Page 1 1 A GENCY ’ S P ROJECT ID: P070878 C OUNTRY : Guinea P ROJECT T ITLE : Coastal Marine and Biodiversity Management GEF I MPLEMENTING A GENCY : World Bank O THER E XECUTING A GENCY ( IES ): CNSH-B/Ministry of Planning D URATION : 4 years (2005-2009) GEF F OCAL A REA : Biodiversity GEF O PERATIONAL P ROGRAM : OP#2 – Coastal, Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems GEF S TRATEGIC P RIORITY : SP#1 – Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas; and SP#2 – Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Production Landscapes and Sectors E STIMATED S TARTING D ATE : 2005 IA F EE : $.821 C ONTRIBUTION TO K EY I NDICATORS OF THE B USINESS P LAN : Support to strengthening PA systems; support to capacity building in indigenous and local communities; targeted mainstreaming of biodiversity into production sector; support to increase in ha of productive landscapes contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. R ECORD OF ENDORSEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE G OVERNMENT ( S ): (Mme Katyia Ndiaye, Position, Ministry of Geology, Mines and Environment) Date : August 29, 2000 FINANCING PLAN (US$) GEF P ROJECT /C OMPONENT Project 5,000,000 PDF A n/a PDF B 350,000 PDF C n/a Sub-Total GEF 5,350,000 C O - FINANCING * Government 1,000,000 CRDs 550,000 PACV II 7,000,000 AGIR 2,000,000 OGM 1,500,000 PEG 500,000 PRCM 500,000 Sub-Total Co-financing: 13,050,000 Total Project Financing: 18,400,000 F INANCING FOR A SSOCIATED A CTIVITIES I F A NY : n/a L EVERAGED R ESOURCES I F A NY : n/a *Details provided under the Financial Modality and Cost Effectiveness section Approved on behalf of the World Bank . This proposal has been prepared in accordance with GEF policies and procedures and meets the standards of the GEF Project Review Criteria for work program inclusion. Steve Gorman, Executive Coordinator, The World Bank Project Contact Person Christophe Crepin (World Bank) Date: January 9, 2004 202-473-9727, ccrepin@worldbank.org PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY GEF C OUNCIL W ORK P ROGRAM S UBMISSION Page 2 2 1. PROJECT SUMMARY Rationale This project is designed as part of a larger effort to contribute to the formulation and implementation of sustainable strategies for coastal zone management in Guinea and provide protection to coastal areas of global and national importance. The project contributes to helping the Guinean governmen t develop a comprehensive vision for Guinea’s coastal zone, establish protected areas incorporating coastal zone Ramsar sites of high global importance, and identify and implement with communities selected strategic activities that would strengthen sustainable use of resources in these sites. The Guinean coastal zone encompasses three coastal ecosystems that are home to high levels of globally significant terrestrial and marine biodiversity: the coastal plateau, the saltwater marsh and the continental sea shelf. Nearly the entire coastline has been identified as a priority area for biodiversity conservation, and six coastal wetlands have been designated as Ramsar sites for their importance as refuges for water birds migrating between the Eurasian and African continents. The coastal zone is also part of the much larger Guinea Current, an international coastal and marine ecosystem that is ranked among the world’s richest in terms of marine and coastal biodiversity of global significance, fishery resources, oil and gas reserves, precious minerals and potential for ecotourism. The biggest threats to the coastal zone come from human activities – including population growth, urbanization, wood collecting, cropping, livestock holding, harvesting of native plant species, hunting, fishing and water pollution – that are threatening or actively converting, fragmenting and altering natural habitats. Rationale for GEF and Bank Involvement This project supports the Guinea Country Assistance Strategy, which focuses on poverty reduction through increased productivity, by seeking to stem the poverty-induced exploitation of natural resources that is leading to reduced productive capacity in the medium-to-long term. The project is also consistent with strategic priorities for biodiversity and capacity building under GEF-3, specifically biodiversity strategic priorities 1 and 2. By supporting Guinea in the creation of its first coastal zone protected area incorporating two Ramsar sites and seeking early coordination with institutions involved in similar efforts in Guinea-Bissau to create a larger transboundary protected area, the project will substantially contribute to a global increase of coastal and marine areas under improved management for conservation and an increase of productive landscapes that support globally significant habitats and ecosystems surrounding them. The project has also been designed to support and complement the second phase of the Village Communities Support Program (PACV II). Co-financed by IDA, IFAD, ADF and AFD, the main objective of the PACV program is to help reduce rural poverty through capacity- building at the Rural Development Community (CRD) level. Objectives The project development objective is to promote rational management of Guinea’s coastal biodiversity for both conservation and sustainable development ends, with a particular emphasis on assisting communities in and around these priority areas to plan, implement and maintain environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive alternative livelihood options. The global objective is to strengthen the conservation of globally and nationally significant habitats and species in Guinea’s Coastal Zone by working with national and regional partners to Page 3 3 promote and implement an integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources in the region. Outputs and Activities The project has five components: (1) Protection and conservation of coastal Ramsar sites; (2) Institutional strengthening for integrated coastal zone management; (3) The Local Investment Fund; (4) Local capacity building; and (5) Project management and monitoring and evaluation. Activities under components 3, 4 and 5 have been designed to complement the PACV II. The project outputs for each component and sub-component are summarized below. More detail on each sub-component and its specific activities and tasks can be found in the GEF Project Brief (Annex 1: Project Design Summary) and Annex B, Project Logical Framework, of this Executive Summary. 1. Protection and conservation of coastal Ramsar sites : This component aims to provide the necessary strategic and operational tools and experiences to establish one protected area in the coastal zone through a participatory approach with concerned communities. It will have two subcomponents: 1.1 Protected areas : This sub-component aims to establish one protected area in the coastal zone. In line with national priorities and biodiversity significance, Iles Tristao and Ile Alcatraz, both Ramsar wetlands, have been identified as the target sites for the creation of this protected area. Rio Pongo, another Ramsar wetland, will be a second target intervention area for the project, where the focus of activities will be to work with communities in the surrounding watershed to lay the foundation for eventual designation of a second protected area. Activities under this sub-component will include support for the detailed mapping, inventory, diagnostic and creation of the PA and future PA, with a focus on training and capacity building for sustainable management of coastal zone ecosystems by local communities and community-based organizations in the respective watersheds. 1.2 Impact monitoring and evaluation : This sub-component aims to support and strengthen the existing coastal zone monitoring system in relation to the identified sites for protected areas referenced in 1.1. Activities will include baseline studies, mid-term and end of project evaluations, and training. Outputs for Component 1 will include: · Establishment of one protected area in the coastal zone, in collaboration with stakeholders and international NGOs; · Coastal zone monitoring system in place; and · Permanent and accessible repository on coastal zone information. 2. Institutional strengthening for integrated coastal zone management : This component will have two subcomponents: 2.1 Framework for sustainable coastal zone management : This sub-component seeks to strengthen the framework for integrated coastal zone management through three sets of activities: (1) development of a multi-sectoral coastal zone management master plan with a view toward mainstreaming biodiversity conservation, (ii) development of a policy and vision for a network of PAs in the coastal zone of Guinea, including an action plan with sub-regional linkages, and (iii) identification of options for the financial sustainability of PAs. 2.2 Guinea Coastal Zone knowledge and communications : This sub-component aims to increase and strengthen coordination efforts among concerned stakeholders at the sub-regional, national and local levels by supporting annual coastal zone Page 4 4 management meetings, information exchange workshops, establishment of a permanent forum on conservation and preservation of the coastal zone, and the creation of a multimedia library of coastal documentation. Outputs for Component 2 will include: · Improved collaboration among stakeholders at national and sub-regional levels; · Sectoral integration (integrated land-use and integrated community development addressing livelihood issues in the buffer zone); and · Sustainable financial pilot scheme for PAs. 3. The Local Investment Fund : This component aims to stimulate local development and give the means to project beneficiaries to reduce dependencies on unsustainable natural resource exploitation by transferring grants directly to CRDs. This project will provide additional resources to communities using procedures already tested and implemented by the PACV, including: 3.1 Village Investment Fund (VIF) for sustainable management of resource base : This sub-component will fund activities to enhance the resource base, and protect and restore globally important biodiversity in CRDs within the watersheds of the Ramsar sites noted in Activity 1. The focus of the investments and decision on activities financed will be site-specific to each of the recipient CRDs. 3.2 Innovation Fund : Project support through this funding window will provide resources for larger-scale subprojects that have long-range expected benefits, large external benefits, activities that comply with broader biodiversity management strategies, or are of a private nature. The investments will be made within the larger watersheds, with the benefits exceeding the administrative boundaries of CRDs. Outputs for Component 3 will include: · Environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive alternative livelihoods; and · Sustainable coastal, marine and freshwater management techniques in place. 4. Local Capacity Buildling : This component aims to rationalize and operationalize the regulatory and institutional environment for local development through the following activities: (a) strengthening the capacity of CRDs to manage local development programs that specifically include biodiversity protection and sustainable use; and (b) sensitizing and training elected local officials and CRD administrative and technical staff in the areas of local development government, planning and financial management, and biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Output for Component 4 will include: · Local stakeholders are enabled to plan, implement and monitor their own sustainable development plans which incorporate biodiversity protection. 5. Project management and monitoring and evaluation : The component is designed to ensure cost-effective, efficient and streamlined project implementation of the four other components. It has three sub-components: 5.1 Project management : Overall management and coordination of the project will be ensured by the Project Coordinator in the Ministry of Planning. 5.2 Financial systems and audits : Each agency responsible for a component under the project will maintain separate financial records by source of funds in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, and prepare separate financial statements. 5.3 Monitoring and evaluation : This sub-component is designed to respond to the internal management and supervision needs of all the project’s stakeholders. Outputs for Component 5 will include: Page 5 5 · Efficient management of project resources; and · Evaluation of project impact. Key Performance Indicators The key performance indicators for measuring progress toward promoting and implementing an integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of globally important biological resources in coastal areas include: · Identification, establishment and effective management of one protected area in the coastal zone, and the foundation laid for one additional site’s future designation as a protected area, by year 4 of project implementation; · Formal adoption of an intersectoral, environmentally sustainable development strategy emphasizing biodiversity conservation and mainstreaming for the coastal zone by year 3 of the project; · Increased donor and stakeholder coordination of coastal zone management activities at the national and sub-regional level by year 3; · Reduction in poverty levels of beneficiary populations by year 4; · Changes in behavior of local population, leading to reduced pressures on coastal natural resources primarily in and around project target sites by year 4; · Ecosystem function/processes in and around project target sites maintained and/or improved from baseline, established during preparatory studies to be completed within the first six months of effectiveness, by year 4; and · Resource use associations (e.g. fishermen) created in and around project target sites to enable local communities to participate more effectively in coastal zone planning and biodiversity management activities, by year 2. More details on specific indicators for each output listed under the components above may be found in Annex B (Project Logical Framework) of this summary. Assumptions The critical assumptions upon which the above indicators depend include: · Stakeholders from outside the zone can be convinced that their economic interests coincide with sustainable natural resource management; · Communities remain committed and are sufficiently empowered; · Transboundary activities complement the national approach; and · Existence of sufficient national implementation capacity. More details on specific assumptions for each output listed under the components above may be found in Annex B (Project Logical Framework) of this summary. Risks The risks to project completion are based upon the failure of the critical assumptions listed above and in Annex B. The most substantial risks include: · Ineffective implementation of the national biodiversity strategy as an integral part of the national coastal zone development strategy; and · Lack of effective integration of environmental priorities into a politically acceptable multi-sectoral strategy. Accordingly, mitigation measures for these risks are integral to the project design and activities. 2. COUNTRY OWNERSHIP Page 6 6 Country Eligibility Guinea ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity on May 7, 1993, and the Ramsar Convention in March, 1993. It has also ratified the World Heritage Convention, the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the Convention to Combat Desertification and the Framework Convention on Climate Change. Guinea is eligible for World Bank and GEF funding. Country Drivenness In 2002, the Government of Guinea adopted a National Strategy and Action Plan for Biological Diversity, which identifies the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems as a national priority. The Government is strongly committed to (i) implement this National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and associated sector strategies; (ii) strengthen its legal, institutional and policy framework for biodiversity conservation and integrated coastal zone management; (iii) build and reinforce targeted capacity for national coastal zone planning and research; (iv) establish and manage its first protected area in the coastal zone as a tool to contribute to the long-term ecological viability of coastal and marine systems, maintain ecological process and systems and protect biodiversity at all levels; and (v) support the institutionalization and further strengthening of initial coastal monitoring and evaluation efforts of the coastal zone dynamics. The Government is supported by the Regional Program for the Conservation of West Africa’s Coastal Zone, whose member states include Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Cap Vert and international partners such as IUCN, WWF and FIBA. Over the past two years, the Government has engaged in an inter-sectoral and sub-regional stakeholder consultation process to identify threats, root causes and options to remove barriers to coastal biodiversity conservation and local development. Although there is currently no multi-sectoral entity in place to guide sustainable coastal zone management in Guinea, the government’s interest in coastal zone management is reflected in: (i) its successful efforts to request designation of six Ramsar sites in the coastal zone; and (ii) its participation in several regional programs that support sound marine and coastal zone management. This project is designed to build on and closely collaborate with the PACV. Other main associated institutions and initiatives include the Ministry of Fisheries through its National Center for Fisheries Research in Boussoura, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock through its National Directorate for Forestry and Water, the Ministry of Planning, the Guinea Coastal Zone Observatory, and the Support Program for the Integrated Management of Natural Resources of the Niger and Gambia Watersheds. 3. GEF PROGRAM AND POLICY CONFORMITY Fit to GEF Operational Program and Strategic Priority This project is consistent with the GEF Operational Strategy for its Biodiversity focal area and supports the objectives set out in OP#2 on Coastal, Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. It is in line with guidance from the first, second and third Conferences of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which stress in situ conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems, and Page 7 7 specifically responds to the Jakarta mandate endorsed at COP2 by supporting conservation and sustainable use of vulnerable marine habitats and species. The project also clearly falls under GEF Strategic Priorities BD-1 (Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas) and BD-2 (Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Production Landscapes and Sectors), by supporting Guinea in the creation of its first coastal zone protected area, seeking early coordination with institutions involved in similar efforts in Guinea-Bissau to create a larger transboundary protected area, and promoting targeted capacity building for developing and implementing a framework for improved conservation and management of the Guinean coastal zone. Sustainability (including financial sustainability) Because coastal and marine biodiversity concerns cannot be addressed in isolation, the project will seek to establish a broader legal and institutional framework to ensure environmental, social and economic sustainability and the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation priorities. Among the sustainability elements of the project are: · Targeted capacity building : The project design emphasizes human resource capacity building at two levels. First, the project will support specific, targeted training activities for leaders in local communities in the watersheds of the project sites, empowering local communities to participate in sustainable use of natural resources, and increasing stakeholder capacity to jointly plan, manage and monitor biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of the coastal zone. This training will provide much needed empowerment to these communities which tend to fall behind their more urban counterparts, in terms of capacity. Second, activities will be implemented to build national capacity for coastal zone planning, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. Both of these levels of activities will contribute to the long-term sustainable management of natural resources, including coastal biodiversity of global significance. · Alternative livelihood options for communities : The project seeks to test and develop alternative livelihood strategies for local communities to help them establish and maintain a minimum basis from which to escape the poverty trap that is stifling local development. · Multi-sectoral institutional framework : A multi-disciplinary team will be established to bring together the scientific and technical community with public authorities to share knowledge and practices for coastal zone conservation and disseminate the results to the country and the world. · Participation : The project will adopt participatory planning mechanisms and strategic partnerships with stakeholders, as well as social assessments and monitoring of conditions, to ensure sustainability of the approach to biodiversity conservation. · Alternative financing : The project will fund studies to determine alternative approaches to funding for newly established protected areas other than from the Government budget. Replicability The project has been designed taking into consideration the needs of the country, in particular the need to strengthen its relatively weak human resource, institutional and financial capacity. As the project involves a new approach to sustainable coastal and marine development for Guinea, it is expected that the lessons learned will be mainstreamed into other potential PA sites in the future. Page 8 8 The project will also generate valuable experience in piloting, testing, evaluation and adaptation of coastal zone management strategies, which could form a basis for designing other initiatives in the region. Replication Plan : The project includes a replication plan for dissemination of best practices to other countries in and outside the region. Resources will be allocated to create awareness within a wider audience through: (i) public awareness campaigns for local fishing communities in the coastal zone, NGOs and other stakeholders; (ii) consultation and information dissemination workshops; (iii) training of CRDs, change agents and communities in the coastal zone; (v) preparation of materials, including pamphlets and brochures, for the general public; and (vi) preparation of audio visual materials for media campaigns. Stakeholder Involvement Identified stakeholders in the project include local communities and resource users, selected government agencies and decision-makers at all levels, local NGOs and the private sector in the vicinity of protected areas or key habitats of target species. During project preparation, information and communication sessions were held with all stakeholders. As an extension of preparation activities, international and local NGOs active in the project area will be involved in implementation. Particular emphasis is being placed on the involvement of and benefit sharing with involved and affected local communities. Before project appraisal, a stakeholder analysis and public involvement plan will be completed to articulate target populations associated with relevant project outputs and assess current institutional arrangements and their capacity to support the development of the project or any areas that require strengthening. Project start-up activities will include training, field visits, village/community meetings and workshops at the project target sites. Stakeholders will be extensively consulted throughout the process to ensure appropriate inclusion of their concerns and buy-in of proposed measures, and local validation sessions will be held prior to adoption of the final document. Monitoring and Evaluation The monitoring system for the project is organized as a network, with each executing agency in charge of a component submitting a bi-annual progress report to the Project Coordinator. The Coordinator will then compile the individual reports into a consolidated progress report for the entire project. Independent analyses of the project will be conducted at mid-term and toward the end of the project by the Government of Guinea and interested co-financiers of the project. Implementation progress of Components 2 and 3 will be measured by the national M&E team of the PACV, while CNSH-B will monitor progress of Component 1 and the Ministry of Planning will also monitor progress of Component 2. Evaluation of the project’s impact on the selected project sites will be carried out by the Guinea Marine Observatory (OGM) 4. FINANCIAL MODALITY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS The cost of the project is US$18,050,000 over a four-year period (exclusive of the PDF-B grant of $350,000), with more than $13,000,000 coming from co-financiers. The requested GEF financing is $5,000,000. Co-financing Sources Page 9 9 Name of Co- financier (source) Classification Type Amount (US$) Status Government of Guinea Government Cash funding (salaries and facilities) 1,000,000 Pledged CRDs Communities Cash and in- kind 550,000 Negotiated/Pledged AGIR – EU Multilateral agency Grant 2,000,000 Pledged OGM – AFD, French GEF Bilateral agencies Grant 1,500,000 Confirmed PEG – EU and French Gov’t Multi- and Bi- lateral agencies Grant 500,000 Pledged PRCM NGOs Grant 500,000 Pledged PACV II - IDA, IFAD, ADF and AFD Multi- and Bi- lateral agencies Grant 7,000,000 Confirmed Sub-Total Co-financing 13,050,000 5. INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION AND SUPPORT Core Commitments and Linkages The project clearly supports the FY03 Country Assistance Strategy for Guinea (Report No. 25925), which focuses on poverty reduction through increased productivity. The CAS specifically notes the human-induced negative impacts on natural resources from demographic pressure, deforestation, hunting, mining, poor agricultural practices and an influx of refugees. Recognizing that the degradation of Guinea’s natural resources is leading to declining soil fertility, decreased agricultural productivity and overall biodiversity loss, the project seeks to stem the poverty-induced exploitation of natural resources. The project also aligns with Guinea’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and the targets adopted for Oceans, Coasts and Islands at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg 2002. Consultation, Coordination and Collaboration between and among IAs and EAs The project will complement (though not overlap) and liaise with several other GEF-supported activities in Guinea. One such program is the GEF-funded National Capacity Needs Self- Assessment for Global Environment Management (NCSA), a UNDP-assisted review of national capacity building needs related to globally valued environmental resources, including biodiversity. The project’s activities focused on Institutional Strengthening will build upon the recommendations of the NCSA. Similarly, the Integrated Management of Land Degradation through Sustainable Small-Scale Industrial Utilization of Medicinal, Aromatic and Pesticidal Plants project, a UNEP-assisted West African regional program, involves Guinea and three other countries in an effort to halt land degradation through community-based land and biodiversity preservation and the development of relevant income-generating activities. Other projects that provide synergies to this proposal include the World Bank-GEF Guinea-Bissau Coastal and Biodiversity Management Project, with which the project will work to establish a strong rapport for potential transboundary work on protected areas. Having both of these projects implemented Page 10 10 by the World Bank allows tremendous opportunity for synergies to develop and lessons to be shared between the initiatives. Additionally, the project will ensure collaboration with the UNDP Guinea Current LME project, which spans the entire west coast of Africa. The focus of activities in Guinea of this UNDP project will be on conducting a marine productivity assessment, integrating Guinea into the larger regional Environmental Information Management scheme of the project, and fisheries assessments, providing clear routes for strong collaboration, but no overlap among the projects. Activities funded under component 2.2 will allow for this coordination and cooperation between this project and other initiatives in the region. Project Implementation Arrangement The Project Coordination Unit (PCU) of the PACV will provide overall project coordination and guidance, and will also be responsible for overall financial management and procurement. This is appropriate, given the complementarities between the two projects, and will provide greater cost – effectiveness of management since the PCU is already familiar with the Bank’s fiduciary requirements. The PCU will be appropriately strengthened to carry out its additional responsibilities, with the addition of a natural resources management specialist, one or more accountants and procurement and support staff to the core staff of the PCU. Oversight of project activities will be conducted by the Steering Committee, which will be made up of higher-level government officials. The Steering Committee will meet at least once a year to ensure policy level oversight of the program, promote incorporation of project objectives into sector-specific and national development programming, review progress and approve annual work plans and budgets. Representatives of each of the implementing agencies and other key stakeholders, such as NGOs and CRDs in the project intervention zone, will be invited to attend Steering Committee meetings and provide input on work programs and project implementation, as appropriate. In addition, an already established Technical Steering Committee will support specific activities at a technical level and vet work programs of Components 1 and 2 prior to submission. Each individual component will be executed by a different implementing agency, as follows: · Component 1 will be executed by CNSH-B, in close collaboration with DNEF. To assist these agencies in their work, a Scientific Advisory Panel will be created, drawing its membership from national and sub-regional universities, research institutions, Government and NGOs. CNSH-B will subcontract the OGM to carry out baseline studies for different sites along the Guinean coast. · Component 2 will be executed by the Ministry of Planning. · Components 3 and 4 will be implemented by the PACV, using an adapted version of its Local Investment Fund manual. · Component 5 will be the responsibility of the Project Coordinator, periodically assisted by a consultant. The Project Coordinator will also serve as secretariat for the Steering Committee. Page 11 1 A NNEX A: I NCREMENTAL C OST A NALYSIS A. Context Global Environmental Significance of Guinea’s Coastal Zone The global significance of the biodiversity of the coastal ecosystems of Guinea has been widely acknowledged. Within Guinea’s coastal zone, six coastal wetlands have been designated as Ramsar sites (see Annex 4 of the Project Brief). These are in particular of international interest through their role as important refuge areas for water birds migrating between the Eurasian and African continents. Practically the entire coastline has been identified as a priority area for biodiversity conservation, as part of what is left of the Upper Guineas Forest 1 . Remaining patches of this forest are found along the West African coast from Guinea to Togo. Guinea’s total area of mangroves constitutes one quarter of West Africa’s total mangrove wetland –stretching from Senegal to northern Angola- the ecological function of which is closely intertwined with that of the upstream (e.g. coastal plateau) and down stream (continental sea shelf) ecosystems. Furthermore, Guinea’s coastal zone represents a portion of a much larger international coastal and marine ecosystem, known as the Guinea Current. The Guinea Current is ranked among the world richest coastal and off-shore reserves in terms of fishery resources, oil and gas, precious minerals, its potential for eco-tourism and its functioning as important reservoir of marine and coastal biodiversity of global significance. The Guinea Current stretches along the Atlantic African coast from about Guinea Bissau to Angola. The particularity of the Guinea portion lies in the fact that it contains the widest part of the continental shelf of the Guinea Current, reaching 160 km at the northwestern border with Guinea Bissau. This part of the coastal zone barely experiences any upwelling from deeper waters. Upwelling usually drains sediment and nutrients that are brought in from the upstream inland waters to the coast towards the open sea. Hence, without much upwelling the coastal waters accumulate much more nutrients and therefore become very productive. In addition, the extreme irregularity of the mangrove dominated shoreline, harbors a multitude of niches along the land- water interface. National Dependency on Natural Resources Guinea is ranked among the poorest countries in the world. Its economy is almost entirely dependent on natural resources for income, labor, food, energy and healthcare as reflected in the following features: · Mineral mining and agriculture represent the most important economic activities, providing employment to about 80% of total population. · Agriculture is the dominant activity of the rural population while 30% of the rural population is practicing livestock holding. · Fish consumption provides 40% of animal protein intake. · Household energy depends for 99% on wood fuels. · Health care system depends for 80% on traditional medicine practices, which heavily rely on native flora and fauna species. 1 International references testifying Guin ea’s coastal zone global biodiversity significance: “A Global Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (Great Barrier Reef Authority, World Bank, IUCN)”, Global Marine Biological Diversity; International Conventions (Ramsar and World Heritage); UNEPs Regional Sea Programm; Conservation International. Page 12 2 Threat and Root Causes for the Coastal Zone The main threats to the Guinean coastal zone are conversion, fragmentation and alteration of natural habitats. Growing pressure on the environment coming from human- induced activities is either threatening or actively converting, fragmenting and/or altering natural habitats all over the country, including biodiversity hotspots of global interest. Hence, in the coastal zone, this is of impact on the condition of remnants of the former Upper Guinean Forests, including the classified Forests, and the six designated, currently unprotected, Ramsar Sites. The root causes of these threats stem from various influences, such as poverty, population pressure, urbanization, wood collection, cropping, livestock holding, hunting, fishing, harvesting of native plant species, water pollution and water flow changes due to land degradation, and weak legislative and institutional frameworks. These root causes and corresponding project mitigating activities are summarized in the following table. More detail on these can be found in Annex 10 to the Project Brief. Poverty and Global Environment Linkages in Coastal Zone Threats Root Causes Project Activities The globally valued biodiversity of the coastal zone represent a significant portion of the natural resources on which in particular the poorest part of the residing population heavily depends for income, labour, food, water, shelter and health care. Conversion, fragmentation and alteration of globally and nationally valued biodiversity of the remnants of the Upper Guinea Forest and 6 Ramsar Sites: · Fast growing population: 292% between 1963 and 1996 · Concentrated in urban centers reaching densities of over 400 h/km2 versus less than 20 h/km2 in some rural areas · Uncontrolled expansion of unsustainable wood cutting, cropping, livestock holding, fishing, hunting and harvesting of native species · Lack of waste and sanitation management. · In and off-site land degradation and waterflow changes · Ineffective legal Through linking with existing relevant initiatives such as PACV, AGIR, OGM, PEG and coordination with other relevant programs, CZMP aims to contribute to the preservation of the globally valued biodiversity of the Coastal zone by: · Supporting the establishment of Marine Protected Area in the zone while measuring the socio- economic and ecological impact. · Supporting institutional capacity and inter-sectoral collaboration, communication, and data gathering and exchange to facilitate the implementation of sustainable coastal zone management. Table 1: Poverty and Global Environment Linkages in Coastal zone, threats, root causes and project activities. Page 13 3 and institutional framework and capacity to protect the condition of valued natural habitats, including biodiversity. · Lack of inter- sectoral collaboration and databank sharing and exchange mechanisms. · Establishing Local Investment Funds in and around potentially protected sites to support activities, which preserve biodiversity. · Raise local awareness for the need to preserve their natural resources and to build capacity to implement and manage relevant activities. · Support management and M&E of the project activities B. Global Environmental Objective The global environmental objective of the proposed GEF alternative is to strengthen the conservation of globally and nationally significant habitats an d species in Guinea’s coastal zone. The project will work with national and regional partners to promote and implement an integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of globally important biological resources in Guinea’s coastal zone. The priority activities of the proposed project are consistent with the country’s CAS and NBSAP, and focus on the conservation of biodiversity-rich niches located in sites designated as globally significant by Ramsar. The proposed project is also responds to the following two targets adopted for Oceans, Coasts and Islands at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg 2002: Conservation of biodiversity: · develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools, and \03 · the establishment of protected areas consistent with international law and based on scientific information, including representative networks by 2012. The proposed project thus reflects national, sub-regional and international priorities for coastal and marine management as well as for biodiversity conservation. The objectives will be achieved through (i) the development of at least one protected area in the coastal zone, which includes key biodiversity resources specific to the coastal ecosystems of Guinea; (ii) the development of a multi-sectoral environmentally sustainable development strategy for the coastal zone; and (iii) support to the population of approximately 10-20 Rural Development Communities living within and around the project intervention areas. C. Baseline Scenario Page 14 4 The baseline scenario includes a series of multi- and bi-lateral donor and government financed activities along the coastal zone, from which limited resources would be funnelled towards marine and coastal zone biodiversity and ecosystem management related activities. Currently, there is no national multisectoral entity in place to guide sustainable coastal zone management in Guinea. Although Guinea has promoted the designation of six Ramsar sites in the coastal zone, within the current context, nonexistent national coordination of relevant efforts in sustainable coastal management, in additional to insufficient planning and knowledge of integrated coastal zone management makes it unlikely that within the existing poverty and shortcomings of the legislative and institutional framework, any national or regional relevant program will have a significant geographic and long lasting impact. Hence, under this Baseline Scenario, continued steadily growing pressure resulting from the various root causes (see section A), will continue to threaten the long term condition of the valuable biodiversity and ecosystems of the coastal zone. Cost Under the project, it is expected that the government of Guinea and interested donors will invest approximately US$13 million in projects related to biodiversity conservation and natural resource management of the coastal zone in the project area over the project period. The estimation of the costs of the Baseline Scenario provided below are based on consideration of only those parts of budgets of relevant national entities and internationally supported programs at work, which would be allocated to marine and coastal zone biodiversity and ecosystem management related activities. The following table presents the estimated distribution of the costs involved per national entity and internationally supported program per project component. Table 4 details these baseline projects and percentages of budgets included in the baseline. Table 2. Baseline Scenario Costs (US$ million) Component Donor/Project* Protection & conservation of coastal ramsar sites Institutional strengthening for integrated coastal zone management Local Investment Fund Support for local development Project management; monitoring & evaluation Total Government 0.4 0.6 1.00 CRDs 0.5 0.05 0.55 PACVII 3.0 3.0 1.0 7.00 AGIR 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 2.00 OGM 1.5 1.50 PEG 0.5 0.50 PRCM 0.5 0.50 Total 2.9 1.6 4.0 3.55 1.0 13.05 *See Table 4 for details on baseline projects. Benefits Under the baseline, the majority of expenditures will target poverty reduction activities in coastal communities. While the baseline provides minimal support to the management of the coastal resources, the interventions fall short of developing a fully integrated plan for the sustainable Page 15 5 management of the coastal zone resources. In particular, the baseline activities do not specifically provide a viable option for conserving the fragile and critical ecosystems located in the coastal wetlands. There will not be any attempt to invest in the preservation of biodiversity-rich niches in the coastal wetlands and in the protection of the fragile habitats that support these biodiversity resources. The current planned investment of the baseline projects will not ensure the protection of globally significant biodiversity resources at the project target sites. Under the most optimistic conditions, the baseline may result in the creation of a protected area along the coast, and may ensure some, albeit short-term, safeguarding of natural resources and biodiversity assets. It is unlikely that in the baseline situation, the decline of biodiversity could be reversed and the livelihood of resource- dependent coastal communities enhanced through better resource management. D. GEF Alternative Scenario Strategic Approach The objective of the proposed GEF Alternative, the CZMP, is to promote and implement an integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of globally important biological resources in coastal areas and assist communities in and around priority areas to plan, implement and maintain environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive alternative livelihoods options. To achieve this objective, while developing continuity and sustainability, the program would build on relevant programs in place and/or under development, enabling collaboration and coordination of activities and databanks within the broader context of multisectoral marine and coastal biodiversity and ecosystem management. The project will enable the development of a multisectoral strategy taking into account the multitude of root causes at working in declining marine and coastal resources. To cope with the overall constraints of rural poverty and the multitude of sectors involved in marine and coastal zone management, the project will build significantly on the existing institutional setting, community-driven approach and financial tools at work through the PACV. Using the PACV’s experience in participatory community development, local capacity building activities will be geared towards strengthening local communities’ abilities to develop and implement ecologically sound management practices of marine and coastal resources. The project will also work to strengthen the national monitoring and evaluation capacity established by OGM, PEG and AGIR. Geographic Scope Guinea has not yet established formally protected areas in its coastal zone, as is the case in neighboring Guinea-Bissau with which the coastal zone shares many characteristics. However, six Ramsar sites in the coastal zone have been designated in 1993 as wetlands of international importance because of their unique biodiversity. These sites are: Ile Alcatraz, Iles Tristao, Rio Pongo, Ile Blanche, Konkouré and Rio Kapatchez . The GEF Alternative will be implemented within the watershed of several of these Ramsar sites within Guinea’s coastal zone, with a particular focus on creating a protected area which includes Iles Tristao and Ile Alcatraz, and setting the basis for eventual establishment of Rio Pongo as a protected area. The main decision points were the transboundary location with Guinea-Bissau, global environmental importance for reproduction of fish resources and mangrove forests and the occurrence of threatened species. Page 16 6 Additional research, information collection and analysis activities to assess the potential of additional sites will be included in the project. In building upon on-going work and institutions, the program will facilitate the establishment of the first protected area in the coastal zone under national jurisdiction in the joint area of the two Ramsar sites of Iles Tristaos and Ile Alcatraz. This site was identified by the PRCM as the priority site for a protected area. This exercise will be used as a pilot case for the development of a toolbox for the establishment and impact evaluation of protected areas and for the development of a national geographic scaling-up strategy for the establishment of protected areas within the context of a broader marine and coastal zone biodiversity and ecosystem management strategy. Technical Composition The total incremental cost of the GEF Alternative amounts to US$5.0 million (see Incremental Cost Matrix below), with investments in the following components: 1. Protection and conservation of coastal Ramsar Sites : Guinea’s coastal zone has been identified as one of the West African biodiversity hotspots, however, until now, Guinea is the only country in the sub-region that has not established a protected area to conserve and enhance globally important biodiversity. The government has committed itself to the creation of a protected area as part of a regional network initiative (PRCM). Therefore, the project, through this component, aims to provide the necessary strategic and operational tools and experiences to establish one protected area and lay the foundation for the eventual designation of a second protected area, through a participatory approach with concerned communities in the watersheds surrounding the target sites. This component will use lessons learned from other countries and initiatives in the sub-region to adapt them to the country and site-specific context. GEF support to the project will only provide funding for the incremental costs of carrying out the activities directly related to the project, as the French Government is already funding a large part of the costs of the OGM. 2. Institutional strengthening for integrated coastal zone management : Targeted capacity building will be provided for stakeholders at national and local level. The specific objective of this component therefore seeks to strengthen the framework for integrated coastal zone management and the establishment of a coastal zone protected area network at the national and sub-regional level. 3. The Local Investment Fund: The LIF component of the PACV aims to stimulate local development and give the means to project beneficiaries to reduce dependencies on unsustainable natural resource exploitation by transferring grants directly to CRDs. The PACV LIF has two parts (windows): (a) a Village Investment Fund (VIF) which constitutes 95% of the component’s funds, and (b) a regional (involving more than one CRD) Innovation Fund (IF) representing 5% of funding. GEF support to this activity would in part augment resources available under the PACV in those CRDs where the populations activities directly impact the wetlands and areas of high biodiversity value. This is most likely achieved by selecting CRDs and communities sharing a common watershed with these sites. On this basis, the project is expected to intervene alongside the PACV in 20-25 CRDs in the coastal zone by year 4. The project will use the experience gained under the AGIR project to help guide pilot activities and to ensure that Page 17 7 donor supported activities in the same watershed follow a coherent approach, even in areas that cross political boundaries. 4. Local Capacity Buildling: The objective of this component is to rationalize and operationalize the regulatory and institutional environment for local development. The component supports the following activities: (a) strengthen the capacity of CRDs to manage local development programs; (b) sensitizing and training elected local officials and CRD administrative and technical staff in the areas of local development government, planning, and financial management. GEF incremental support to this component will focus on supporting communities in the coastal zone with training and tools to assist them in devising sustainable land management plans that specifically include biodiversity protection and sustainable use. 5. Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation: The objective of this component is to ensure cost-effective, efficient and streamlined project implementation of the four other components. The project would provide incremental funding only to the implementing agencies. The concerned national entities and internationally supported programs in the baseline scenario also represent the constituting primary partners of the GEF Alternative . Benefits The project would directly and indirectly address identified root causes to the threats mentioned under section A. This GEF supported program will support sound management of upstream areas impacting prioritized biodiversity hotspots in the coastal zone. It will result in an increase of protected areas of globally prioritized valuable biodiversity and ecosystems through the establishment of at least one Marine Protected Area. Additionally, the project will integrate lessons learned in the broader national marine and coastal zone management strategy, seeking long term ecological and social sustainability. Page 18 1 C o m p o n e n t C o s t C a t e g o r y C o s t U S $ m D o m e s t i c B e n e f i t s G l o b a l B e n e f i t s P r o t e c t i o n a n d c o n s e r v a t i o n o f c o a s t a l R a m s a r s i t e s B a s e l i n e 2 . 9 P o t e n t i a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f o n e p r o t e c t e d a r e a . . P o t e n t i a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f o n e p r o t e c t e d a r e a . S o m e r e d u c t i o n o f i m p a c t s o n c o a s t a l a n d m a r i n e e c o s y s t e m s c o n t a i n i n g g l o b a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t b i o d i v e r s i t y . G E F A l t e r n a t i v e 4 . 4 0 N a t i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e w i l l b e g a i n e d w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a t l e a s t o n e p r o t e c t e d a r e a i n t h e c o a s t a l z o n e s a f e g u a r d i n g n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s o f d i r e c t i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s . M u l t i s e c t o r a l m o n i t o r i n g o f s o c i o - e c o n o m i c a n d b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m e s t a b l i s h e d f o r p r o t e c t e d a r e a ( s ) a n d o f i n t e r e s t t o r e s i d i n g a n d s u r r o u n d i n g c o m m u n i t i e s l i n k e d t o l a r g e r s c a l e m u l t i s e c t o r a l m o n i t o r i n g s y s t e m s p r o v i d i n g d a t a f o r a n e v o l v i n g n a t i o n a l m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e m a n a g e m e n t s t r a t e g y . E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a t l e a s t o n e p r o t e c t e d a r e a i n t h e c o a s t a l z o n e s a f e g u a r d i n g g l o b a l l y p r i o r i t i z e d v a l u a b l e b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m s . M u l t i s e c t o r a l m o n i t o r i n g o f p r i o r i t i z e d b i o d i v e r s i t y h o s t p o t a n d e c o s y s t e m s i n a n d a r o u n d p r o t e c t e d a r e a ( s ) l i n k e d t o l a r g e r s c a l e m u l t i s e c t o r a l m o n i t o r i n g s y s t e m s p r o v i d i n g d a t a f o r c o a s t a l z o n e m a n a g e m e n t , w i t h t h e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r e x p a n s i o n t o a t r a n s b o u n d a r y p r o t e c t e d a r e a . I m p r o v e d c o n s e r v a t i o n o f g l o b a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t c o a s t a l a n d m a r i n e b i o d i v e r s i t y ; r e m o v a l o f t h r e a t s , a n d i m p r o v e d r e s o u r c e u s e p r a c t i c e s b y t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c o m m u n i t i e s . I n c r e m e n t a l 1 . 5 0 I n s t i t u t i o n a l S t r e n g t h e n i n g B a s e l i n e 1 . 6 0 I n c r e a s e d c a p a c i t y o f s e c t o r a l m i n i s t r i e s t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e i r i n t e r v e n t i o n s f o r d e v e l o p m e n t o f c o a s t a l z o n e a n d s u s t a i n a b l e u s e o f r e s o u r c e s . L i m i t e d i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f g l o b a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t c o a s t a l a n d m a r i n e b i o d i v e r s i t y r e s o u r c e s . T a b l e 3 . I n c r e m e n t a l C o s t M a t r i x Page 19 2 S o c i o - e c o n o m i c a n d b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m m o n i t o r i n g i n t h e c o a s t a l z o n e w i l l c o n t i n u e i n a f r a g m e n t e d , l o c a l i z e d a n d u n c o o r d i n a t e d s e c t o r a l m a n n e r . D a t a o n c o n d i t i o n o f p r i o r i t i z e d b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m s i n t h e c o a s t a l z o n e w i l l g r o w f r a g m e n t a l l y . G E F A l t e r n a t i v e 2 . 3 0 A m u l t i s e c t o r a l k n o w l e d g e a n d d a t a b a n k e x c h a n g e m e c h a n i s m f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e e v o l v i n g d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n a t i o n a l m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e m a n a g e m e n t s t r a t e g y . A r e g u l a t o r y a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l f r a m e w o r k f o r c o a s t a l r e s o u r c e s m a n a g e m e n t i s o p e r a t i o n a l o n n a t i o n a l a n d l o c a l / r e g i o n a l l e v e l T h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e c o n d i t i o n o f g l o b a l l y p r i o r i t i z e d m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m s w i l l b e t a r g e t e d i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a n a t i o n a l m u l t i s e c t o r a l m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e s t r a t e g y . P o l i c i e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s f o r m a i n s t r e a m i n g c o a s t a l b i o d i v e r s i t y i n t o s e c t o r a l p o l i c e s a r e i n p l a c e . C o o r d i n a t e d m u l t i s e c t o r a l k n o w l e d g e o n t h e c o n d i t i o n o f g l o b a l l y p r i o r i t i z e d m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m s w i l l b e c o m e r e a d i l y a c c e s s i b l e . I n c l u s i o n o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f m u l t i s e c t o r a l e n t i t y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r g u i d i n g t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e s i n d i a l o g u e s a n d p l a n n i n g o f r e g i o n a l m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e m a n a g e m e n t s t r a t e g y l i k e l y t o l e a d t o e f f e c t i v e r e g i o n a l a g r e e m e n t s a n d m e a s u r e s b a c k e d b y n a t i o n a l s t r a t e g i e s . I n c r e m e n t a l . 7 0 L I F B a s e l i n e 4 . 0 0 A l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f l o c a l d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s i n a n d s u r r o u n d i n g t h e p i l o t s i t e t a r g e t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e u s e o f t h e m a r i n e a n d L i m i t e d r e d u c t i o n o f i m p a c t s o n c o a s t a l a n d m a r i n e e c o s y s t e m s c o n t a i n i n g g l o b a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t b i o d i v e r s i t y . Page 20 3 c o a s t a l n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s . G E F A l t e r n a t i v e 5 . 2 0 A s i g n i f i c a n t n u m b e r o f d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s i n a n d a r o u n d t h e p i l o t s i t e , t h e f i r s t p r o t e c t e d a r e a , w i l l t a r g e t t h e e c o l o g i c a l s u s t a i n a b l e u s e s o f t h e m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s . I m p r o v e d b a s i s f o r s u s t a i n a b l e m a n a g e m e n t o f g l o b a l b i o d i v e r s i t y r e s o u r c e s a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r i n c r e a s e d i n c o m e e a r n i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t w o u l d r e d u c e p r e s s u r e o n t h e p r o t e c t e d a r e a ( s ) . I m p r o v e d r e s o u r c e u s e p r a c t i c e s b y t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c o m m u n i t i e s s t e m m i n g f r o m t h e a d o p t i o n o f a l t e r n a t i v e f o r m s o f d e v e l o p m e n t t h a t i m p r o v e l i v e l i h o o d s a n d c o n s e r v e o r e n h a n c e b i o d i v e r s i t y . M a i n t e n a n c e o f g l o b a l l y p r i o r i t i z e d m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l b i o d i v e r s i t y h o t s p o t s a n d e c o s y s t e m s . I n c r e m e n t a l 1 . 2 0 L o c a l C a p a c i t y B u i l d i n g B a s e l i n e 3 . 5 5 L o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s i n a n d a r o u n d p i l o t s i t e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o d e v e l o p a n d i m p l e m e n t l o c a l d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s e n t a i l i n g m o s t l y t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e s s u c h a s s c h o o l s a n d h e a l t h c a r e f a c i l i t i e s . I m p r o v e d w a t e r a n d s a n i t a t i o n m a n a g e m e n t c o n d i t i o n s i n g l o b a l l y p r i o r i t i z e d m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l b i o d i v e r s i t y h o t s p o t s a n d e c o s y s t e m s . G E F A l t e r n a t i v e 4 . 3 5 I n c r e a s e i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f l o c a l d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s i n v o l v i n g s u s t a i n a b l e u s e o f t h e m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s b y c o m m u n i t i e s . S i g n i f i c a n t c a p a c i t y o f c o m m u n i t i e s d e v e l o p e d t o i m p l e m e n t b i o d i v e r s i t y - f r i e n d l y r e s o u r c e u s e a c t i v i t i e s , l e a d i n g t o s i g n i f i c a n t c o n s e r v a t i o n o f g l o b a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l a s s e t s t h r o u g h s o u n d m a n a g e m e n t o f p r i o r i t y a r e a ( s ) , c o n s e r v i n g s p e c i e s a n d m a n a g i n g n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s w i s e l y . Page 21 4 S u b s t a n t i a l g l o b a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l b e n e f i t s w i l l o c c u r a s a r e s u l t o f c o m m u n i t y - b a s e d s u s t a i n a b l e u s e o f m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e s , i n p a r t i c u l a r i n a n d a r o u n d t h e p r i o r i t i z e d b i o d i v e r s i t y h o t s p o t s a n d e c o s y s t e m s . C o m m u n i t i e s w i l l u n d e r s t a n d a n d t a k e p a r t i n n a t i o n a l c o a s t a l z o n e / p r o t e c t e d a r e a m a n a g e m e n t a n d u s e i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e . I n c r e m e n t a l . 8 0 P r o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t B a s e l i n e 1 . 0 0 S h o r t - t e r m a n d l o c a l i z e d b i o d i v e r s i t y b e n e f i t s a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h t h e v a r i o u s r e l e v a n t p r o g r a m s i n p l a c e . A v a i l a b i l i t y o f M & E i n f o r m a t i o n u s e d f o r a c t i v i t y a n d p r o j e c t g u i d a n c e . M i n o r s h o r t t e r m a n d l o c a l i z e d i m p r o v e d c o n d i t i o n s o f p r i o r i t i z e d m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m s m a y o c c u r , m o s t l y i n t h e p r i o r i t y s i t e f o r p r o t e c t e d a r e a ( s ) . G E F A l t e r n a t i v e 1 . 8 0 I n t e g r a t i o n o f c o n s e r v a t i o n i s s u e s i n t o s e c t o r a l p o l i c i e s . I n c r e a s e d c o o r d i n a t i o n a m o n g v a r i o u s p a r t n e r p r o g r a m s i n v o l v e d i n i n t e g r a t e d m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l z o n e m a n a g e m e n t . C r o s s - s e c t o r a l M & E s y s t e m i n p l a c e a s s e s s i n g t h e c o n d i t i o n o f e c o s y s t e m s a s a w h o l e , t o g u i d e i n t e g r a t e d c o a s t a l z o n e m a n a g e m e n t r e s p e c t i n g n a t i o n a l s o c i o - e c o n o m i c a n d e c o l o g i c a l i n t e r e s t s . I n c r e a s e d g e o g r a p h i c c o v e r a g e a n d l o n g e r t e r m i m p a c t w i l l f a c i l i t a t e s a f e g u a r d i n g a n d / o r i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e c o n d i t i o n o f g l o b a l l y p r i o r i t i z e d m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m s . A d e q u a t e i n f o r m a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g i n d i c a t o r s i s a v a i l a b l e t o m a n a g e g l o b a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t b i o d i v e r s i t y r e s o u r c e s . S u b s t a n t i a l a s s e s s m e n t t o o l e s t a b l i s h e d t o g u i d e i n t e g r a t e d c o a s t a l z o n e m a n a g e m e n t l e a d i n g t o s i g n i f i c a n t g l o b a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l b e n e f i t s . E x c h a n g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d Page 22 5 e x p e r i e n c e w i t h n e i g h b o r i n g c o u n t r i e s . P u b l i c a t i o n a n d d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f b e s t p r a c t i c e i n c o m m u n i t y - b a s e d w e t l a n d a n d m a r i n e b i o d i v e r s i t y c o n s e r v a t i o n I n c r e m e n t a l . 8 0 T o t a l s B a s e l i n e 1 3 . 0 5 G E F A l t e r n a t i v e 1 8 . 0 5 E s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d e n f o r c e m e n t o f i n t e g r a t e d c o a s t a l z o n e m a n a g e m e n t p l a n . I n c r e a s e d a r e a o f g l o b a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t b i o d i v e r s i t y / w e t l a n d s o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l i m p o r t a n c e u n d e r p r o t e c t i o n t h r o u g h t h e c r e a t i o n o f a t l e a s t o n e p r o t e c t e d a r e a . E f f o r t s t o c o n s e r v e g l o b a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t b i o d i v e r s i t y a r e f a c i l i t a t e d b y e f f e c t i v e l e g a l p r o t e c t i o n . D o n o r c o o r d i n a t i o n m e c h a n i s m f o r i n t e r v e n t i o n s i n t h e c o a s t a l z o n e . S u p p o r t t o r u r a l c o m m u n i t i e s t o s u s t a i n a b l y m a n a g e n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s . E c o s y s t e m , g e n e t i c a n d s p e c i e s d i v e r s i t y c o n s e r v e d . I n c r e m e n t a l 5 . 0 0 H e n c e , e v a l u a t e d a s s u c h , t h e G E F i n c r e m e n t o f U S $ 5 m i l l i o n r e p r e s e n t s 2 7 . 7 % o f t h e t o t a l c o s t o f t h e G E F A l t e r n a t i v e . H o w e v e r , t h i s r e s u l t c a n b e c o n s i d e r e d c o n s e r v a t i v e i n m a n y w a y s s i n c e : · E s t i m a t e d r e - a l l o c a t e d p o r t i o n s o f p r i m a r y p a r t n e r s a r e k e p t l o w . · P o t e n t i a l i n p u t f r o m t h e m a n y p o t e n t i a l p a r t n e r s , i n d i c a t e d i n s e c t i o n B a s e l i n e S c e n a r i o , w e r e n o t c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e B a s e l i n e S c e n a r i o C o s t s . Page 23 6 · V a l u e o f m a n y e x i s t i n g r e l e v a n t d a t a b a n k s w h i c h a r e c u r r e n t l y n o t r e a d i l y a c c e s s i b l e b u t w i l l b e c o m e a c c e s s i b l e t h r o u g h t h e p r o g r a m a r e n o t a c c o u n t e d f o r . T a b l e 4 . B a s e l i n e p r o j e c t s c o n s i d e r e d i n i n c r e m e n t a l c o s t a n a l y s i s P r o j e c t O b j e c t i v e T o t a l B u d g e t % C a l c u l a t e d a s B a s e l i n e B a s e l i n e A m o u n t ( U S $ m ) G o v e r n m e n t S a l a r i e s a n d f a c i l i t i e s 1 . 0 R u r a l D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m u n i t i e s ( C R D ) C a s h a n d i n - k i n d c o n t r i b u t i o n s 0 . 5 5 V i l l a g e C o m m u n i t y S u p p o r t P r o g r a m ( P A C V - I I ) C o f i n a n c e d b y I D A , I F A D , A D F a n d A F D , t h e m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f t h i s p r o g r a m i s t o h e l p r e d u c e r u r a l p o v e r t y t h r o u g h c a p a c i t y - b u i l d i n g a t t h e l e v e l o f a l l R u r a l D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m u n i t i e s ( C R D ) . T h i s p r o g r a m i s i m p l e m e n t e d i n t h r e e p h a s e s o f f o u r y e a r s e a c h . T h e f i r s t p h a s e , w h i c h i s c u r r e n t l y p h a s i n g o u t , h a s t h r e e o b j e c t i v e s : t o ( i ) e s t a b l i s h a n e f f e c t i v e a n d e f f i c i e n t m e c h a n i s m f o r t r a n s f e r r i n g p u b l i c f u n d s t o l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s f o r t h e f i n a n c i n g o f p r i o r i t i z e d r u r a l c o m m u n i t y i n f r a s t r u c t u r e ; ( i i ) i m p r o v e t h e r e g u l a t o r y , i n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d f i s c a l e n v i r o n m e n t a n d d e v e l o p l o c a l c a p a c i t y f o r d e c e n t r a l i z e d r u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t ; a n d ( i i i ) r e h a b i l i t a t e a n d p r o m o t e r e g u l a r m a i n t e n a n c e o f i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a n d r u r a l r o a d s . I D A - $ 2 5 . 0 m p h a s e I I 3 5 7 . 0 S u p p o r t t o i n t e g r a t e d n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e m a n a g e m e n t i n t h e N i g e r a n d G a m b i a b a s i n s ( A G I R ) T h i s E U s u p p o r t e d r e g i o n a l p r o g r a m i n v o l v e s c o m m u n i t y - b a s e d i n t e g r a t e d n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e m a n a g e m e n t i n f i v e s i t e s , i n v o l v i n g a c t i v i t i e s s u c h a s b i o d i v e r s i t y m o n i t o r i n g a n d p r e s e r v a t i o n , w a t e r s h e d m a n a g e m e n t a n d v a l o r i z a t i o n o f n o n - t i m b e r f o r e s t p r o d u c t s . T w o s i t e s a r e e n t i r e l y l o c a t e d i n G u i n e a . E U - $ 2 5 . 3 m 8 2 . 0 G u i n e a M a r i t i m e O b e r s e r v a t o r y ( O G M ) T h i s A F D a n d F r e n c h G E F s u p p o r t e d p r o g r a m s t r e n g t h e n s n a t i o n a l c a p a c i t y a n d k n o w l e d g e w h i l e c r e a t i n g a n d u s i n g t o o l s a n d m e t h o d o l o g i e s t o g a t h e r d a t a a n d d e v e l o p i n f o r m a t i o n m a n a g e m e n t s y s t e m s , i n c l u d i n g G e o g r a p h i c I n f o r m a t i o n S y s t e m s , t o m o n i t o r – w i t h i n v o l v e m e n t o f c o m m u n i t i e s – ( i ) p o v e r t y ; ( i i ) b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d A F D / F G E F - $ 2 . 8 m 1 8 1 . 5 0 Page 24 7 l o c a l m a n a g e m e n t o f b i o d i v e r s i t y ; ( i i i ) r u r a l p r o d u c t i o n s y s t e m s , f a r m a n d o f f - f a r m , l a n d t e n u r e i s s u e s ; a n d ( i v ) a d o p t i o n o f m o d i f i e d t e c h n o l o g i e s i n t h e C o a s t a l Z o n e . E c o l o g i c a l f i s h e r i e s i n G u i n e a ( P E G ) T h i s E U a n d F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t e d n a t i o n a l c a p a c i t y b u i l d i n g p r o g r a m f o c u s e s o n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f k n o w l e d g e , t o o l s , a n d m e t h o d o l o g i e s t o s u p p o r t e c o l o g i c a l l y s o u n d m o n i t o r i n g a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e f i s h e r y r e s o u r c e s o f t h e G u i n e a m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l e c o s y s t e m s . E U / G o F - $ 1 . 0 m 5 0 0 . 5 0 R e g i o n a l P r o g r a m f o r t h e C o n s e r v a t i o n o f t h e M a r i n e a n d C o a s t a l Z o n e o f W e s t A f r i c a ( P R C M ) T h i s i n i t i a t i v e s e e k s t o s u p p o r t t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n a n d s u s t a i n a b l e u s e o f t h e m a r i n e a n d c o a s t a l r e s o u r c e s o f W e s t A f r i c a . T h i s p r o g r a m i s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e f i s h e r y r e s o u r c e s a n d b i o d i v e r s i t y t h r o u g h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a r e g i o n a l n e t w o r k o f M a r i n e P r o t e c t e d A r e a s . I U C N / W W F / F I B A / U N E S C O / W e t l a n d s I n t ’ l - $ 5 . 0 m 1 0 0 . 5 0 T O T A L : $ 1 3 . 0 5 Page 25 1 A NNEX B: P ROJECT L OGICAL F RAMEWORK GUINEA: Coastal Marine and Biodiversity Management \ Hierarchy of Objectives Key Performance Indicators Data Collection Strategy Critical Assumptions Sector-related CAS Goal: Sector Indicators: Sector/ country reports: (from Goal to Bank Mission) Environmentally sustainable economic growth Environmental degradation stopped and possibly reversed Policy Letter - Formally adapted strategies Environmental concerns are reflected in development strategies GEF Operational Program: Outcome / Impact Indicators: OP#2 Coastal, Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems Land surface under improved management conservation International Convention on Biodiversity Implementation Progress Reports. GOG effectively implements national biodiversity conservation strategies as an integral part of its development strategy. Productive land in and around protected areas (buffer zones) cultivating sustainable technologies Baseline ecological and social surveys within and around selected sites Good governance is implemented Positive changes baseline for key species indicators (in project sites) Subsequent bi-annual follow up surveys (indicators undergoing testing) Successful implementation of decentralization process Decline or at worst, maintenance of the level of presence of key alien species Reports of international NGOs such as WWF, IUCN, CI and Wetlands International Page 26 2 Global Objective: Outcome / Impact Indicators: Project reports: (from Objective to Goal) Promote rational management of Guinea’s coastal biodiversity for both conservation and sustainable development ends, with a particular emphasis on assisting communities in and around these priority areas to plan, implement and maintain environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive alternative livelihoods options Identification, establishment and effective management of at least one protected area and one additional site's assessed and all preparatory work necessary for the creation of a protected area completed by year 4 of project implementation. Sites surveys stakeholders from outside the zone can be convinced that their economic interests coincide with sustainable NRM Adoption of multisectoral, environmentally sustainable, development strategy for coastal zone. Formal GoG adoption of strategy Communities remain committed and are sufficiently empowered. Institutionalized donor and stakeholder coordination and consultation of coastal zone management activities at the national and sub-regional level. Formal minutes of meetings; annual progress reports Transboundary activities can complement national approach and convergence in approaches of different projects can be achieved Changes in behavior of local population leading to reduced pressures on coastal natural resources and ecosystem function/processes maintained/improved. In particular 75% of CRDs include adapted natural resource use activities and have prioritized improved natural resources management activities in their local development plans baseline and subsequent project impact studies, and detailed site surveys appropriate interventions can be identified and capacities sufficiently strengthened. Page 27 3 Output from each Component: Output Indicators: Project reports: (from Outputs to Objective) Component 1: establishment of one protected area in collaboration with stakeholders and international NGOs Coastal zone monitoring system in place Permanent and accessible repository on coastal zone information formal creation of a site and all preliminary work completed on second site by year 4. Key species indicators Water quality (sedimentation) Land use Socio-economic indicators Internet portal on coastal zone information by end of year 2 Availability of information in national languages for local populations decree for formal establishment of one protected area and project progress reports Annual and bi-annual impact reports on activities compiled by project beneficiaries and discussed in open forums project progress reports local communities and authorities at all levels are strongly committed. Component 2: Improved collaboration between stakeholders at national and subregional levels. Sectoral integration (integrated land-use and integrated community- development addressing livelihood issues in buffer zones) Sustainable financing pilot scheme for protected areas Formalized consultation process at national and subregional level at least once each year starting in year 2. Formal adoption of an environmentally sustainable multi-sectoral development strategy for the coastal zone by year 4 (developed through a participatory process). Detailed proposal of sustainable financing mechanism of CCA agreed upon with Government in year 4 Formal minutes of meetings signed off on by all participants. Letter from Ministry of Finance regarding adoption of strategy. Formal request from Government for donor support to test the sustainable financing mechanism, financed by one or more donors. Government is committed to coastal zone coordination. Environmental priorities can be mainstreamed into sector strategies/policies. Viable options for the Guinean context exist. Component 3: Environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive alternative livelihoods. Sustainable coastal, marine and freshwater management techniques in place. Increased income security through diversification of economic activities away from unsustainable practices starting in year 2 Reduced pressure on natural ressources, stabilization of total area cultivated in project target sites, unsustainable exploitation practices (logging, poaching, etc.) Socio-economic and ecological surveys Suitable alternatives to rent seeking exploitation can be found Page 28 4 reduced by one-third by year 4 Component 4: Local stakeholders are enabled to plan, implement and monitor their own sustainable development plans. 60% of participating communities have included biodiversity conservation activities into their land management plans by year 2 and 75% by year 4; 40% of participating communities have satisfactorily implemented adapted natural resource use activities as defined in their local development plans and annual investment plans by year 2 and 75% by year 4; land management plans elaborated on a participatory basis starting in year 1; proof of involvement of relevant associations (fishermen, farmers, livestock holders, hunters, charcoal producers, etc.) in development of land use plans; and stakeholders agree on resource exploitation rules on a non-confrontational basis starting in year 2 project progress reports Sufficient capacity can be built and maintained Component 5: Efficient management of project resources. Evaluation of project impact Annual audits and management letters are satisfactory. Project M&E system provides the required information to evaluate project impact in a timely manner Audit report and Bank SOE review Project reports Page 29 5 Project Components / Sub- components: Inputs: (budget for each component) Project reports: (from Components to Outputs) 1. Protection and Conservation of Coastal Ramsar Sites. 1.1. Protected Areas 1.2. Impact Monitoring and Evaluation US$4.40 million (of which GEF US$1.65 million) Semi-annual progress reports GIS based M&E tracking changes in land use, biodiversity, poverty profiles and adoption of new technologies. Successful marriage of traditional customs and modern law 2. Institutional strengthening for integrated coastal zone management 2.1. Framework for sustainable coastal zone management 2.2. Coastal Zone Knowledge and Communications US$2.30 million (of which GEF US$0.90 million) Semi-annual progress reports Government commitment. Use of lessons learned in sub- region. Ministry of Planning can be effective champion. 3. Local Investment Fund (LIF) 3.1. Village Investment Fund (VIF) 3.2. Innovative Fund US$5.20 million (of which GEF US$1.20 million) Semi-annual progress reports Technologies are cost- effective and acceptable. 4. Support for local capacity building US$4.35 million (of which GEF US$0.80 million) Semi-annual Progress reports Traditional authorities are cooperative Sufficient management capacity exists in communities 5. Project management and monitoring and evaluation US$1.80 million (of which GEF US$0.8 million) Semi-annual Progress reports See PACV Page 30 6 A NNEX C: R ESPONSE TO P ROJECT R EVIEWS STAP Roster Technical Review Peter Burbridge The Orchard, House of Ross, Comrie, Tel: (44 1764 670900) GUINEA: Coastal Marine and Biodiversity Management Project (CMBMP) Overview: The reviewer undertook a preliminary assessment of an earlier draft Project Concept Document and raised a number of issues with the Project Team that were intended to help strengthen the PCD and assist in the achievement of the stated objectives. In the main these have been addressed in the revised PCD. However, there remains one critical issue that needs to be addressed more fully in the PCD. This concerns sustainability of the RAMSAR sites given the poor standards of soil and water management in the catchments in the coastal plateau. This is discussed in the section on Scientific and Technical Soundness of the Project: STAP based on the GEF Evaluation criteria. Key issues 1. Scientific and technical soundness of the project Given the early stage of development of baseline information on the coastal systems it is to be expected that there may not be sufficient ecological and technical information available to give the project as sound a scientific base as would be desirable. Some important questions remain that will affect the implementation and possible success of project activities intended to conserve biodiversity. One example is whether the two RAMSAR sites can be conserved if major issues affecting hydrology and sediment budgets upstream from the coast are not effectively dealt with under the Programme d’Appui dux Communautes Villageoises (PAVC) and other projects that form the broader coastal management framework for the project. The project documentation presents a comprehensive overview of the ecological, socio-economic and governance issues affecting the conservation of biodiversity associated with the coastal and marine ecosystems in Guinea, including six nominated RAMSAR sites. The PCD acknowledges the lack of detailed scientific information on the effects of human development pressures on the ecological linkages between the coastal plateau, marine wetlands and continental shelf components of the coastal zone. A number of specific issues are identified in the PCD that threaten equilibrium of the three main components of the coastal ecosystem (coastal plateau, salt water marshes and continental shelf), biological diversity and sustainable use of the coastal and marine areas and resources. One of the prominent issues is the poor land and water management in the coastal plateau with its dense drainage network. Based on experience elsewhere, this would make the RAMSAR sites in the estuaries downstream vulnerable to degradation unless significant improvements are made in the management of human activities in the watersheds upstream. This issue was raised by the reviewer and the Project Team incorporated the following sentence in response “Given the importance of the inter-linkages between the different ecological zones in the coastal area through a dense hydrological network, greatly improved management of the t three main ecological zones is needed if the health and productivity of coastal and marine ecosystems and their related biodiversity are to be maintained." (page 12) Page 31 7 The PCD goes on to give emphasis to the use of an ecosystems approach to the improvement of the management of the priority RAMSAR sites at Iles Tristao/Alcatraz and Rio Pongo, both of which are estuarine complexes. However, the PCD does not really develop a strong management relationship between the RAMSAR sites and the catchments upstream. By concentrating efforts on the MPAs without a corresponding and effective effort within the broader catchment system, any short-term progress in local management within and immediately surrounding the 2 target sites would be very vulnerable to loss of sustainability resulting from a breakdown in coastal ecosystem functions caused by poor management upstream. The project team clearly recognizes that the challenges of developing a robust program for sustainable coastal planning and management for the whole of the coastal zone in Guinea may have to be left to other initiatives. However, the reviewer believes that the project budget of $20 mullion would be sufficient to develop a project model that integrates improvements in land and water use management in the watersheds linked to the estuaries where the two target RAMSAR sites are located. This could well be more strongly integrated with the efforts within the PACV program and would provide a much more robust framework for sustainable management and transfer to other areas in the West African coast. This should be explored as it would strengthen the scientific and technical features of the project design. The project design features a range of appropriate and integrated supporting measures that could be extended to the catchments associated with the two estuarine RAMSAR sites. These include: the development of alternative livelihoods, the village development fund, measures to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to help plan for and implement sustainable use of the coastal ecosystems. This would provide important economic and social development tools to support the emphasis within the project on environmental linkages between the MPAs and the broader coastal ecosystem that should provide a comprehensive and technically sound basis for achieving the stated biodiversity conservation objectives. The participative approach taken in the PCD should help ensure the achievement of the objectives of conserving biodiversity, promoting more sustainable forms of resources use and the successful identification and development of alternative livelihoods for local communities. The design recognizes the importance of developing both awareness of conservation issues and active participation of communities and other local stakeholders in the development of effective biodiversity conservation initiatives. The role of the private sector in the conservation of biodiversity could be better developed in the project design. 2. Identification of the global environmental benefits and/or drawbacks of the project The national, West African and more global environmental benefits are clearly set out in the Strategic Context: Sections 1a and in Section 5.3. A key feature of the project is the development of a trans- boundary MPA for a series of ecosystem components shared by Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. There is a risk that the efforts to improve the sustainability of the two target MPAs may be constrained by the lack of effective action in Guinea Bissau to maintain the functional ecological linkages between the wider coastal ecosystem and the island and estuarine ecosystems that help to sustain the planned trans- boundary MPA. 3. How the project fits within the context of the goals of GEF, as well as its operational strategies, program priorities, GEF Council guidance and the provisions of the relevant conventions Page 32 8 The project is designed to address the GEF Operational Strategy for the conservation of Biological Diversity. The project directly addresses the goals of the GEF Operational Program no. 2 through measures to strengthen the use of Marine Protected Areas to protect Coastal and Marine Ecosystems through situ conservation. The project also addresses Jakarta Mandate by supporting conservation and sustainable use of vulnerable marine habitats and species. The project documentation sets out the measures taken to adhere to the COP guidance as follows: · Basing wetland conservation and biodiversity conservation an ecosystem approach. The planned measures could be strengthen as suggested above; · Involving local communities and resource users, and building on local knowledge; · Strengthening community management for sustainable use or ecosystems and · renewable resources; · Promotion of economic incentives that support the adoption of alternative livelihood opportunities; · Strengthening local and national institutional capacity to address environmental issues through developing a sustainable institutional and legal framework for promoting biodiversity conservation and management, and giving emphasis to participatory models that devolve biodiversity decision-making and management to stakeholders at the local level as per the national governments policies; · The project also seeks to strengthen inter-institutional, and multiple stakeholder forums such as the national-level Biodiversity Committee, discussion and implementation fora in pilot areas, and fisheries committees as a means of promoting integration of biodiversity into fisheries policies and resources management decisions. All of the above measures could be extended to specific watersheds in the Coastal Plateau to help reduce the negative impacts on the RAMSAR sites downstream. 4. Regional context The project addresses issues of importance to biological diversity conservation within the surrounding region by focusing on sites that are representative of other parts of West Africa and contribute to the overall biodiversity of the region. The project seeks to develop effective linkages with other countries in the sub-region, especially with Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. One example is the plan to develop trans- boundary management arrangements for one MPA whose ecosystems are common to and shared by Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. It is intended that the trans-boundary management efforts and the measures adopted in Guinea and Guinea-Bissau could be extended to the wider coastal region of this part of West Africa. Conversely, it would be beneficial to explore ways in which improved management of watersheds in other countries could enhance/add value to the effect of the biological diversity conservation and erosion control measures proposed for Guinea. It would be helpful to link the conservation of the two MPAs based RAMSAR sites with benefits to other ecosystems and natural resources of the coastal zone. It would also be beneficial to give stronger emphasis to promoting ways in which improved management of catchments/watersheds In other both Guinea and neigbouring countries could enhance/add value to the effect of the biological diversity conservation measures proposed for the MPAs in Guinea, including the one shared with Guinea-Bissau. 5. Replicability of the project (added value for the global environment beyond the project itself) There is good scope for the replication of the planned use of the MPA concept in other parts of Guinea, and potentially in other African countries based on the experience gained and lessons learned during the Page 33 9 life of the project. It would be useful to give more emphasis to the exchange of information and experience gained through the project with other countries in the region as the project progresses. 6. Sustainability of the project There is a risk that the short-term improvements in the management of the two target RAMSAR sites could be undermined by continuing poor land and water management in the Coastal Plateau. There appears to be good potential for introducing extension of the MPA management model to include discrete catchments upstream in the first phase that could help ensure continuation of the changes the project aims to introduce as the project design incorporates measures for both local participation and for human resources development and institutional strengthening which complement the Government's policies and management priorities, including the PACV. However, it must be recognized that the planned MPAs are vulnerable to the effects of human pressures resulting in changes to the hydrology and erosion in the Coastal Plateau. To a certain extent, the pressures are being addressed by the PAVC, and the on-going management of the coastal and marine biodiversity management project will need to maintain close working linkages with the PAVC management team to help ensure that potential risks to the sustainability of biodiversity conservation efforts in the coastal zone are minimized where ever feasible. Secondary issues 1. Linkages to other focal areas The project design appears to be consistent with the stated operational strategies of the other GEF, Bank and other donor focal areas, and avoids negative impacts in focal areas outside the focus of the project. The proposed project activities appear feasible and cost-effective, and should contribute to global environmental benefits in other focal areas and in the cross-sectoral area of coastal land and water management. 2. Linkages to other programs and action plans at regional or sub-regional levels The project seeks to build upon past, ongoing and prospective GEF activities. The project design could be strengthened by making more explicit mention of how the planned activities would be coordinated with work of other GEF projects and their respective Implementing Agencies and other bodies. This should include how links would be established with relevant ongoing regional or sub-regional programs and action plans. 3. Other beneficial or damaging environmental effects The project seeks to improve the management of wetland ecosystems of importance to more than one sector of the Guinean economy. The planned measure should help reduce conflicts among agencies and economic entities seeking to maximize their respective use of the coastal and marine resources base. Improved management of the RAMSAR sites should yield other ecosystem services and social and economic benefits to local communities and those in the wider region. These benefits could be extended in time and geographic scale if the project was to incorporate improvements in the watersheds upstream as suggested above. 4. Degree of involvement of stakeholders in the project Stakeholder involvement is incorporated as part of the "participative" nature of the planned activities. This addresses GEF emphasis on the development of activities to promote community-based management of biodiversity. Giving greater emphasis to the role of the private sector and local communities, specifically those concerned with agriculture and forestry in the catchments upstream, and commercial fisheries in the coastal zone could strengthen the project design. The project could also elaborate on the use of concepts such as the co-management of resources, or contracts or negotiations with governments Page 34 10 that define each stakeholder’s responsibility in managing the resource, and the eventual devolution of biodiversity management measure to local groups and NGOs. 5. Capacity-building aspects The project design gives a clear exposition of measures to strengthen public awareness and basic expertise of government officials as well as other stakeholders to support biological diversity conservation. However, the project design would benefit from further clarification of the measures to promote and maintain cooperation between the various groups of stakeholders, and transparent mechanisms to ensure the active participation of relevant stakeholders in the development, implementation and monitoring of project activities. 6. Innovativeness of the project . Measures designed to assist the Government of Guinea in improving the management of protected areas through the use of MPAs is modestly innovative. The project would have greater innovative features if the ecosystem concept were to be more widely applied to incorporate the catchments/watersheds upstream. Response to STAP Review The main technical issue raised as part of the STAP review was the need to clarify linkages between the coastal zone protected areas and the other parts of the coastal zone ecosystem given their obvious interdependencies, which was also identified in the strategic contect section of the report. The design team recognizes the validity of this comment and has subsequently elaborated the project description to clarify that the capacity building activities (component 4 of the project) and micro projects (component 3 of the project) must be seen in the context of a wtaershed approach given the obvious negative impact of poor management activities upstream on threatened areas downstream and vice versa, how decline of areas downstream will impact areas upstream. Technical support and review of land management plans will therefore also be done on a watershed basis rather than on a CRD basis to ensure that activities are part of a coherent action plan that mutually reinforce each other. All local development plans in the watershed that forms a coherent ecosystem with a protected area will be vetted by a watership management committee prior to approval to avoid inconsistent or counterproductive activities. Where these are found, discussions will be entered into with local communities to review the proposed activities and on a participatory basis amend the local development plan based on the broader information that the watership management committee can contribute. In support of this, the local investment fund under the projet supports a window geared towards the financing of activities that have uncertain or limited localized benefits, but likely high regional or global benefits and implementation of which would transcend administrative boundaries. This window would only require limited or no beneficiary contributions, depending on the activity. The watership management committee can also propose and implement activities from this window after consultation of the affected populations to ensure that broader concerns are included and limited local implementation capcity is not overburdened. Once this approach has been proven, it will be adopted into PACVs approach in other areas. The STAP reviewer felt that delays in Guinea-Bissau could negatively impact the creation and subsequent successful management of Guinea's first coastal zone protected area as transboundary activities would not be able to take place and thus activities by local populations in Guinea-Bissau have an undesired Page 35 11 impact. This risk is judged relatively low by the design team given Guinea-Bissau's extensive experience in this area and the fact that the projet supporting the creation of the MPA in Guinea-Bissau is further along in the design process than this project. Also, there will be several donors supporting the activities in Guinea-Bissau (GEF, EU and IDA), supported by IUCN. In addition, the design team feels that the first protected area in the coastal zone can be established in Guinea even if there are delays in Guinea-Bissau or if no agreement can be reached between the two countries on management arrangements, as the watershed of the first protected area is only partially impacted by activities in Guinea-Bissau and population densities in these areas are relatively low. Finally, the STAP reviewer felt that coordination and consultation between this project and other donor supported activities in the coastal zone and the sub-region could be clarified to ensure that there would be an appropriate forum for the exchange of experiences and thus the potential replication of best practices. This is one of the key roles to be played by the coastal zone forum. The forum does so for all donor funded activities. At the national level this would support the harmonization of approaches in the coastal zone, limit duplication of activities and support the integration of sustainable environmental resource use in development activities. At the sub-regional level it seeks to collaborate with other projects or programs that have similar objectives to this project or that may have an impact on Guinea's coastal zone. The forum would seek to learn from such projects through the exchange of information on an annual basis. Thus the forum will also add to sustainability of project activities. Page 36 12 Annex C (b): RESPOSE TO COMMENTS FROM SECRETARIAT AND OTHER AGENCIES R ESPONSE TO GEF SEC COMMENTS AT P IPELINE E NTRY Project Rationale and Description A clear description of the project components and how the threats will be addressed. Sections B and C of the Project Brief have clearly identified the project components and activities to address identified threats. Sustainability (including financial sustainability) A good description on how sustainability will be addressed within the project. See section on Sustainability and Section C, sub-component 2.2 Stakeholder Involment. A clear stakeholder participation plan including component budgets. Building on the PACV approach, clear links with stakeholders have been established including a specific set of activities under Component 3, that target stakeholders at the local level and sub- component 2.2 that target stakeholders at the coastal zone and sub-regional level. Monitoring and Evaluation: Identify indicators Specific indicators have been included in Section A.2. and Annex 1, including mid-term review (year 2) indicators. Response to UNDP Comments UNDEP expressed concern of donor collaboration. As its activities are still under preparation also, the preparation mission focused on establishing a working relationship with UNDP in Guinea to ensure that all concerns were appropriately addressed. In addition, sub-component 2.2 will explicitly focus on coordination of donor activities and exchanges of experiences,