Jim Peters

IFAD Governing Council Meeting – Side Event

February 20, 2004

Conservation as a Foundation for Sustainable Development: The Global Conservation Fund,

Tropical Forests, Biodiversity, and Human Welfare

GCF Mission

“The GCF finances the creation, expansion and long-term management of protected areas in the world’s biodiversity hotspots, high biodiversity wilderness areas and important marine regions (notably coral reef hotspots).”

Establishing new protected areas

Expanding existing protected areas

Upgrading multiple use zones and forest reserves

Creating demarcated indigenous lands

Land purchases

Conservation concessions

Transforming logging concessions into protected areas

Types of Projects Funded

$100 Million FundThree types of grants:

Planning/strategy development grants Project implementation grants Long-term financing

Project implementation grants and long-term financing grants require a 1:1 matching fund

Provides an opportunity to leverage poverty reduction projects funds that are targeted to the rural poor near or in protected areas

27 Grants Awarded in FY03:

• $270,105 for 11 Planning Grants• $3,702,991 for 16 Project Implementation Grants• Example: Cambodia – GAT Logging Concession to

the Central Cardamoms Protected Forest (CCPF)

History • 2002 – GCF provided funding to

launch the Cardamom Conservation Program (CCP)

• CI worked with the DFW to procure data needed to justify PA creation

• Project implementation financing provided so rangers could close the forest to poachers

• Prime Minister Hun Sen signed CCPF into existence on July 29 02

• 2004 GCF to secure a $2.5 million trust fund to support park management

Structure of the CCP• Biological Outcomes

Definition and Monitoring

• Enforcement

• Community Livelihoods

• Regional Planning

Addressing Community Livelihood Needs

Three approaches:

• Participatory Land Use Planning• Multidisciplinary Land Use

Assessments• Community education on

environmental laws and on how other people value biodiversity

Establishes a common sense of what biodiversity is and how it is valued

Establishes a common sense of prioritized economic opportunities and the areas where they take place

Types of Opportunities to Increase Livelihoods in the CCPF

• Agricultural intensification– Irrigated rice production– Agroforestry/Animal husbandry

• Improving marketing systems and/or cultivation of NTFPs

• Reforesting degraded areas with high value timber species

• Ecotourism • Park management employment in

monitoring and enforcement• Improved access to education• Improved access to RH/FP

Linking Livelihood Enhancement Activities to

Conserving Globally Threatened Spp. in the PA • Land and/or resource tenure is secured• Institutional support exists across key government agencies• Livelihood activities have high enough returns per unit of labor• Risks of engaging in an activity are perceived to be low• Selected investments lower dry season labor surpluses• Opportunities to improve livelihoods are spread equitably across

society• Key local level stakeholders (hunters, traders, government

officials etc.) are participating in acceptable alternatives• Emergency health care expenses are covered by the program• Enforcement and monitoring systems ensure conservation

outcomes are met, provide extra income, and increase local understanding of and support for meeting conservation needs

Leveraging Conservation Funds to Meet Livelihood Needs in and around the PAs

• GCF – expected annual contribution from trust fund $175,000+ annually

• FFI – partnership expands PA coverage to 1.1 million ha. and match trust fund provides another $175,000+ annually

• CARE – partnership to provide RH/FP services• Save Cambodia’s Wildlife – partnership to

provide environmental education services• Royal Cambodian Government – FA, MOE, MOI,

Armed Forces, MOH (Education/Tourism TBD)• Donors – The 3 PAs are currently funded by

USAID, DANIDA, the GEF, and the EU

Conclusions• The GCF leveraging requirement creates incentives to link

poverty reduction activities to meeting conservation outcomes

• Conservation funds available for meeting the needs of the rural poor are used more efficiently through GCF partnership incentives

• GCF flexibility ensures that the livelihood needs of the poor are met either through the funds themselves or through leveraged funds from partners