edge research at wind farms in Canada, and social concerns, thereby optimizing the sensitive sites need not reduce overall power Germany, and the United States shows that sustainable development benefits of this re- generation. From a biodiversity standpoint, increasing the cut-in speed from the usual newable energy technology. the higher-risk sites for locating wind farms 3.5­4.0 meters/second to about 6 m/s re- tend to be existing or proposed protected duces bat mortality by 50­75 percent, while areas, critical natural habitats (including reducing power generation by only about 1 This article was prepared by George Ledec Important Bird Areas), wildlife migration percent. Bats fly around mostly at low wind (gledec@worldbank.org) of the Africa Region corridors, forests and woodlands, wetlands, speeds and mainly at night (and, at higher Environment and Natural Resource Manage- shorelines, small islands, native grasslands latitudes, during only part of the year). ment Unit. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 21 T igers are icons of global biodi- GTI activities are timed to "ride the wave" of versity. As apex predators, they global public interest related to 2010 as the are indicators of the health of Year of the Tiger and the International Year the ecosystems they inhabit. of Biodiversity. According to Bank President Global Tiger Their plight epitomizes a profound biodi- Zoellick, "2010 is the most important year versity crisis across Asia. Habitat destruc- ever for the tiger--it MUST be the year tion, poaching, and illegal trade have led this we take decisive steps to save this majestic Initiative species to a range collapse, despite decades of conservation efforts, with only 3,200 animals remaining in the wild, down from species." TRCs have exercised strong leadership in about 100,000 a hundred years ago. Climate developing the Global Tiger Stabilization change impacts, deforestation, habitat deg- and Recovery Program. Nepal and Thailand radation, urbanization, and infrastructure hosted milestone GTI events, bringing to- development also present formidable chal- gether all interested countries and interna- lenges for tiger-range countries (TRCs). tional partners at a Global Tiger Workshop in Without urgent action, wild tigers could Kathmandu in October 2009, as well as the disappear during the next decade. Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Con- servation in Hua Hin, Thailand, in January Launched in June 2008 by World Bank 2010. In September 2010, Russia will host President Robert Zoellick--together with the "Tiger Summit" in Vladivostok, where the Smithsonian Institution, Global Envi- the global program will be endorsed by heads ronment Facility, and International Tiger of government and global partners. Coalition--the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) is an alliance of the 13 TRCs--Bangladesh, For the World Bank, GTI represents a sig- Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, nature instrument to move from the "do no Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, harm" approach to the "do measurable good" Thailand, and Vietnam--and their global approach by placing climate change, biodiver- partners toward the ambitious goal of revers- sity, and ecosystems within the mainstream ing the decline of wild tigers and doubling of the development paradigm. According to their numbers--to at least 7,000--by 2022. James Adams, Vice President for East Asia and Pacific Region: "How well the GTI is Most solutions to the tiger crisis are well internalized into the World Bank's everyday known and have proved effective at local business in Asia--its work on infrastructure, scales. They require a matrix of actions in its investments, its role in urbanization, and wildlife law enforcement and governance, its own ecological footprint--will be the real Signature Partnership smart green infrastructure, landscape and test of our seriousness." park management, community incentives, Mainstreaming Conservation demand management, and innovative sus- into Development tainable financing. The challenge is to gener- ate the political will to scale up these actions. The Bank and its GTI partners are working to create some political space for decision makers to launch the necessary programs Shutterstock Images LLC and ensure their effective implementation, backed by the coherent support of the in- ternational community. Such actions would have a "multiplier" effect for tiger landscapes, This article was prepared by Andrey V. Kushlin as well as supporting broader biodiversity (akushlin@worldbank.org) of the World Bank. values. GTI website: www.globaltigerinitiative.org. Harald Loeffler/Eye-of-the-Tiger.com 22 22 ENVIRONMENT MATTERS 2009 · ThE wORld bANk gROup Partnerships W ith biodiversity loss in- vival Commission's Species Profiles and Ac- creasing at an unprec- tion Plans. Expected global benefits include edented rate, the GEF, averting extinction of multiple threatened World Bank (WB), and species, as well as the increased participa- Save the International Union for Conservation tion and capacity of national and local civil of Nature (IUCN) plan to establish the society groups to manage and deliver conser- Save Our Species (SOS) program to focus vation initiatives in a strategic and effective Our fund-raising efforts on a scale necessary to adequately address the biodiversity extinc- tion crisis. manner linked to development, landscape planning, and natural resource management. These interventions are expected to lead to Species It is estimated that 15 to 37 percent of all species are committed to extinction by 2050 the generation and adoption of lessons for improved conservation outcomes, relevant both to SOS and the broader Bank and GEF unless widespread and effective con- Governments and civil society are committed to species conservation. servation actions are But this potentially revolutionary initiative must secure the missing undertaken soon link in the challenge to conserve biodiversity--the private sector. and maintained. Many corporations have benefited greatly from the animals and plants Losses of that mag- they have built their brands around. It is time to return some of that nitude have massive wealth in support of nature--their own bottom lines depend on it. implications. Spe- Monique Barbut CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility cies are the building blocks of biodiver- sity and ecosystems and provide us with es- biodiversity portfolios, as well as to other sential services: not only food, fuel, clothes, small- and medium-size grant programs. By and medicine, but also purification of water saving species, we save biodiversity and the and air, prevention of soil erosion, regulation ecosystems that provide the natural resources of climate, and pollination of crops. They we need to survive. also provide a vital resource for economic activities--notably tourism, fisheries, and The Save Our Species project will be launched forestry--as well as having significant cul- in May 2010 as part of the celebration of the tural, aesthetic, and spiritual values. International Year of Biodiversity. The Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial A key strategy for the SOS project is to le- has also generously agreed to partner with verage new funds from private companies the program. The World Bank through the that use animals and plants in their logos. Development Grant Facility and GEF has With the Bank, GEF, and IUCN provid- contributed substantial funds to establish ing the seed capital for this initiative, SOS the program ($5 million and $4.9 million will request support from international respectively). Save Our Species will be man- corporations, foundations, individuals, and aged through a secretariat housed within the governments. It will provide the private sec- IUCN for the allocation of funds. Grants tor and other donors with a mechanism to will be awarded on a competitive basis and contribute to efficient, credible, and coor- according to strategic directions identified in dinated species conservation action around consultation with IUCN's Species Program the world through competitive grants to civil and Species Survival Commission. society partners. SOS is intended to support immediate action This article was prepared by Claudia Sobrevila on species conservation priorities derived (csobrevila@worldbank.org). SOS website: www. from the IUCN Red List and the Species Sur- SOSpecies.org. Shutterstock Images LLC ANNuAl REVIEw · julY 2008­juNE 2009 (fY09) 23 ENVIRONMENT MATTERS 2009 · ThE wORld bANk gROup F ounded in 2000, the Critical Eco- nations alike. Within the next year, activities system Partnership Fund (CEPF) will expand to three additional hotspots for is a unique partnership, enabling which ecosystem profiles are being prepared: civil society to participate in-- the Caribbean Islands, the Mediterranean Critical and benefit from--conserving some of the Basin, and the Maputaland-Pondoland- world's most critical ecosystems. CEPF Albany hotspot in southern Africa. provides grants for nongovernmental and Ecosystem private sector organizations to help pro- tect biodiversity hotspots, the Earth's most biologically rich yet threatened areas. These With the support of the World Bank and the other CEPF partners--l'Agence Française de Développement, Conservation Interna- Partnership 34 hotspots cover only 2.3 percent of the planet's land surface, yet have tional, the Global Environment Facility, the government of Japan, and the Fund each lost more than 70 per- John D. and Catherine T. cent of their original natural MacArthur Foundation-- vegetation. Their protection CEPF's global portfolio has is critical for both biodiver- included more than $120 sity conservation and the needs of millions million in investments to support innovative of people who live at the rural frontier. The initiatives by more than 1,500 nongovern- fund's support equips civil society groups to mental and private sector organizations. This conserve their environment and influence support has leveraged a further $220 million decisions that affect lives, livelihoods, and, to support conservation. ultimately, the global environment. Grant recipients range from small farming coop- With CEPF support, NGO and community eratives, indigenous groups, and community initiatives have resulted in real gains for spe- associations to private sector partners and in- cies, spaces, and communities. Examples of ternational organizations. Grants are guided achievements by CEPF grantees in the field by regional investment strategies developed this year are described here. with stakeholders. This approach creates working alliances among diverse groups, Support to new protected areas in Africa. combining unique capacities and eliminat- In the vast arid plains and coast of the ing duplication of efforts. Sperrgebiet region of Namibia and the lush forests of the Uluguru Mountains of Tanza- Since its first grant, awarded in 2001, CEPF nia, CEPF grantees are helping to protect has supported civil society organizations to ecosystems that are crucial to people and protect biodiversity in 18 hotspots across biodiversity. The declaration of Sperrgebiet 51 countries. Grants support a range of National Park in Namibia boosted the extent activities from species inventory to commu- of protected habitat in the Succulent Karoo, nity management of sacred forests and from one of just two desert biodiversity hotspots. creation of comprehensive forest, rangeland, The 2.6-million-hectare park includes land and wetland management plans to new communal and I'm enormously proud of all that CEPF has achieved over national protected areas in the past 10 years. Their unique model--partnering with Africa and Latin America. To both international institutions and local communities-- date, CEPF grant recipients is remarkably effective and has been key to their success. have helped protect more This generation's challenge is to break free from the false dichotomy between environmental protection and economic than 10 million hectares and development; CEPF is playing a valuable role in demon- have improved management strating how the two can go hand in hand. of double that amount in Jim Wolfensohn rich ecosystems that are life- Chair, Donor Council, CEPF Former World Bank President lines for communities and CI / Haroldo Castro 24 ENVIRONMENT MATTERS 2009 · ThE wORld bANk gROup Partnerships Biodiversity Hotspots partial shade for the coffee plants and habitat Supported by CEPF and WWF­Armenia, for birds and other species. Companies and the Armenian Tree Project (ATP) and Yale's To date, CEPF grants have supported civil so- ciety in 18 of the 34 biodiversity hotspots. other entities looking to offset their own car- Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry con- Ecosystem profiles are being developed in bon emissions purchase carbon credits gen- ducted the most in-depth forest evaluation three more hotspots (in italics) to begin in- erated by the project, providing payments to in northern Armenia since the nation's inde- vestments. the growers. pendence in 1991. ATP staff, Armenian for- Region Hotspot estry students, and government employees Africa and Madagascar Cape Floristic Region Training for new livelihoods that benefit Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa learned data collection techniques, sampling Eastern Afromontane Indian communities and tigers. Villagers design, and inventory analysis and created a Guinean Forests of West Africa on the fringe of the Manas Tiger Reserve in forest and rangeland management plan, as Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Succulent Karoo northeastern India are learning new skills, well as a sustainable forestry manual. Tens of Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany boosting their incomes and changing their thousands of native trees have been planted Asia-Pacific Eastern Himalayas Indo-Burma relationship with their lush but overtaxed in demonstration plots in two neighboring Mountains of Southwest China ecosystem. To help these communities reduce communities. There is also a new communi- Polynesia-Micronesia The Philippines dependency on the forest, CEPF supported ty orchard where young people get environ- Sundaland the Dolphin Foundation to develop sustain- mental education and villagers receive range Western Ghats and Sri Lanka Europe and Central Asia Caucasus able livelihoods by providing instruction in management training. The accomplishments Mediterranean Basin silk farming, apiculture, handloom weaving, of this partnership have brought sustainable North and Central America Mesoamerica Caribbean Islands and marketing. More than 200 residents in forestry concepts to the forefront of environ- South America Atlantic Forest Tropical Andes 12 indigenous villages are now generating mental policy discussions in Armenia. Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena income from their chosen new vocations. The villagers now associate the project's ben- Everyone depends on Earth's ecosystems and that has remained virtually untouched for efits with the existence of the park and are their life-sustaining services, such as clean air, more than 100 years and is a refuge for stepping forward to support its protection. fresh water, and healthy soils. In the world's nearly 25 percent of Namibia's plant species. biodiversity hotspots, CEPF is helping mil- The large swath of natural habitat provides a Engaging people in sustaining their natural lions of impoverished people who depend buffer to climate change. CEPF supported wealth in Colombia and Mexico. Aided by on critical ecosystems for survival to achieve the Namibia Nature Foundation in develop- CEPF, a community council in the Málaga important conservation outcomes through a ment of management and tourism plans for Bay area of southwest Colombia successfully stronger voice, influence, and action by civil the region. In Tanzania, the 24,000-hectare advocated for the government's creation of societies, ensuring benefits for both conser- Uluguru Nature Reserve was established two reserves: La Plata Integrated Manage- vation and communities. with support from CEPF and a UNDP/ ment System and the Regional Natural GEF project. Conserving these mountain Park of Sierpe. These reserves protect coastal forests protects the headwaters feeding the mangrove forest and the resources and bio- Ruvu River, the major water supply and diversity the forest hosts. In the state of Ve- hydroelectric power source for millions of racruz in Mexico, CEPF supported Mexican Tanzanians. nonprofit Pronatura in its work with com- munities to establish local management of A carbon offset payment scheme in the Chia- communal lands. Three villages have been pas region of Mexico that benefits farmers awarded 50-year management of reserves who use conservation coffee practices and where they live, and they have pledged to reforestation. The AMBIO Coooperative preserve trees, curtail poaching and logging, Dolphin Foundation and NGO Aires de Cambio, with support and otherwise protect the reserves. from CEPF, brought farmers in 20 villages into the program. They are planting trees Improving forest and rangeland manage- on their plantations and as living fences to ment in Armenia. In Armenia, villagers, control livestock movement. Participating nonprofit organizations, academic institu- This article was prepared by Julie Shaw and growers are also interplanting their cof- tions, and the national government have Bobbie Jo Kelso of Conservation International. fee with trees that provide edible legumes, teamed up to restore native tree cover and CI website: www.conservation.org; which help to fertilize the soil and provide help residents manage their lands sustainably. CEPF website: www.cepf.net. aNNUaL rEVIEW · jULY 2008­jUNE 2009 (fY09) 25 Nuria Ortega WHAT'S FOR DINNER? ) At least 30,000 of the world's plants are edible. ) We eat some 7,000 of them, but only 150 are commonly consumed. ) Twenty edible plants make up 90 percent of the world's food, with three grains--wheat, rice, and maize--accounting for 50 percent of the world's food energy intake. THE DEEP BLUE SEA ) The oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth and contain 99 percent of the planet's living space. Humans have explored less than 10 percent of that space. ) Ninety percent of the ocean's volume constitutes the dark, cold environment we call deep ocean water. ) Average depth of the ocean: 3,795 meters. Average height of the land: 840 meters. ) An estimated 50­80 percent of all life on Earth is found in the ocean. There are currently more than 170,000 valid marine species, according to the World Register of Marine Species. According to the Census of Marine Life, there could be more than 1 million marine species. ) Sharks attack some 50­75 people each year worldwide, usually with 8­12 fatalities (IASF); whereas, some 20­100 million sharks are killed every year as a result of fishing activities. ARE WE ALONE? ) Over the past 250 years, scientists have identified and named some 1.78 mil- Jane Sunderland lion species of animals, plants, and microorganisms. Today about 15,000 new species are discovered every year. ) Earth's total number of species is unknown. Estimates place the number at 5­30 million. 26 ENVIRONMENT MATTERS 2009 · THE WORLD BANK GROUP IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT ) One and a half acres of rain forest are lost every second. Deforestation is re- sulting in the loss of 137 plant, animal, and insect species every day. As the species disappear, so do possible remedies for numerous diseases. To date, about 25 percent of Western drugs are derived from rain forest plant species, yet less than 5 percent of rain forest plants have been studied. ) The rate of extinction is accelerating. Thirty-eight bird and mammal species be- 10, came extinct between 1600 and 18 compared to 112 species between 10 18 and 1995 (McDaniel and Gowdy 2000). Of the 129 recorded bird ex- tinctions, 103 have become extinct since 1800 (Birdlife International 2000). SIZE MATTERS! ) The Amazon rain forest covers 566­670 million hectares. If Amazonia were a country, it would be the ninth largest in the world. One hectare may contain over 750 types of trees and 1,500 species of higher plants. ) Twelve countries--Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, and Peru-- are home to 70 percent of the world's species, many of which are endemic. ) Earth's largest animal ever (even bigger than the greatest known dinosaurs) is the endangered blue whale. It can measure up to 30 meters long and weigh as much as 180 tons; its heart is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. ) At 15.25 meters long, the snakelike oarfish is the longest bony fish in the world. With a dorsal red fin running its length, a horselike face, and blue gills, the oarfish accounts for many sea-serpent sightings. FROM THE EQUATOR TO THE POLES, BIODIVERSITY RULES! ) Ecuador's Yasuni National Park may contain the highest terrestrial biodiversity in the world. For example, one hectare of forest may contain some 100,000 species of insects. And contrary to previous thought, the polar regions can be rich in biodiversity as well. The South Orkney Islands and their surrounding wa- ters have more biodiversity than the Galapagos Islands! WATCH WHERE YOU STEP... Claudia Sobrevila ) Forest soils are one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Depending on the forest type, a square meter of soil could contain more than 1,000 invertebrates and countless micro-arthropods. An old-growth forest supports more than 56 times as many insects and bugs belowground as it does aboveground. ...AND WHAT YOU DRINK! ) Billions upon billions of microscopic creatures live in the ocean. A mouthful of seawater may contain tens of thousands of zooplankton, hundreds of thousands of phytoplankton, and millions of bacterial cells. LOOKING AT FROGS, LOOKING AT YOU ) Frogs have amazing eyes. Frogs can see to the front, sideways, and up at the same time and their eyes remain open when they sleep. The eyes even help a frog swallow its food; each blink pushes the eye down, pressing onto the roof of mouth and creating a bulge. This bulge pushes food inside the frog's mouth down the frog's throat. ANNUAL REVIEW · JULY 2008­JUNE 2009 (FY09) 27 Sub-Saharan Africa Region Cape Mauritania Verde Mali Niger Senegal Chad Eritrea Burkina Sudan Faso Nigeria Guinea Benin Sierra Togo C.A.R. Ethiopia Leone Cameroon Somalia Liberia Uganda Guinea-Bissau Congo The Gambia Rwanda Côte d'Ivoire Burundi Kenya Ghana Tanzania Equatorial Guinea D.R. of São Tomé and Congo Seychelles Príncipe Angola Comoros Gabon Zambia Malawi Mauritius Namibia Zimbabwe Botswana Madagascar South Mozambique Africa Swaziland IBRD 31567R MARCH 2010 Lesotho Shutterstock Images LLC L esotho Managing Conflicts Between Botswana Although the lion population in Botswana remains healthy, con- People and Wildlife in Botswana flicts are increasing between humans and large cats in the northern and Namibia and central districts, and there is growing concern about the num- ber of lions being killed. Comprehensive strategies are needed to C onflicts between people and wildlife are a widespread address this problem. problem in rural Africa, especially when the animals at- tack or kill people or damage crops or livestock. Such Another major concern in northern Botswana is human-elephant conflicts are increasing, in part because of the loss of criti- conflict. During the period from 1994 to 2004, the elephant popu- cal wildlife habitat and the closer proximity of wildlife and people. lation in Botswana nearly doubled, making it probably the largest If left unmanaged, human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) could become elephant population in Sub-Saharan Africa. Only 20 to 30 percent one of the main threats to the survival of some iconic wildlife spe- of Botswana's elephants reside in the protected area network. As cies, including elephants and large carnivores such as lions. Such a result, conflicts between people and elephants outside formally conflicts can undermine local support for conservation. protected areas are increasing, especially along elephant migration corridors. This brief review focuses on proactive prevention strategies to re- duce conflict areas outside of formally protected areas in Botswana Conflicts between people and wildlife are also having significant and Namibia, where elephants and large predator species come into impacts on subsistence farming and livelihoods. In a unique ef- contact with rural subsistence agriculturalists. fort to reduce the conflict and promote conservation, compensa- 28 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group sub-saharan africa region tion programs for wildlife damage have munities and key wildlife species through ephants become accustomed to these con- been implemented. These programs provide proactive conflict prevention and develop- trol methods, farmers must be trained to direct compensation to farmers for crop and ment of local employment through wildlife- apply other deterrent methods. The project livestock losses caused by wildlife. While the based tourism. will therefore pilot additional approaches, program has helped affected farmers, it has such as using early maturing seeds, solar- also created disincentives to protect crops The project will target 13 villages. These vil- powered restraining fences, and beehives and manage livestock in a more sustainable lages are along three important biodiversity mounted strategically around crop fields manner. The total annual costs (compensa- regions in northern Botswana--the Okavan- (beehive fences). Community members will tion and recurrent) in Botswana are cur- go Delta panhandle, the Chobe-Linyanti be trained in management-oriented moni- rently estimated at $6.8 million. wetlands, and the Makgadikgadi wetlands. toring systems to track and analyze HWC data and inform management decisions. The government recognizes that these and Project interventions will actively encour- other complementary subsidies facilitate age 1,500 households to adopt elephant Namibia the expansion of subsistence agriculture and restraining techniques--such as chili pepper Most of the rural population in Namibia habitat conversion and result in practices fences--to discourage elephants from invad- lives on communal land formally owned that are unsustainable. Accordingly, the De- ing farmers' fields. Hot chili varieties can by the government. Conservancies are es- partment of Wildlife and Parks--with two be locally grown. Chili paste and grease are tablished under the Nature Conservation local NGOs and support from the Bank mixed together and applied to the perimeter Amendment Act and constitute a structure and GEF--has prepared a project that will fence using mutton cloth. If elephants make through which rural communities can main- contribute to Botswana's long-term goal of contact with the string, the hot chili causes tain users rights for the ownership and use enhancing coexistence between rural com- irritation to the animal. As crop-raiding el- of game. At present, there are more than 50 Protecting the Mountain gorilla Since the mid-1990s wildlife conservation projects in the mountainous re- gions of Uganda have been vital factors in protecting the mountain gorilla and its habitat, creating thousands of new conservation jobs and a thriving new tourism industry. Prior to that time poaching was rampant and institutional capacity was weak. Beginning in 1995 with the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park Conservation project, and continuing in 1999 with the $35 million Protected Areas Management and Sustainable Use (PAMSU) project, the Bank and GEF provided the financial foundation for a long-term program of sustainable biodiversity conservation. The Bwindi Trust is now considered a model of innovative conservation finance and management; Klas Sander its original endowment of $4 million has generated income that assisted communities with alternative livelihoods and underwritten core operating expenses of gorilla parks. Thanks in large part to the Bwindi and PAMSU projects, poaching has been all but eliminated in Bwindi. Gorilla populations, tourist vis- itation, and revenues have all climbed steadily. Across Uganda, the 1,300-member staff of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) are well trained and equipped for the first time in living memory. PAMSU has delineated park boundaries in all 23 of Uganda's protected ar- eas, has provided critical infrastructure such as roads and staff housing, and has been instrumental in helping communities form co- management partnerships with UWA that promote conservation and provide alternative livelihoods and social services such as educa- tion and health clinics. The PAMSU project will close in June 2010 and leave a legacy of successful partnerships among World Bank, GEF, and Ugandan stakehold- ers. A new project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has just begun to support management in the Mikeno sector of the Virun- ga National Park, an important habitat for mountain gorillas. Since some of the gorilla groups cross back and forth from DRC to Uganda and Rwanda, the Mikeno activities will complement and supplement transnational efforts to protect this charismatic species. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 29 cal people valuable skills and allows them to better understand the linkages between their Madagascar actions, resources, and benefits. Biodiversity Facts The Community-Based Natural Resource · As many as 12,000 plant species Management program in Namibia has al- - 10 families and 260 genera of ready demonstrated the effectiveness of de- plants are endemic to Mada- Shutterstock Images LLC gascar volving management authority over wildlife - 165 of Madagascar's 170 palms to landholders as a conservation mechanism; are not found anywhere else the model could be replicated by neighbor- - Of the eight species of baobab found in the world, six are ing countries such as Botswana. Local and endemic to Madagascar regional forums to improve community - Madagascar has nearly 1,000 registered conservancies in Namibia. Their coordination and improved management species of orchids, of which 85 percent are endemic formation has become a social development of conflicts between people and wildlife will · 258 bird species--115 endemic, movement, as well as an accepted and holistic further enhance conservation efforts. 27 threatened approach to conservation. Together with the · 141 mammal species-- 50 threatened USAID LIFE program, the Bank and GEF have provided support to conservancies for Madagascar -- · 381 reptile species-- 18 threatened participatory land-use planning, develop- ment, and extension of community wildlife Supporting a · Over 300 frog species-- 99 percent of them endemic · 390 fish species--14 threatened management and monitoring. This support Protected Areas Source: Madagascar Wildlife. 2009. has facilitated the strategic introduction of wildlife in conservancies with low game den- Network in a Time www.wildmadagascar.org/wildlife (accessed January 25, 2010). sities and has diversified income generation opportunities to increase non-financial ben- of Political Turmoil efits and new income to households. Recognizing its unique biodiversity resourc- ority area on Earth for conserving primate es (see Box, at right), in 2003 Madagascar diversity, with all primate species unique to Several measures to reduce conflict between pledged to triple its protected areas coverage the island. Protected areas also are the back- wildlife and people have been tried in the to 6 million hectares, or approximately 10 bone of the tourism industry (worth $400 conservancies, including the protection of percent of the country's surface area. million per year) and provide environmental water installations and the provision of al- services such as carbon sequestration and ternative water points for elephants away In a relatively short time, the nation's pledge water flow regulation. from settlements. A self-insurance scheme, is bearing fruit. Madagascar's protected the Human Animal Conflict Self Insurance areas network currently includes 2.6 mil- Funding from the International Develop- Scheme, allows conservancies to compensate lion hectares of national parks managed by ment Association (IDA) and GEF to the individuals who have lost livestock to preda- Madagascar National Parks (MNP, formerly Third Environmental Program (EP3) sup- tors, but under conditions aimed at improv- ANGAP). In addition, 3.2 million hectares ports 60 percent of MNP parks (28 parks ing livestock management and preventing of new protected areas are being developed covering 1.6 million hectares) and 15 per- further incidents. Currently, conservancies by international NGOs--including WWF, cent of new protected areas (one corridor cover 50 percent of the costs from their own Conservation International (CI), and the covering 0.5 million hectares). Overall, EP3 funds; the aim is that conservancies eventu- Wildlife Conservation Society--on behalf finances the management and development ally will fully fund the scheme. of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. of 2 million hectares of protected areas, a Moreover, the annual deforestation rate in third of the emerging network, at a cost of Data produced by the insurance scheme can Madagascar has fallen from 2 percent to only about $4 million per year. be used to improve livestock management. 0.5 percent. Communities also have their own monitor- Going forward, Madagascar faces two dis- ing system that gathers data on instances of The nation's protected areas network con- tinct challenges: reducing its dependence on wildlife conflict, wildlife mortality, levels of tains very high levels of species endemism in donor assistance and recovering from a peri- rainfall, and meeting frequency and atten- all groups from mammals (lemurs) to butter- od of political turmoil, which threatens pro- dance. Gathering this information gives lo- flies. It is considered the single highest pri- tected areas and biodiversity conservation. 30 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group sub-saharan africa region Development assistance--from donors such as IDA, GEF, and the European Commis- Biodiversity conservation in Production sion--currently accounts for about 90 per- cent of MNP's budget. New protected areas landscaPes in aFrica development is also financed by multiple do- In South Africa, the Cape Floristic Region--world famous for its astonishing diversi- nors, such as the Critical Ecosystem Partner- ty of plant and animal life and one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the ship Fund, the Global Conservation Fund, world--is under increasing pressure from human development, in part because about 80 percent of the land with important biodiversity resources is under production and and private foundations such as the Moore is privately or communally owned. In an effort to save these resources, the Cape Ac- and MacArthur foundations. tion Plan for People and Environment (C.A.P.E.) partners--government and civil so- ciety--have introduced new models for biodiversity conservation in the agricultural In the future, it is hoped that an increasing landscape. The biodiversity-friendly production concept involves creative partnerships percentage of operational costs will be cov- between agricultural producers, industry associations, retailers, communities, and con- ered by a conservation fund, carbon finance servationists, working together to conserve valuable biodiversity, such as sustainably (avoided deforestation), and park entrance harvested/cultivated rooibos tea and potatoes, badger-friendly honey, and biodiver- fees and other fiscal revenues from tourism. sity-friendly wine. The South African companies and producers involved in these initia- tives have helped to establish new models for biodiversity conservation. At the same The Madagascar Foundation for Protected time, they are helping to guarantee the sustainability of their businesses through cer- Area and Biodiversity--an endowment fund tification and marketing of their products in niche markets. supported by France, Germany, IDA through EP3, WWF, and CI--is expected to increase The Ghana Northern Savanna Biodiversity GEF Project and the Burkina Faso Partner- its capital fund to $50 million by 2012. ship for Ecosystem Management GEF Project have pioneered biodiversity conserva- tion in production landscapes, creating two biological corridors between the countries Madagascar plunged into political turmoil at to allow free movement of wildlife, trans- the beginning of 2009 after an unconstitu- boundary spatial planning, community empowerment, agrobiodiversity, and more. The projects focused on activi- ties in production landscapes that could keep the corridors intact and on liveli- Shutterstock Images LLC hood strategies for nearby communi- ties, such as agroforestry, beekeeping, shea-butter production, ecotourism, me- dicinal plants cultivation, and the rein- troduction of indigenous crops that are Shutterstock Images LLC more drought-resistant and nutritional. These activities resulted in very good im- pacts on conservation of biodiversity in production landscape, wildlife corridors creation, and livelihood enhancement. tional change of government. As a result, the disbursement of project funds to ensure Bank and other donors suspended funds to adequate protection of protected areas and Madagascar. support to local communities. The collapse of law and order resulted in increased threats to the national parks and This article was prepared by Karsten Feuerriegel other protected areas, with growing illegal (kfeuerriegel@worldbank.org), George Ledec (gledec@ worldbank.org), Paola Agostini (pagostini@worldbank. logging and poaching. There were concerns org), Emmanuel Nikiema (enikiema@worldbank. that weakened protection of the parks could org), and Edward Dwumfour (edwumfour@ cause irreparable losses for the global envi- worldbank.org) of the Africa Region Environment ronment and biodiversity, and perhaps even and Natural Resource Management Unit, with contributions from the C.A.P.E. Coordination Unit lead to local extinction of some species. The (SANBI) and Nik Sekhran of UNDP. Africa Region Bank has since decided to resume partial website: www.worldbank.org/afr. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 31 East Asia and Pacific Region Mongolia China Rep. of Korea Lao P.D.R. Myanmar Vietnam Cambodia Thailand Philippines Marshall Islands Malaysia Palau Fed. States of Micronesia Kiribati Papua Indonesia New Solomon Guinea Is. Timor-Leste Samoa Vanuatu Fiji IBRD 31562R MARCH 2010 Tonga Shutterstock Images LLC s umatra T he biodiversity of East Asia and the Pacific is in considerable danger. The region's peat swamps and other wetlands are being Watershed Management drained or are drying up due to large-scale irrigation schemes and oil palm plantations. The grand forests of the Far East The largest biodiversity project in the region is related to a public- continue to be lost to illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, private sector offset from the Nam Theun 2 hydropower project in and forest fires. River fish--already threatened by invasive species-- Lao PDR, which is providing $31.5 million over 30 years for the are being poisoned, bombed, and netted in such large numbers that reservoir's watershed management and livelihood improvements for the riparian people who used to depend on these resources now go the communities within the watershed. The protected area covers without. Coral reefs in the Coral Triangle--the epicenter of global 4,500 km2. The financing is intended to protect biologically rich marine biodiversity--are under threat from overfishing, blast fish- forests to offset the inundation of forest area, which is about one- ing, cyanide fishing, and climate change. ninth of the protected area. The World Bank and other international finance institutions helped establish the Watershed Management The World Bank is working with governments, civil society, and Protection Authority (WMPA) through a Prime Minister's decree. The WMPA is responsible for management and monitoring of the nongovernmental organizations to respond to these problems in a watershed forests. When the reservoir started filling and accessibil- variety of ways, focusing on biodiversity conservation in the context ity to the watershed from the populated southern shores increased, of watershed management, strengthened efforts to control illegal the project faced its most challenging phase. Greater accessibility wildlife trade, and the expansion and improved management of pro- has led to increased poaching, illegal logging, and encroachment. In tected areas (PAs). The Bank has also carried out an active program addition, there have been a number of unanticipated threats to the of research on biodiversity conservation in Mongolia. 32 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group east asia and pacific region watershed's integrity, including exploration that drive illegal and/or unsustainable wild- element of the region's biodiversity portfolio for gold and salvage logging. Meanwhile, life trade, (c) laws and regulations need to over the last decade. Burung Indonesia--the a biodiversity monitoring system using be effectively implemented and enforced, BirdLife International affiliate in Indonesia-- camera trapping and line surveys--set up (d) nonregulatory approaches to control- is implementing an MSP in by the Wildlife Conservation Society--has ling illegal and unsustainable trade are un- and around the Aketajawe- shown that large terrestrial wildlife species derused, (e) awareness efforts need to be Lolobata National Park on are now acutely rare. Over the last few years targeted to specific audiences and their Halmahera in eastern Indo- Lao PDR rangers have removed many thou- effectiveness evaluated, and (f ) mu- nesia. The PA management sands of snares and traps, but the northern tually reinforcing interventions are is forming partnerships with part of the watershed borders Vietnam, from required to address illegal and/or communities, logging companies, en which it is much easier for a hunter to enter unsustainable wildlife trade. government, and nickel mines. An- hitt yW it than it is for a ranger to patrol it from the These conclusions are other MSP supported protected areas Ton downslope villages. not necessarily ap- in central Laos. This project successfully plicable to every used a systematic landscape approach to product or ev- assess key biodiversity areas where wildlife Illegal Wildlife Trade ery national monitoring, law enforcement, and commu- The enormous scale of the wildlife trade, circum- nity support should be focused. A follow-up much of it illegal, has robbed almost all project focusing on the important Nam Et­ the region's forests of their vertebrate seed Phou Loey protected area is in the pipeline. dispersers, pollinators, and the prey for stance, but whatever large predators that have thus far they serve as a In Indonesia, forest and biodiversity loss are avoided the snares and hunters. The wildlife starting point for global concerns. An innovative project un- in many of East Asia's forests is naturally further investigation and der preparation is seeking to take advantage rare, but nowadays it is even more unusual refinement. Moving forward of a new policy environment. Outside the to see animals except in a handful of man- from the Driving report, a major 30-million-hectare national park system, aged protected areas, such as Hustai in Mon- campaign was launched against the illegal an additional 20 million hectares of logged- golia and Nantu in Indonesia. Many forests wildlife trade as part of the Southeast Asian over production forests are no longer under are now "empty" and any mammal or reptile Games in Vientiane in December 2009. This concession license either because the logging sighting is notable. campaign was initiated by the Lao govern- companies lost their licenses for underper- ment and is being supported by the World forming or because the quantity of timber At the last World Conservation Congress, Bank, NGOs, and the private sector. left is no longer attractive for commercial the Bank's EAP Region launched--together operators. These areas are now targets for ille- with TRAFFIC--a report entitled What's gal logging and conversion. In response, the Driving the Wildlife Trade? The report fo- Protected Areas Ministry of Forestry has launched a policy cuses on wildlife trade in general and on Also in Lao PDR, new IDA resources were to allow companies to develop non-timber tigers, agarwood, and various species of approved in 2009 for a trust fund within and environmental service-based businesses tortoises and freshwater turtles in particular. the Lao Environment and Social Project. within former logging concessions. The study aims at assessing the effectiveness Projects being funded under the Biodiversity of measures used to halt illegal and/or un- Window include the drafting of a new regu- Another policy allows licenses for ecologi- sustainable trade, generates recommenda- lation for national protected areas, which is cal restoration to be granted for logged-over tions for governments and others to follow scheduled to become a Prime Ministerial de- concessions. This "restoration" policy en- to reduce such trade, and is believed to be cree. The new project will raise the authority courages the full integration of biodiversity the first of its kind. of protected area managers, fund protected conservation objectives into the management area management planning in three prov- of a production forest. This project is being The report concludes that (a) wealth ap- inces, and train PA staff in best practice executed by both Burung Indonesia and the pears to be a stronger driver of illegal and/ approaches. Ministry of Forestry. Burung Indonesia holds or unsustainable wildlife trade than pov- the first ecological restoration concession in erty, (b) interventions need to take into GEF medium-size projects (MSPs), using Indonesia, Harapan Forest, which lies on the account the broader conditions and trends grants up to $1 million, have been a major border between Jambi and South Sumatra. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 33 communities in better management of their All by Tony Whitten coastal resources. Mongolia Over the last few years, the Bank has car- ried out a wide range of relatively small but mutually supportive and strategic activities focusing on biodiversity in Mongolia. This work has been financed from a variety of sources, notably the government of the Netherlands. A report on illegal wildlife trade--The Silent Steppe--has spawned a series of additional initiatives ranging from undercover surveys of wildlife markets and hospitals to ride-along surveys by a law en- forcement task force, public awareness of the trade, training in crime-detection software, and a review of the necessary amendments to the Law on Hunting. Mongolia recently became the first devel- oping country to assess the national threat Harapan has 900,000 hectares of good forest forests are maintained, supporting Aceh's status of all its vertebrate species. This in- cover and will be managed for biodiversity future social and economic development. formation feeds into an online geographic and ecosystem services. The new project will Forest management and protection are vital species search tool, which the government build on the Harapan experience to expand to support and sustain Aceh's reconstruction is planning to require all consultants to use lessons into new concessions in eastern In- and recovery process. The project will ensure when undertaking environmental assess- donesia. It complements other Bank efforts that conservation and environmental con- ments. A basic taxonomic review of fish spe- to build up the legal, institutional, and cerns are integrated into Aceh's reconstruc- cies resulted in the fully illustrated Fishes of technical base needed for Indonesia to take Mongolia. Such studies are an essential part tion and development planning process and advantage of new financial incentives and of the picture if environmental assessments that management structures and governance carbon incentives associated with reducing are to be professional and accurate. We have systems are maintained to assure delivery of deforestation and degradation under the cli- also supported the government's online, the project objectives. mate change agenda. searchable database of environmental impact assessments, which should radically change Marine protected areas are also being estab- In Aceh, at the northern tip of Sumatra, the extent to which the public can engage in lished. With help from the GEF, the World funds from the World Bank­managed Multi- environmental management of development Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, Donor Trust Fund are supporting Fauna and projects. Flora International and the Leuser Interna- and a host of bilateral donors and NGOs, tional Foundation to execute a $17.5 million the countries of the Coral Triangle region are In connection with improving our under- project to help mitigate the negative impacts committed to reversing harmful marine har- standing of the impacts of a nationwide rural of post-tsunami reconstruction interven- vesting practices. COREMAP and the Coral development program, the Bank supported tions on the forests of Aceh, mainstreaming Triangle Initiative, which includes a Pacific a satellite-tracking study of seven wild asses. environmental concerns into planning pro- component involving Pacific small-island This study found that wild asses have enor- cesses, and building sustainable capacity and developing states, are channeling significant mous range (nearly 50,000 hectares), which institutions for forest protection. The proj- resources to establish effective networks of has important implications for the major in- All by Tony Whitten ect is thus helping to ensure that ecosystem marine protected areas, manage valuable frastructure developments being undertaken services provided by the biodiversity-rich tuna stocks more sustainably, and engage in the southern Gobi region where they live. 34 EnvironmEnt mattErs · 2009 east asia and pacific region place project, supported the Taimen Con- iMMortalized By a Bug servation Fund to establish a partnership between the local communities--including The World Bank's safeguard policies are designed to minimize or mitigate the envi- the "ranger monks" from a renovated Bud- ronmental and social impacts of its projects. During the preparation of the Yichang- Badong Highway Project in China, the project team dhist temple--government institutions and learned that the route would traverse an area of karst bodies, and tourist companies to collabora- Tian Mingyi caves. These caves are often completely isolated eco- tively and proactively establish a natural re- systems where one can find unique species, particu- source management regime. The underlying larly invertebrates. rationale of the project was to treat wildlife as a locally managed concessionable natural The project was carried out with the Hubei Provincial resource rather than as a simple public good, Communications Department (HPCD), which was com- thereby enabling the local communities to mitted to minimizing its environmental impact. HPCD agreed to have a local university undertake a baseline maximize the economic returns from its use. survey to catalog the cave biodiversity. The survey fo- The financial sustainability and biodiversity cused on caves within one kilometer of the centerline conservation vehicle for the project is the of the road. This helped to define specific project mit- high-end fly-fishing. igation measures--such as putting in fencing to pre- The Superbotrechus bennetti beetle vent workers accessing the caves or changing the runoff from the road so that the caves would not be flooded. was discovered during a survey of cave biodiversity in China. Blogging on Biodiversity in While carrying out the survey, the team discovered what was thought to be a new spe- cies of beetle. The process for identifying a species is quite precise. The samples were east asia and PaciFic sent off to Guangzhou and from there to specialists in France for classification. As it The EAP Region's blog (http://blogs. turned out, the trechine carabid beetle from Duandongzi Cave, Yichang, is both a new worldbank.org/eastasiapacific) has genus and new species. It is named Superbotrechus bennetti after Chris Bennett, the more information on some of the project's task team leader in the Bank. stories featured in this article and other biodiversity-related issues in East Asia and Pacific: As part of a Bank-supported study of Impor- capital and lies in the protected areas of · Harapan Forest project: tant Bird Areas (IBAs) in Mongolia (Mongo- Khan Khentii and Gorkhi-Terelj. Our next http://blogs.worldbank.org/ lia IBA Directory), a survey of the threatened books will be field guides to Mongolia's birds eastasiapacific/indonesia-hope- for-the-future-and-fish-in-a- saker falcon and houbara bustard found that and mammals written by the staff of the Na- sumatran-rainforest these birds live in an IBA outside the protect- tional University of Mongolia. · Burung Indonesia project: ed area system. This finding led to a national http://blogs.worldbank.org/ assessment of the impacts of infrastructure, Over the last decade we have reached out eastasiapacific/indonesia-the- giant-cuckoos-enormous- mining, and tourism activities and plans to and supported all manner of large and gingers-and-pretty-leeches-of- on critical natural habitats. The Bank also small civil society groups across Mongolia, halmahera has supported protected areas by engaging including Buddhist groups. In 2009 much · Mongolia project: http://blogs. worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/ IUCN to work with a government working of that experience was brought together in mongolia-reaches-milestone- group on suggestions for amendments to the a handbook, Mongolian Buddhists Protect- in-global-assessment-of- Protected Areas Law and it funded an award ing Nature, which is as much for develop- threatened-species scheme for the underappreciated forest rang- ment workers to learn about the potential of · Tony Whitten's personal blog: http://blogs.worldbank.org/eas- ers. Through its Small Grant Program, the working with Mongolian faith communities tasiapacific/blogs/tony-whitten Bank also supports a large number of proj- as for the Buddhist followers to confirm the ects by local NGOs and others--operated relevance of their faith to environmental This article was prepared by Tony Whitten (twhitten@ through the Open Society Forum--with the management. A practical application of this worldbank.org) of the Africa Region Environment close engagement of the Ministry of Nature, concept was incorporated into an IFC-GEF and Natural Resource Management Unit, with Environment, and Tourism, our main part- project in northwest Mongolia that focused a contribution by Chris Bennett (cbennett2@ ner. One of the most recent products is an on low-impact, catch-and-release fishing of worldbank.org) of the Transport Sustainable Development Sector Unit. EAP website: www. economic valuation of the upper Tuul River, the world's largest salmon, the taimen. The worldbank.org/eapenvironment; Transport website: which supplies all the water to the nation's project, and a parallel Development Market- www.worldbank.org/transport. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 35 Europe and Central Asia Region Russian Federation Estonia Latvia Russian Fed. Lithuania Poland Belarus Czech Rep. Ukraine Slovak Rep. Kazakhstan Moldova Slovenia Hungary Romania Croatia Bosnia and Serbia Bulgaria Herzegovina Kosovo Georgia Uzbekistan Kyrgyz Rep. FYR Armenia Azerbaijan Montenegro Macedonia Turkmenistan Turkey Tajikistan Albania Cyprus IBRD 35099 MARCH 2010 Shutterstock Images LLC romania T he protection of nature in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Over the past decade, ECA's Central European and Baltic coun- is an important part of the development agenda. The region tries have elevated nature protection in their national agendas. This accounts for 23 percent of the world's forest area, 13 percent trend has been driven by several factors, including integration with of its arable land, and 12 percent of its annual renewable the European Union's (EU) international system of protected areas, freshwater resources. It also includes the world's largest contiguous the Natura 2000 network. The role of ecotourism within national steppe and intact forest ecosystems; five seas (Aral, Baltic, Black, tourism strategies, for example, has grown significantly across the Caspian, and Lake Baikal), with a combined area of 1.3 million region over the past decade. In addition, more frequent flood events km2; and 21 major mountain chains. with attendant economic losses have prompted a closer look at past engineering practices, which did not integrate the protection of Twenty-seven ecosystems in Europe and Central Asia are recog- natural systems as flood buffer zones or erosion control measures. nized internationally as part of the World Wide Fund for Nature's Increasingly globalized and interlinked markets for agricultural and top 200 sites of global importance. Many of the world's cultivated natural-resource-based products are driving suppliers in ECA coun- food crops originated in ECA, and the region harbors the wild rela- tries to step up to the challenge of more sustainable production. tives of these species that feed the world, including wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils, apples, cherries, apricots, walnuts, pistachios, At the same time, the region supports 7 percent of the world's and pomegranates, as well as many vegetables, medicinal herbs, population--450 million people, including 36 percent who live and flowers. Most ECA countries have ratified the Convention on in rural areas. Many of the region's most biologically rich areas-- Biological Diversity and many have benefited from GEF programs particularly in Central Asia, the Caucasus Mountains, and parts to support nature protection. of southeastern Europe--include pockets of some of the region's 36 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group europe and central asia region most pervasive poverty, necessitating dual The ECA region is characterized by many and Russia--are promoting forest certifica- development strategies to simultaneously transboundary watersheds, which require tion with the help of World Bank projects. help improve rural livelihoods and conserve international cooperation across states both These countries have seen tremendous biodiversity. within and neighboring the EU. The Bank growth in forest area coverage by certification has supported investments in watershed man- through the Forestry Stewardship Council, The region has made a sustained effort to in- agement planning and training to promote which promotes higher biodiversity benefits crease coverage of territorial areas under pro- good practices, including better integration within productive landscapes. tection and strengthen national laws; in most of biodiversity objectives in decision-making cases, however, this has occurred without the processes. Multicountry programs, such as Some of the first impacts of climate change requisite increases in national budgets or the Black Sea/Danube Investment Facility, are being felt in the most biologically sensi- substantial funds for capacity building. The demonstrate improved wetland management tive parts of the region--such as high moun- expansion of protected areas requires more and rehabilitation, biodiversity conservation tain glaciers and forested wetlands--and extensive stakeholder engagement through through vegetation buffers along waterways, tend to coincide with an increased risk of di- widened opportunities for community par- integration of habitat-friendly agricultural sasters linked with poorly regulated land-use ticipation in nature conservation, as well as practices, and reduction of nitrogen fertil- management practices. Diagnostic studies in strengthened institutions to help promote izers in agricultural landscapes. the region have highlighted more sensitive intersectoral solutions and broker inevitable areas, and the Bank is starting to work with conflicts. More significant national efforts Global and regional market forces are stimu- governments to identify the support needed are needed on research, biological inventory lating change across the entire region. Sus- for mitigation and adaptation. Nature pro- and data collection, and modernization of tainable forest management practices, for tection and biodiversity programs that work data systems and tools to employ cutting- example, are being driven by market prefer- to ensure robust and resilient ecosystems are edge computer-based, satellite, and remote- ences for certified wood products. Several a necessary (and perhaps least costly) part of sensing technologies to better track and countries--including Armenia, Bosnia and the solution to a more stable future develop- understand threats when they occur. Herzegovina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Romania, ment path. World Bank projects are supporting ECA countries to help meet these challenges, in- troducing participatory park management planning models, supporting institutional reforms, and promoting integration of na- ture protection into other economic sec- tors. World Bank­financed projects have strengthened protected areas management in many countries, including Albania, Arme- nia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Geor- gia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. In the broader landscape, a number of large infrastructure projects--roads, dams, trans- mission lines, wastewater treatment plants-- and agriculture, tourism, and forest-related projects are taking into account biodiversity conservation needs. Several good practice examples include proactive mitigation mea- sures, such as dedicated biological monitor- ing programs and "green bridges" across Agi Kiss highway corridors to promote large-mammal wildlife habitat connectivity. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 37 Opportunities for management plans to achieve "good status" for all water bodies within each RBD. Good Union are covered by agri-environment management agreements. Payments from Accession Countries status encompasses both chemical status and public money are used to encourage farmers ecological status, including factors such as and other landowners to produce environ- to the European species composition. This places biodiversity mental products and services through main- Union at the heart of water management. taining, enhancing, or restoring traditional landscapes and through preserving valuable Three important opportunities for EU ac- The WFD creates a strong need for effective wildlife habitat and other areas rich in natu- cession countries include the Water Frame- cooperation between authorities and special- ral, cultural, and historical features. work Directive (WFD), ecological service ists in water management and ecological payments in agricultural landscapes, and the protection, two groups that usually have Potential EU member states are encouraged expansion of the Natura 2000 protected ar- been quite separate and sometimes even an- to start building capacity to participate in eas network. tagonistic. Some countries have responded these programs. The World Bank is currently by broadening the mandate and expertise the only international financial institution in Water Framework Directive. The Water of existing departments, while others have the ECA region with active programs of sup- Framework Directive, updated in 2006, replaced them with new cross-sectoral water port to help introduce and pilot such pro- is a comprehensive policy that is changing agencies. The WFD thus represents a funda- grams into lending operations. perspectives and approaches to water man- mentally new perspective and approach to agement throughout the EU member, acces- water management as an integral element of Protected areas. The EU Natura 2000 net- sion, and candidate countries, focusing on environmentally sustainable development. work extends the protected areas concept water as a natural resource to be protected to the international level, establishing an and managed rather than as a commodity. Ecological service payments. EU member EU-wide system of nature protection areas National or international river basin districts states have jointly supported a system of aimed at ensuring the long-term survival (RBDs) are defined as the basic units for wa- ecological service payments in agricultural of Europe's most valuable and threatened ter resource management, with the require- landscapes since 1992. Approximately 25 species and habitat types. The network cur- ment to prepare and implement river basin percent of agricultural lands in the European rently includes over 26,000 sites covering All by Agi Kiss 38 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group europe and central asia region croatia K arst ecosysteM conservation Project included iMPortant suPPort For rural livelihoods On mountain meadows unspoiled by pollution and human intervention in Velebit, in Croatia's karst region, Barisa Vila tends to his 50 beehives. Vila collects the honey and drives back to his small honey bottling plant in Senj, where he produces ecologically clean, high- quality organic sage, forest, and meadow honey, wax candles, and honey brandy. All by Dorota Kowalska Barisa Vila extracting honey from beehives Ecotourism development in Ljubotic Mladen Matak's herd of goats on the slopes of Velebit Mountain financed by the Small Grants Program Vila's family business has been financed by a 22,000 grant he received under the Conservation and Rural Revitalization Grants (CRRG) program. The program is financed by a GEF grant of $5.07 million to the government of Croatia for the Karst Ecosystem Conservation (KEC) project, centered on the Plitvice Lakes National Park. The area is characterized by high unemployment, lack of infrastructure for the protection of the environment, and an urgent need to encourage private sector development in an otherwise economically depressed region. In addition, the National Environment Action Plan identified karst ecosystems as the top priority for biodiversity conservation. The project strengthened institutional and technical capacity, integrated biodiversity conservation into physical planning and sectoral objectives, strengthened the management of protected areas, and promoted entrepreneurial and tourism activities to support sustain- able use of natural resources. On the other side of the mountains, in the Lika region, Mladen Matak checks on his herd of goats. He expanded his herd from 16 animals to about 140, thanks to the 14,000 grant he received in 2003 under the CRRG program for the reintroduction of goat breeding and main- tenance of protected mountain meadows. "We benefited from the grant tremendously. I would never be able to afford to buy so many goats by myself. I have three children to educate and now, from the income the herd generates, I am able to extend my house," Matak says. Meanwhile, Sime Gazic, an advocate of ecotourism development, welcomes tours with visitors from across the country in his recon- structed 300-year-old family household in Ljubotic, another tiny village situated on the slopes of Velebit Mountain. These examples illustrate how the preservation and protection of the natural environment can be successfully integrated with farming and tourism activities to support the sustainable use of natural resources by working with local communities. The government of Cro- atia is now preparing for a follow-up World Bank loan to extend the work of the KEC project to new challenges of integration with the EU Natura 2000 network. about 850,000 km2--20 percent of the total within its National Ecological Network, much This article was prepared by Karin Shepardson EU territory. Member countries commit to of which is likely to become part of the Natura (kshepardson@worldbank.org), with contributions from Agi Kiss (akiss@worldbank.org) of the manage these areas to maintain their bio- 2000 network. Designation of Natura 2000 Europe and Central Asia VP Unit and from diversity and ecological values. The Natura sites requires both detailed baseline informa- Angela Armstrong (aarmstrong@worldbank. network will expand further as additional tion and consensus building among a range of org) and Darejan Kapanadze (dkapanadze@ countries join the EU. Croatia has already stakeholders and interests. worldbank.org) of the Europe and Central Asia Sustainable Development Department. ECA designated nearly one-third of its land area website: www.worldbank.org/eca. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 39 Latin America and Caribbean Region The Bahamas Haiti Jamaica Dominican Rep. St. Kitts and Nevis Mexico Antigua and Barbuda Belize Dominica St. Lucia Guatemala Honduras Barbados El Salvador R.B. de St. Vincent and the Grenadines Nicaragua Venezuela Grenada Trinidad and Tobago Costa Rica Panama Guyana Colombia Suriname Ecuador Peru Brazil Bolivia Paraguay Chile Uruguay Argentina Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) A dispute concerning sovereignty over the islands exists between Argentina which claims this sovereignty and the U.K. which IBRD 31564R MARCH 2010 administers the islands. Shutterstock Images LLC a mazon Basin T he World Bank's investment portfolio in the Latin America formed into a nationwide effort to mainstream sustainable cattle and Caribbean Region (LAC) clearly shows the importance ranching in Colombia. the institution places on conserving biodiversity. From the Chaco in Argentina to the deserts of Mexico, from the Brazil- Others are working with indigenous communities, building on ian Mata Atlântica to the Amazon tropical forests, from the Carib- traditional knowledge to improve natural land and water manage- bean islands to the melting glaciers of the Andes, Bank projects are ment and strengthen the capacity of indigenous communities to addressing the continued pressure biodiversity is facing. protect and manage their natural and cultural resources. In Brazil the Bank is supporting various land management projects that aim to mainstream biodiversity conservation into rural development Throughout LAC the Bank has been piloting projects to improve activities, with a special focus on small- and medium-size land land management and biodiversity conservation. Improved valua- holdings. Project-supported activities include (a) soil conservation tion of biodiversity and the services it provides to society is one tool and erosion control, which benefit soil and aquatic biodiversity; (b) gaining traction with conservation experts as a means of emphasiz- reforestation and rehabilitation of riparian forests; (c) identification ing the importance of biodiversity to decision makers. Several proj- and implementation of biodiversity corridors; (d) reduced reliance ects are piloting payments for ecosystem services to demonstrate on inorganic fertilizers and pesticides through the use of green ma- how biodiversity conservation can be fully integrated into the rural nure and adoption of integrated pest management techniques; and landscape. One regional pilot project in Colombia, Costa Rica, and (e) environmental education for farmers, rural extension agents, Nicaragua was so successful in increasing both agricultural produc- and rural families. Sustained collaboration between the Bank and tivity and biodiversity richness on farms that it has now been trans- the state of São Paulo over the last 10 years has resulted in the 40 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group latin america and caribbean region adoption of policies for the payment of envi- 62 percent of state GDP. Upstream of the environmental services (biodiversity, carbon, ronmental services for the rehabilitation and GVMA, land-use patterns have resulted in and water), and raising livestock productiv- restoration of native riparian forests. severe erosion, substantially increasing silt ity in participating farms. Four criteria are loads and reducing the quality and timing employed to assess the positive environmen- The effects of climate change are expected of water supplies. The project will strengthen tal impacts of a cattle-ranching production to have significant impacts in Latin America institutions responsible for planning and system: (1) an increase in vegetative cover, and the Caribbean. The World Bank is work- implementing natural resource management including trees; (2) a decrease in use of agro- ing within a number of climate-sensitive strategies in the watersheds, including the chemicals of fossil origin (pesticides and fer- hotspots in the region, aiming to safeguard technical agencies responsible for monitor- tilizers); (3) decreased soil erosion; and (4) and protect biodiversity and related ecosys- ing conditions. It will develop governance improved quality of the landscape. Greater tem services. Climate change is expected to mechanisms that bring stakeholders together tree cover on farms will increase habitat con- increase the bleaching of coral reefs, leading in participatory ways to agree on appropri- nectivity and link conservation of protected to the potential collapse of the coral biome ate responses. Improved land and forest areas (PAs) and their buffer zones, improving in the Caribbean Basin. Coral reefs are home management will reduce threats to globally biodiversity conservation as well as fostering to more than 25 percent of all marine species important biodiversity--for example, the more sustainable production systems. and are also vital for fisheries, tourism, coast- endangered muriqui monkey. al protection, and livelihoods. The Bank is supporting appropriate protection and man- Ecuador -- agement of coral reefs to maintain resilience Colombia -- Ancient Biodiversity Knowl- to climate change. Elsewhere in the region Mainstreaming Biodiversity in edge Informing Agricultural the Bank is working with clients to address Cattle Ranching Development climate impacts on mountain ecosystems The Integrated Silvopastoral Approaches to Recognizing that lack of knowledge is a key in the Andes, forest dieback in the Amazon Ecosystem Management in Colombia, Costa challenge to the adoption of sustainable Basin, and wetlands and associated coastal Rica, and Nicaragua demonstrated that sil- conservation practices, the Rescuing An- systems in the Gulf of Mexico. vopastoral practices can play an important cient Knowledge on Sustainable Use of Bio- role in rural development while providing diversity Project aims to increase knowledge Brazil -- global environmental benefits. It illustrated about traditional and modern systems of how tree species that are drought-tolerant technologies for sustainable use of the bio- Payments for Environmental and retain their foliage in the dry season diversity of southwestern Ecuador. The sys- Services provide high-quality fodder. This helps tems targeted are pre-Columbian detention The World Bank has been a leader in imple- provide more stable milk and beef produc- ponds, also known as albarradas. According menting innovative payments for environ- tion, maintain livestock condition (through to archaeological findings, these ponds have mental services projects throughout Latin reduced heat stress from increased shade), re- been in existence for over 3,800 years. These America. The recently inaugurated Florestas duce methane emissions, and secure farmers' horseshoe-shaped earth embankments retain para Vida (Biodiversity and Watershed Con- assets through increased farm productivity. runoff water, which infiltrates the underlying servation and Restoration) Project in Brazil Improved silvopastoral systems (SPSs) were permeable sandstone deposits of the Tablazo is a good example of how lessons learned also associated with a significant reduction formation, enriching the aquifer and replen- during the last decade are now incorporated in the use of fire as a pasture management ishing groundwater wells. The albarradas into project design. The project will support tool, as well as with significant carbon se- create their own microclimate, maintaining the adoption of environmentally friendly questration in the soil and in the standing plant species that have disappeared or are land-use practices in two key watersheds tree biomass. endangered in the surrounding Tumbésico in the Atlantic Forest in the state of Es- dry forest. Taxonomic studies have identi- pírito Santo. These two watersheds provide This success prompted the Colombian fied 595 species; seeds of endangered and approximately 90 percent of the Greater Cattle Ranching Federation to scale up the endemic species are retained in the project Vitória Metropolitan Area's (GVMA) water initiative in Colombia. A full-scale project herbarium. These findings are providing a supply, while also generating hydroelectrici- will promote the adoption of environment- historical perspective and insights for en- ty. The GVMA is an area of great importance friendly SPSs in Colombian cattle farms vironmental management and agricultural to the state's economy; it houses close to half nationwide, improving natural resource development programs. the population of 3.1 million and generates management, enhancing the provision of annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 41 Mexico -- Indigenous Communities Project--aims to increase conservation effectiveness by support to producers' associations to adopt new production models; demarcated over 43 Linking Religious and Cul- strengthening the capacity of indigenous million hectares of indigenous land; defined tural Values to Biodiversity communities to protect and manage their ecological corridors; and established a sus- natural and cultural resources. The project tainable timber management model, extrac- Conservation will create a network of indigenous commu- tive reserves, and 1 million hectares of new Religious practices in many parts of the world nities engaged in biodiversity conservation protected areas in the Atlantic Forest. are linked to the use of wild species for cer- emonial purposes. In the southern Mexican and sustainable and culturally appropriate land use and support subprojects for sustain- The Amazon Region Protected Areas (ARPA) state of Chiapas, various species of bromeli- able production, promotion, and marketing program is considered a critical part of the ads, palms, orchids, and cycads are collected of traditional products, environmental ser- Brazilian effort to combat deforestation for use by traditional indigenous religious vices, and eco/ethnotourism. Each participat- and to conserve biological diversity. It is the groups. The Sacred Orchids project has devel- ing indigenous group has developed cultural world's largest tropical forest conservation oped strategies for managing and conserving land-use plans. These plans strengthen and in- program, funded with financial resources the populations and habitats of wild orchids. corporate traditional knowledge and customary from the GEF, World Bank, WWF­Brasil, A local conservation NGO, Pronatura Sur, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, and the is mobilizing religious congregations and law, thereby promoting community participa- German Agency for Technical Cooperation. traditional community organizations in fa- tion and common visions in land planning and vor of biodiversity conservation through the reducing conflict between land uses. ARPA tackled some of the most formidable management of community protected areas, concerns in ecosystem protection today, extractive reserves, and nurseries for habitat restoration and orchid propagation. There is Brazil -- including enforcement of environmental laws in remote areas, improving livelihoods potential for scaling up this approach to the Conserving the Rain Forest for rural people, and valuing and funding national level, working with the Alliance of After almost two decades, the Pilot Program conservation activities against a wider back- Religions and Conservation. for Conservation of Brazilian Rain Forests drop of ongoing resource exploitation. The is coming to an end. Subprograms in the first phase of ARPA built the capacity of Central America -- Amazon and Atlantic Forest fostered inno- vation, social participation, and partnerships key partner organizations and increased the number and area of protected areas in the Indigenous Knowledge to test sustainable natural resource manage- Amazon. The ARPA program has effectively Conserving Biodiversity ment alternatives, linking conservation ac- created one-third of all new protected areas A regional initiative in Central America-- tion to local livelihoods. Among its many worldwide since 2003, namely 13 "strict the Integrated Ecosystem Management in accomplishments, the program provided protection" PAs totaling 13.2 million hect- ares and 30 "sustainable use" PAs totaling 10.8 million hectares. The Amazon Basin is recognized as a global carbon sink. The ARPA Program has contrib- uted to biodiversity by forming a mosaic of protected areas under different management systems, thereby reducing deforestation and contributing to climate change mitigation. A recent study "showed that by 2050, expan- sion of protected areas during 2003­07 re- duced 272,000 km² (27.2 million hectares) in deforestation, thereby avoiding 3.3±1.1 gigatons of carbon (GtC) emissions, of which 0.4 GtC was attributable to 13 pro- Claudia Sobrevila tected areas established with ARPA's support. Including an additional 127,000 km² (12.7 million hectares) of new ARPA protected 42 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group latin america and caribbean region Shutterstock Images LLC areas throughout 2008, the ARPA program The páramos in Colombia provide water and capacity building will promote sustain- would reduce a total of 1.4 GtC (or 5.1 Gt to major urban centers, including Bogota, able forest management and biodiversity CO2) in emissions by 2050." and are central to the hydrological stability protection for small-scale farmers. The Bio- of basins that generate the country's power. Carbon Fund will purchase the carbon se- Related research looks at "unintended" Moreover, the páramo ecosystem contains questered through the tree-planting activity, carbon emissions from the Amazon due to a unique assemblage of fauna and flora en- as well as the carbon preserved through the climate change affecting the ecology. Models demic to the region and of significant global avoided deforestation and forest degradation indicate reduced rainfall, increased dry peri- value. Climate change and anticipated tem- component. ods, and "savannahization" of certain areas perature increases will impact the páramo of the Amazon. In these models the preserva- tion of large blocks of forest is considered an hydrology, threatening both its economic services and the biology of the region. The Caribbean -- important part of maintaining rainfall pat- Protecting Coastal Zones terns and the water cycle. ARPA investments Project activities with local communities aim and Biodiversity in creating large PAs are seen as critical in to reduce anthropogenic impacts and invest In Dominica, the Adaptation Measures in limiting "unintended" carbon emissions to strengthen the resilience of the region to Coastal Zones Project is helping protect the and maintaining high levels of ecosystem future unavoidable changes. These measures national natural parks that contribute to functionality. include the restoration of soil cover with na- the island's economy through international tive vegetation and the protection of water tourism. They also harbor important biodi- Andes -- sources, as well as the expansion of protected areas. versity, including the emblematic Amazona imperialis, considered the world's most criti- Climate Change and Biodi- cally endangered parrot. In addition to park versity Conservation A second project in the watershed of San management and tourism plans, the project The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Nicolas, Colombia, will pioneer carbon is reducing threats by encouraging appropri- Change and other studies have indicated that sequestration through afforestation and re- ate development and sustainable agriculture mountain regions may be warming faster forestation of about 1,400 hectares of aban- for the surrounding communities. than surrounding lowlands, thereby disrupt- doned pastureland. Measures are being put ing mountain ecosystems and the services in place on about 5,000 hectares of remain- This article was prepared by Gunars Platais (gplatais@ they provide. Under Colombia's Integrated ing forest stands in the valley of San Nicolas worldbank.org) and Adriana Moreira (amoreira@ National Adaptation Program, the Bank is to avoid deforestation and encourage natural worldbank.org) of the Latin America and Caribbean supporting an ambitious set of measures forest regeneration. Project activities will Regional Environment Unit and Maria Isabel J. Braga (mbraga@worldbank.org) of the Africa Region to strengthen the resilience of mountain create a carbon asset while improving the Environment and Natural Resource Management Unit. habitats--in particular mountain wetlands income of small landowners from the sale of LAC website: www.worldbank.org/lac. (páramos)--to climate change. timber and non-timber products. Training annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 43 Middle East and North Africa Region Syrian Lebanon A.R. Malta Tunisia Iraq I.R. Morocco West Bank and Gaza of Iran Jordan Algeria Kuwait Arab Libya Rep. of Bahrain Egypt Qatar U.A.E. Saudi an Om Arabia Rep. of Yemen Djibouti IBRD 31565R MARCH 2010 Shutterstock Images LLC Yemen S ituated at the geographical crossroads of three continents, erable wisdom built up over many centuries regarding the use of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is one natural resources and survived until recent decades. For example, of the most diverse areas on Earth. The region is character- practices such as sound water management and the efficient use ized by extreme differences in elevation, ranging from the of agricultural terraces in mountainous area, as well as rotational Dead Sea area, which is below sea level, to high mountains rising grazing of domestic stock on desert rangelands, have been in place to over 3,000 meters. These geographic and climatic differences for hundreds of years. Farmers used many indigenous and environ- are reflected in a great diversity of terrestrial, coastal, and marine mentally friendly techniques for the production of food varieties environments; a high level of endemism; and the importance of for subsistence and trade. Fishing communities on the coast have natural resources to the region's continued social and economic continued to benefit from the rich diversity of marine life, utiliz- development. The greatest biodiversity is concentrated in specific ing these resources while respecting their biological cycles. Local ecosystems, like freshwater wetlands, coastal habitats, mountains populations thus had the knowledge, traditions, and potential for and woodlands, mangroves, seagrass beds, salt marshes, and mud- maintaining prosperity while respecting the environment and con- flats. Many of these areas are small in size but are of tremendous tinuing to use natural resources in a sustainable fashion. importance to biological productivity and ecological integrity. However, a number of social and economic transformations have undermined these traditional practices in the region. Many factors-- The Challenge a rapidly growing population, changing consumption patterns, For thousands of years, the people of the MENA region were able urbanization, an expanding transportation network, and changed to live with their environment in a sustainable fashion. Consid- water and land-use management systems--have made the task 44 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group middle east and north africa region of managing the environment increasingly poverty reduction. Biological resource man- the first comprehensive approach in Jordan complex. The more intensive use of natural agement and people's livelihoods are com- to conserve and sustainably use medicinal resources has led to considerable degradation plex and interconnected. While everyone and herbal plants. In the Mujib Reserve, the of the region's woodlands, rangelands, wet- is affected by ecosystem degradation, the Cooperative of Sheep Grazers is working lands, soils, and fisheries. Biodiversity and poor are disproportionately affected. They closely with the reserve staff to integrate new unique habitats are being lost at an alarming are dependent on local ecological resources grazing management techniques within the pace. These trends directly affect the quality and climate-sensitive economic activities-- zoning plan of the reserve. Areas have been and quantity of ecosystem services, such as such as subsistence agriculture, fisheries, and assigned for grazing and non-grazing. Water carbon sequestration, watershed protection forestry--and are directly affected by the wells were built and forage crops planted and erosion control, maintenance of soil fer- ways in which environmental resources are to guide the movements of animals. This tility, recycling of nutrients, and pollination exploited. close cooperation has been so successful that of crops and trees. herders are now also patrolling the reserve, reporting illegal hunting or collection activi- Climate change is further accelerating the Response to ties. Herders benefit from the medicinal and situation. The region is one of the most vulnerable to temperature increase, reduced Conserving herbal plants grown in the reserve for their own consumption and animal health. Areas precipitation and storm surges, and sea level Biodiversity previously heavily grazed are now conserved, rise. The cost of environmental degradation which also reduces land degradation. Over the last decade, an increasing number in the MENA countries varies from an esti- of World Bank projects in the region have Protected areas management in Tunisia. mated 2.1 percent of GDP in Tunisia to as made explicit linkages between the sustain- This project assisted the government in its high as 7.1 percent in Iran. These costs spill able use of ecosystems, biodiversity conser- endeavors to manage and protect selected into areas of public health, household bud- vation, and community involvement. The national parks for the purpose of conserv- gets, the competitiveness of the economy, effective involvement of local communities ing biodiversity, while also contributing to and intergenerational equity, since the rate is critical to the success of such projects. the welfare of local populations. It was the of degradation suggests that many natural Important examples include projects on the first to implement community participa- resources will not be available in the future. conservation of medicinal and herbal plants tion for successful protected areas manage- These new challenges require innovative in Jordan, a protected areas management ment, including the formulation of park thinking and urgent action. project in Tunisia, an integrated ecosystem management plans. As part of the com- management (IEM) project in Jordan's Rift munity development plans, several small Biodiversity Valley, and a climate change adaptation proj- projects--including livestock production, ect in Yemen. camel breeding, beekeeping, and handicrafts Conservation and promotion--were initiated to help the com- The conservation of medicinal and herbal Local Communities plants in Jordan. This World Bank/GEF munities living on the fringes of the parks diversify their livelihood options. Women The depletion or degradation of natural re- project supports the conservation, manage- were often directly involved in many of these sources has important implications for the ment, cultivation, and sustainable utilization income-generating activities. The local com- livelihoods of a sizable majority of the popu- of medicinal and herbal plants in Jordan munities have become social champions for lation, undermining the sustainability of the while ensuring effective in situ protection of the parks. Park management is coupled with region's economy and posing a real threat to threatened habitats and ecosystems. This was local partnerships and extensive awareness- raising programs, which has enhanced col- laboration for nature conservation. These efforts have reduced illegal activities, such as logging and hunting in the fragile national parks. Significant work has been carried out Shutterstock Images LLC for the regeneration of key vegetative spe- cies and the reintroduction of rare animals. The project was instrumental in having the Lake Ichkeul National Park taken off the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites in annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 45 Danger. The substantial growth of popula- ley also holds many important ecosystems, nomic and ecological integrity for the benefit tions of addax (Addax nasomaculatus) and of including the Dead Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba, of its people. By emphasizing the linkage be- scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah) in Bouhedma and the Jordan and Yarmouk river systems, tween local participation and local benefits, National Park has allowed for transportation as well as numerous specialized or unique the project is addressing threats through an and reintroduction of addax to Jebil Na- habitats of regional importance, like the IEM and local development program. The tional Park and oryx to Dghoumes National Quercus aegilops oak forests of Yarmouk. The project's success closely relates to its strategic Park in Tozeur. valley's critical geographical location and community-based approach to management agricultural productivity threaten its unique of special conservation areas (SCAs). SCAs Integrated ecosystem management in the ecological and cultural values. Habitat deg- are a new concept in Jordan, involving com- Jordan Rift Valley, Jordan. This project will radation and species loss in the valley are munities directly in conservation planning mainstream integrated ecosystem manage- serious and accelerating, largely as a result of and management. Seven SCAs are recog- ment practices in pilot areas in the Jordan increasing development pressure, inappro- nized in the Rift Valley Management Plan. Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley is a glob- priate agricultural practices, and population In 2009, a network of nine protected areas ally important ecological corridor, and the growth. was approved by the Jordanian cabinet. Jordanian section is a major flyway between Africa and northern Europe used by millions Previously, the local community was little in- Adaptation to climate change, Yemen. The of migrating birds each year. Apart from its volved in wildlife conservation. Thus it was WB/GEF project on Agrobiodiversity and significance for birds, the Jordan Rift Val- crucial to seek ways to secure the valley's eco- Climate Adaptation in the rain-fed highlands of Yemen will enhance coping strategies for adaptation to climate change through the conservation and utilization of biodiversity important to agriculture. Historically, agri- cultural terrace systems were developed in response to rainfall patterns and provided optimal soil and water management in mountainous terrain for crop cultivation. Over many generations, the communities retained important agrobiodiversity and traditional knowledge for the utilization of their natural resources. Yemen is considered an important primary and secondary center of diversity for cereals, so these crops are im- portant genetic resources. Many wild relative species of wheat, sorghum, millet, and lentil are still found here. However, during the last decades social and economic factors--exacer- bated by the effects of climate change--have resulted in changing farming and grazing practices. Desertification of land is gaining momentum, and water erosion is becoming a major problem leading to the gradual col- lapse of the vital terrace systems and affect- ing the area's delicate agrobiodiversity. To address these problems the project will Shutterstock Images LLC protect this invaluable agrobiodiversity both on the farms and in gene banks to provide an important genetic base for crop improve- ment programs. In addition, local knowl- edge on the adaptive characteristics of local 46 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group middle east and north africa region Shutterstock Images LLC landraces will be documented. Based on the utilize and strengthen the linkages between a clearer ownership of natural resources development of predictive climatic models, local benefits and biodiversity conservation and co-management by local commu- a range of coping mechanisms will be devel- gains, and in most cases sustainability was nities has been especially welcomed by oped and piloted to reduce the vulnerability difficult to achieve. Major new characteris- MENA countries. of farmers to future climatic conditions. The tics of the World Bank MENA Region bio- Q Making biodiversity conservation an project will improve the capacity of key line diversity portfolio include: important component in national cli- agencies and local stakeholders to collect mate change adaptation strategies and and analyze data, improve climate predic- Q Supporting an integrated approach that measures in the region. This new focus tions, and develop systems of information strengthens sustainable use and income is based on the increasing recognition and information flow for enhanced adoption generation for the local populations so that ecosystem protection and more of coping mechanisms in the agricultural that communities have a stake in the sustainable management of biological sector. Further, it will develop knowledge long-term success of the project. All of resources are among the most efficient management systems that will preserve and the projects, in various ways, combine and cost-effective ways to address mobilize local knowledge in conjunction reduction of biodiversity loss and pover- challenges caused by climate change. with research-based knowledge that is fully ty alleviation by providing opportunities Countries in the region also are seeing accessible by local people. for significantly improved livelihoods chances to embark on opportunities and other tangible local socioeconomic provided by the carbon markets. benefits. Conclusion Q Safeguarding biodiversity resources The conventional systems of natural resource by emphasizing the participation of a This article was prepared by Lia Sieghart (lsieghart@ management widely used throughout the diverse range of stakeholders to ensure worldbank.org) and Kanta K. Rigaud (kkumari@ region have in the past been government- that all interests are accommodated worldbank.org) of the Sustainable Development driven and have tended to be protective and and to secure long-term environmental Department of the Middle East and North Africa Region. MENA website: www.worldbank.org/mena. regulatory in nature. This approach failed to benefits. A decentralized approach with annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 47 South Asia Region Afghanistan Nepal Bhutan Pakistan India Bangladesh Sri Lanka Maldives IBRD 31566R MARCH 2010 Shutterstock Images LLC t he h imaLaYas S outh Asia is a region of significant importance for its rich by bottom-up planning at the village level with local farmers and biological diversity, marine and coastal resources, and fisher- other stakeholders, including resource mapping of village lands as a ies. India alone represents one of the 12 megadiversity coun- basis for planning on-the-ground investments in consultation with tries of the world, which collectively account for 60 percent local farmers. of the world's plant and animal species. Yet this region is one of the most populous in the world, and a large part of its population is de- Resource mapping involves the spatial delineation of land-use cat- pendent on natural resources for their livelihoods and survival. This egories, land degradation areas, hydrology and irrigation charac- provides immense challenges in the management of the region's teristics, non-wood forest production areas, firewood and timber natural resources. The South Asia Region of the Bank has been in collection areas, common grazing areas, and private and communi- the forefront of trying to reconcile the legitimate needs of poor ty forest areas. This is supported by information on soil fertility and communities and the management of its natural resources. biodiversity and by indigenous knowledge on soil fertility manage- ment that then guide local farmers on how best to use their lands For example, the Bhutan Sustainable Land Management Project seeks to strengthen institutional and community capacity to antici- more sustainably. Investments are then made for conversion of shift- pate and manage land degradation in Bhutan. By demonstrating ing cultivation lands to wetland cultivation, construction of bench successful sustainable land management practices in pilot areas, the terraces and hedgerows, organic vegetable cultivation, development project is providing lessons and experiences for policy guidance and of orchards, irrigation canal renovation, community forestry, pro- learning to enable the mainstreaming of such approaches coun- tection of water sources, and other sustainable land management trywide. The sustainable land management approach is guided activities. As a result, there has been a marked conversion from 48 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group south asia region shifting cultivation to more sustainable uses, in place, the geospatial data in DrukDIF will information to assess potential impacts on improved management of common grazing be "brought to life" via coupling to a dis- land cover, land use, and hydrological flows. areas, extension of community forestry areas, tributed hydrological model that responds and a general improvement in the manage- to changes in any of the land cover, land ment of irrigation, forestry, biodiversity, and use, and climate variables. This allows local agricultural resources in the villages. hosts to generate scenarios for how changes Improving Regional An innovative Dynamic Information in land use/land cover--for example, defor- estation, new plantations, extensive fires, or Collaboration Framework (DrukDIF) is supporting the pest outbreaks, or new infrastructure such for Protection of development of cross-sector (agriculture, as roads or a dam--impact surface flows of biodiversity, forestry, hydrology/hydro- water and sediments. These scenarios are a Marine and Coastal power, infrastructure, and water) decision valuable tool to allow policy makers to assess making for natural resource management trade-offs between different land-use op- Resources and adaptation to climate change. This tions. Once established, DrukDIF can serve The World Bank is one of the agencies that geospatial data framework will accurately as a permanent baseline for the landscape is partnering with the Food and Agriculture capture and link (a) terrain characteristics and can continue to accumulate additional Organization of the United Nations in the that precisely delineate field to watershed data for existing variables as well as aggregate implementation of the Bay of Bengal Large to landscape characteristics; (b) precise loca- additional data layers. The system uses cli- Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project. Over tions of settlements and other boundaries mate variables--for example, temperature, the next five years, the eight littoral countries and infrastructure (roads, power lines, com- precipitation, estimated evapotranspiration, surrounding the Bay--Bangladesh, India, munication towers); (c) current and histori- and solar radiation--that are critical to pri- Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, cal land cover and land use; (d) a complete mary production linked to land cover/land Sri Lanka, and Thailand--will attempt to drainage network; (e) wetlands and riparian use. It thus enables local stakeholders to deal lay the foundation for a coordinated effort zones; (f ) meteorological data; and (g) wild- with uncertainties inherent in global and to improve the lives of the coastal popula- life, forestry, and conservation areas. Once regional climate models by using the trend tions through improved regional manage- Erick C. M. Fernandes annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 49 ment of the Bay of Bengal and its fisheries seven protected areas and led to a remarkable excellent knowledge of the protected area resources. These eight countries are some change in park-people relationships, from a were trained as trekking guides, adventure of the most populous in the world. Most of previously adversarial relationship to the guides for river rafting, and other ecotour- the 400 million people living adjacent to the willingness to engage and work together for ism-related tasks. These livelihood "profes- Bay of Bengal are poor and rely heavily on its both conservation and improved well-being sional activities" yielded handsome returns, marine resources, which are being affected of the local people. improving community employment in pro- by overfishing, removal or degradation of tection and patrolling of the protected area. important marine and coastal habitats, and In the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, the Another remarkable story comes from the land-based pollution from sediment, chemi- constitution of village committees--based Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh, cals, and sewage. Collaboration under the on their occupational patterns, geographic which took the Mowgli hero of Rudyard umbrella of BOBLME will result in comple- settings, and dependency levels--helped to Kipling's famous Jungle Book as its mascot tion of a transboundary diagnostic analysis of better focus and target project livelihood in- to attract tourists to the park. Promotion as environmental issues impacting the Bay and terventions. User group committees, drawn "Mowgli land" resulted in a fourfold increase an agreed strategic action plan to sustain the from members dependent on natural re- of park visitors from 2000 to 2002. marine and coastal resources. Other expect- sources, were helped to reduce their depen- ed outcomes of the project are establishment dencies on the reserve and to find alternative Field experiences from ecodevelopment of a permanent institutional arrangement livelihoods. Neighborhood committees were demonstrate that the promotion of new for regional management and a sustainable helped with micro-credit schemes to im- income generation based on non-park- financing arrangement for the BOBLME prove the agricultural productivity of their dependent activities is critical to marrying program. Regional fishery assessments and lands and enhance their incomes through conservation and equity imperatives. These management of key shared resources--shark, farm and non-farm enterprises. Members can act as powerful incentives for winning Indian mackerel, and tuna--would provide of a third "professional" group--including the support and cooperation of the poorest a good basis for cooperation among the eight tribals, former poachers, and hunters--with households for conservation. The Kalakad countries to manage key fish stocks. Improving Community Participation for Protection of Biodiversity through Ecodevelopment From 1998 to 2004, the Ecodevelopment Project in India provided a new opportunity to conserve biodiversity by addressing both the impact of local people on protected areas and the impact of protected areas on local people. Despite an ambitious agenda and slow start-up, as well as criticism from some sectors of civil society, the project had some significant achievements. It challenged some Shutterstock Images LLC long-term assumptions and provided some excellent learning to guide future partici- patory conservation programs in India and elsewhere in Asia. The project focused on 50 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group south asia region Shutterstock Images LLC Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in southern park. So effective were these institutions that overall environmental assessment effort. India illustrates how targeted income gen- they were able to channel over $7 million in These studies have included the upstream eration and micro-credit facilities can reduce donor and other assistance to the surround- identification of likely impacts on natural pressure on biologically important parks. By ing park communities for essential activities, habitats--such as intertidal areas, wildlife design, the program targeted women and including drinking water and irrigation sys- habitats, and areas of rich biodiversity-- the poor who were most dependent on for- tems rehabilitation, health and education, and enabled the institution of avoidance est resources. Success has been instrumental and alternative energy and micro-enterprise and mitigation measures for protection of in bringing thousands of families above the schemes. As a result, the park communities habitats and species. Corridor-specific en- poverty line and in genuinely empowering are indebted to the park authorities and have vironmental and biodiversity management women and their families, as well as assur- themselves embraced conservation as an im- plans have been integrated into the final ing financial sustainability of the ecodevel- portant part of their lives. engineering designs and bidding documents opment program around the reserve. The to ensure implementation during the con- project originally placed Rs 39.4 million in struction phase. Concurrent independent the collective accounts of the 70 ecodevel- reviews are planned to evaluate and moni- opment committees; these committees have Integrating tor compliance with these plans. The Orissa now built these revolving funds to Rs 109.4 million--nearly a threefold increase. Biodiversity project provides the first such opportunity in India for undertaking a comprehensive and Conservation systematic effort to assess and address biodi- Strong community institutions at the ground versity issues as part of a road development level are essential, as demonstrated in the Approaches in Road project. The biodiversity study has created Machiara National Park in Azad Jammu and considerable interest among other develop- Kashmir, a site financed under the Protected Development ment partners. Areas Management Project. Park communi- In India, the Bank is trying to balance the ties were severely affected by the earthquake need for improved infrastructure, in particu- of 2005, which resulted in the loss of most lar road development, with protecting the community infrastructure and housing. rich flora and fauna in these areas. In the The strong community institutions created Orissa State Roads Project, there are large This article was prepared by Malcolm Jansen (mjansen@worldbank.org) and Neha Vyas (nvyas@ through the project served at the village level tracts of forests and protected areas adjacent worldbank.org) of the South Asia Sustainable to coordinate the relief, recovery, and reha- to the road network. Biodiversity assessment Development Sector Department. SAR website: www. bilitation efforts in these remote areas of the studies have been carried out as part of the worldbank.org/sar. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 51 New Funding T he loss of tropical forests rep- exposed to pressures. Mapping--such as the resents a large source of green- United Nations Environment Programme's house gas emissions--from Carbon and Biodiversity Demonstration Opportunities 15 to 20 percent of worldwide emissions--and is a leading cause of global climate change. Thus the reduction of emis- Atlas (see www.unep.org/pdf/carbon_biodi versity.pdf )--may help locate REDD plus programs in regions of high biodiversity. for Biodiversity sions from deforestation and forest degra- dation, forest conservation, the sustainable Efforts are already under way to monitor the biodiversity impacts of REDD plus pro- through management of forests, and the enhance- grams, like the development of social and ment of forest carbon stocks--an agenda environmental REDD plus standards (see known as "REDD plus"--has become a www.climate-standards.org). "REDD plus" major component of international climate change negotiations. The UNFCCC texts--such as the draft text produced by the Ad Hoc Working Group At the recent session of the Conference of on Long-Term Cooperative Action (see the Parties to the United Nations Frame- unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/awglca8/ work Convention on Climate Change (UN- eng/107a06.pdf ) in Copenhagen--recog- FCCC) in Copenhagen in December 2009, nize the need for seeking synergy or mini- countries negotiated several texts on REDD mizing trade-offs between REDD plus and plus, including the provision for the im- biodiversity. It also affirms several principles, mediate establishment of a mechanism that such as consistency with national sustainable would include REDD plus. Furthermore, six development needs and goals, facilitation of countries together pledged over $3 billion sustainable development, and the promotion for REDD plus during the period 2010­12. of the sustainable development of forests. In addition, it emphasizes the need for safe- guards designed to foster biological diversity REDD plus and in undertaking REDD plus activities. Biodiversity -- Synergies or Demonstration Trade-offs? Activities on REDD Some say that REDD plus represents the plus and Their best, maybe the last, chance of preserving tropical forests. If planned and implemented Contributions to properly, REDD plus can produce benefits beyond climate change mitigation, including Biodiversity benefits for biological diversity and indig- The Bali Action Plan adopted by the Parties enous communities. Typically, what is good in December 2007 called for demonstration for the climate is good for biodiversity: if activities on REDD (still primarily focusing forests are preserved and their carbon stocks on the reduction of deforestation and forest remain sequestered in the biomass and soils, degradation). biodiversity values also will be preserved. Well before this, numerous projects and The international biodiversity community programs fostered climate change mitigation is analyzing the synergies--as well as po- and biodiversity, albeit without explicitly tential trade-offs--between biodiversity and making the connection between them. For- REDD plus. Trade-offs may occur if REDD est and biodiversity projects financed by the World Bank Photo Library / Rhett Butler plus programs focus on carbon-rich areas World Bank and others have undoubtedly that are not necessarily the most biodiverse, contributed to reducing the loss of forests and in fact leave the most biodiverse areas and thus greenhouse gas emissions, though 52 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group Carbon Finance no quantitative estimate of emissions re- to reduce emissions from deforestation and 2013. The FCPF is expected to achieve ben- duced in this way can be provided. forest degradation. The aim is to enable efits beyond climate change mitigation, in- countries to tackle deforestation and reduce cluding biodiversity promotion. Under the At the World Bank, the explicit linkage be- emissions as well as develop capacity for as- FCPF Readiness Fund, the FCPF has pro- tween forest protection, biodiversity, and cli- sessment of measurable and verifiable emis- posed a framework for designing a measure- mate change mitigation started in 2004 with sion reductions. ment, reporting, and verification system that the BioCarbon Fund (see www.biocarbon monitors the biodiversity impacts of REDD fund.org). This fund extends carbon pay- The FCPF Readiness Fund provides technical plus separately from the climate impacts. ments to forest restoration and protection and financial assistance to forest countries to projects in more than a dozen countries and build their national REDD plus infrastruc- To help finance the generation of emission has spearheaded land use, land-use change, ture. It is coupled with the FCPF Carbon reductions, the Forest Investment Program and forestry (LULUCF) activities through Fund, which will provide performance- (FIP)--managed jointly by multilateral the design of baseline and monitoring meth- based payments to a number of the REDD development banks, including the World odologies and the engineering of purchase plus­ready countries for verified emissions Bank--will finance investments that initiate and sales contracts of emission reductions reduced in a regime entering into force in transformations in the forestry sector, in- from LULUCF projects. cluding investments in the public sector, the private sector, and indigenous communities The BioCarbon Fund recognizes projects (see www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/ that have special value for land restoration keydocuments/FIP). FIP will build on the and biodiversity protection. Indeed, the work funded by the FCPF Readiness Fund, fund offers a premium built into the price UN-REDD Programme, and other initia- of emission reductions to projects with high tives and may help countries achieve the biodiversity benefits. The BioCarbon Fund's emission reductions necessary to access car- portfolio contains three REDD projects in bon finance under the FCPF Carbon Fund. Colombia, Honduras, and Madagascar. The project in Madagascar--managed by the FIP will also help countries adapt to the im- Ministry of Environment, with technical pacts of climate change on forests and will support from the World Bank, Conservation contribute to multiple benefits including, in International, and a local NGO--helps pro- particular, biodiversity conservation. tect a globally significant forest ecosystem. It aims to reduce deforestation of primary Mal- The question of whether biodiversity-rich agasy forests and to reforest around 3,000 REDD plus programs are treated preferen- hectares. It would link three forest fragments, tially under the FCPF Carbon Fund or other including a special lemur reserve, that are at REDD payment schemes remains open. The the core of the remaining fragments of the issue is whether tomorrow's carbon buyers richly biodiverse Malagasy rain forest. should be expected to pay a premium for carbon with biodiversity, or whether the Projects like these generated precious experi- community interested in biodiversity should ence and informed the creation of the Forest mobilize the additional finances that may be Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), a World needed to ensure that climate change miti- Bank­led global partnership on REDD plus gation through REDD plus also produces involving over 50 developed and developing positive outcomes for biodiversity. countries and organizations and bringing together civil society, indigenous groups, World Bank Photo Library / Rhett Butler the private sector, and international orga- nizations since 2008 (see www.forestcarbon This article was prepared by Benoit Bosquet partnership.org). In cooperation with other (bbosquet@worldbank.org), with contributions from Isabel Hagbrink (ihagbrink@worldbank.org) and multilateral and bilateral programs--such Andrea Kutter (akutter@worldbank.org), the two as the UN-REDD Programme--the FCPF former of the Carbon Finance Unit, and the latter is helping build the capacity of developing of the CIF Administration Unit. CF website: www. countries in tropical and subtropical regions carbonfinance.org. annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 53 A griculture is a key driver of habi- The convergence of concerns over climate tat conversion and biodiversity change and biodiversity loss, coupled with loss. Surging global prices for improving labor practices and food safety food and energy are driving interests, has created new and powerful the expansion of agricultural commodities coalitions for transformational change. In- across many emerging markets, increasing creasingly, market-based multistakeholder the demand for even more land. A number processes are redefining the nature of agri- of countries with unique biodiversity are also cultural commodity production, processing, Setting and global leaders in agricultural production. and trading through the establishment of Brazil has doubled its area under soy culti- new global standards. These voluntary, in- vation in less than 10 years, making it the dustry-led standards address environmental Complying current global leader in soy production. In- and social problems by providing a frame- donesia and Malaysia expect to double their work of codified metrics and indicators for acreage of oil palms in the next five years; the practices and technology in entire supply with Voluntary area under cocoa cultivation advances by 7 percent annually in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire chains. Company operations can then be au- dited and verified against these standards. Standards -- alone; and sugarcane production is escalat- The International Finance Corporation ing throughout the tropics. However, the (IFC) helps in the development of these environmental and social issues that accom- standards through its participation in initia- pany this growth rate pose significant threats A Private Sector to continued economic development. tives known as commodity roundtables. IFC has been one of the pioneering supporters Approach to of the concept, and then a member of these These issues illustrate the necessity for the roundtables since 2001, joining WWF and sustainable use of natural resources in agri- a handful of other banks and companies. Reducing cultural commodity production. However, there are several market barriers to accom- It has provided institutional and technical support to the Round Table on Responsible Biodiversity plishing this: Soy, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the Better Sugarcane Initiative, Impacts f Small producers--and even large ones-- and the Better Cotton Initiative. With the are often unaware of their environmen- support of GEF and several other donors, tal and social performance, associated IFC fosters the transformation of commod- risks, and the costs and benefits of bet- ity markets by reducing market barriers that ter management practices (BMPs). discourage the adoption of better manage- f Commodity value chains do not ment practices throughout the supply chain. account for the true environmental and Private companies that meet these round- social costs of current practices or the table standards through their use of BMPs positive values attributed to more sus- can expect to accrue a number of benefits: tainable and safer food or biofuel pro- (a) more secure supply chains; (b) better duction, and thus do not invest in the access to markets; (c) increased efficiency, maintainence of the natural asset base. yields, and quality; (d) reduction of risks f Financial markets do not fully recognize and costs; (e) positive reputation; and the value of risk reduction, thus do not (f ) increased access to finance. positively discriminate for lending that encourages better agricultural practices. f Inadequate regulations or enforcement Agriculture capacity reinforce pricing and market IFC's Biodiversity and Agricultural Com- distortions and encourage inappropri- modities Program (BACP) aims to preserve ate and inefficient practices. global species and ecosystem diversity within Luqyan Tamanni 54 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group IFC palm oil and 326,418 tons of palm kernel oil, representing roughly 3.8 percent and 6.4 percent of global production, respectively. RSPO's 382 ordinary and 100 affiliate mem- bers together represent close to 50 percent of globally traded production. BACP is currently implementing four grants that promote biodiversity conserva- tion within the palm oil sector. A grant to RSPO supports the work of the Biodiversity Technical Committee and its coordinator to better define RSPO's biodiversity-related Promoting Sustainable Agriculture principles and criteria (P&C) and guide on Private Lands in Brazil members in their application. Among other roles, this committee helps disseminate high- IFC's advisory service is also supporting projects in Brazil. The Aliança da Terra conservation-value assessment methods. has set up the Registry of Social-Environmental Responsibility (RSR), a system of database management for social and environmental information on rural prop- erties, with voluntary member participation (currently 160 active members). A project with the Zoological Society of The RSR database incorporates satellite imagery, fire hotspots, water quality, London (ZSL) is aimed at increasing the ef- and fisheries, as well as information on fisheries, animal distribution and relo- fectiveness and applicability of RSPO's P&C cation, animal behavior, and reforestation. It couples this with information from by creating BMP guidelines and biodiversity the landholders to create a social-environmental diagnostic for each property to toolkits. ZSL will increase producers' ability Luqyan Tamanni develop a "social-environmental compliance plan" that landowners then commit to improve production practices, measure to implementing. The first compliance audit in 2008 showed 69 percent compli- ance on a total of 1.5 million hectares. biodiversity in and around plantations, and identify high-conservation-value areas. Infor- mation and tools generated under the proj- agricultural production landscapes in the 4. Financing. Promote the development ect will be disseminated through RSPO and tropics by leveraging market forces. BACP of financial products and services that at workshops in Sumatra and Kalimantan. works in partnership with commodity reward the adoption of biodiversity- roundtables, NGOs, and those actors in the friendly practices. The PanEco Foundation is conducting a pilot public and private sectors in the commodity study in Sumatra to cultivate RSPO-certified markets of palm oil, soy, cocoa, and sugar- Funding priorities are specified in the mar- palm oil on ecologically degraded and/or fal- cane that are committed to adopting more ket transformation strategy documents pro- low land. PanEco hopes to demonstrate the sustainable practices. BACP provides grants duced for each target commodity, which are social, environmental, and economic ben- to projects that address at least one of the available at www.bacp.net. efits of redirecting oil palm expansion away following four components: from the last remaining high-biodiversity While better management practices can 1. Policy. Modify regulatory environ- reduce overall production costs in the long coastal peat swamp rain forests of Aceh to ments to encourage the adoption of run, compliance with standards introduces these degraded areas. biodiversity-friendly practices. new transaction costs into the production 2. Better management practices. Improve system. The BACP Grants Facility helps re- BACP's project with Fauna and Flora In- production practices of targeted com- duce these new costs by funding projects that ternational (FFI) supports work with local modities to increase preservation of test and refine standards and BMPs, monitor stakeholders to assess, map, and manage global biodiversity. their business case, and improve information high-conservation-value forests, as well as 3. Markets. Increase demand for products sharing. identify degraded areas fit for oil palm culti- with positive biodiversity impacts by vation, in three critical districts in Indonesia. supporting market-visible certification Oil palm RSPO is the most developed of the With assistance and training from FFI, local systems. commodity roundtables. As of November authorities will be able to incorporate these 2009, RSPO had certified 1,495,902 tons of landscape assessments into district spatial annual rEviEw · julY 2008­junE 2009 (fY09) 55 plans to make informed decisions in the zon- ing and concession process. Veri cation Conservation of biodiversity BioTrade Framework Sustainable use of biodiversity Natural products are gaining considerable Principles ground in the food and cosmetics sectors, as Fair and equitable sharing of bene ts consumers opt for natural ingredients and derived from the use of biodiversity wholesome lifestyles. The management of Socioeconomic sustainability these natural resources is one of the primary (productive, nancial, and market management) challenges for the sustainability of the sec- Compliance with national tor. Ethical BioTrade was developed as a set and international legislation of business practices that enable the ethical sourcing of biological products. These prac- Respect for the rights of actors tices follow the principles and criteria de- involved in BioTrade activities veloped by the Union for Ethical BioTrade, Clarity about land tenure, right of use, thus ensuring the sustainable use of natural and access to natural resources ingredients obtained from native biodiver- sity (see Box, at right). The Ethical BioTrade standards are based on work by the United products. Ethical BioTrade also recognizes countries' sovereign rights over biodiversity Conclusion Nations Conference on Trade and Develop- From an IFC perspective, and that of many and respects the rights of local and indig- ment through its BioTrade Initiative. of its clients and partners, the development enous communities over their traditional knowledge. of these different voluntary standards re- The Ethical BioTrade standards advance the gimes and the promotion and adoption of conservation of biodiversity, while ensur- corresponding better practices along supply Members of the Union for Ethical BioTrade ing that all contributors along the supply chains has become an imperative to conduct establish company-wide management sys- chain--including small-scale producers-- business in most markets. This ensures that tems to gradually implement Ethical Bio- are paid fair prices and receive an equitable biodiversity impacts can be addressed in Trade standards for all products that use share in the benefits from the sale of the final a market-friendly fashion, and thus with native species, thus fostering long-term a better chance of success. By doing this, relationships with their source countries, these pioneering producers and industries contributing to local development, ensuring are a step ahead of the general market, while that benefits reach all involved, and helping ensuring that benefits accrue to those stake- preserve local ecosystems. The commitment holders who are most at risk. of companies is backed by a third-party verification system that assesses manage- For further information, please visit the fol- ment systems and supply chain practices all lowing websites: the way to the source. The Union for Ethi- www.bacp.net cal BioTrade seeks to reduce the burden of www.aliancadaterra.org.br external verification in different ways, such www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/asia/ indonesia/ as cooperating with labeling schemes or veri- www.paneco.ch fication systems like the Forest Stewardship www.fauna-flora.org Council and Rainforest Alliance. Finally, to www.uebt.ch further support the smaller players in the www.rspo.org supply chain, community grants are avail- This article was prepared by Catherine Cassagne Shutterstock Images LLC able to cover costs related to the design and (ccassagne@ifc.org) and Mark Reeve (mreeve@ifc. full implementation of Ethical BioTrade org) of the International Finance Corporation. IFC practices, supporting the deeper engagement website: www.ifc.org. Ana Escalante from Chemonics (bacppmu@chemonics) contributed the BACP of companies with local and indigenous portion. Rik Kutsch Lojenga (info@ethicalbiotrade. communities. org) from UEBT contributed the UEBT portion. 56 EnvironmEnt mattErs 2009 · thE world bank group NEW FOREST INVESTMENT PROGRAM ENTERS PILOT PHASE Fir st Five Countr y Pilots Selected N T E he Forest Investment Program (FIP) is now under contributor and recipient countries and with observers from way to support climate-friendly forest management in the broader stakeholder base. developing countries, with a robust infusion of $406 million in pledges from Japan, Netherlands, Norway, To be effective, REDD plus must include forest communi- Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United ties, indigenous peoples, and other local communities. Their States. With this funding base secured, at its March 2010 meetings the FIP governing Subcommittee endorsed the first five FIP pilots in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Indonesia, Lao PDR, participation depends on strengthening their capacity and on supporting their tenure rights, forest W and Peru, based on advice from an established Expert Group. stewardship roles, and traditional forest man- FIP provides a tool to help developing countries sustainably manage their forests to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation, or REDD plus. FIP is agement systems. At its March 2010 meetings, the Subcommittee also approved a consultation process for S designed to invest in a small number of country-owned pro- designing a special grant mechanism for these communities. grams to build institutional capacity, forest governance, and information; to support forest mitigation efforts, including FIP joins other institutions that support REDD plus activi- forest ecosystem services; and to support investments outside ties, such as the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facil- the forest sector to reduce pressure on forests. FIP is designed ity and UN-REDD. FIP, as a CIF program, is implemented to leverage additional financial resources, including from the jointly by the African Development Bank, Asian Development private sector. FIP, a program of the Strategic Climate Fund under the $6 Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and World Bank Group. U billion Climate Investment Funds (CIF), operates through a For more information, please visit: www.climateinvestmentfunds.org. P unique governing mechanism with equal representation by T he World Bank Group D (WBG) is preparing a new Environment Strategy to be presented to the Board of Executive Directors by December 2010. The 13-28 May 2010, Nairobi, Kenya IYB Celebrations at SBSTTA 14 new strategy will propose an ap- proach for achieving environmental 13-28 May 2010, Nairobi, Kenya IYB Celebrations at WGRI 3 A sustainability at the WBG to ensure that its support to client countries 21-22 May 2010, New York, U.S.A. Celebration of the International Day for Biodiversity at the leads to sustainable development Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues "We Are Listening" outcomes. The Bank is updating 22 May 2010, worldwide International Day for Biological Diversity the current strategy with IFC and MIGA as active partners. The 24-28 May 2010, Montevideo, Uruguay Fourth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility T consultation process is intended to be inclusive and transparent. The 5 June 2010, Nairobi, Kenya World Environment Day Bank will be seeking inputs from all 9-11 June 2010, Montreal, Canada International Conference on Biological and Cultural Environment Matters 2009 · The World Bank Group WBG stakeholder groups, including Diversity governments, the private sector, civil society, and representatives of 15-17 September 2010, Washington DC, World Bank E vulnerable communities. Check the U.S.A. Celebrating the Web of Life: Biodiversity Fair "consultations calendar" at www. 20-22 September 2010, New York, U.S.A. United Nations General Assembly ­ High Level Segment worldbank.org/environmentconsulta tions to read what people in more 4-6 October 2010, London, U.K. Census of Marine Life 10-Year Finale than 50 countries are saying and to S see if there is a consultation coming 11-29 October 2010, Nagoya, Japan Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties Serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol up in your city. You can also review on Biosafety (COP-MOP 5) and Conference of the Parties the background analytical work that (COP-10) will underpin the strategy. You can provide your feedback online--in 27-29 October 2010, Nagoya, Japan IYB Celebrations at High-Level Segment of COP-10 , Español, Arabic, Português, 18-19 December 2010, Kanazawa, Japan Closing of IYB: Contribution to the International Year of , Français, and more. Forests P U B L I C AT I O N S Convenient Solutions to an Inconvenient Truth -- Ecosystem-Based Approaches to Climate Change Assessing the Environmental Impact Environment Department of Development Policy November 2009 Lending on Coastal 114 pages ISBN: 978-0-8213-8126-7 Areas -- A World $22.95 Bank Toolkit by Nicola Cenacchi Environment Department 2010 62 pages Natural Solutions -- Protected Areas Helping People Cope with Climate Change The Community by Nigel Dudley, Sue Stolton, Development Carbon Fund Alexander Belokurov, Linda (CDCF) -- Assessment of Krueger, Nik Lopoukhine, Kathy MacKinnon, Trevor Community Benefits and Sandwith, and Nik Sekhran Sustainable Development 2010 by Aditi Sen 128 pages June 2009 ISBN: 978-2-88085-308-2 34 pages What's Driving the Wildlife Trade? -- A Review of Expert Opinion on Economic and Social Drivers of the Wildlife Protected Area Trade and Trade Control Effectiveness in Reducing Efforts in Cambodia, Tropical Deforestation -- Indonesia, Lao PDR, and A Global Analysis of the Vietnam Impact of Protection Status by the Rural Development, Environment Matters 2009 · The World Bank Group by Andrew Nelson and Natural Resources and Kenneth M. Chomitz Environment Sector Unit of the October 2009 East Asia and Pacific Region in Evaluation Brief 7 collaboration with TRAFFIC ISBN: 978-1-60244-123-1 October 2008 120 pages For information on obtaining these publications, please call the World Bank Environment Department at 202-473-3641, or e-mail us at ematters@worldbank.org.