Integrated Natural Resources Management and the GEF - Reconciling global environmental
values and sustainable development
Multi-Focal Area Task Force Meeting
Washington, November 15th 2004
Target 9, Goal 7 of the Millennium Development GoalsTarget 9, Goal 7 of the Millennium Development Goals““Ensure Environmental SustainabilityEnsure Environmental Sustainability””
“Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources.”
The indicators linked to this target refer to:
•Forest cover and biodiversity•Sustainable energy•Water
WSSD Plan of Implementation
Managing natural resources in an integratedManner is essential for sustainable development
In Johannesburg, international consensus was reached around the two basic approaches that should organize the global efforttowards environmentally sustainable development:
•Integrated management of natural resources, including energy;•Enhancement of cooperation and synergies, with emphasis on the regional level.
Combat desertification and mitigate the effects of extreme climatic events through land and natural resources management;• Improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy• Develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005;• Develop and implement national/regional strategies, with regard to integrated river basin and groundwater management;• Develop programs for mitigating the effects of extreme water-related events, and implement an integrated multi-hazard, inclusive approach • Develop and implement integrated land management and water-use plans that are based on sustainable use of renewable resources and on integrated assessments of socio-economic and environmental potentials;• Encourage the UNFCCC, the CBD and the CCD to continue exploring and enhancing synergies
One specific reference: “utilize…the GEF..to provide financial resources to developing countries, in particular to LDCs and SIDS, to meet their needs in … reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy.”
The GEF is identified as a key institution by WSSD to experiment and demonstrate ways to translate these principles and approaches into on the ground practices
A compelling rationale for the need of a GEF responseto the call for integration:
•The clear and coherent message deriving from MDGs and WSSD
•The GEF Operational Strategy that recognizes the need for integrating water, land use and biodiversity, and adopts the ecosystem approach
•The size of the GEF portfolio - risks of overlaps and antagonistic linkages in many geographic areas
•The addition of the Land Degradation focal area
•The new focus on climate change adaptation
•The recommendations of STAP on interlinkages and groundwater
So far, the integration and joining of forces among GEF focal areas has not occurred spontaneously
Major internal obstacles add to well known external constraints:
•The operational structure, organized in GEFSEC and IAs, around focal areas (OPs, Task Forces, etc.)
•Lack of coordination in Strategic Priorities, lack of an overall strategic priority
•The focal area nominal allocation of resources
•The organizational structure by focal area teams
A possible way ahead towards integration intended as the joining of forces across focal areas towards a common objective
The concrete steps that GEF can undertake in the short term will have
(i) to be of an experimental/demonstration nature, and
(i) build upon existing opportunities.
Integration requires a clear geographical context, i.e.: a system with defined boundaries. This system may vary according to the “entry point”:
•Water: a river/lake/aquifer basin, or a large marine ecosystem •Land degradation: a productive landscape? •Biodiversity: a higher level ecosystem?•Climate change, a region sharing a common sustainable energy resource, or a country as a whole?
Given its overarching nature, climate adaptation measures and considerations may have to be introduced in each of the four above contexts.
A clear Geographical Context
Every integrated program of interventions will be aimed at achieving a principal objective, whose nature will depend upon the “entry point” and whose goal, in line with the MDGs and the WSSD Plan of Implementation, will be the fostering of environmentally sustainable development. In doing so, global benefits will be accrued in a cluster of focal areas, or even in all of them. A tentative/preliminary Operational Program indication will correspond to the Principal Objective.
A Principal Objective
A Diagnostic Analysis
The design of an integrated project or program will require a sufficient level of understanding of the region, of the problems and their root causes, of the possible solutions and actions. Hence, integrated action can only be undertaken when a Diagnostic Analysis based on solid science and around which the consensus at the inter-ministerial level in the country (ies) has been reached, is available
On the ground integration can be experimented more effectively when the stage of the implementation of stress reduction/mitigation measures has been reached, and the enabling environment is in place.
An enabling environment for stress reduction
These four pre-requisites may provide the criteria for identifying and selecting the opportunities for integration where action can be taken in the short term.
Breaking focal area barriers: Possible actions
•Merging of resources•Increase in PDF-B funds for the design of integrated projects and multi-project programs•Incentives (fee premiums?) to encourage our agencies to engage in integrated programs•Adoption of a new set of overall “GEF strategic priorities”, which would privilege integration•Creation of new multi-focal operational programs (Integrated Natural Resources Management in Hydrographic Basins, or “Energy for
Environmentally Sustainable Development in LDCs and SIDS)•systematic dialogue among focal areas in the Secretariat and Task Forces and strengthening of Task Forces
The new challenge in the IW focal area:
Catalyzing an Integrated Response to Strategic Action Programs
LANDWATERBIODIVERSITYCLIMATECONTAMINANTS
EXAMPLE OF A POSSIBLE INTEGRATED APPROACH
THE CASPIAN SEA BASIN
The Challenge: Sustainable Integrated Management of theCaspian Environment
Russian Federation
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Iran
Payvand's Iran News ...
11/5/03Convention for Protection of Caspian Environment signed inIranThe Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment ofthe Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention) was signed by theplenipotentiary representatives of the five littoral countries of thesea in Tehran on Tuesday, IRNA reported.
Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are thefive countries situated around the world's biggest lake.
According to the Tehran Convention, all Caspian Sea littoralcountries are committed to take all necessary measures,individually or collectively, to reduce and control pollution of thesea.
As a result of a first IW - GEF project, the riparian countries have agreed on a Strategic Action Programme and on a binding environmental Caspian Convention
Transboundary Diagnostic AnalysisA science based TDA has guided in defining targets, strategies, priorities
Strategic Action ProgrammeThe SAP for the Caspian Basinhas been adopted by the littoral countries. It is a commitment to action.
National Caspian Action PlansActions identified in the SAPare being translated into national commitments
Priority regional environmental concerns identified by the TDA and addressed by the SAP:
Over-exploitation of bio-resources
Threats to biodiversity
Water pollution
Unsustainable coastal area development
Objective 1Conservation and Sustainable Use of Bioresources
Target 1: Sustainable Commercial Fisheries
Target 2: Rehabilitate Stocks of Sturgeon, Herring
Target 3: Reduce dependency of coastal communities
Promote regional agreementIntroduce Quota SystemStrengthen Compliance, enforcement and monitoringReduce Illegal Trade
Protect and manage natural spawning groundsImprove hatchery efficiencyCreation of a gene bank for anadromous fish stocks
Promote small scale aquaculture
Promote alternative livelihoods (pilot projects)
Objective 2Conservation of Biodiversity
Target 1: Increased Regional CollaborationTarget 2: Key species maintained/restored to viable levelsTarget 3: Control of alien speciesTarget 4: Implementation of regional system for protection
of marine and coastal habitatsTarget 5: Restored priority coastal habitatsTarget 6: Restored priority marine habitats (five demos)
Objective 3Improve the Water Quality
Target 1: Strengthen enforcement and managementTarget 2: Implement regional water quality monitoringTarget 3: Adopt Protocols on LBA, Hazardous substances and
Dumping - Implement regional strategies for pollution reduction
Target 4: Implement POPs stockpiles disposal and land decontamination plansTarget 5: Promote env. sound agricultural practicesTarget 6: Disaster prevention response (oil spills)
Objective 4:
Sustainable Development Of Coastal Zones
Target 1: Introduction of ICZM (five demos)
Target 2: Combat Desertification and Deforestation Process
Reverse land degradation in priority areas (demos)
Introduce renewable energy alternatives to fuel-wood
Introduce sustainable grazing practices
By joining forces in SAP Implementation, the GEF Focal Areas(IW, Biodiversity, POPs, Land Degradation, Climate Change) can assist the Caspian countries to respond to the challengeof integrated natural resources management in the Caspian Basin
POPs: Stockpiles Disposal, Decontamination of sitesIW: Coastal management,
Fisheries, pollution reduction
Biodiversity: Protected areas, control of alien species, habitat restoration
Climate Change: Rural electrification - RETs as alternatives to fuel-wood
Land Degradation:Sustainable grazing,Soil Conservation demos
Conservation of Wetland Biodiversity in the Lower Volga Region
Integrated Conservation of Priority
Globally Significant Migratory
Bird Wetland Habitat - Kazakhstan
Conservation of Iranian Wetlands
Kura Aras Basin Management
GEF Projects underimplementation or preparationwith relevance for theCaspian Basin
Lack of integration
Strategic Partnership
Investment FundInvestment projects,
demonstrations
Regional ProjectReforms,
capacity buildingReplication mechanisms
Projects
New Strategic Partnerships have entered the GEF Pipeline:
Others are being identified and designed:
The Sustainable Fisheries Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa LMEs(World Bank - FAO – WWF With UNDP and UNEP)
The Pollution Reduction Fund for the East Asian LMEs(World Bank with UNDP - IMO)
The Strategic Partnership for theMediterranean Sea LME(World Bank - UNEP)