48024 From Ridge to Reef WATER, ENVIRONMENT, AND COMMUNITY SECURITY GEF ACTION ON TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES From Ridge to Reef WATER, ENVIRONMENT, AND COMMUNITY SECURITY GEF ACTION ON TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 1 3/4/09 5:51:54 PM II from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 2 3/4/09 5:51:55 PM contents Foreword: Securing Our Waters v and Oceans In Times of Global Change Introduction vii Promoting Regional Security 1 River Basins -- Collaborating Across Borders 8 Managing Transboundary Groundwaters 20 Integrated Management of Coastal Resources 28 Reducing Coastal Dead Zones 36 An Ecosystem-Based Approach 46 to Coastal Fisheries Management Reducing Environmental Risks of Maritime Transport 56 Small Islands, Big Stakes 61 The Future Is Now! 72 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 3 3/4/09 5:51:56 PM rdo Wer fo IV from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 4 3/4/09 5:52:00 PM foreWord: secUring oUr WAters And oceAns in times of gLoBAL cHAnge Water is at the heart of our planet's natural Programme, and continued to provide resource base. We need water to produce assistance during a period of armed conflict. food, power industry, quench thirst, and As part of the middle east Peace Accords the nurture ecosystems. for too long water gef and the World Bank supported Jordan as systems have been taken for granted, but it undertook land-use reforms with its times are changing. neighbors to protect the sensitive shared coral reefs in the gulf of Aqaba. We are living in a period of rapid global change that is putting our water resources in the nile Basin the gef has been the largest at serious risk. global financial and trade contributor, with $79 million in grants to Monique Barbut pressures, population increases and migration, improve conditions for peace, security, and CEO and Chairperson and a warming planet are worsening an stability through eight innovative and already critical situation. these multiple cross-boundary water projects. the gef is problems cannot be addressed in isolation also facilitating cooperation in the south through piecemeal programmes that have china sea, the orange river Basin, the limited impact. instead, they must be solved okavango river Basin, the Kura-Aras Basin, in an integrated manner, through effective and the sistan Basin shared by Afghanistan and adaptive institutions. and iran. time and time again these initiatives have proven to be an important first step in for nearly two decades the gef international supporting dialogue and cooperation where Waters programme has helped countries work there were once disputes and conflict. together to secure a wide range of economic, political, and environmental benefits from the importance of gef support for water-related shared surface water, groundwater, and institutional development is clear, not only in marine systems. through its programming the terms of action at the multicountry political gef has played a catalytic role in helping level, but also at the community level. Balancing 172 countries work together on shared water competing uses of water, fisheries, oceans, and systems by leveraging $1.1 billion in gef habitat improves local food security, livelihoods, grants and $4 billion in cofinancing. today, water protection, and human health for the the gef remains the world's largest financier world's most vulnerable people. still, the full of transboundary water collaboration. potential of the gef international Waters focal area has yet to be reached. in this publication you will find many examples of the powerful impact that cooperation on during these times of global change, achieving water can have on the political landscape. sustainability will depend on fostering trust Before the danube river convention was among governments, building good working signed, the gef was working in the river basin relations among ministries, and establishing with the United nations development institutions capable of undertaking adaptive foreWord V GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 5 3/4/09 5:52:03 PM management at different scales. the gef vacuum through competing organizations to international Waters focal area is helping to address sea-level rise, coastal storm vulnerability, build this needed trust in these harsh economic drought, or floods. What is needed is to times through its integrated programming integrate these newly recognized stresses into approach designed to address the the work of institutions focused on integrated linked issues of water, land, and climate water resources management (iWrm) or change -- perhaps the most daunting integrated coastal management (icm), proven challenge of our time. approaches that balance multiple demands on water and marine resources in a participative our coasts and oceans have become and adaptive manner. degraded almost to the point of no return with the depletion of oceanic fish stocks, the gef as a unique, networked institution creation of coastal "dead zones" from is poised to deliver this integrated approach pollution, and loss of coastal habitat. to address climatic variability in concert with these large water systems cover most of our existing interventions supported under our planet but, if we continue to manage them in international Waters programme. We stand a national and fragmented way, this will ready with our network of public and private endanger the food supply and livelihoods for sector stakeholders to support countries billions of people. as they work collectively with their neighbors to sustain shared freshwater the world does not need a new set of and marine resources for a secure and adaptation programmes operating in a stable economic future. VI from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 6 3/4/09 5:52:04 PM introdUction the world's oceans, rivers, lakes, and period the gef has allocated $1.1 billion in groundwater systems do not respect political grants with over $4 billion in cofinancing for borders. these large water systems cover 183 projects in its international Waters focal most of our planet, but they continue to be area. the accompanying figures display the managed in a national and fragmented way distribution of international Waters projects that is endangering the food supply and across regions and the cofinancing patterns livelihoods of billions of people. if our nations that have been achieved. continue to exploit these shared resources in unsustainable ways, we face a dismal future the gef is the largest financial institution characterized by the depletion of our water with the mandate, ability, and experience and marine resources, increased poverty, to address current and future challenges to and greater conflict. shared freshwater and marine systems. Because of their transboundary nature these diversions of water for irrigation, bulk supply, multicountry waterbodies and marine systems and potable use, together with the pollution represent international public goods. they of our common water bodies are creating provide national water security, national food cross-border tensions. these tensions also security, regional conflict mitigation, and the persist across the oceans, with three-quarters protection of important international ecosystems. of fish stocks being overfished, fished at their collective, multicountry cooperation toward a maximum, or in a depleted state. the gef shared vision of action is necessary to international Waters focal area was established continue sustaining the many benefits from to help countries work together to overcome these complex water systems. these tensions in large water systems. the focal area helps countries collectively in this publication we explore just a handful manage their transboundary surface water of the gef international Waters projects that basins, groundwater basins, and coastal have already enabled countries to work and marine systems in order to share the collectively and, in many cases, to establish benefits from them. adaptive management institutions. the gef works with 10 agencies as development since its establishment in the early 1990s, partners to assist countries in undertaking the gef has pioneered processes to help their projects (see inside back cover). With the countries build their trust and confidence help of these agencies, the gef has now in working together. As a result, 149 gef supported regional collaborative efforts for 22 recipient countries have sought and received transboundary surface water basins, 16 large funding to work alongside 23 nonrecipient marine ecosystems, and 5 cross-border countries to improve regional collaboration groundwater systems. the development of 13 and share benefits from their particular new regional treaties, protocols, and regional transboundary water systems. over this agreements during these gef projects introdUction VII GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 7 3/4/09 5:52:06 PM highlights that many countries view the for countries that want to make sustainability of these systems as critical to commitments on joint action for a their future development. shared water system, the gef helps fund regional collaboration as well as agreed An integral part of these regional projects incremental costs of national sector reforms has been the support of local demonstration and investments to address the particular projects to clearly show how communities transboundary concerns and opportunities can balance the competing uses of their water they have identified. these actions help systems and share their living resources. in improve the food, water, and health this way, the gef has helped many countries security of communities, and sustain with technology transfer and the adoption of goods and services from the water and more integrated management approaches. related land environment. they also the gef's catalytic activities help to promote promote regional integration, regional greater collaboration between countries, economic development, and regional between national ministries, and even stability among cooperating states. between local communities. the need to balance the competing and conflicting uses of water resources the worsening condition of the world's and their living resources lies at the heart rivers, groundwater, and coastal systems is of the gef's support for integrated water increasing security concerns and restricting resources management (iWrm) in basins the potential for sustainable development. and aquifers and integrated coastal As always, the poor are first to suffer when management (icm) for coasts and there is not enough clean drinking water, Large marine ecosystems (Lmes). enough water to grow food, or sufficient river flows for hydropower or environmental this publication begins with the needs. Unwise development has already theme of promoting regional security converted one-half of the global stock of in important transboundary basins such coastal mangrove wetlands. three-quarters as the danube and the nile. Working of coral reefs have become degraded, closely with countries to enhance the with one-fifth already dead. At the present security of water resources, environments, rate of degradation most reefs will be gone and communities is a constant theme in 50 years, along with livelihoods for half a that you will find in many of the gef billion people. cross-border cooperation international Waters projects described will become even more essential for in the following pages. addressing tomorrow's challenges. VIII from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 8 3/4/09 5:52:07 PM Key Results the gef international Waters focal area has provided $1.1 billion in grants and leveraged $4.2 billion in cofinancing in support of 183 projects. the gef is the largest funding mechanism for multicountry collaboration on water and oceans with 149 gef recipient countries and 23 nonrecipient countries working together to manage their transboundary water resources. Regional collaboRation in the last four years the cofinancing ratio has been achieved in for the gef international Waters projects has increased two-fold over the previous four years 22 Transboundary river basins as countries begin requesting investments for implementing their shared action programmes. 8 Transboundary lake basins countries participating in gef international 5 Transboundary groundwater systems Waters projects have negotiated 13 regional cooperation frameworks, treaties, or protocols 19 Large Marine Ecosystems while receiving gef funding. through the danube/Black sea Basin Partnership for nutrient reduction the gef and the World Bank are cooperating to fund 10 national nutrient reduction projects in the agriculture, municipal sewage, industrial, and floodplain management areas to address the emerging global problem of nitrogen pollution and coastal "dead zones." At the request of countries the gef has replicated the Partnership investment fund concept for three new marine waters approved by the gef council: the mediterranean sea Large marine ecosystem (Lme); nutrient reduction for the east Asian seas Lmes; and sustainable fisheries for the Lmes of sub-saharan Africa. KeY resULts Ix GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 9 3/4/09 5:52:09 PM x from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 10 3/4/09 5:52:11 PM Promoting regional security Promoting regionAL secUritY 1 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 1 3/4/09 5:52:13 PM 2 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 2 3/4/09 5:52:14 PM t He incomes And LiveLiHoods of BiLLions of PeoPLe dePend on trAnsBoUndArY BAsins And AqUifers. tHese sHAred WAter sYstems HoLd tHe PotentiAL to Be A soUrce of confLict or A cAtALYst for regionAL cooPerAtion, socioeconomic deveLoPment, secUritY, And PeAce. BY 2025 tWo-tHirds of tHe WorLd's ProJected PoPULAtion of 8 BiLLion WiLL Live in coUntries tHAt sUffer severe or moderAte WAter stress, mAKing WAter A Potent soUrce of fUtUre confLicts. exPerts noW List some 300 AreAs of PotentiAL confLict over WAter sHAring. over tHe PAst 15 YeArs tHe gef HAs sUPPorted 149 gef reciPient coUntries And 23 nonreciPient coUntries tHroUgH 183 ProJects designed to Promote tHe cooPerAtive mAnAgement And deveLoPment of sHAred WAters And BAsins. tHese ProJects HAve HeLPed nAtions to increAse food secUritY, redUce PovertY, And stem tHe tide of migrAtion to ALreAdY overPoPULAted UrBAn AreAs. stArting in tHe mid-1990s gef-fUnded ProJects in tHe dAnUBe river BAsin fAciLitAted greAter diALogUe And tecHnicAL cooPerAtion Among BALKAn coUntries tHAt HAd recentLY Been At WAr. togetHer WitH its deveLoPment PArtners tHe gef HAs sUPPorted A rAnge of ProgrAmmes, LiKe tHe "niLe BAsin initiAtive," WHicH HAve HeLPed to foster cooPerAtion, BUiLd trUst And Promote greAter secUritY Across entire regions. Promoting regionAL secUritY 3 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 3 3/4/09 5:52:15 PM tHe dAnUBe river BAsin: A gLoBAL sUccess storY for integrAted WAter resoUrce mAnAgement since 1991 the gef has been a catalyst now in the danube Basin there are signs of for promoting increased cooperation environmental improvement, and all danube among danube basin countries formerly countries are on track to meet the require- divided during the cold War. in 1991 germany ments of the eU Water framework directive. and Austria were the only danube countries the results have been extraordinary. in the that were members of the european Union. danube Basin nitrogen emissions have de- today the czech republic, the slovak republic, creased by 20 percent and phosphorus almost slovenia, Hungary, romania, and Bulgaria by 50 percent over the last 15 years. oxygen have all joined the eU and croatia is an depletion in the lower levels of the Black sea accession country. has been virtually eliminated, with oxygen levels now at or near saturation in most areas. over 15 years the investment by the gef international Waters Programme has helped After the collapse of the former soviet Union the danube countries to build scientific the driving force for environmental change in the danube river Basin, which is shared knowledge, strengthen regional governance the danube Basin was provided by the by 19 countries, is now admired around institutions, and promote public understanding promise of accession to the european Union the world as a model for integrated water and participation in activities to protect their and the subsequent need to meet its stringent resource management (iWrm). Before the shared environment. german environment environmental directives. over a 15-year massive political changes that transformed minister sigmar gabriel believes that support period, from 1991 to 2007, it was the support europe in the late 1980s, these countries had provided by the gef played a significant role provided by the gef/UndP that prepared experienced little collaboration to address in strengthening both the environment and the countries for the challenge of building a their shared environmental concerns. political stability of the entire danube region. successful iWrm framework in the danube Basin. during this period the gef/UndP over the past 150 years the danube Basin "When the gef started its work in 1991 the provided countries with significant has sustained significant environmental danube was severely polluted, but with the assistance in helping to build their damage, including the loss of 80 percent of its fall of the iron curtain, the political will for a capacity to continually meet the eU's wetlands and floodplains. in the 1970s and basin-wide cooperation was increasing. the accession and legislative challenges. 1980s, growing levels of nutrient pollution gef project not only turned the danube into a from wastewater and agricultural activities classic example of integrated river basin man- in 1998 the international commission for the also had a severe impact on the health agement, but it also backed up the political Protection of the danube river (icPdr) was of the danube and the Black sea. stability of the whole danube region," he says. established as the main implementing body Strengthening the Implementation Capacities for Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website Nutrient Reduction and Transboundary Cooperation UNDP 17.6 million 19.5 million Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Rep, http://www.undp-drp.org/drp in the Danube River Basin Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia Rep, Slovenia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia & Serbia 4 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 4 3/4/09 5:52:16 PM PROMOTING COOPERATION IN ThE SAVA RIVER BASIN initially developed with support from gef/UndP, is the umbrella organization for the largest network of ngos in the The Sava River Basin covers areas in the five countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, basin. it consists of 174 member Montenegro, and Serbia. The Sava River is the third longest tributary of the Danube and it has the organizations and national focal points second largest catchment area in the Danube Basin. from 13 danube countries. the danube By helping to gain the trust of former Yugoslav experts and official, the GEF was instrumental in regional Project helped strengthen the def developing a working framework for the new Sava Commission, which was established in 2006.The even further by extending the network and 2004 Sava Framework Agreement was a key result of the Stability Pact for southeastern Europe, which providing training and support for public helped to strengthen efforts to foster peace and economic cooperation among these countries. awareness-raising activities. The UNDP­GEF Danube Regional Project (DRP) assisted the Sava River Basin Commission in the the danube small grants Programme development of a management plan for the basin. Although only Slovenia, as an EU member state, was the first time the gef had worked with and Croatia as an accession country, where required to do this by the EU Water Framework Directive ngos in this way. nearly 150 small grants (WFD), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro also agreed to comply voluntarily. were distributed to ngos in 11 countries, and many projects were geared to solving nutrient The Sava Commission continues to benefit from the ongoing experience and assistance provided by reduction. About half of all of the small grants the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and the GEF project. Because of assistance from the DRP and other international projects the Sava Basin is now viewed went to ngos supporting activities to promote as a pilot region for the implementation of the WFD in Europe. best agricultural practices. international danube day was launched by the icPdr on 29 June 2004 and it is now celebrated every year through a diverse range of activities designed to help mobilize people in support of the of the danube convention. since its creation, including the involvement of ngos and local basin and its unique biodiversity. the icPdr has grown into one of the largest citizens. it also obliges every eU river basin, and most active international bodies of including the danube, to develop a "river in 2007 the icPdr won the international experts on iWrm in the world, promoting Basin Analysis," followed by a "river Basin theiss river Prize for excellence in water policy agreements and setting joint priorities management Plan (rBmP)" that specifies the management in the danube river Basin. and strategies to improve the basin. actions required to meet its 2015 objectives. one of the most highly regarded international this permanent, financially sustainable water management awards, the theiss body is now vital to maintaining continuity, from 2001 to 2007 the main goal of the river Prize identifies the world's best momentum, and country commitment to iWrm. gef-funded danube regional Project practices in water management, preservation, was to strengthen the capacity of the and restoration. After 2000 its main priority was the implemen- icPdr and danube countries to cooperate tation of the eU Water framework directive in fulfilling their commitments to implement today, the multicountry cooperation (Wfd), which obliges eU member states the danube convention and eU Wfd. and coordination reached through the icPdr and accession countries to use a river basin reducing nutrient pollution was especially is a great success for the most international approach for managing their water resources. important given the priority of addressing river basin in the world. Ultimately, now that even nonaccession countries have downstream eutrophication problems gef/UndP efforts in the danube­Black agreed to abide by the Water framework in the Black sea. sea area could become a progressive directive, effectively all danube countries are model for expanding public awareness guided by one common overarching regional raising awareness about danube issues of the need to embrace iWrm as a way to water-related legal framework. and encouraging public participation in ensure that our economies can grow without environmental decision making have been renewed environmental destruction. the Wfd requires cross-border cooperation key features of building iWrm in the basin. and encourages multistakeholder cooperation, the danube environmental forum (def), Promoting regionAL secUritY 5 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 5 3/4/09 5:52:16 PM sUPPorting WAter secUritY in tHe niLe BAsin from its upper reaches in rwanda, Burundi, directly on land and water resources for shortages pose the greatest threat to food and ethiopia to its delta in egypt, the nile shelter, income and energy. security throughout the region. Population river Basin unites 10 countries and carries growth, unsustainable resource use, and the precious water to irrigate crops, generate six of the nile Basin countries are among impacts of climatic variability have all served to power, and nourish communities. the basin the poorest in the world and, according to heighten regional tensions regarding competi- is home to some 160 million people, most fAo figures, more than 40 percent of their tion for limited water resources. greater insta- of whom still live in rural areas and depend people are undernourished. increasing water bility and civil unrest will continue to threaten the entire region unless the nile countries can find an effective way to reform the governance of the basin and their shared water resources. in the late 1990s, with the help of the gef and other development partners, the nile countries took a bold step to work together to develop a shared vision for the sustainable development of the basin and its water resources. in July 2001 the nile Basin countries cooperated in launching the international consortium for cooperation on the nile and received pledges from the donor community for an initial $140 million for the shared vision Programme of their nile Basin initiative with an anticipated $3 billion in additional invest- ments for sustainable water development. the nile Basin initiative was designed to build trust by fostering cooperation between countries to protect the quality of the nile waters and promote sustainable development within its basin. the gef international Waters focal area played a critical role at the very start Nile Transboundary Environmental Action Project Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website (NTEAP) UNDP, World Bank 23.5 million 162.8 million Burundi, Congo DR, Egypt, http://www.nilebasin.org/ Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania 6 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 6 3/4/09 5:52:19 PM In the late 1990s, with the help of the GEF and other development partners, the Nile countries took a bold step to work together to develop a shared vision for the sustainable development of the basin and its water resources. of this initiative by supporting the cooperation participation helped countries to take a SUPPORTING COMMUNITY and collaboration required for nile countries pragmatic first step toward achieving the PARTICIPATION IN ThE NIlE BASIN to understand and manage their transboundary shared visions adopted by their governments. water environment. Through its Small Grants Programme the Nile River Transboundary the gef transboundary environmental Environment Action Project (NTEAP) has committed more than $4 million With assistance from UndP and the World Analysis was the first joint undertaking to almost 200 microgrants supporting a range of community-based Bank, countries worked together to undertake approved by the nile council of ministers activities to save water, protect the environment, and improve food the joint fact finding needed to produce a in march 2001. the analysis also supported production. The level of support for the Nile Programme was underscored transboundary environmental analysis. this the adoption of actions included in the when the President of Burundi attended the initiation of one of his process helped countries to build greater nile river transboundary environment country's first microgrant projects. confidence and trust in working together Action Project (nteAP). and in setting priorities for further action. The use of demonstration projects and the provision of training for approximately 20,000 people in the use of proven technology has helped Project activities include capacity building, to improve crop yields and improve food security. These activities have also the regional analysis was produced through a knowledge and information sharing, led to more than 100,000 people now having access to a safe and participatory process that included in-country environmental education and awareness continuous water supply. Six million trees were planted as just one of consultations, interministerial coordination, raising, environmental monitoring, and several measures to reduce soil erosion and, ultimately, the Small Grants and the production of national reports. field activities at selected pilot sites. Programme has already led to the conservation of more than 95 million consultation was undertaken at both the By promoting this regional cooperation the cubic meters of water. The experiences and lessons learned through the national and regional levels among a broad project has helped to the build much needed wealth of microgrants projects are being shared through regional forums spectrum of stakeholders, including experts, trust and confidence among nations to ensure across the Nile Basin communities. policy makers, and civil society. the transparent there is equity in future decisions on their sharing of data and increased stakeholder shared water resources. The Nile Small Grants Programme has also supported broader participation in the decision-making process. The first countries to approve projects were those which had sound institutional structures in place. National steering committees provided national ownership to the programmes and assisted in formulating strategies, action plans, and project proposals. Despite progress still greater political will is needed to adopt the regional cooperative framework for scaling up and replicating these local successes across the Nile Basin. Promoting regionAL secUritY 7 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 7 3/4/09 5:52:21 PM 8 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 8 3/4/09 5:52:22 PM river Basins -- collaborating Across Borders river BAsins -- coLLABorAting Across Borders 9 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 9 3/4/09 5:52:24 PM 10 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 10 3/4/09 5:52:26 PM i t is HArdLY sUrPrising tHAt so mAnY rivers in deveLoPing coUntries Are rUnning drY WHen more tHAn 85 Percent of WAter is Being Used for irrigAtion. food secUritY And tHe rAce to generAte foreign excHAnge from AgricULtUre freqUentLY rePresent A PoLiticAL imPerAtive tHAt oUtWeigHs tHe environmentAL And HeALtH concerns of mAnY doWnstreAm commUnities. BY tAKing An integrAted WAter resoUrce mAnAgement (iWrm) APProAcH, gef internAtionAL WAters ProJects Are designed to Bring stAKeHoLders togetHer to BALAnce comPeting WAter Uses And secUre LocAL Benefits for tHeir commUnities. WHetHer it is tHe niLe river BAsin, or tHe mArine sYstem of tHe soUtH cHinA seA, gef ProJects Are HeLPing governments to WorK togetHer on tHese imPortAnt regionAL issUes. As nAtionAL economies deveLoP, river BAsin WAter resoUrces Are ProgressiveLY diverted, cHAnneLed, dAmmed, And consUmed. tHis creAtes confLicts over WAter Uses WitHin coUntries And diminisHes PotentiAL Uses in doWnstreAm coUntries. drAstic cHAnges Are needed in HoW We vieW sUcH WAter sYstems. We need more integrAted APProAcHes tHAt WorK Across sectors to resPect tHe mULtiPLe Uses of WAter, cAtcHments, And fLoodPLAins. tHese APProAcHes need to incLUde redUction of WAter PoLLUtion from toxic sUBstAnces tHAt imPAir HUmAn And ecosYstem HeALtH. tHroUgH A $1.1 BiLLion PortfoLio tHAt incLUdes more tHAn 50 ProJects, tHe gef And its PArtners Are Assisting coUntries on foUr continents to imProve tHeir UnderstAnding And sHAred mAnAgement of 30 LAKe And river BAsins. tHis APProAcH incLUdes LegAL, PoLicY, And institUtionAL reforms to Address PrioritY tHreAts, sUPPort regionAL institUtionAL deveLoPment, Provide tecHnicAL AssistAnce And investments, And offer A forUm for nAtions to discUss And resoLve confLicting vieWs in A trAnsPArent mAnner. river BAsins -- coLLABorAting Across Borders 11 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 11 3/4/09 5:52:28 PM strengtHening mAnAgement institUtions for tHe LAKe victoriA BAsin Lake victoria, the largest of all African lakes, supporting the development of the oxygen depletion also threaten fisheries and occupies a wide depression between the east Lake victoria commission and the Lake biodiversity, with more than 200 indigenous and West great rift valleys. the Lake victoria victoria fisheries organization as critical species said to be facing possible extinction. environmental management Project, which is management mechanisms that now serve implemented jointly by the riparian countries the three countries. Although efforts to promote greater of Kenya, tanzania, and Uganda, has taken collaboration on fisheries management huge strides in improving the regional "the commission provides a regional insti- date back as far as 1928, these efforts never management of this vital resource. tutional arrangement for the management managed to achieve a strong intergovern- of Lake victoria. it provides a cooperative mental harmonization among the riparian during the 15 years that the gef has provided framework for the collaborating countries and countries. through the support of the Lake support in Lake victoria, two transboundary institutions to sustainably manage Lake victoria victoria Basin management Project countries water institutions have been established by and its respective catchment," she says. were able to work together to design and legal frameworks. the Lake victoria fisheries initiate the Lake victoria fisheries organization. organization was established through a these developments have been critical in a this new organization will help ensure convention signed in 1994 by the east African region with high population growth and the that fisheries resources are managed community states of Kenya, tanzania, and potential for conflicts among multiple within a regional framework that enables Uganda. the Lake victoria Basin commission activities within the lake basin. in the last three decisions to be made in reference to the was established in 2003 by the Protocol for decades the lake ecosystem has come under wider lake environment. sustainable development of Lake victoria increasing pressure from nutrient pollution and Basin enacted under the 1999 treaty for the the occurrence of massive algal blooms. many minister mutagamba believes the Lake establishment of the east African community. of the lakes' problems have been attributed victoria environmental management to the introduction of the nile Perch and the Project played a critical role in helping the the Ugandan minister for environment and water hyacinth which, beginning in 1989, three riparian states to build the knowledge Water, the Hon. maria mutagamba, believes began to choke important waterways and land- required to improve management of the the gef project has played a critical role in ings, especially in Uganda. overfishing and lake and its resources. Minister Mutagamba believes the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project played "one of the most significant benefits was the establishment of a comprehensive regional a critical role in helping the three riparian states to build the knowledge required water quality monitoring network of Lake to improve management of the lake and its resources. victoria comprising of 19 stations on the lake. this network, for the first time, enabled the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website (LVEMPI & II) World Bank 43.8 million 150.4 million Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, http://www.nilebasin.org/ Tanzania, Uganda 12 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 12 3/4/09 5:52:28 PM regional scientists to characterize the lake dynamics and pollution levels. further still, identification of the sources of pollution and elements leading to deterioration of ecosystem were identified," she says. through the preparation of national environmental Action Plans the three countries quickly realized the need to develop a regional management framework to secure the future viability of the lake. this led to the countries signing a tripartite agreement to work together toward preparation and implementation of a regional environmental programme. A RIVER WATER ChARTER FOR ThE SÉNÉGAl BASIN minister mutagamba says the project has helped countries to test innovations and harmonize their national water and The call for integrated approaches the World Bank, for an International riparian states in terms of volume but environmental legislation. she says the toward management of the Senegal Waters project on their shared basin is withdrawn according to possible River Basin in West Africa dates back to and received a $7.25 million GEF functions. The various uses can be for: project outputs will now be used in a review the early 1970s when Mali, Mauritania, grant accompanied by $14 million agriculture; inland fishing; livestock; of national policy to: "guide Uganda to and Senegal agreed to create the river in cofinancing to launch a fish farming; tree farming; fauna and engage in regional initiatives and basin organization, L'Organisation pour basin-wide cooperation programme. flora; hydroelectric energy production; developments in a cooperative manner la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Sénégal This programme helped to integrate urban and rural drinking water supply; and derive maximum benefits without (OMVS). Despite the formation of this the management of land and water health; industry; navigation; and the significant harm to her neighbors." organization conflicts over water uses resources and provided a coherent environment. Additionally, the country persisted and Guinea, the country that legal framework for the of Guinea joined the OMVS, with the the next stage of the Lake victoria environmental provides most of the basin water, was environmentally sustainable four heads of state signing the new management Project starting in 2009 includes still not part of the agreement. management of the river basin. treaty in 2006. Each country's national rwanda and Burundi, the two countries that legal framework was harmonized are part of the upper catchment that drains With support from the GEF, countries In 2002 the countries signed the with the basin framework, and a around the Senegal River Basin decided Senegal River Water Charter, which new $110 million regional water into the lake through the Kagera river. By to integrate environmental and other establishes principles for guiding water resources cooperation effort has including these two countries it is envisioned use considerations into basin-wide water resources management and allocation now been funded by the World Bank's that a more holistic solution can be formulated management. In 1999 all four countries among the states in an integrated International Development Association in the regional efforts to target the water approached the GEF, through UNDP and manner. Water is not allocated to (IDA) programme. hyacinth and pollution. river BAsins -- coLLABorAting Across Borders 13 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 13 3/4/09 5:52:29 PM NEW TEChNOlOGIES FOR SAVING WATER IN ChINA'S hAI RIVER BASIN The Hai River Basin is critical for China because it drains the capital, Beijing, and flows to the large city of Tianjin and then on to the Bohai Sea. People in the basin suffer severe water problems caused by overexploitation of the river and groundwater, but they also contribute to excessive pollution of the sea. A GEF/World Bank project designed to introduce integrated water resources management to the basin provided $17 million in GEF funding together with $113 million in cofinancing (including World Bank loans). The project is helping to bring different ministries together to work on water problems at the county level for the first time. The project is supporting practical demonstration measures such as low-cost sewage treatment options for cities of 250,000 people. It is also testing widespread use of remote sensing technology from satellites and new water-saving techniques based on reducing the evapotranspiration from irrigated cropland. Water allocations, well permits, water rights, and irrigation scheduling are based on the evapotranspiration from the crops (or their actual water needs.) All these innovations are supported and shared by farmers through active water user associations. Based on initial trials in the Tarim River Basin the potential exists for saving almost 20 percent of the water used in irrigation. By scaling up water and irrigation reforms of this kind the Government BEACh MANAGEMENT UNITS SUPPORT of China could balance conflicting water uses in the North China Plain and in the shared marine waters downstream. COMMUNITY-BASED MANAGEMENT IN lAkE VICTORIA The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization is supporting the formation of networks that link Beach Management Units to governments and other stakeholders at all levels as part of fisheries comanagement. Beach Management Units are key community-based organizations and everyone working in fisheries at a beach must be registered with a unit. They must have at least 30 boats, and a committee with representatives from all stakeholder groups, so that they are big enough to plan, raise revenue, and operate effectively. In Uganda the project initially funded 51 Beach Management Units, but this was quickly replicated to 350 with funding from other sources. Across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda a total of 1,157 units are now active. The bottom-up approach has been successful in bringing fisheries management closer to the daily users of the lake resources. Local communities are directly involved in revenue collection and activities to curb the use of illegal fishing equipment. By improving local management the beach units have also helped to feed into and strengthen fisheries governance at a national level. 14 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 14 3/4/09 5:52:34 PM river BAsins -- coLLABorAting Across Borders 15 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 15 3/4/09 5:52:35 PM credit fAciLitY HeLPs redUce toxic PoLLUtAnts in sLoveniA reducing the discharge of toxic substances investment projects to reduce water is an essential element of river basin pollution. Projects financed through management. in slovenia an innovative the facility include the recycling of environmental credit facility is helping cooling waters at a glass production to reduce the discharges of nutrients and company, the upgrading of wastewater toxic substances into the danube river Basin. treatment at a textile company and the Access to environmental funding is crucial re-use of wastewaters at a pulp and paper mill. for slovenia to meet eU standards, and the facility is designed to support industrial Loans from the eBrd are combined with $9 companies, livestock farms, and small million of gef investment grant funds that municipalities that are planning to undertake are used to provide financial incentives for investments to reduce water pollutants. companies and municipalities to borrow. the first participating bank signed up to the facility the gef has undertaken a number of in december 2003, taking an initial credit line pilot projects to demonstrate the transfer of $7 million. subsequently, 49 subprojects of technology through direct payment, received subloans varying in size from euro cost-sharing incentives, and innovative $83,000 up to a maximum of euro $4.5 million. financing. in slovenia the gef worked with the eBrd (european Bank for reconstruction so far 42 subprojects have been successfully and development) to test the use of financial completed, resulting in a significant reduction intermediaries in lending to small and medium in toxic substances and other pollutants. enterprises. the $57.8 million framework Because of the success of this initiative, credit facility is channeled through local the gef is now looking to replicate the banks to provide loans to private sector slovenian environmental credit facility. companies and smaller municipalities for This innovative credit facility provides loans through local banks to encourage companies and municipalities to invest in projects to reduce water pollution in the Danube. Environmental Credit Facility for Slovenia Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website EBRD 9.9 million 48.9 million Slovenia http://www.ebrd.com/apply/tambas/news/060703.htm 16 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 16 3/4/09 5:52:36 PM ThE GlOBAl MERCURY PROjECT PROMOTES ClEANER ARTISANAl GOlD MINING Although artisanal and small-scale gold mining supports the livelihoods of and Zimbabwe. The project assisted these countries in assessing the extent 10-15 million people, it is also one of the major global sources of mercury of pollution from current mining activities. It then worked to introduce contamination. These mining activities are frequently accompanied by cleaner gold mining and extraction technologies that would minimize or extensive environmental degradation and deplorable socioeconomic eliminate the release of mercury into the environment. and occupational health conditions. The project has also developed regulatory mechanisms to enable the sector As part of the Global Mercury Project, a partnership between GEF, UNDP, to minimize its negative impacts. This was accompanied by the development and UNIDO, demonstration activities were located in key transboundary of national monitoring programmes and policies needed to support river/lake basins in six countries: Brazil, Indonesia, Laos, Sudan, Tanzania, practical and workable standards for artisanal gold mining. river BAsins -- coLLABorAting Across Borders 17 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 17 3/4/09 5:52:37 PM hElPING INDIGENOUS PEOPlES OF ThE RUSSIAN ARCTIC TO REDUCE TOxIC CONTAMINATION Indigenous peoples in the Russian north rely A second $5.5 million project was designed to largely on fishing, hunting, and herding for establish a sustainable framework to reduce the subsistence. An initial GEF/UNEP project found environmental degradation of the Russian Arctic high levels of persistent toxic substances that can marine environment from land-based activities. accumulate through the food chain, particularly in This project enabled a range of capital traditional food derived from marine mammals. investments to address the main root causes The GEF's first $750,000 project was designed to of transboundary pollution. One of several assist these indigenous peoples in developing demonstration activities included a project to appropriate actions to reduce health reduce pollution from a former military base that risks resulting from the contamination of their posed significant threats to the health of the environment and traditional food sources. indigenous peoples and their ecosystem. 18 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 18 3/4/09 5:52:38 PM river BAsins -- coLLABorAting Across Borders 19 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 19 3/4/09 5:52:39 PM 20 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 20 3/4/09 5:52:40 PM managing transboundary groundwaters mAnAging trAnsBoUndArY groUndWAters 21 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 21 3/4/09 5:52:41 PM 22 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 22 3/4/09 5:52:41 PM t He gef is WorKing to sUPPort A nUmBer of trAnsBoUndArY groUndWAter mAnAgement ProJects Across foUr continents. As A resULt of tHese ProJects, tHe PArticiPAting coUntries Are UtiLizing A Wide vArietY of APProAcHes to conserve And Protect tHeir sHAred groUndWAter sYstems. AroUnd 96 Percent of tHe WorLd's fresHWAter resoUrces Are LocAted in AqUifer sYstems tHAt Are oUt of sigHt And too often oUt of mind. groWing PoPULAtions And intensive irrigAtion Are ALreAdY oUtstriPPing sUrfAce WAter resoUrces, And miLLions of PeoPLe Are Beginning to reLY on tHeir sHAred AqUifer sYstems for drinKing WAter. BUt mAnY of tHese frAgiLe WAter sUPPLies Are noW Under tHreAt from overUse And PoLLUtion. recHArge AreAs of LAnd Are criticAL to sUstAining AqUifer sYstems And, JUst LiKe sUrfAce WAter, groUndWAter sHoWs scAnt regArd for PoLiticAL BoUndAries. AroUnd tHe WorLd At LeAst 250 trAnsBoUndArY groUndWAter sYstems HAve Been identified, And We Are noW digging deePer And deePer into some sYstems tHAt HAve tAKen tHoUsAnds of YeArs to form. tHis is stArting to cAUse intense comPetition Among AgricULtUrAL, indUstriAL, And mUniciPAL Users. stronger mAnAgement And WAter ALLocAtion sYstems WiLL Be needed in order to sUstAin tHese WAter soUrces And Protect tHem from overUse And dAmAging PoLLUtion. tHe conJUnctive mAnAgement of sUrfAce WAter And groUndWAter resoUrces is HArdLY ever PrActiced BUt it WiLL soon Be vitAL in regions WHere droUgHts Are LiKeLY to intensifY WitH gLoBAL WArming. mAnAging trAnsBoUndArY groUndWAters 23 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 23 3/4/09 5:52:42 PM imProving tHe mAnAgement of soUtH AmericA's gUArAni AqUifer As a result of a gef/World Bank project, water to some 15 million people in the region, approach by the many cities and towns that all four countries that share the guarani including around 500 cities and towns in depend on this resource. aquifer (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Brazil. Best estimates show that the aquifer and Uruguay) have undertaken national contains enough water to supply 360 million the project helped to enhance understanding reforms to improve the management of this people on a sustainable basis, but water of the guarani aquifer system through the precious groundwater resource. this project consumption on the continent is already development of a transboundary diagnostic now serves as a model for how countries rising rapidly. Parts of the guarani have been analysis and the implementation of a perma- can collaborate on the management of overpumped, and pumping on the border nent monitoring system. the formulation of a their shared groundwater systems. between Argentina and Uruguay led to strategic Action Programme (sAP) resulted in increased tension between the two countries. establishment of a strategic, coordinated the guarani is the largest aquifer in south America. sensitive recharge areas are also becoming management framework, which will in Brazil alone it extends over 1.2 million square threatened by agricultural chemicals. facilitate and support solutions to the current kilometers -- equal to the areas of england, and emerging problems of pollution, overex- france, and spain combined. groundwater in may 2003 all four aquifer states agreed to ploitation, and other stresses that may threaten can be found in the pores and fissures of initiate a project called the environmental the sustainable development of the aquifer. sandstones at depths of 50-1500 meters at Protection and sustainable development of temperatures varying from 33ºc to 65ºc. the guarani Aquifer system. the long-term objective of the project is to develop an Although the system is shared by four integrated plan for the protection and sus- countries, prior to the gef project little tainable management of the aquifer system. attention was paid to groundwater, and no regional framework was in place to support the project has supported the four countries the management of this important resource. in the joint elaboration and implementation in order to sustain the benefits they share from of a common institutional, legal, and technical the aquifer, the four countries approached framework for the management and preser- the gef for support to better understand and vation of the aquifer. Because groundwater manage this important water system. protection demands cross-sector action, each country established national interministry groundwater is especially valuable because it committees. in Brazil interministry commit- does not normally require chemical treatment, tees were even established in local states and the aquifer already supplies drinking to ensure a more integrated management Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website of the Guarani Aquifer System World Bank 13.4 million 13.3 million Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, http://www.sg-guarani.org Uruguay 24 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 24 3/4/09 5:52:42 PM The Guarani aquifer provides a model of how countries can collaborate in the management of shared groundwater systems. four pilot demonstrations included measures treaty. the set of tools and instruments to reduce pumping where conflicting uses developed by the project will be maintained existed, and to prevent the contamination of and updated by these new commissions. recharge areas from agricultural chemicals. the project also focused on efforts to build on the national level, the new Water resources greater awareness among the wider public Law in Paraguay (2007) now includes ground- and indigenous communities. A "citizen's water, and Uruguay has established a fund" was developed to encourage commu- national guarani management Unit. Brazil nity-based ngos in their ongoing efforts to has integrated groundwater considerations protect the groundwater system. into its national Water resources Plan, with $8.26 million allocated to support the conservation and protection of the the implementation of its surface and groundwater supply have now been main- groundwater integrated management streamed into both national and regional Programme. in Argentina all six guarani institutions to ensure that surface and aquifer provinces are now represented on the groundwater are both addressed and the Argentina federal Water resources council. groundwater resource can be sustained during periods of drought. in order to sustain At the local level, a number of actions have regional efforts to protect the aquifer, Brazil been taken as a result of specific concerns and Argentina have agreed to fund the identified by the project. for example, secretariat in montevideo, Uruguay, to the Water management committee for manage their joint action programme Paraguay's capibary Watershed is working through a regional cooperation council to remove potential hazards from soybean supported by national units. the first year's plantations. in Uruguay funds have been budget of $180,000 has been allocated for invested in wastewater treatment systems work starting in 2009 and is being sustained in an effort to avoid local contamination through the framework of the Plata Basin of the aquifer. mAnAging trAnsBoUndArY groUndWAters 25 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 25 3/4/09 5:52:43 PM Protecting tHe BAsseterre vALLeY AqUifer in st. Kitts And nevis the aquifer underlying the Basseterre valley in its efforts to develop a water resource is a significant economic and social asset for management plan for the Basseterre the people of st. Kitts & nevis. the hills that valley Aquifer, the gef has also supported surround this small valley create the greater collaboration among the national basin which forms the aquifer. the valley is government, local communities, ngos, approximately 21 square kilometers in area and the private sector. and widens to the southeast as it empties into the caribbean sea at Basseterre, the capital of the project is working closely with the st. Kitts. the aquifer produces about 2.5 million caribbean environmental Health institute gallons of water a day, about 60 percent to reduce the impacts from agricultural of the capital's water supply, but it is also pollution, domestic sewage, improper land becoming highly vulnerable to contamination. use, and the inappropriate use of water resources. the project is taking an integrated for many years sugar cane cultivation coastal and watershed approach to help the dominated the recharge area, but residential government and local communities take and commercial development is rapidly practical actions to protect the aquifer's expanding up the valley. increased levels sensitive recharge area. of nitrates and other pollutants have been found in water samples taken from the area, in 2002 the office of the Prime minister and the prevention of further contamination appointed the Basseterre valley Advisory com- is critical. once the aquifer is contaminated mittee to examine the feasibility of establishing beyond acceptable levels it will be economi- a national park to protect the aquifer recharge cally and scientifically impossible to restore area. the Project steering committee for the the integrity of this important underground proposed Liamuiga national Park will include water resource. representatives from the relevant government departments, the community, ngos, and the A gef demonstration project in the private sector. the cabinet of st. Kitts and Basseterre valley is part of the integrating nevis has already declared the lower part Watershed and coastal Areas management of the valley a protected area in advance of (iWcAm) project for the caribbean. establishing this national Park. 26 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 26 3/4/09 5:52:44 PM PROTECTING ThE lAURA GROUNDWATER lENS IN MAjURO ATOll In Majuro Atoll, the capital of the Marshall Islands, becoming increasingly urbanized, and this Drinking Water Safety Planning Guide has been groundwater supplements the primary source of is putting the groundwater resource under used to help communities understand how to drinking water, which is collected as rainfall on increasing pressure. The GEF is supporting the protect their groundwater resources and the airport runway. Majuro is one of the most Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission the Laura Water Lens Protection Coordinating densely populated places in the world and, in (SOPAC) in a project to protect the groundwater Committee is helping to ensure ongoing many places, is no wider than 400 meters. Like lens at Laura through the use of zoning and better coordination between government and many parts of the island the village of Laura is management practices. A SOPAC-produced Pacific community stakeholders. mAnAging trAnsBoUndArY groUndWAters 27 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 27 3/4/09 5:52:45 PM 28 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 28 3/4/09 5:52:48 PM integrated management of coastal resources integrAted mAnAgement of coAstAL resoUrces 29 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 29 3/4/09 5:52:50 PM 30 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 30 3/4/09 5:52:51 PM c oAstAL zones Are A mAJor soUrce of food And rAW mAteriALs, And more tHAn one-tHird of tHe WorLd's PoPULAtion Lives WitHin 100 Km of tHe coAst or estUAries. eAcH YeAr, roUgHLY 50 miLLion PeoPLe move into tHese coAstAL zones, WHicH Are criticAL AreAs for trAde And trAnsPort. oUr coAstAL resoUrces Are Limited, And tHe economic Activities tHAt comPete for tHese vitAL resoUrces Are LeAding to more And more confLict. JUst one exAmPLe is tHe increAsing strife BetWeen fisH fArmers And toUrist oPerAtors WHo comPete for Prime coAstAL sPAce. tHe rAte of coAstAL erosion, resoUrce dePLetion, soiL And WAter contAminAtion, BiodiversitY degrAdAtion, And HABitAt destrUction HAs ALso intensified. coAstAL environments Are PArticULArLY vULnerABLe to overexPLoitAtion BecAUse tHeY incLUde LArge AreAs tHAt HAve Been trAditionALLY Perceived As A PUBLic "commons." integrAted coAstAL mAnAgement (icm) is A strAtegY tHAt HAs evoLved over tHe PAst decAde to emBrAce A BroAder, more sYstemic APProAcH to tHe mAnAgement of coAstAL environments. tHe goAL of icm is to foster tHe sUstAinABLe deveLoPment of coAstAL AreAs BY Bringing togetHer government tecHnicAL sPeciALists And LocAL stAKeHoLders. tHe gef HAs resPonded to reqUests for AssistAnce in icm Across tHe gLoBe, from tHe red seA And gULf of AqABA to tHe mediterrAneAn, West And eAst AfricA, And tHe cAriBBeAn. BUt it is in eAst AsiA, WitH its BUrgeoning coAstAL groWtH, tHAt tHe gef internAtionAL WAters focAL AreA HAs concentrAted its resoUrces in order to introdUce icm Before negAtive imPActs And confLicts Become irreversiBLe. integrAted mAnAgement of coAstAL resoUrces 31 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 31 3/4/09 5:52:52 PM integrAted coAstAL mAnAgement Benefits coAstAL commUnities in cAmBodiA since the mid 1990s the gef has supported the PemseA programme (Partnerships in environ- mental management for the seas of east Asia) to spur cooperation among 12 coastal countries and to build the confidence of local government in the use of icm as an effective management tool. the participating countries have adopted a sustainable development strategy for the seas of east Asia through the 2003 Putrajaya declaration as a common platform for regional cooperation. this also provides a common framework for policy development including a critical commitment to place 20 percent of each country's coast under icm by 2015. the east Asian seas region comprises six Large marine ecosystems (Lmes), including the east china sea, the Yellow sea, the south china sea, the sulu-celebes sea, the indonesian sea, and the gulf of thailand. the region is considered development for 1.5 billion people, the gef a world center for tropical marine biodiversity, has supported a series of international Waters If the current rate of loss continues supporting 30 percent of the world's coral reefs projects with PemseA focused on icm at the East Asian Seas region will lose and mangroves. in the last 30 years 11 percent local sites to complement its larger-scale of the region's coral reefs have collapsed, interventions among nations sharing Lmes all its mangroves by 2030. while 48 percent are now in a critical condition. like the south china sea and the Yellow sea. mangroves have lost 70 percent of their cover in the last 70 years and, if the current rate of loss the PemseA programme was designed to en- continues, all mangroves will be lost by 2030. able the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources through intergovern- With the coasts of east Asia being so critically mental, interagency, and intersectoral partner- important for food, livelihoods, and economic ships. emphasis is placed on the demonstra- Building Partnerships in Environmental Management for Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) UNDP 10.87 million 27.6 million Cambodia, China, Korea DPR, Indonesia, http://www.pemsea.org/ Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand & Vietnam 32 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 32 3/4/09 5:52:55 PM tion of actual management actions on the ground in areas near ports and built-up areas at the scale of a city or province. the participating countries established 11 icm demonstration sites with initial financial support from the gef along with 19 icm parallel sites, with funding provided by local sources and know-how provided by gef/UndP PemseA. Local reforms were enacted at each of the sites, and the icm framework has helped local governments to identify risks and areas vulnerable to sea-level rise and coastal storms. At the national level, PemseA has prompted a range of actions including an executive order signed by President of the Philippines to replicate the PemseA icm framework throughout the rest of the country. Based on the success of a project in xiamen, china has developed national legislation requiring coastal sea-use zoning and management for the entire chinese coastline. the government of cambodia chose ICM hElPS jORDAN PROTECT A ShARED REEF ECOSYSTEM sihanoukville, its only deep seawater port, as its icm demonstration site for the PemseA As part of the Middle East peace process in the early 1990s, coastal zone. The Jordanian segment of the Red Sea Marine programme. rapid development has environmental action plans were developed for the Gulf of Park was also established. transformed this coastal city into a popular Aqaba through the Environmental Multilateral Working Group. destination for increasing numbers of tourists, In Jordan, GEF/World Bank activities focused on establishing In the Aqaba region, the project built capacity in environmen- attracted by its white sandy beaches the legal and regulatory framework that was required to tal impact assessment, environmental inspection and auditing, and abundant marine life. But this rapid protect the marine park system and its sensitive coral reefs. industrial pollution prevention, and standard setting. It also supported coastal policing and enforcement, marine pollution development is placing increasing pressure Through the GEF project, Jordan helped establish and prevention and response, marine park management, and on the coastal environment and governor implement a regional collaborative framework for increased public awareness activities. The key project elements, sbong sarath says there is currently an sustainable management and protection of the Gulf such as environmental impact assessment and environmental "imbalance" between economic of Aqaba and the conservation of its coral reefs. A regional auditing procedures, have been fully incorporated into binding development and natural resource mechanism for collaborative environ- legislation in order to ensure their sustainability in the Aqaba management in sihanoukville. mental management helped to Special Economic Zone Authority. Now all revenue from permit protect the coastal zone and its application fees and fines from environmental damage is "the municipality has to face several marine biodiversity. The legal earmarked for the Department of Environment, Regulation difficulties in relation to preserving framework and regulations to and Enforcement under the regional authority. and managing control transboundary pollution were the coastal zone implemented and guidelines were established for the sustainable development of the environment owing to population growth, demands for environmental integrAted mAnAgement of coAstAL resoUrces 33 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 33 3/4/09 5:52:58 PM services, industry development, increased developed to avoid conflicts and conserve and some PemseA know-how, a 5-hectare fishing efforts, and the growth of coastal important biodiversity. freshwater reservoir was also rehabilitated tourism," he says. to provide freshwater supply for small-scale the sihanoukville coastal management agricultural production. An additional in order to protect its coastal assets the committee has been established as a benefit was the fact that the reservoir municipal government developed an icm permanent multisectoral body providing the served as an artificial recharge area for the strategy together with a Policy coordinating venue for discussion, policy direction, and local groundwater supply wells that provide committee composed of key representatives monitoring of icm activities. At the same drinking water for the community. nearly of various government agencies. to address a time PemseA worked with the gef/UndP 2,500 families in stung Hav have benefited lack of local experience in icm this work was small grants Programme to support a priority from the project, and the coastal rehabilitation supported by a team of young, junior profes- community-based icm project in the stung and improved fishing techniques will help the sionals selected by PemseA from throughout Hav district, where local fishermen were expe- community to avoid potential conflicts with the region. A series of consultations were held riencing conflicts with other fishing communi- other communities in the area. with more than 60 stakeholders from govern- ties. After the project supported increased ment agencies, ngos, and the private sector dialogue between these conflicting parties, to develop a common vision for the coastal the coastal mangrove habitat was ultimately area. specific strategies and actions that would rehabilitated and target areas for community be needed to realize their common vision for fisheries were protected. destructive fishing the sustainable protection and management of techniques are no longer tolerated, and their coastal and marine resources were then investment in alternative livelihoods is included in the sihanoukville coastal strategy, expected to lead to better incomes. which was formally adopted by the municipal government and other stakeholders in starting with just $30,000 from the gef, June 2003. A coastal zoning scheme was also a similar amount of cofinancing, 34 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 34 3/4/09 5:53:00 PM RESEARCh NETWORk SUPPORTS GlOBAl FIGhT TO SAVE CORAl REEFS Coral reefs, the rainforests of the ocean, provide food and income to millions of people. In addition to threats posed by local impacts, the survival of the world's coral reefs is now threatened by global warming and acidification. Even the lower range of warming scenarios used by the IPCC would have a devastating impact on reefs and the many communities that depend on them. The adoption of integrated coastal management (ICM) is urgently needed in order to save these critical ecosystems and maintain security in our coastal communities. After the massive coral bleaching disaster that killed 16 percent of the planet's coral reefs in 1998, the GEF through the World Bank provided support for a new network of Centers of Excellence in coral reef research across the developing world. The Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building Project is helping to accelerate research into reef degradation and develop new management tools that can be used by developing countries. By linking Centers of Excellence in Latin America, Africa, and Asia together with experts in Australia, the project has developed new tools for researchers and managers to understand and protect their reefs. The network has tested adaptive management scenarios for reef survival, explored possibilities for reef restoration, and fostered the publication of research so the global community can understand the stark message that our reefs are providing. In 2007 the GEF collaborators published sobering results in an article in Science suggesting we may have already passed the tipping point in the decline of many of the world's reefs. Reducing carbon emissions is high on the list of measures to protect our coral reefs. But, as an adaptive management tool, the widespread application of ICM is vital if we want to minimize the hardship and social unrest that will accompany the collapse of reefs in tropical regions. ICM will help communities and governments to address the other stresses facing our reefs so that some may survive the warming and acidification, and the diseases that will follow. integrAted mAnAgement of coAstAL resoUrces 35 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 35 3/4/09 5:53:02 PM 36 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 36 3/4/09 5:53:05 PM reducing coastal dead zones redUcing coAstAL deAd zones 37 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 37 3/4/09 5:53:07 PM 38 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 38 3/4/09 5:53:08 PM s ince tHe eArLY 1960s, deAd zones HAve Been sPreAding Across coAstAL oceAns At ALArming rAtes, resULting in serioUs ProBLems for tHe mArine environment. deAd zones Are cAUsed BY nitrogen And PHosPHorUs from AgricULtUrAL rUnoff, seWAge, And tHe BUrning of fossiL fUeLs. tHese excessive nUtrients cAn trigger mAssive ALgAL BLooms tHAt eventUALLY die And consUme oxYgen to tHe Point WHere most AqUAtic Life cAn no Longer sUrvive. tHe miLLenniUm ecosYstem Assessment foUnd tHAt HUmAn Activities HAve resULted in tHe neAr doUBLing of nitrogen And triPLing of PHosPHorUs fLoWs to tHe mArine environment. tHe nUmBer of deAd zones is exPAnding And gLoBAL WArming is exPected to AggrAvAte tHe ProBLem. deAd zones HAve noW Been rePorted from more tHAn 400 sYstems, Affecting A totAL AreA of more tHAn 245,000 sqUAre KiLometers, APProximAteLY tHe size of tHe United Kingdom. over tHe PAst decAde tHe gef HAs sUPPorted A nUmBer of ProJects to redUce nitrogen And PHosPHorUs PoLLUtion in some of tHe WorLd's most vULnerABLe WAter sYstems sUcH As tHe dAnUBe And BLAcK seA BAsin, tHe seAs of eAst AsiA, And tHe mediterrAneAn seA. tHe gef HAs sUPPorted 12 regionAL ProJects, 20 singLe-coUntrY investment ProJects WitHin foUr regionAL PArtnersHiPs, And sePArAte fUnds to encoUrAge LocAL investment in nUtrient redUction. exciting neW ProJects incLUde tHe deveLoPment of mAn-mAde WetLAnds tHAt cAn mimic nAtUre BY fiLtering And consUming PotentiAL PoLLUtAnts in tHe WAsteWAter streAm. tHis LoW-cost tecHnoLogY offers reAL PotentiAL to redUce nUtrient PoLLUtion WHiLe ALso recLAiming WAsteWAter for APPLicAtion in AgricULtUre And AqUAcULtUre. BecAUse it is cHeAPer tHAn conventionAL WAsteWAter treAtment sYstems, tHis tecHnoLogY is ideAL for deveLoPing coUntries, PArticULArLY in rUrAL AreAs. redUcing coAstAL deAd zones 39 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 39 3/4/09 5:53:09 PM redUcing nUtrient PoLLUtion in tHe dAnUBe And tHe BLAcK seA in the 1970s and 1980s, growing levels of nutrient of marine dead zones. since 1991, gef invest- and Black sea environment. in the last 15 pollution from wastewater and agricultural ments of $100 million, accompanied by $400 years nitrogen emissions have decreased activities had a severe impact on the health million in cofinancing, have acted as a vital by about 20 percent and phosphorus by of the danube and the Black sea. in the Black catalyst for nutrient reduction activities at almost 50 percent. the northwest shelf sea this problem reached a peak in 1990, the regional, national, and community levels. of the Black sea is now showing remarkable when about 40,000 km2 of its northwest shelf While the gef-supported projects cannot take signs of recovery, the dead zone has been was effectively considered dead, resulting in a the overall credit for the improvement in basin virtually eliminated, and the number of massive loss of animal life. water quality and ecosystems, there is wide rec- species has almost doubled from 1980 levels. ognition of its catalytic role in supporting action now gef-funded action in the danube­Black to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. this observed recovery has been linked to sea Basin provides a model for the international the economic collapse in central and eastern cooperation so urgently needed to reduce since the mid-1990s there has been a europe in the early 1990s, with the subsequent land-based pollution and the growing threat significant improvement in the danube closure of livestock facilities and a dramatic Danube/Black Sea Basin Strategic Partnership Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website on Nutrient Reduction World Bank 71.7 million 195.7 million Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, http://www.worldbank.org/blacksea Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia,Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Turkey & Ukraine 40 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 40 3/4/09 5:53:10 PM reduction in the use of fertilizers. But the danube and blacK sea basin improvement can also be attributed to the investment Fund PRojects REPlICATING A SUCCESSFUl PIlOT TO significant nutrient reductions achieved REDUCE NUTRIENTS IN ROMANIA through the investments and governance ROMANIA Agricultural Pollution Control reforms promoted through the gef strategic BULGARIA Wetlands Restoration In the region of Calarasi in southeast Romania a GEF/World Bank grant of $5.15 Partnership and the eU accession process. MOLDOVA Agricultural Pollution Control million helped to support a $10.8 million project to reduce nitrogen pollution from agricultural activities.The project supported the introduction of manure manage- the strategic Partnership for the Black sea TURKEY Watershed Rehabilitation ment and other environmentally friendly agricultural practices across an area of and danube Basin was launched in 2001 with SERBIA Enterprise Pollution Reduction 410,000 ha of arable land bordering the Danube. initial funding of $95 million in gef grants. BOSNIA Water Quality Protection As one of the gef's largest, and perhaps most Calarasi includes 48 communities with a total population of 332,000.As in many HUNGARY Nutrient Reduction from Sewage rural parts of Romania there was an expectation that agricultural activities would ambitious water-related projects, its long-term intensify following the country's accession to the EU and its Common Agricultural objective is to encourage countries to reduce MOLDOVA Environmental Infrastructure Policy. Due to the success of the project the area has now measured a reduction in nutrient pollution to levels that will to permit ROMANIA Environmental Management nutrients entering the Danube estimated at 15 percent for nitrogen and 27 pecent ecosystems to recover to similar conditions as CROATIA Agricultural Pollution Control for phosphorous.The land area covered by environmentally friendly practices those observed in the 1960s. UKRAINE Odessa Nutrient Reduction increased from zero to almost 35 percent.The percentage of households using manure storage and segregating organic waste materials went from zero to through the partnership, the gef has worked almost 55 pecent and the amount of manure being applied as fertilizer went closely with the United nations development from 2 percent to 34 percent. Programme and the World Bank to support a range of pilot projects to reduce nutrient the investment fund for nutrient reduction, The success of the project has been attributed to provision of simple technologies loads from agriculture, industry, and established by the gef and managed by that are supported by local authorities and provide tangible benefits to the target communities. For example, a public awareness campaign helped to stress the municipal sewage. Projects include the the World Bank, was designed to catalyze economic benefits of environmentally friendly agricultural practices, such as promotion of low-cost wastewater treatment investments and accelerate action by other using manure as fertilizer. methods, constructing manure management stakeholders interested in the recovery of facilities, and protecting wetland areas. the Black sea. the investment fund aimed Another key to success was understanding the basic need to develop proper storage gef-funded pilot demonstration projects to leverage $210 million to complement facilities for the community.An initial survey of local farmers found that many had have successfully complemented eU-funded $70 million in gef grant funds for nutrient no alternative but to dump their waste on unauthorized dumping sites that were investments in the water and agriculture reduction investments in the agriculture and prone to leakage. sectors and serve as a model for similar municipal and industrial wastewater treatment initiatives in other regions such as the sectors, and for wetland restoration. In 2007 the Romanian Government decided to adopt the best practices for nitrogen mediterranean and the seas of east Asia. reduction successfully demonstrated in Calarasi across the rest of the country.A new $68.1 million loan from the World Bank, together with a $5.5 million GEF grant, is now helping Romania to scale up these new approaches to reduce nutrient levels in all vulnerable parts of the country. redUcing coAstAL deAd zones 41 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 41 3/4/09 5:53:10 PM INVESTING IN ClEANER PRODUCTION IN ThE DANUBE RIVER BASIN Industries in the lower Danube countries have The project worked with environmental manage- Wastewater discharges were reduced by 4.59 faced numerous challenges in their move toward ment institutions to train selected enterprises in million cubic meters per year, with an additional market-driven economies. The TEST (Transfer of the implementation and adoption of an appropri- 7.86 million cubic meters reduction expected on Environmentally Sound Technology) project ate suite of TEST tools. These tools included: full implementation of the TEST investments. An demonstrated to industries in Bulgaria, Croatia, cleaner production; environmental management annual reduction of more than three tonnes of Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia that it is possible systems and accounting; and the selection of pollutants was achieved, along with energy to comply with environmental standards while also environmentally sound technology. savings of 200,000kWh/year. enhancing their efficiency and competitiveness. More than 700 employees from the demonstration Participating companies quickly came to The project concentrated on building capacity in enterprises and from national institutions were understand the benefits of the TEST approach cleaner production and the assessments needed to trained in the TEST approach. By the end of the in terms being able to compete within a wider identify the least costly options for environmental project more than 230 cleaner production market. It is now expected that the national compliance. The 17 demonstration sites selected measures were implemented at the selected counterparts trained through the TEST project for the project included: alcohol production; fish enterprises, leading to total financial savings will pass on this expertise to other enterprises processing; textiles meat rendering and processing; equivalent to $1.3 million per year. Environmental and institutions in their own countries and pesticide production; sugar production; chemical management systems were introduced in 11 throughout the Danube River Basin. and petrochemical production; and mechanical and companies and 4 companies received international railway rolling stock repair and reconditioning. ISO14001 accreditation. 42 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 42 3/4/09 5:53:11 PM NO FOSFOS -- CAMPAIGNING TO REDUCE PhOSPhATE POllUTION IN SARAjEVO In Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Small Grant Project supported the links between their detergent use and water pollution and promote the the NGO Ekotim to raise awareness among consumers about the links use of phosphate-free detergents. between their detergent use and water pollution from phosphates. Their communication activities proved highly successful, reaching Over 20,000 leaflets were distributed in a wide range of places, including some 200,000 Sarajevo citizens. shopping centers, bars, and street actions. A radio jingle was played 10 times a day for 11 months, on 20 radio shows, reaching the ears of over 150,000 Sarajevo's wastewater treatment facility was destroyed during the war. Ever people. Other actions included the distribution of 9,000 postcards throughout since, untreated residential and industrial wastewater has poured into the the city, workshops in schools, advertising billboards placed in public toilets, local Miljacka River, which feeds into the Danube. One of the main problems and stories in national newspapers. was that it was still possible for local householders to buy laundry detergents containing more than 30 percent phosphate. A Bosnian company ended up developing a new line of phosphate-free detergents, and postcampaign testing of city wastewater showed the Ekotim received a grant from the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project to campaign reduced total phosphorus discharge to the river from reduce phosphate pollution from the use of household detergents. The "No 310 to 245 kg per day. FOSFOS" project aimed to raise awareness among Sarajevo consumers about redUcing coAstAL deAd zones 43 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 43 3/4/09 5:53:11 PM LAKe mAnzALA LeAds tHe WAY in constrUcted WetLAnds tecHnoLogY constructed wetlands are among a suite of Pollution of Lake manzala has seriously technologies that are being tested by gef threatened the health of local people and international Waters projects around the the viability of economic activities such as world to decrease the release of nutrients into fisheries, raising livestock, and farming. fresh and marine water systems. constructed Lake manzala is an internationally registered wetlands provide an economically and envi- important Bird Area and pollution threatens ronmentally sound alternative to traditional the lake's entire ecosystem. Large areas in wastewater treatment facilities. operation and the northwest of the lake have been turned maintenance costs are low and they provide into fish farms, while much of the southern additional benefits such as the creation of part has been divided into large plots and wildlife habitats for wetland species. drained, in preparation for its conversion to agricultural use. in the past 70 years the area the success of a constructed wetland project of natural wetlands has shrunk from 700,000 in egypt's Lake manzala has created global to 200,000 acres. interest in the potential of this technology as The success of a constructed wetland project in Egypt's a low-cost and low-maintenance alternative constructed wetlands are an imitation for treating wastewater. At just one-quarter of natural wetlands, which are well Lake Manzala has created global interest in the of the cost of conventional methods the known for their ability to improve water potential of this technology as a low-cost and pilot wetland has removed 61 percent quality. When water enters a natural of the biological oxygen demand, 80 percent wetland loaded with a high concentration low-maintenance alternative for treating wastewater. of suspended solids, 15 percent of total of suspended matter, nutrients, heavy phosphorous, 51 percent total nitrogen, metals, and toxins, it leaves the other and 97 percent of total coliform bacteria. end with reduced loads of these contaminants and pollutants, most of Lake manzala is a shallow brackish lake of which are taken up by the wetland plants. approximately 1,000 km2 located on the north eastern edge of the nile delta, and only sepa- At Lake manzala the wastewater is pumped rated from the mediterranean sea by a sandy into ponds where sediments are allowed to beach ridge. Polluted water has long entered settle. the water then flows through 60 acres the lake and eventually the sea from nearby of constructed wetlands where more than urban centers such as cairo and other sources 75 percent of toxins are removed. even in such as agriculture and industry. its experimental stage the wetland treated Lake Manzala Engineered Wetlands Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website UNDP 5.3 million 6.6 million Egypt http://www.undp.org/gef/05/spotlight/lake_manzala.html 44 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 44 3/4/09 5:53:12 PM geF has suPPoRted the use oF constRucted Wetlands in the FolloWing Regions 25,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day the egyptian government is keen to from the Bahr eL-Baqar drain. replicate the project in other suitable locations across the nile delta, and the final product is similar in quality the success of the project has already to the water derived from conventional prompted the creation of two additional sewage systems, and it is mostly used constructed wetlands, bringing the total for irrigation and agriculture, relieving in the Port said governorate to four. pressure on limited freshwater resources. the project could also help to spur the egyptian government toward replenishing the lower nile delta area is used and protecting the natural wetland systems extensively for fish farming, and results in the delta. the demonstration at indicate that fish raised in ponds using the Lake manzala has created international treated water are fit for human consumption. visibility for constructed wetlands the project has included the construction of and it now provides egypt with the 60 acres of fish ponds, and once the farm is opportunity to become a recognized at full production, this income will offset the leader in the development of this operating costs for the entire facility. innovative technology. redUcing coAstAL deAd zones 45 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 45 3/4/09 5:53:13 PM 46 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 46 3/4/09 5:53:15 PM An ecosystem-Based Approach to coastal fisheries management An ecosYstem-BAsed APProAcH to fisHeries mAnAgement 47 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 47 3/4/09 5:53:18 PM 48 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 48 3/4/09 5:53:26 PM i ntensifYing HUmAn exPLoitAtion is PUsHing tHe WorLd's oceAns to tHe Limits of tHeir ecoLogicAL cArrYing cAPAcitY. According to tHe most recent food And AgricULtUrAL orgAnizAtion (fAo) rePort more tHAn 75 Percent of WorLd fisH stocKs Are ALreAdY fULLY exPLoited, overexPLoited, dePLeted, or recovering from dePLetion. tHe sitUAtion is even more criticAL for some HigHLY migrAtorY sPecies tHAt Are exPLoited soLeLY or PArtLY in tHe HigH seAs. tHe $70 BiLLion AnnUAL trAde in internAtionAL fisHeries ProdUcts is coming Under increAsing risK As tHe LArger sPecies Are sYstemAticALLY removed from oUr oceAns. mAKing mAtters Worse, PoLLUtion And otHer HUmAn ActivitY on tHe coAsts is removing KeY sPAWning And nUrserY HABitAts. tHe serioUs dePLetion of coAstAL And mArine fisH stocKs is noW tHreAtening oUr BioLogicAL diversitY And tHe WeLL-Being of oUr coAstAL commUnities. in 1995 tHe gef coUnciL introdUced tHe concePt of LArge mArine ecosYstems (Lmes) As A veHicLe to foster tHe ecosYstem-BAsed mAnAgement of trAnsBoUndArY coAstAL And mArine resoUrces. eigHtY-five Percent of gLoBAL fisH cAtcH comes from 64 Lmes tHAt PArALLeL tHe continentAL sHeLves. BY mAnAging eAcH Lme As A Unit And Addressing tHe mULtiPLe stresses to mArine sYstems, tHe gef is sUPPorting An ALternAtive to tHe trAditionAL APProAcH of mAnAging singLe sPecies. tHis ecosYstem APProAcH AcKnoWLedges tHAt cHAnges in HABitAts WiLL Affect tHe AverAge sUstAinABLe YieLd And tHAt different fisHeries Are LinKed tHroUgH cAtcHes And tHe food WeB. tHe gef HeLPs coUntries WitH tHe deveLoPment of institUtions tHAt Use tHese APProAcHes, And coUntries AroUnd Lmes HAve Been eAger to coLLABorAte to ensUre sUstAinABLe Use of tHeir sHAred coAstAL And mArine resoUrces. WitH gef sUPPort, 124 different coUntries Are noW WorKing togetHer on 19 sHAred Lmes As is sHoWn in tHe Box on PAge 51. An ecosYstem-BAsed APProAcH to fisHeries mAnAgement 49 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 49 3/4/09 5:53:31 PM AdAPting to A fLUctUAting cLimAte in tHe BengUeLA cUrrent much emphasis has been made of the need most productive fishery in the world. in the joint surveys and assessments of shared for climate change adaptation activities on 1980s scientists found that warming in the fish stocks, standardized management land. However, the rapid warming of the Benguela was shifting currents and negatively approaches, adherence to established codes oceans is causing fish populations to move, affecting fisheries and sensitive biodiversity of conduct for fishing, monitoring of ecosys- and one notable case of decadal ocean such as penguins and seals. tem health and algal blooms, and capacity fluctuations involves the Benguela current development for key staff and institutions. Large marine ecosystem (Lme), the second sweeping along the coast of southwestern Africa, the Benguela current Lme stretches the diagnostic analysis enabled stakeholders from the cape of good Hope northward into in each country to understand the complex Angolan waters, encompassing the full extent concerns and opportunities that exist. of namibia's marine environment. the nutrients While the national interministry committees that rise from the depths of the ocean along promoted integrated approaches across this current make it an important center of sectors to enable the collective management marine biodiversity and global marine food of shared coastal and marine systems. production. in addition to a fluctuating climate, the Benguela current has also been the diagnostic analysis and the strategic stressed by overfishing, oil and gas extraction, Action Programme provided a shared vision and diamond mining. for action to protect their economic and community interests in the Benguela in 1998 the countries reliant on the Benguela current. the resulting project led to (Angola, namibia, and south Africa) requested establishment of the world's first Lme gef assistance to prepare an international commission -- the Benguela current Waters project to help manage their shared commission (Bcc) -- and a science advisory marine ecosystem. With UndP assistance body to support the regional management each country established national interministry of the Lme. the cooperative relationship committees and worked together to established by the project was critical to assemble the facts in a transboundary convincing the three countries to contribute diagnostic analysis. this enabled the more than $18 million toward implementation countries to produce a strategic Action of the strategic Action Programme, Programme of reforms and actions that they including staff, laboratories, equipment, would collectively commit to. this included and the use of research vessels. Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website Toward Achievement of the Integrated Management of UNDP 15.46 million 23.45 million Angola, Namibia, South Africa http://www.bclme.org/ the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) 50 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 50 3/4/09 5:53:33 PM the new Benguela current commission geF suPPoRt FoR laRge maRine ecosystems (lmes) is a regional institution that will deal with conflict resolution, transboundary marine resource management, and regulatory and environmental protection issues in the Benguela current Lme. the commission will draw on inputs from several ministries in each partner country, including foreign affairs, finance, fisheries, minerals and energy, environment, and tourism. When scientists found the fluctuating climate was putting the complex system and its fisheries at even more risk the countries committed, in a second gef project, to negotiate a regional treaty formalizing the Benguela current commission and their country commitments. A new regional framework will ensure that any negative impacts from economic activities, such as offshore mineral exploration, will not destroy livelihoods of coastal communities that are dependent on the sea. this final gef intervention is now underway as countries utilize monitoring systems to forecast the behavior of the ocean and adjust their fisheries and economic activities to adapt to the fluctuating ocean. An ecosYstem-BAsed APProAcH to fisHeries mAnAgement 51 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 51 3/4/09 5:53:34 PM fisH refUgiA strengtHen coLLABorAtion in tHe soUtH cHinA seA the Large marine ecosystems around the cambodia has derived important benefits south china sea and the adjacent gulf of from the extensive network of regional thailand include global centers of shallow experts the project helped to bring marine biological diversity that support one together to work across the seven of the world's largest fisheries. participating countries. these experts have provided training, expert advice, in the gef/UneP project, Reversing and guidance in the development of Environmental Degradation Trends in management plans for seagrass in Kampot the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand, and mangroves and wetlands in Koh Kong. seven countries came together to address the degradation of coastal habitats, the project's regional Working group on the overexploitation of fisheries, and fisheries also developed "fish refugia" as land-based pollution. this project a special technique for managing important demonstrated that collective management coastal fisheries areas together with local is possible even when border disputes exist communities and fisherfolk. over access to oil, gas, and fisheries. in fish refugia, key habitats such as sea cambodia's minister for the environment, grass beds, corals, mangroves, and tidal senior minister dr. mok mareth, says the flats serve as an alternative to unpopular gef project has helped to strengthen marine protected areas (mPAs) that are regional cooperation on a range of shared seen to reduce local access to key resources. environmental issues. in these areas critical information about spawning and nursery areas is used to "the project has provided a comprehensive protect juvenile fish by restricting fishing regional framework where people can activity during specific times of the year. work together to address common coastal While no-take mPAs are viewed as environmental concerns and it has provided unacceptable in many fishing communities, the necessary tools that we have used to the fish refugia concepts of comanagement, effectively engage the various sectors from limited fishing times, and the prohibition of local stakeholders to national government certain fishing gear is more acceptable agencies," he says. and simpler to understand. 52 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 52 3/4/09 5:53:37 PM "The project has provided a comprehensive regional framework where people can work together to address common coastal environmental concerns." Senior Minister Dr. Mok Mareth, Cambodia's Minister for the Environment the participating countries have now senior minister mareth believes the success developed a list of 52 known spawning and of the fish refugia concept clearly illustrates nursery areas that represent a system the local benefits of collaborating across of fish refugia for the south china the region. sea and its adjacent gulf. the project has also supported the implementation of 14 "A significant outcome of the joint actions demonstration sites and intergovernmentally amongst the countries bordering the south approved guidelines for the establishment china sea has been the development of the of fish refugia that now constitute part of fish refugia concept into an operational regional guidelines for responsible fisheries mechanism for sustaining future fish stocks in south east Asia. in the coastal waters," he says. An ecosYstem-BAsed APProAcH to fisHeries mAnAgement 53 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 53 3/4/09 5:53:38 PM sUPPorting A neW convention for PAcific fisHeries the waters surrounding the small island future for the industry, securing economic developing states of the Pacific support the benefits for island countries while at the largest tuna fishery of any ocean. in 2007 the same time minimizing negative impacts of tuna harvest from the western and central fisheries such by-catches of turtles and sharks. Pacific was estimated to be 2.4 million tonnes, the commission implements and monitors which is 55 percent of the global tuna catch. the convention from its secretariat in the federated states of micronesia. executive in 2004, support provided by the gef-funded director, Andrew Wright, says the gef Pacific islands oceanic fisheries management project played a critical role in enabling Project led directly to the establishment of the Pacific island nations to sustain a strong Western and central Pacific fisheries commission. influence and avoid any disadvantageous the commission now has responsibility for the outcomes throughout the 10-year process conservation, management, and sustainable of negotiating the convention with distant use of tuna resources across a convention area water fishing nations. that covers approximately 100 million square kilometers -- or 20 percent of the earth's surface. "there's no doubt that the support of the information generated by the project continues gef to the process that led to the successful to support regional and national efforts to the gef project supported the Pacific island negotiation of the convention establishing manage these critical resources for the benefit nations as they negotiated a new, ecosystem- the Western and central Pacific fisheries of Pacific island peoples. conservation and based convention, for the warm water pool of commission was a major factor contributing management measures have now been the Pacific with distant water fishing nations. to a successful outcome. the institutional adopted to mitigate possibilities of overfish- one of the goals of the Convention on the design of the commission now sets a global ing bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks. Purse Conservation and Management of Highly model for the full participation of small island seine catches will be capped at 2004 levels, Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and developing states in the work of regional fish- a catch quota will be introduced for the Central Pacific Ocean is to ensure that all eries management organizations," he says. bigeye longline fishery, and no increases Pacific countries benefit from the sustainable will be permitted in the number of vessels management of a regional resource worth the oceanic fisheries management Project fishing for albacore in both the north and over $4 billion a year. was designed to enhance knowledge of the south Pacific ocean. Western Pacific Warm Pool ecosystem and the Western and central Pacific fisheries help the region optimize sustainable economic together with the professional and commission works to secure a sustainable returns from its rich tuna stocks. the scientific technical advisory support of the Pacific Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website UNDP 11.6 million 79.1 million Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, http://www.ffa.int/gef/ Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 54 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 54 3/4/09 5:53:44 PM REDUCING WASTEFUl BY-CATCh FROM ShRIMP TRAWlING Over 60 percent of what is currently caught in the global shrimp fishery catches. Trawl nets now contain less unwanted, nontarget fish, islands forum fisheries Agency and the is discarded, making it among the most environmentally damaging and other marine organisms. This is making it easier and quicker secretariat of the Pacific community's fisheries in the world. But a pioneering project by GEF/UNEP/FAO has for fishermen to process the shrimp, leading to savings in terms of oceanic fisheries Programme, many Pacific dramatically cut the unwanted catch of young fish, turtles, and other time and money and the improved quality of the catch. Reduced island nations are conducting reviews of their by-catch by as much as 30 to 70 percent in some countries. fuel consumption and up to 20 percent increases in shrimp catch were key selling points for the new by-catch reduction trawls. legal, policy, and institutional arrangements, In almost all participating countries sea trials have been conducted their national fisheries status, and manage- with environmentally friendly trawls and improved fishing methods. The project is helping to introduce different by-catch reduction ment plans relating to the convention. tuna Some of the best results are coming from Mexico, where over 2,000 technologies that take into account specific environmental management plans have been developed in shrimpers trawl off the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Research conditions and interests of the participating countries. Close the cook islands, fiji, Kiribati, marshall islands, boats with high-tech sensors and underwater monitors were used to collaboration between the fishing industry, research institutes niue, tuvalu, and vanuatu. A tuna fishery assess the effectiveness of the new trawls and trawling methods. and governments has resulted in use of by-catch reduction data management system has also been technologies previously available only for more developed nations. installed and is operating in 12 of the 17 Over 140 vessels are voluntarily using the new methods, and the Pacific island states. A compliance programme number is increasing due to improvements in shrimp quality and for the convention, including appointing ob- servers, providing a mechanism for boarding and inspection on the high seas, the imple- PROTECTING SEAMOUNT ECOSYSTEMS IN mentation of a satellite-based near real-time vessel monitoring system, and the application ThE SOUThERN INDIAN OCEAN of sanctions, has now also begun. A new UNDP/GEF project focused on seamount ecosystems in mandate to conserve and manage deep-sea ecosystems in this the southern Indian Ocean is designed to promote sustainable region. The Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) is the remaining challenge is to connect the fisheries management and the conservation of marine biodiversity not yet in force, and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is spawning areas of east Asia to the treaty so in the high seas. only responsible for the conservation and management of tuna that the entire tuna ecosystem can be and tuna-like species. managed sustainably under a regional The global depletion of inshore and continental shelf fisheries, institution. A proposal from UndP has coupled with improvements in fishing technology, has increased These gaps can lead to the overexploitation of marine resources already been approved by the gef for commercial fishing in the high seas. Between 1992 and 2002 the and destruction of benthic habitats. In just a few years deep-sea funding to take this next step. fish caught on the high seas in relation to the global marine catch bottom fisheries can damage commercially important fish rose from 5 percent to 11 percent. Many commercial fishing boats populations and slow-growing species on the deep seabed such are now operating in areas beyond national exclusive economic as cold water corals and sponges. zones (EEZs) where they are subject to weak regulation. The new GEF project will enhance our scientific knowledge As hotspots of biological diversity, seamounts host species such as about seamount ecosystems and support the development of tuna and orange roughy that attract commercial fishing activities. a comprehensive governance framework for marine biodiversity Because of our poor understanding of seamounts, and the lack of in the southern Indian Ocean. The project will increase public governance and regulation in the high seas, this intensifying fishing awareness about deep-sea marine biodiversity and serve as a activity now poses a major threat to global marine biodiversity. demonstration project for the development of robust conservation and management measures for marine biodiversity in areas Little is known about seamount ecology and biodiversity in the beyond national jurisdiction. southern Indian Ocean, and no governance body currently has the An ecosYstem-BAsed APProAcH to fisHeries mAnAgement 55 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 55 3/4/09 5:53:51 PM 56 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 56 3/4/09 5:53:56 PM reducing environmental risks from maritime transport redUcing environmentAL risKs from mAritime trAnsPort 57 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 57 3/4/09 5:54:00 PM 58 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 58 3/4/09 5:54:06 PM t He sAfe And efficient oPerAtion of Ports is essentiAL for gLoBAL trAde BUt, in recent YeArs, tHe risK of environmentAL dAmAge from sHiP WAste And PoLLUtion discHArge HAs Been increAsing. in tHe 1990s mAnY gef internAtionAL WAters ProJects Were deveLoPed to Address PoLLUtion from mAritime trAnsPort. nine sHiP WAste ProJects, And five otHers WitH mAritime trAnsPort comPonents, received grAnts WortH $115 miLLion to Address A Wide rAnge of issUes. gef ProJects HAve HeLPed to imProve Port mAnAgement And fAciLities, Address sPiLL Prevention, And sUPPort contingencY PLAnning for sPeciAL trAnsPort AreAs, sUcH As tHe mediterrAneAn And tHe cAriBBeAn. tHe gef HAs ALso HeLPed to BUiLd tHe cAPAcitY needed for coUntries to sign And rAtifY mAritime-reLAted gLoBAL conventions sUcH As tHe internAtionAL convention for tHe Prevention of PoLLUtion from sHiPs (mArPoL). stiLL more ProJects HAve HeLPed to Address tHe risKs Posed BY invAsive sPecies cArried in BALLAst WAter And to minimize tHe trAnsfer of PAtHogens. environmentAL And HeALtH secUritY risKs from sHiPPing WiLL onLY Be soLved if tHe PrivAte sector ALso WeigHs in WitH its vAst tecHnicAL, mAnAgeriAL, And finAnciAL resoUrces And exPertise. BotH tHe gef And tHe internAtionAL mAritime orgAnizAtion (imo) Are noW WorKing to sUPPort increAsed corPorAte resPonsiBiLitY BY tHe mAritime trAnsPort indUstrY. redUcing environmentAL risKs from mAritime trAnsPort 59 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 59 3/4/09 5:54:11 PM gLoBALLAst -- stoPPing tHe BALLAst WAter stoWAWAYs every year international shipping carries the economic and environmental impacts of the success of the gloBallast Programme billions of tonnes of ballast water around invasive species are expected to grow with also prompted adoption of the Ballast Water the world. Unfortunately, this ballast water the three-fold increase in shipping activity management convention in february can also transport invasive species that can predicted over the next decade. developing 2004. this has provided a standardized quickly overwhelm local ecosystems. notori- countries in Africa, Asia, and south America international regime to address the global ous examples of ballast water bio-invasions are at particular risk, as globalization continues threat arising from the ballast water transfer include the comb Jelly (mnemiopsis leidyi), and new markets, ports, and shipping routes of invasive species. gloBallast is playing a which contributed to the collapse of the are opened up in these areas. crucial role in providing technical assistance Black sea fisheries, the zebra mussel in to developing countries to enact legal, north America, and the Asian golden mussel in response to this aquatic threat, UndP-gef policy, and institutional reforms to in the inland waterways of Argentina, Brazil, joined forces with the imo in 2000 to implement the convention. Paraguay, and Uruguay. implement the global Ballast Water management Programme (gloBallast), which As part of the gloBallast Partnerships Project Aquatic invasive species are one of the provides institutional strengthening, capacity framework the gef is also pioneering a single greatest threats to global marine development, and technical cooperation to public-private sector partnership to reduce biodiversity and ecosystems. they are also a developing countries to address the threat the transfer of harmful invasive species and significant threat to coastal economies and posed by aquatic invasives. pathogens via ballast water. current members even public health. the global economic of the global industry Alliance (giA) for impacts of invasive aquatic species have gloBallast was implemented in six pilot marine Biosecurity include shipping giants been estimated at $100 billion per year. the countries representing six developing such as BP shipping, vela marine international, transfer of invasive aquatic species in ballast regions. the pilot phase was designed to daewoo ship Building, and APL. this alliance water now stands as the biggest and most establish cooperative regional arrangements of maritime industry leaders and industry vexing environmental challenge facing the and develop tools and systems that could be umbrella organizations is working together global shipping industry. effectively used elsewhere. with gloBallast Partnerships and the gef on a range of ballast water management and marine biosecurity initiatives. The transfer of invasive aquatic species in ballast water now stands in addition to projects totally devoted to as the biggest and most vexing environmental challenge facing the global shipping industry. maritime transport, several regional projects have included components on ship-related concerns. gef and the inter-American GloBallast Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website UNDP/IMO 5.7 million 17.7 million Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cote http://globallast.imo.org/ D'Ivoire, Croatia, Egypt, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, South Africa, Sudan, Venezuela, Ukraine, Yemen 60 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 60 3/4/09 5:54:11 PM development Bank are working together on a project to protect the gulf of Honduras by reducing maritime pollution in its major ports and navigation lanes. the project is working to improve navigational safety to avoid groundings and spills and to reduce land-based sources of pollution draining into the gulf. in the gulf of Aqaba project a special by-law was enacted by the Aqaba special economic zone Authority (AsezA), including provisions regulating pollution from ships, reflecting the Kingdom of Jordan's commitment to implementing its obligations under mArPoL. the financial liability provisions pertaining PEMSEA hElPS SECURE ThE GUlF OF ThAIlAND to ship-based pollution include specified FROM MARITIME TRANSPORT RISkS penalties per incident, damage recovery, and an additional AsezA surcharge amounting Given the hazardous nature of some cargo the PEMSEA Programme on Partnerships in Oil Spill Preparedness and Response to 25 percent of all assessed penalties and (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East in the Gulf of Thailand. The agreement commits the damages. A special coastal police was also Asia) has been helping partner countries to integrate environmental three countries to mutual support and assistance in established to enforce marine vessel pollution concerns into port governance and management regimes. PEMSEA combating oil spills and safeguarding coastal water prevention measures. assists ports in adopting recognized international standards of resources. A Gulf of Thailand Secretariat has been management, namely ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO established to promote joint management of the 14001 (Environmental Management) as part of its ICM pro- sensitive water body. Thailand has established grammes. Danang in Vietnam and Xiamen in China both provide an information-sharing system to support regional good examples of these certification programmes in action. oil spill response efforts and Vietnam has established a National Southern Oil Spill Response Centre in Ho Chi Minh With help from PEMSEA, the governments of Cambodia, City. Cambodia is also developing a national system for Thailand, and Vietnam have also adopted a Joint Statement oil spill preparedness, response, and cooperation. redUcing environmentAL risKs from mAritime trAnsPort 61 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 61 3/4/09 5:54:17 PM 62 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 62 3/4/09 5:54:23 PM small islands, Big stakes smALL isLAnds, Big stAKes 63 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 63 3/4/09 5:54:29 PM 64 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 64 3/4/09 5:54:30 PM m AnY smALL isLAnd deveLoPing stAtes Are tHe cUstodiAns of HUge mArine territories WitH resoUrces And BiodiversitY of significAnt gLoBAL vALUe. desPite tHese vAst fisHeries And minerAL resoUrces, mAnY smALL isLAnd nAtions simPLY LAcK tHe tecHnoLogY And cAPAcitY to deveLoP tHeir oceAn resoUrces. mAnY smALL isLAnd nAtions ALso sHAre simiLAr sUstAinABLe deveLoPment cHALLenges sUcH As rAPidLY groWing PoPULAtions, Limited resoUrces, And frAgiLe environments. tHe discHArge of UntreAted WAsteWAter into coAstAL WAters HAs contriBUted significAnt dAmAge to tHeir coAstAL ecosYstems And corAL reefs. tHe resiLience of mAnY frAgiLe isLAnd ecosYstems is noW ALso tHreAtened BY cLimAte cHAnge, PArticULArLY in LoW-LYing AtoLL nAtions WHere seA-LeveL rise And extreme WeAtHer events Are PUtting coAstAL And fresHWAter resoUrces Under even greAter stress. As A resULt of tHe BArBAdos ProgrAmme of Action, mAnY smALL isLAnd deveLoPing stAtes HAve mAde significAnt Progress in deALing WitH issUes sUcH As tHe mAnAgement of soLid WAste. HoWever, mAnY stiLL LAcK tHe sYstems And tHe tecHnicAL sUPPort tHeY need to effectiveLY mAnAge tHeir vitAL coAstAL And WAtersHed resoUrces. tHe gef internAtionAL WAters PortfoLio is noW WorKing WitH isLAnd nAtions in tHe PAcific And tHe cAriBBeAn to foster greAter commUnitY PArticiPAtion in tHe deveLoPment of PrActicAL And cost-effective soLUtions to ProBLems sUcH As PoLLUtion from UntreAted WAsteWAter. smALL isLAnds, Big stAKes 65 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 65 3/4/09 5:54:31 PM strengtHening commUnitY-BAsed mAnAgement in tHe PAcific isLAnds the Pacific international Waters Project (iWP) plants or landfills. it was about helping was designed to help government agencies communities to understand the root causes find cost-effective ways to strengthen the of their problems so they could develop their community-based management of waste, own cost-effective management solutions freshwater, and near-shore fisheries. the that could then be supported and replicated project worked with selected pilot communities on a larger scale," he says. to understand the root causes of resource management problems and to identify eight of the participating countries (Kiribati, possible low-cost solutions that could also Palau, the marshall islands, tonga, fiji, nauru, help countries improve planning and policy Papua new guinea, and tuvalu) chose to development at the national level. focus on the management of solid and liquid waste as their priority environmental concern. Pita Vatucawaqa, the Chair of the Village Environment Committee, and Peace Corps Asterio takesy, director of the Pacific regional the cook islands and samoa focused on the Volunteer Mary Ackley worked together to build the village's first composting toilet. environmental Programme (sPreP), says the development of community-based manage- project played a crucial role in helping to ment programmes to protect important water- in fiji, the iWP worked with the village of promote greater community understanding shed areas from the impacts of livestock and vunisinu to develop a waste management and ownership of critical environmental issues human activities. system that includes composting kitchen, throughout the region. human, and animal waste. Pita vatucawaqa, in tuvalu, the work of the iWP was critical the chair of the village environment committee, "the Pacific iWP was not about directly funding in supporting the development of an says he became inspired to act after an iWP infrastructure such as wastewater treatment integrated water resource management plan workshop helped him to understand the for the entire country. national agencies were connections between the village waste and prompted to collaborate when project their declining marine resources. "When I did the composting from the kitchen waste it was only surveys found that most household septic after people actually saw the big, healthy eggplant that they systems were leaking directly into their shal- "it was only when we went on a field trip to low groundwater and lagoon system. the see the dying coral reef that i realized that actually realized there was something to it. country is now assessing plans to support the the depletion of our fisheries is also caused It really is a case of `seeing is believing'." introduction of waterless technology such as by leaks from our toilets, waste from piggeries, composting toilets. and our gray water," he says. Pita Vatucawaqa, the Chair of the Village Environment Committee Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) UNDP 12.3 million 8.1 million Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, http://www.sprep.org/ Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 66 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 66 3/4/09 5:54:32 PM vunisinu is a low-lying rural village just a STRENGThENING INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES 45-minute drive from fiji's capital suva. MANAGEMENT IN ThE PACIFIC ISlANDS Because of constant flooding, Pita says he had to relocate the family's pit toilet more The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) All participating countries have started the work of than 10 times over the last 10 years. this was is now supporting the development of the GEF-funded addressing their priority concerns. Fiji has begun work one of the main reasons that prompted him "Pacific Integrated Water Resources Management Project" on an integrated flood risk management blueprint for the to install the village's first composting toilet from its headquarters in Suva, Fiji. This new regional project flood-prone Nadi River Basin. The Cook Islands has started to at his home. is designed to help countries bring together government develop an integrated freshwater and coastal management departments, NGOs, communities, and the private sector to plan for Rarotonga. And Niue, the Pacific's smallest nation, is Because of project champions like Pita, coordinate and combine their water management efforts. developing a model of integrated land use, water supply, and nearly all the households in vunisinu are wastewater management for its capital, Alofi. SOPAC Director, Cristelle Pratt, emphasizes that the project composting their green waste, and the design has been driven by the participating island countries Tuiloma Neroni Slade, the Secretary General of the Pacific villagers no longer use mangroves and from the very beginning. Islands Forum Secretariat, was closely involved with the initial riverbanks as dumping grounds. development of the Pacific IWRM when he was Samoa's "The GEF Pacific IWRM has had a long gestation period, but Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United "When i did the composting from the kitchen this has been very important for the success and sustainability Nations, and a serving member of the GEF Executive Council. waste it was only after people actually saw of the project. The demonstration projects originated from He is pleased the project will support a much greater the big, healthy eggplant that they actually IWRM Diagnostic Reports and Hotspot Analyses undertaken emphasis on monitoring and collecting realized there was something to it. it really is a by each of the 14 Pacific Island countries. Each country then water related data throughout the case of `seeing is believing'." that is the main developed a demonstration project based on their self-assessment. Pacific Island countries. mountain that we have to move," he says. In my experience this is a unique approach for the region and it has ensured that capacity has been developed and real "SOPAC is working with countries ownership of each project now exists within each Pacific to put a lot of emphasis on collecting, Pita became such an enthusiast about Island country. IWRM must be driven from within each monitoring, and evaluating vital data the benefits of composting toilets that country if it is to become the new "Pacific way" and that is absolutely essential. he was interviewed by radio and tv to manage water," she says. We need to understand our stations from fiji and throughout the hydrological systems Pacific. His enthusiasm helped to before we can develop communicate a possible solution appropriate management to thousands of people facing similar systems," he says. problems with coastal pollution right across the Pacific. smALL isLAnds, Big stAKes 67 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 67 3/4/09 5:54:33 PM integrAting tHe mAnAgement of WAtersHed And coAstAL AreAs in tHe cAriBBeAn in the caribbean the integrating Watershed Ambassador diann Black-Layne, the and coastal Areas management (iWcAm) former chief environment officer for project is helping the participating countries Antigua & Barbuda, says finding low-cost to implement an integrated approach to the treatment solution for wastewater is an "Getting community buy-in is extremely important management of watersheds and coastal areas. urgent priority for many communities throughout the caribbean. because people in our communities don't A major component of the project is the development and delivery of nine demonstra- in a region where much of the existing water always link their quality of life to issues tion projects in the areas of water resource infrastructure has been in place since colonial such as sewage management." management, wastewater treatment, and times, Ambassador Black-Layne says the total sustainable land use. in a region where island level of investment required to adequately Diann Black-Layne, Ambassador for Antigua & Barbuda populations range from fewer than 100 to address water and watershed management more than 5 million, the project is working issues is likely to be in the hundreds of millions. carefully to ensure that any new management she believes the support provided by the approaches are designed to meet the specific iWcAm could help to create a platform for needs and resources of different communities. generating much needed additional investment. Integrating Watershed and Coastal Area Management Agency GEF grant Co-financing Countries Website (IWCAM) in the SIDS of the Caribbean UNEP, UNDP 14.4 million 98.2 million Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, http://www.iwcam.org/ Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Rep., Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & Grenadines & Trinidad & Tobago 68 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 68 3/4/09 5:54:34 PM "the budget for our demonstration project is just $560,000, and we have to be realistic about what we can achieve with this level of A NEW FUND FOR WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT investment. if we can use this funding to help IN ThE CARIBBEAN promote the development of low-tech, low- cost, and easy-to-maintain management It is estimated that more than 80 percent of domestic wastewater entering systems for sewage, that can be considered the Caribbean Sea is inadequately treated, a fact that is putting pressure on both public health and coral reefs. Up to now smaller towns and a momentous result for the project as well communities have found it difficult to obtain the affordable financing they as many countries in the region," she says. need to develop appropriate wastewater treatment solutions. With GEF encouragement, the Inter-American Development Bank and the United Ambassador Black-Layne says the iWcAm has Nations Environment Programme have now established an innovative also provided the government of Antigua and financial mechanism called the Caribbean Revolving Fund for Wastewater Barbuda with a timely opportunity to renew Management (CReW). From 2010 this new fund will enable its commitment to taking a more integrated national and local governments, as well as stakeholders from approach to watershed management. the private sector and civil society, to cofinance wastewater management initiatives. The investments will have "the iWcAm has really come at the right time to be made in environmentally acceptable, sustainable, for Antigua and Barbuda. With the issue of and cost-effective wastewater management facilities. The revolving fund means that repayments may be climate change being so topical, the project has used again to provide funds for new investments helped us to talk directly with politicians about in wastewater treatment and management the importance of preserving the watersheds facilities throughout the Caribbean Basin, instead of simply developing them into beautiful such as constructed wetlands. upscale houses for non-nationals," she says Although the regional focus provided by the project is helping to speed up the decision-making process, she believes it will take a long time for the countries to involve re-examining institutional arrangements "getting community buy-in is extremely adopt a more integrated approach to the that have been in place here for the last important because people in our communities management of its water issues. 200 to 300 years," she says. don't always link their quality of life to issues such as sewage management. When "it will require a different mindset for the she says the success of the iWcAm should a politician comes around lobbying for votes, different departments to really work with each really be measured by the community buy-in people don't usually ask `What about my, other towards achieving one goal at the same it can help to generate for developing practical sewage? they usually say, `i want to get time. it's going to be a long process, because and cost-effective solutions for problems such a job'," she says. really taking an integrated approach will as wastewater treatment. smALL isLAnds, Big stAKes 69 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 69 3/4/09 5:54:34 PM COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION PAYS OFF FOR ST lUCIA'S FOND D'OR WATERShED As part of the Fond d'Or IWCAM demonstration "Before the project the community did not about installing the system. Although she had project in St Lucia, low-cost technology was believe that they had a say or made a collected rain water in drums for many years installed in more than 20 homes and 10 public contribution to the problem, much less the she says her old system wasn't very reliable institutions to collect and store rainwater from solutions. The community now feels greater and it didn't include disinfection. rooftops and other man-made surfaces. The responsibility and realizes that WASCO is just local community regularly suffers from water one user of the river and that they can do Her new system includes guttering to capture shortages because existing treatment plants more to help themselves," he says. the rainwater running off the roof, and PVC cannot cope with the high turbidity of piping to channel the water into a 1,000-gallon incoming water supplies. High levels of fecal When the rainwater harvesting project began, tank.The water passes through mesh to ensure contamination also mean the 15 communities the committee was careful to select installation removal of debris before it enters the tank. Every living in the watershed are at high risk from sites that would be highly visible to the rest of morning the family manages the "first flush," waterborne disease. the community. They were also keen to select thereby ensuring that clean water enters the people who would be good at educating the tanks. Instructions for adding chlorine The Fond d'Or Watershed Management wider community about the benefits of the (household bleach) to the tank are followed Committee is driving the community participa- new system and willing to cooperate with the strictly and the family periodically tests the water tion at the heart of the project. The committee, project on household impact studies. using a kit provided by the project. which is made up of community members, government representatives, the water utility, Cooperation agreements were signed with Lucina believes they will continue to use the and other key stakeholders, is also helping to participants, and families were given clear rainwater harvesting system even when water build greater awareness and support for a instructions on how to maintain the systems mains are finally installed. "Rain water is better more integrated approach to the management and properly disinfect them using household (quality) and we will continue to harvest it as of the entire watershed area. bleach. Ongoing public education and shortages may be here from time to time," awareness activities have also included radio she says. Cornelius Isaac, the manager of the demon- and television interviews with project stration project, says there was initially a great participants like Lucina Shoulette. deal of anger in the community aimed at the water utility (WASCO), which was seen as the Lucina, a householder from the Gardette source of water and responsible for all community, says she could hardly believe her problems related to water. good luck when the project approached her 70 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 70 3/4/09 5:54:41 PM smALL isLAnds, Big stAKes 71 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 71 3/4/09 5:54:49 PM 72 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 72 3/4/09 5:54:51 PM the future is...now! tHe fUtUre is...noW! 73 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 73 3/4/09 5:54:53 PM 74 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 74 3/4/09 5:55:00 PM i n tHese times of gLoBAL cHAnge And mULtiPLe stresses on WAter resoUrces, tHe gef HAs resPonded to An overWHeLming nUmBer of coUntrY reqUests for Action. tHe internAtionAL WAters focAL AreA HAs WorKed ProgressiveLY to cAtALYze mULtistAte commitments to coLLective mAnAgement of cross-Border sUrfAce WAter, groUnd WAter, And mArine sYstems. tHroUgH sPeciAL Joint Processes PiLoted BY tHe gef And its Agencies to BUiLd trUst, confidence, cAPAcitY, And institUtions, 149 of tHe Poorest And 23 of tHe ricHest coUntries on tHe PLAnet HAve WorKed togetHer coLLectiveLY toWArd tHe sUstAinABLe Use, conservAtion, And deveLoPment of tHeir sHAred WAter sYstems. tHroUgH its internAtionAL WAters ProgrAmme tHe gef remAins tHe WorLd's LArgest finAncier of trAnsBoUndArY WAter coLLABorAtion. for over a decade, experience sharing and learning among projects and among agencies has been a requirement in the gef international Waters focal area. during this time a partnership among the gef and its agencies known as gef iW:LeArn has facilitated cross-project learning and knowledge transfer. As highlighted in the box on page 78 it is now being scaled up in order to better support countries during this time of rapid transition. the steady depletion and contamination of transboundary surface waters, groundwater, and our coastal oceans has now caught the attention of the world's decision makers. it has taken an astonishing loss of economic and social benefits, threats of conflict, and new worries over climate change to generate a new political imperative for action. climatic variability has been long ignored by individual sector development projects, donors and governments, but the changing climate is already here. A good example of this is dis- played on page 77 in the global map of Large marine ecosystems (Lmes) and their rate of warming over the last 25 years. the warming rates of sea surface temperatures estimated by satellite sensors exceed those reported by the iPcc by two to four times. the coastal oceans are warming much faster than scientists have previously predicted and, with its global Lme tHe fUtUre is...noW! 75 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 75 3/4/09 5:55:05 PM Assessment, the gef/UneP international in southern Africa, are focusing on protecting Waters project has made an important and balancing conflicting uses of this contribution in helping the world to important underground resource. in a dry understand that the rapid warming of region of the mediterranean that is projected marine ecosystems is an issue that must to become much drier, the gef/World Bank be addressed now and not tomorrow. tunisia international Waters project is helping to find ways to take sewage wastewater, in response to these concerns, new gef provide modest treatment, and then re-use international Waters projects are testing how it in irrigation for agriculture. to incorporate extreme weather events like droughts, floods, coastal storms, and With gef assistance, many countries have sea-level rise into iWrm for freshwater basins built their capacity to collectively manage and icm for coasts. for example, the gef/ cross-border water systems and, in many UneP Amazon Basin project includes cases, have already established adaptive transboundary concerns about drought management institutions from the regional conditions experienced during el niño years. down to the local scale. to encourage this Located just south of the Amazon Basin, the progress, the gef will continue to provide gef/UneP Plata Basin project contains a support as countries scale up successful component that will focus on floods and demonstration-scale innovations and introduce floodplain management during the el niño much needed reforms at the national level. years as the Amazon rains move south. the gef works with 10 agencies as develop- the gef international Waters focal area is now ment partners and each has distinct com- also concentrating on protecting groundwater parative advantages. the gef is centrally systems and their recharge areas because positioned as a networking organization to groundwater is the key resource for responding sequence specific assistance to countries to drought. the water we see in rivers and through these different agencies to meet lakes is just a small percentage of the planet's country and transboundary water needs. By water, with 96 percent of all freshwater located doing this it can help countries to balance underground in aquifer systems. in areas that competing water uses, protect invaluable experience more frequent droughts or heavy aquifers, and sustain fisheries for food water use, groundwater resources will be security, livelihoods, and foreign exchange increasingly called upon as an alternative income. the next key step will be to source of water. integrate the recently identified stresses from climatic variability -- from droughts and new projects, such as the gef/UndP dinaric floods to sea-level rise and coastal storm Karst project in southeastern europe and the vulnerability -- into the work of these gef/World Bank sAdc groundwater project adaptive management institutions. 76 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 76 3/4/09 5:55:11 PM in order to meet the challenges of a changing climate, along with all the other sea suRFace temPeRatuRe WaRming in laRge maRine systems, 1982­2006 causes of conflict and competing uses of water resources, we have a new imperative for action. the gef now stands ready, with our network of public and private sector stakeholders, to help developing countries take action to secure their water and their environments, and provide real community benefits, from the ridge to the reef. FAST WARMING: MODERATE WARMING: SLOW WARMING: C1 Northern European Cluster; C7 Western Atlantic LMEs; C8 Eastern C11 Indian Ocean and Adjacent Waters. C2 Southern European; Atlantic LMEs; C9 NW Pacific; C10 SW Non-clustered, Slow Warming LMEs C3 Semi-Enclosed European Seas; Pacific. Several Non-Clustered, include the U.S. Northeast Shelf, the U.S. C4 of the NW Atlantic; C5 Fast Warming Moderate Warming LMEs are moderate Southeast Shelf, the Barents Sea, East East Asian LMEs; C6 Kuroshio Current warming: NE Australia, Insular Pacific Bering Sea; Patagonian Shelf, Benguela and Sea of Japan/East Sea LMEs. Hawaiian, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Current and Pacific Central American California; South China Sea, East Coastal LMEs. Greenland Shelf; Source: UNEP/GEF Large Marine Ecosystems Report, UNEP Regional Seas Report and Studies No.182, 2008. tHe fUtUre is...noW! 77 GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 77 3/4/09 5:55:12 PM IW:lEARN -- ENhANCING PROjECT IMPACT ThROUGh COllECTIVE lEARNING For more than a decade, the GEF and its partner agencies have operated IW:LEARN -- the International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network.With a total of $5 billion invested across 183 International Waters projects it is critical for the GEF to find effective ways to share project learning and replicate project successes and impacts on an even larger scale. IW:LEARN is designed to promote learning and transfer of GEF experiences and knowledge across agencies and projects and regions. It promotes networking, knowledge sharing, and peer learning among stakeholders within and across regions, helping to share best practices and improve the quality of all GEF projects. Every two years IW:LEARN convenes a conference where participants can exchange practical experiences, share innovations, and engage in a collective learning process with the entire portfolio.After the Fourth Biennial Conference in Cape Town in 2007 participants said the conference helped them discover practical ways to enhance the effectiveness of their own projects. Visit the IW:LEARN Resource Centre at: www.iwlearn.net GEF INTERNATIONAl WATERS AND OUR COMMITMENT FOR ThE FUTURE The GEF will continue to utilize the comparative advantages of different agencies to help countries make collective progress on sustaining benefits from their large water systems. By focusing on the concepts of integrated water resource management (IWRM) and integrated coastal management (ICM), the GEF will provide countries with the best opportunity to achieve the following key benefits: n Increased food, water, health, and economic security for our communities; n Sustained provision of goods and services from the water and related land environment; n Greater regional integration, regional economic development, and regional peace and stability among all collaborating countries. 78 from ridge to reef GEF_RidgetoReef_CRA.indb 78 3/4/09 5:55:13 PM ABOUT THE GEF InternatIonal Waters at the GeF The Global Environment Facility (GEF) unites 178 member governments alfred M. Duda, Senior Advisor, aduda@theGEF.org -- in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, Christian severin, Program Manager, International Waters, cseverin@theGEF.org and the private sector -- to address global environmental issues. An Peter K Bjornsen, Senior Policy Advisor, pbjornsen@theGEF.org independent financial organization, the GEF provides grants to developing Ivan Zavadsky, Senior Water Resources Management Specialist, izavadsky@theGEF.org countries and countries with economies in transition for projects related to stephen Menzies, Consultant and Editor, stephencmenzies@yahoo.co.nz biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. These projects benefit the PhotoGraPhY global environment, linking local, national, and global environmental Yann arthus-Bertrand / altitude: Cover challenges, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Mirey atallah-auge: 39, 44 stuart Chape: 27, 48, 62, 71, 76 Coral reef alliance Photo library: 28, 33, 34, 35, 53, 69 Established in 1991, the GEF is today the largest funder of projects to Corbis: 6 alfred Duda: IV, 52, 54, 58, 61, 74 improve the global environment. The GEF has allocated $8.3 billion, sarah hunter: 22, 25, 26, 66, 67 arne hoel: 2 supplemented by more than $33 billion in cofinancing, for more than istock Photos: 55 2,225 projects in more than 165 developing countries and countries Janot-reine Mendler de suarez: 10, 27 Victor Melo: 1, 4, 16, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43 with economies in transition. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), stephen Menzies: 30 Mercury alternatives project -- UnDP/UnIDo: 17 the GEF has also made more than 10,000 small grants directly to rikke olivera: 56, 57 nongovernmental and community organizations. Marc overmars: 63 Panos Pictures: 46, 47 south Pacific regional environmental Programme: VI russian arctic project -- UneP: 18, 19 The GEF partnership includes 10 agencies: the UN Development Claudio Vasquez rojas -- UnDP: VIII, 14, 50, 78,Third Cover Christian severin: 15, 72, 73 Programme; the UN Environment Programme; the World Bank; south China sea -- UnDP: 32 the UN Food and Agriculture Organization; the UN Industrial Donna spencer: 68 tony Whincup: Second Cover Development Organization; the African Development Bank; World Bank Photo library: 7, 20, 21, 24, 25 the Asian Development Bank; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Inter-American Development Bank; and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel provides technical and scientific advice on the GEF's policies and projects. www.theGEF.org