China - Implementation guidelines for poverty and environment work in southwest China : a research project by WWF China : guidelines for poverty reduction staff, including checklists for managers and staff

 69467 1 The World Bank Implementation Guidelines for Poverty and Environment Work in Southwest China A Research Project by WWF China Guidelines for Poverty reduction Staff Including Checklists for Managers and Staff August 2005  2 Table of contents ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF THE GUIDELINES 1 1. POVERTY AND ENVIRONMENT: TAKING A FRESH LOOK 2 2. PRACTICAL WAYS OF INCORPORATING ENVIRONMENT INTO VILLAGE-BASED INTEGRATED POVERTY REDUCTION PLANS 8 4. GOING FURTHER TO PROMOTE THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH POVERTY REDUCTION 18 APPENDIX 1. CHECKLIST FOR POVERTY REDUCTION MANAGERS 20 APPENDIX 2. CHECKLIST FOR POVERTY REDUCTION STAFF 22  1 Origin and Purpose of the Guidelines Until recently, improving the environment was not an important element in poverty reduction projects in China. At the same time, poverty reduction was not a focus issue in programs and policies for environmental rehabilitation in China’s poor areas, for example in the forestry sector. This situation has changed. Sustainable development is more and more widely accepted as a relevant framework for poverty reduction in China’s poor areas. This will require paying attention to both poverty reduction and the environment. Identifying ways of improving the environment while reducing poverty may not be easy. There are many instances where poverty reduction and environmental protection seem to be in contradiction at first glance. Administrative villages are the focal point of poverty reduction work under the 2000-2010 rural poverty reduction framework. A village-based integrated poverty reduction plan has been prepared or is being prepared in each administrative poor village participating in the framework. These village plans are an important opportunity to incorporate attention to environmental issues. This was confirmed by two teams, one in Yunnan province, one in Sichuan province, comprising poverty reduction managers and practitioners and environmental specialists. They have researched and identified practical ways of incorporating environment into village development plans, and have produced training handbooks for poverty reduction staff. These guidelines are based on the work carried out in these two provinces. These guidelines have three sections. Section one provides “food for thought