The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) SOUTH ASIA | Sri Lanka | Environment, Natural Resources & the Blue Economy Global Practice | IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2016 | Seq No: 13 | ARCHIVED on 17-Jun-2022 | ISR51259 | Implementing Agencies: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation Key Dates Key Project Dates Bank Approval Date: 25-Apr-2016 Effectiveness Date: 01-Dec-2016 Planned Mid Term Review Date: 07-Oct-2019 Actual Mid-Term Review Date: 07-Oct-2019 Original Closing Date: 30-Jun-2021 Revised Closing Date: 31-May-2023 pdoTable Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The project development objective (PDO) is to improve the management of ecosystems in selected locations in Sri Lanka for conservation and community benefits. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective? No Components Table Name Component 1: Pilot Landscape Planning and Management:(Cost $0.70 M) Component 2: Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Human-Elephant Co-existence:(Cost $6.80 M) Component 3: Protected Area Management and Institutional Capacity:(Cost $26.00 M) Component 4: Project Management:(Cost $1.50 M) Component 5: Contingent Emergency Response Overall Ratings Name Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Substantial Implementation Status and Key Decisions The Project was approved by the World Bank Board on April 25, 2016 for a total IDA Credit of US$45 million and an implementation period of 5 years. In response to the MoF request the project was restructured with partial cancellation of US$10 million towards Covid-19 recovery. The project has been impacted by 1) major Covid-19 implications, as the country went into lockdown in May and August 2021 for 6 and 8 weeks respectively with historic high daily infection and death numbers, and by 2) price escalations and shortage of construction materials and fuel. The overall project implementation has been behind schedule. The project has disbursed $30 million or 86 percent of the total Net Commitment to date. Construction contracts continue with slow performance partly due to being affected by a significantly smaller workforce than required on sites, shortage of cement 6/17/2022 Page 1 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) and other construction materials and fittings, increasing material suppliers’ preference for prepayments, and price escalations. The Project Management Unit has proactively handled the situation with the contract management and introducing changes to the contracts. Risks Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating Political and Governance Moderate Moderate Substantial Macroeconomic Moderate Substantial Substantial Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Moderate Moderate Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Low Low Institutional Capacity for Implementation and Substantial Moderate Moderate Sustainability Fiduciary Substantial Moderate Moderate Environment and Social Moderate Substantial Substantial Stakeholders Moderate Substantial Substantial Other -- -- -- Overall Moderate Moderate Substantial Results PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes Outcome A: Integrated decision - making balancing conservation & development needs IN01136109 ►Local policies and/or measures influenced by integrated decision-making (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 The completed activities listed below, lead to integrated decisions decision making and reforms of existing policies or new policy directions: a. Preparation of 2 Pilot Landscape Plans b. National Forest Inventory Comments: c. Elephant DNA analysis d. Elephant Movement and Distribution patterns[AJ1] e. Forestry Sector Master Plan Pilot landscape plans aimed at safeguarding highly sensitive ecosystems introduce sustainable land use management principles that support sound forest management strategies. This approach has then been 6/17/2022 Page 2 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) embedded in the 10-year Forestry Sector Master plan, which is currently being prepared. Similarly, the output of the Elephant DNA Analysis and Elephant Collaring Programme would be extremely beneficial for better elephant management in response to the prevailing human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka. Research outcomes would be substantially beneficial to fill the knowledge related to elephant management in Sri Lanka. Outcome B: Increased opportunities for joint natural resources management & sustainable use IN01136110 ►Beneficiaries that agree project investments reflected their needs (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 47.00 64.00 75.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-May-2023 Based on the community survey completed in January 2022. Comments: Outcome C: Reduced damages to crops & human lives from human-elephant conflict IN01136126 ►Reduction in crop and property damages in areas of community fencing (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 97.00 97.00 45.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-May-2023 Comments: (97% of the people agreed that the HEC mitigation strategies have influenced on protecting their crops and properties. – CBS) Comments: This has to be further analyzed after completion of all fencing activities. Outcome D: Improved Protected Area management system IN01136127 ►Areas brought under enhanced biodiversity protection (ha) (Hectare(Ha), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 289,848.00 289,848.00 350,000.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 31-May-2023 A range of biodiversity protection and enhancement activities are implemented in selected protected areas by the Forest Department and the Department of Wildlife conservation include, rehabilitation of water tanks, cascade systems, improvement of road network, invasive alien species management , assisted natural regeneration, plant enrichment activities, forest fire prevention measures, boundary demarcation, Comments: updating national forest inventory, implementing smart patrolling programme and upgrading infrastructure facilities for enforcement officers. These protective measures have not only helped sustain biodiversity, but have also contributed to the restoration of degraded ecosystems. 6/17/2022 Page 3 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) Outcome E: Improved quality of nature-based tourism in Protected Areas IN01136128 ►Visitors agree that investments and visitor management improvements have enhanced the quality of nature-based tourism (Percentage, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 20.00 85.00 50.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 Calculation of the progress on the perception of the enhancement of the quality of infrastructure and management in nature-based tourism is based on local tourists as these are recurrent visitors (and were Comments: the only visitors during the COVID 19 related stark reduction in foreign tourists.) Outcome F: Improved capacity for ecosystem management IN01136129 ►Trained staff demonstrating improved capacity for ecosystem management (index) (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 The overall efficiency, relevancy and sustainability of training programmes conducted by implementing Comments: agencies is being assessed and the actual will be updated afterwards. Intermediate Results Indicators by Components Component 1: Pilot Landscape Planning and Management IN01136130 ►Strategically planned pilot landscapes with citizen participation (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1.00 2.00 2.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 The Hurulu-Kaudulla-Kanthale and the Sinharaja Landscape Management Plans have been completed and validated with stakeholders. Preparation of these plans has included consultations and dialogue with Comments: stakeholders including local communities. Component 2: Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Human-Elephant Co-existence IN01136131 ►Community Action Plans prepared (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target 6/17/2022 Page 4 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) Value 0.00 59.00 59.00 60.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 31-May-2023 Community needs have been identified through Community Action Plans (CAPs) that were developed with community participation in rural areas. At the end of March 2022, a total of 59 CAPs were prepared to Comments: support livelihood improvement activities while the target is to develop 60 CAPs. The final, 60th CAP is under preparation. IN01136133 ►People with improved access to income generating activities as a result of project interventions (Number (Thousand), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 11.13 21.43 10.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 The project interventions have also benefitted more than 21,000 people by improving their access to sources of income generation – this exceeded the initial target of supporting 10,000 rural people. The Interventions involved a range of activities to support sustainable livelihood options, including home Comments: garden development, seedling production, seed distribution and promoting organic farming practices. (Source: survey 2021 and reports on beneficiaries by DWC) IN01136135 ►Direct project beneficiaries (Number (Thousand), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 26.98 32.21 25.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 31-May-2023 Individuals directly benefitted from livelihood improvement activities and community fencing programme. Comments: IN01136138 Female livelihood activities in targeted communities increased (Percentage, Custom Supplement) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 51.00 51.00 30.00 IN01136139 ►People whose assets protected as a result of HECOEX interventions (Number (Thousand), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 4.84 5.10 16.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 31-May-2023 IN01136141 ►Villages and agriculture plots protected as a result of human-elephant co-existence activities (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 11.00 13.00 107.00 6/17/2022 Page 5 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 31-May-2023 IN01136143 ►Institutional framework for sustainable management of the fencing program in place (Yes/No, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value No No Yes Yes Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 An institutional framework has been set following a series of stakeholder consultations and engagement with key officials including the Department of Agrarian Development, Ministry of agriculture, and Divisional Comments: Secretariats to sustain the erected fences – after the project ends – through Community Based Organizations (CBOs) that have been established as a part of the programme. IN01136145 ►Knowledge products on elephant management in place (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 4.00 4.00 3.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 31-May-2023 1.Elephant DNA analysis (90% Completed ) 2. Elephant collaring data for identifying elephant movement and distribution pattern 3. HEC study for HKK Complex ( Completed ) Comments: 4. Elephant Early warning system 5. Technical guide on construction and maintenance of electric fences. Component 3: Protected Area Management and Institutional Capacity IN01136132 ►Conservation status & enforcement monitoring and reporting systems (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 3.00 3.00 2.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 1. SMART Patrolling 2. National Forest Inventory ( Data collected by field officers of the forest Department and the Comments: system is updated by the Head Office) 3. Map plantation database ( GPS data collected by Field Officers ) IN01136134 ►Protected Area level nature-based tourism plans (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 5.00 5.00 7.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 31-May-2023 6/17/2022 Page 6 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) Four (04) plans have been already prepared. Preparation of NBT plan for Galwila is 95% completed. The rest is a composite plan (comprising 06 areas - Hurulu, kawdulu, Kanthale, Minneriya, Somawathi and Comments: Chundakkadu ) is in progress. IN01136136 ►Staff trained (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1,862.00 1,939.00 310.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 Post evaluation of some of the trainings have been undertaken with positive feedback from the trainees Comments: and their respective supervisors. IN01136137 ►Range level PA management plans implemented (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Apr-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 IN01136140 ►Area of habitat improvement activities (Hectare(Ha), Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 289,848.00 289,848.00 350,000.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 IN01136142 ►Supportive infrastructure upgraded for long-term capacity building (Number, Custom) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 1.00 3.00 3.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Sep-2021 31-Mar-2022 31-May-2023 Physical progress is as following: 1 Nuwaraeliya SLFI 45% 2 Inamaluwa SLF 97% 3 Giritale NWRTC 27% Major construction works undertaken by the project for long-term capacity building include, Sri Lanka Forestry Institute (Nuwara Eliya), Forest Field Training Centre (Inamaluwa) and the National Wildlife Comments: Research Training Centre (Girtale). These substantial investments have been undertaken to enhance knowledge management at a national level and improve field-based research facilities within the Forest Department and Department of Wildlife Conservation. This is expected to equip these departments to enhance their skills in enforcement and management of sensitive ecosystems sustainably while conserving them. IN01136144 ►Long-term training programs developed (Number, Custom) 6/17/2022 Page 7 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target Value 0.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Date 01-Jul-2016 30-Apr-2021 31-Mar-2022 30-Jun-2022 Performance-Based Conditions Data on Financial Performance Disbursements (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P156021 IDA-57920 Effective USD 45.00 35.00 10.00 29.98 5.15 85% Key Dates (by loan) Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date P156021 IDA-57920 Effective 25-Apr-2016 05-Sep-2016 01-Dec-2016 30-Jun-2021 31-May-2023 Cumulative Disbursements 6/17/2022 Page 8 of 9 The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report Ecosystem Conservation and Management (P156021) Restructuring History Level 2 Approved on 29-Aug-2018 ,Level 2 Approved on 21-Apr-2020 ,Level 2 Approved on 19-Jun-2020 ,Level 2 Approved on 23-Dec-2020 ,Level 2 Approved on 31-May-2022 Related Project(s) There are no related projects. 6/17/2022 Page 9 of 9