Colombia - Capacity Building for the Cartagena Protocol (GEF) Project

Public Disclosure Authorized 25327 December 5, 2002 Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet Section I - Basic Information Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: December 5, 2002 A. Basic ProjectData (from PDS) COUNTRY: Colombia PROJECT ID P077171 PROJECT: Capacity Building for the Cartagena TTL: Matthew A. McMahon Protocol APPRAISAL DATE: NA IBRD AMOUNT ($m): .975 million BOARD DATE: NA IDA AMOUNT ($m): MANAGING UNIT LCSER SECTOR: Environment Public Disclosure Authorized LENDING INSTRUMENTS: GEF MSP Grant STATUS: Final Project Bnef Project Objectives (From PDS) The main objective of the project is to help consolidate Colombia's national capacity for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Specifically, the project will develop national capacities in blosafety required to: (i) strengthen the legislative framework and operational mechanisms for biosafety management in Colombia; (n) build capacity and establish an operational system for risk assessment and monitoring; (iii) establish the biosafety database system and Biosafety Clearinghouse Mechanism; (iv) support centers of excellence and a network for research, risk assessment, and monitoring; and (v) establish the Project Coordmating Unit (PCU). Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Project Descnption (From PDS) In order to achieve the above objectives the project will implement the following components: 1. Strengthening the legislative framework and operational mechanisms for Biosafety management in Colombia With Colombia's ratification of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety through Law 740 in May 2002, it became imperative for the country to adopt a national legislative framework which regulates and harmomuzes activities related to LMOs across different sectors and organizations. Co-financing resources would be used to carry out an in-depth evaluation of Colombia's current legal framework in the context of the Cartagena Protocol and make recommendations for a National Biosafety legislative and policy framework for the protection of human, animal and plant health, the environment and the socio-econouc well-being of the population. 2. Capacity building and establishing an operational system for risk assessment and monitoring Training is crucial part of the project. Along with the development of the regulatory system, experts will be trained to enforce the law and the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The following training activities are planned- a. Two training courses for 60 trainers from the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, Environment, International Trade, policy makers, NGOs, media, consumer and producer groups. This course will specifically focus on contained, deliberate release and commercial use of LMOs. b. A workshop for 60 representatives of government, media, NGOs, consumer groups and scientific community on socio-economic and legal aspects related to LMOs. Special attention will be given to socio-economic impacts, trans-boundary movement of LMOs, and the Cartagena Protocol. c. Five courses of three-to-twelve-day each for a total of 115 representatives of government dealing with risk assessment, risk management, and research, and selected scientists from the centers of excellence network (Component 4). These courses will be of higher knowledge level and technical specialisation on interdisciplinary biosafety issues, including general technical background for LMO risk assessment and management, LMOs under agriculture settings, and LMOs interactions with the environment and health. The two model crops (proposed for research in Component 4) will be used as case studies for discussion of ex-ante biosafety strategies. d. Besides these training courses and workshops, 10 short term (3-month each) and 6 long term (6- month each) visiting scientists exchanges will be conducted to allow more specialised training of selected technical personnel engaged on risk assessment, risk management, and research. At least four short term and two long term (about 38%) of these visiting scientist exchanges will be used to strength collaboration between parties involved in the research proposals on potato and rice described in Component 4. Under project activities, a project mailing list will be developed in order to enhance the rapid exchange of information between participating parties in order to provide regular updates on significant developments in Biosafety and to facihtate the timely provision of specific information upon request. The data will be presented in a user-friendly way. The information network and special workshops are aimed to improve the public perception and participation in the process of implementing the National Biosafety Framework (NBF) and the use of LMOs. Media and NGOs working on these issues, will be granted access to the information network. This will ensure the delivery of current and relevant information on Biosafety and related legislation issues. 3. Establishing the biosafety database system and Biosafety Clearing-House Mechanism in Colombia An information database and network will be set up and contain registers, dossiers, trial data and other related information required by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The database will be accessible by all roject Location: The project will be located m Bogota. The laboratory work will be undertaken in both Bogota and Cali. No work will be undertaken in proximity to any protected areas, or sites or critical natural habitats, or any other culturally or socially sensitive areas. B. Check EnvironmentalClassificationA [ ], B [ }, C [IX], FI [],TBD [] Comments: The project will have a positive impact on Colombia's biodiversity since it will put in place a system to evaluate and monitor the imuortation and use of LMOs'. C Applicability of Safeguard Policies (from PDS) Click on Policy name for bnef summary of objectives, tnggers and requirements Chck on Pohecy reference number for full policy Yes No TBD Environmental Assessment (OP/BP/GP 4.01) [ X1 [ Forestry (OP/GP 4.36) [] [X] [1 I Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) [ [X [ Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) ] [X] [I Pest Management (OP 4.09) [] [ X] [I Involuntary Resettlement (OD 4.30) [] [ XJ [] Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20) [] [ X] II Cultural Property (OPN 11.03) [J [ X] [] Pioject, in Disputed Areas (OP/BP/GP 7.60)* (1 ] X] [I Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP/GP 7.50) [] [ X] [] By supporting the proposedproject, the Bank does not intend to prejudice thefinal determinationof the parties'claims on the disputedareas Section I - Key Safeguard Issues and Their Management D. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues. Please fill m all relevant questions. If information is not available, describe steps to be taken to obtain necessary data. 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project The potential contribution of biotechnology to sustainable agriculture is expected to be high, but the introduction of transgenic varieties in tropical ecosystems deserves careful oversight and monitonng This issue is of particular importance in the Andean region due to its high level of genetic diversity for a large number of species that are mentioned above and the concern over the likelihood of genes spreading from transgenic crops to wild relatives and the potential impacts on crop genetic diversity. Risk assessment related to the natural environment is a necessary element of any biosafety program and is a key element of the proposed GEF/GOC project. The project will provide resources for updating and upgrading laboratory equipment. The actual laboratory tests are not expected to produce any hazardous materials However, the project operations manual will set m place procedures for dealing with any waste products produced during testing and nsk assessment. In the case that there are small construction activities, QAT's Environmental Guidelines for Small Construction will be used. 2. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts. Describe any potential cumulative or long term impacts. NA 3. In light of 1 and 2, describe the proposed treatment of alternatives (if required) NA 4. Describe arrangement for the borrower to address safeguard issues. NA 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. Broad-based public consultations on biosafety issues are currently underway in the context of the integration of the National Development Plan. Participants include representatives from all sectors in Colombia. Over the last few years ICA has organized 25 workshops directed to stakeholders, policy makers, scientific community, and civil society. The GEF project will broaden stakeholder participation and public information by including key representatives of each of these sectors in the capacity building component through courses and publications, and through the dissemination of information via the BCH mechanism. Through the BCH mechanism, participation will be supported which will target farmers and other rural organizations and consumer associations. Additionally the BCH will offer the opportunity to create forums on relevant/important biosafety subjects for the purpose of obtaining input from the public at large and feedback on the projects outcomes, particularly at the institutional level. Opportunities will be provided to NGOs, academics and the research community to publish opinions and to disseminate them to the public. Finally, the BCH will disseminate information to different citizen groups interested m Biosafety. E. Safeguards Classification (select one). Category is determined by the highest impact in any policy Or on basis of cumulative impacts from multiple safeguards. Whenever an individual safeguard policy is triggered the provisions of that policy apply. [ ] S1 . - Significant, cumulative and/or irreversible impacts; or significant technical and institutional risks in management of one or more safeguard areas [ I S2. - One or more safeguard policies are triggered, but effects are limited in their impact and are technically and institutionally manageable [X] S 3. - No safeguard issues [ I SF - Financial intermediary projects, social development funds, community dnven development or similar projects which require a safeguard framework or programmatic approach to address safeguard issues. F. DisclosureRequirements Environmental Assessment/Analysis/Management Plan: Date of receipt by the Bank N/A Date of "rn-country" disclosure NIA Date of s6ibmission to InfoShop N/A For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors N/A Resettlement Action Plan/Framework: Date of receipt by the Bank N/A Date of "in-country" disclosure N/A Date of submission to InfoShop N/A Indigenous Peoples Development Plan/Framework: Date of receipt by the Bank N/A Date of "in-country" disclosure N/A Date of submission to InfoShop N/A PestManagement Plan: Date of receipt by the Bank N/A Date of "in-country" disclosure N/A Date of submission to InfoShop N/A Dam Safety Management Plan: Date of receipt by the Bank N/A Date of "in-country" disclosure N/A Date of submission to InfoShop N/A If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why. Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Matthew A. McMahon Project Safeguards Specialist - oz Project Safeguards Specialist 2: Project Safeguards Specialist 3: Approved by: Name Regional Safeguards Coordinator Juan David Quintero - Sector Manager Teresa Serra 12 V