80468 Issue #8 July 2013 Projecthighlights Indian State comes to Mexico to Learn and Share Experiences about Green Growth and Climate Change South-South Exchange Program Overview The second tranche of this programmatic series In September 2012, the World Bank approved a is now in preparation. That preparation included $100 million Development Policy Loan (DPL) for the the South-South Exchange Program, designed so that state of Himachal Pradesh (HP), India to support its participants could learn from successful experiences transformation to green development. Some of the in the “Global South,� in this case, Mexico. From May 5 policy actions supported by the DPL are: to 11, 2013, the Chief Secretary of HP led a delegation ■■ Policy mandating cumulative environmental that included four other senior officials to participate assessments for the state’s five key river basins; in this exchange program, which took place in Mexico ■■ Benefit-sharing policy to ensure that communities City, Oaxaca, and Quintana Roo. located near hydroelectric projects benefit from them; Mexico City ■■ The launch statewide of a community-led watershed protection program; Among emerging economies, Mexico has had a ■■ Adoption of an organic farming policy; pioneering role in introducing green growth and climate ■■ Modification of the state’s industrial policy to change agendas. HP officials met with representatives promote cleaner production; and from Mexico´s Environment Ministry (SEMARNAT), its ■■ Modification of the tourism policy to promote Ministry of Tourism, and its National Commission for environment-friendly tourism. Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), as well Photo above: Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. All photos courtesy of HP DPL. Projecthighlights as energy experts from think-tanks. Topics focused on: (i) In Oaxaca, the Indian delegation visited, in Ixtlán mainstreaming a green agenda in different sectors; (ii) the community, one of Mexico’s best organized community national climate change strategy and action plans, the state’s forestry enterprises. The visit afforded an opportunity to contribution, and greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories; (iii) learn about sustainable forestry practices and the struggles natural capital accounts and a green economy study; and (iv) of indigenous communities for the right to use their own biodiversity conservation. natural resources as they deem appropriate. The enterprise has generated jobs and income for the community, diversified the goods and service it provides, and maintained its rich ecosystems. The visit to Ixtlán was complemented by discussions with Oaxaca’s Secretary of Social Development, who explained the state’s efforts to eradicate poverty; the Secretary of Agriculture, who briefed HP officials on ongoing programs to strengthen community organizations enabling them to produce goods that can be marketed more easily; and the Director of the State’s Institute of Ecology, who summarized the state’s climate change efforts. HP officials also visited the Monte Albán archeological site to learn about the management of this cultural site as one of Oaxaca’s main Presentation at SEMARNAT (Mexico´s Environment Ministry) cultural tourism attractions. A cocktail reception was organized for the end of the first day, where the delegation had an opportunity to meet on a more informal basis with many of the representatives met earlier, and with representatives of several universities, research institutes, and the private sector. Oaxaca While Oaxaca is the third poorest state in Mexico, the government is proactively addressing the climate change agenda, which includes initiatives such as the development of the Atlas of Climates and of Climate Change for the State of Oaxaca (ACCCO). Meetings with state government officials, Monte Albán archeological site in Oaxaca. a local representative of the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), and local forest communities focused on (i) payment for environmental services; (ii) sustainable tourism; and (iii) watershed management and rural development. Quintana Roo The State of Quintana Roo is home to many tourist destinations owing to its rich tourism resources, such as coral reefs, mangrove and tropical forests, and Mayan ruins. Meetings and site visits focused on holistic planning for environmentally-sustainable development of the tourism industry. After a short visit to Cancún to see this most successful, yet unsustainable, tourist destination in Mexico, HP officials When you have a similar situation, like Mexico – a federal country, similar to India – when something is being done here, we can directly relate it to our situation and then find, ok, this is possible. —Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary (Finance and Planning) Timber mill, an Ixtlán community forest enterprise. of Himachal Pradesh 2 states have many features in common, including their Projecthighlights ecosystems and landscapes. The tri-state partnership is working on three key issues: (i) climate change adaptation; (ii) Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+); and (iii) climate change financing. This partnership is another innovative model that could be relevant for state authorities in India. Officials from the government of HP gave a presentation on its green growth strategy. Outcomes The exchange provide support for an enhanced understanding of technical and policy issues underlying responses to climate change developed and the promotion of inclusive green growth. HP officials had in person discussions with technical and policy specialists who have been designing and implementing various environmental management Entrance of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. approaches for many years, which enabled them to share their operational challenges, progress made, and lessons visited the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, where they learned learned. The site visits and discussions complemented one from the experience of local communities of developing another and helped highlight best practices in Latin America. ecotourism products for highly selective markets. The site The South-South exchange was particularly useful visit enabled the HP officials to observe the unique cultural because it involved officials from dynamic developing and natural attributes of the Reserve, including Mayan ruins countries faced with similar development challenges and, and rich natural amenities. arguably, with similar resources and constraints. For Mexican Later, HP officials met with state officials and representatives officials, the experiences of Himachal Pradesh also proved from the nongovernmental organization Amigos de Sian Ka’an, relevant and informative, especially regarding the bold who explained its strategy of developing a community-based reforms the state government has implemented under the ecotourism destination in Quintana Roo, integrating multiple leadership of the current administration. These included experiences and targeting people traveling to Cancún and measures ranging from the sharing of benefits resulting from Riviera Maya, as well as those who might be able to visit only the new hydroelectric project development to a plastic bag this new ecotourism route. ban and a total ban on timbering. State government representatives also gave presentations Among discussions most useful to HP officials was one of on their environmental management and climate change Mexico’s new General Law on Climate Change. This was the efforts, including the development of a partnership with first time they had learned of the enactment by a developing the neighboring states of Yucatan and Campeche to address country of a law in this area. HP officials were interested in the climate change in the entire Yucatan Peninsula. These institutional framework established by the law, which makes mandatory formal coordination among sectors, as well as among different levels of government. The law’s provisions on monitoring and evaluation and on sanctions were highlighted as particularly innovative features. The visit to Sian Ka’an and the discussion on the promotion of nature-based ecotourism were other highly productive aspects of the exchange. HP officials saw and I’m looking at picking up certain aspects of tourism in Mexico, where the communities or the stakeholders are involved in the process of promoting sustainable tourism and conserving the traditions and the culture. At the meeting with Quintana Roo government, a Himachal Pradesh —Subhasish Panda, Managing Director of the Tourism official gave a presentation on green growth in that state. Development Corporation, Government of Himachal Pradesh 3 Projecthighlights As follow-up to the study tour, a number of HP stakeholders will continue to interact with Mexican counterparts using information tools such as Internet platforms and videoconferencing. posed by Cancún’s explosive growth, including unplanned urban development and exponential demographic growth. These two cases also illustrated how the Cancún model is mass market-based, its main beneficiaries being large tour operators and companies, whereas the new approaches aim to benefit local communities and attract fewer tourists, Mangroves in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. but ones willing to spend more at the sites they visit. This new approach recognizes that tourism activities must take account of the carrying capacity of ecosystems and provide discussed the planning and development outcomes of the unique experiences that sophisticated tourists seek. large mass tourism projects such as Cancún, and compared As follow-up to the study tour, a number of HP them to the community-based, sustainable ecotourism stakeholders will continue to interact with Mexican now emphasized. For HP officials, discovering that Cancún counterparts using information tools such as Internet had grown relatively quickly from a small fishing village platforms and videoconferencing. Also, the knowledge and gave them a grasp of the potential role of well-coordinated learning gained and disseminated through this exchange government interventions in tourism development. At the program is expected to be mainstreamed in the design of the same time, it helped them understand the different challenges second DPL now in the pipeline. Sunrise in Quintana Roo. Disclaimer: The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other informa- tion shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.