Tanzania - Eastern Arc Forests Conservation and Management Project (GEF)

ISDS THE WORLD BANK GROUP AWorld Free ol Poverty InfoShop Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Initial) Date [SDS Prepared/Updated: 11/21/2002 25149 Section I - Basic Information November 21, 2002 A. Basic Project Data Country: TANZANIA Project ID: P057234 Project: Eastern Arc Forests Conservation and Task Team Leader: Nathalie Weier Johnson Management Project Authorized to Appraise Date: September 27, 2001 IBRD Amount ($m): Bank Approval: March 27, 2003 IDA Amount ($m): 31.10 Managing Unit: AFTES Sector: Forestry (96%); Central government Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan (SIL) administration (4%) Status: Lending Theme: Environmental policies and institutions (P); Other environment and natural resources management (P); Biodiversity (P); Civic engagement; participation and community driven development (S) I.A.2. Project Objectives: The GEF financed Eastern Arc Forests Conservation and Management project is a component of the broader Forest Conservation and Management Project (FCMP) (P058706) which was approved by the Board on February 26, 2002. The Eastern Arc Forests Conservation and Management Project has been fully blended into the FCMP. The FCMP was processed as a Category B without separate EA as the rules at that time dictated. The new disclosure rules require that the EA be disclosed as we have retained the Category B rating for the processing of the Eastern Arc component. Therefore the original environmental annex for the FCMP, which also covers the Eastern Arc component, has been submitted to the info shop for the Eastern Arc project. The Eastern Arc component was appraised separately from the main project due to constraints in the GEF approval process, which has necessitated the separate processing of the grant component. This ISDS covers only the activities of the Easteni Arc component and addresses safeguard issues and the application the safeguard policies pertaining to only the Eastern Arc component. A separate ISDS for the Forest Conservation and Management Project was prepared and submitted to the info shop on October 5, 2001. For consistency sake, we have retained the B rating from the Forest Management and Conservation Project. The environmental analysis for the overall project including the GEF Eastern Arc component was disclosed in the Project Appraisal Document, Annex 11, in the info shop on January 25, 2002. The specific project objectives are to: develop the institutional capacity within the forestry sector for coordination, financing, and management of biodiversity conservation interventions within Tanzania's  2 ISDS forests, in particular in the forests of the Eastern Arc mountains. The global environmental objectives of the project are to: develop, and implement on a pilot basis, a sustainable financing mechanism for conservation activities in the Eastern Arc forests. I.A.3. Project Description: The Eastern Arc Forest Conservation and Management Project has four components, the first two are implemented by the Bank, the second two are implemented by UNDP: The main global environmental objective of this GEF activity is to promote the sustainable conservation and management of the Eastern Arc forests. The GEF activity is expected to have four sub-components, the first two of which will be implemented by the World Bank: (i) Institutional reforms for forest biodiversity conservation, in particular of the Eastern Arc forests at central, district and local partnership levels to incorporate specific responsibilities for biodiversity conservation, oversight, monitoring and coordination. Such reforms will be linked with other reforms and institutional restructuring proposed for the forestry sector as a whole, which are to be financed by IDA. The GEF implementing agency for this sub-component would be the Bank; (ii) Mechanisms for sustainable financing of biodiversity conservation, will be developed including the establishment of the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund (EAMCEF). It is envisaged that a pilot endowment trust fund will be established by the project, with GEF resources. The EAMCEF's initial operations and programs will be co-financed by IDA. The GEF implementing agency for this sub-component would be the Bank. Two additional components are to be implemented by the UNDP and are complementary to the Bank-implemented activities: (iii) Development and preparation of an integrated Conservation Strategy for the Eastern Arc Mountain Forests using a broad-based participatory process, with a focus on institutional capacity building, and which considers links to other sectoral activities, such as agriculture, water, land, and energy. A wider dialogue on the impacts of sectoral activities on forest biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Arc will be developed amongst the key institutions involved in sectoral activities. Mapping and baseline activities will be undertaken as part of the Strategy development, and will include an assessment of the multiple tenure regimes found in the forests of the Arc. The GEF implementing agency for this sub-component would be UNDP. (iv) A forest conservation intervention through government and community partnership initiatives which will be undertaken at priority sites in the Uluguru Mountains - one of the most important mountain forest blocks in the arc. Firm linkages will be established with partners (other donors, NGOs, Community-based organizations, government agencies, etc.) The GEF implementing agency for this sub-component would be UNDP. I.A.4. Project Location: (Geographic location, information about the key environmental and social characteristics of the area and population likely to be affected, and proximity to any protected areas, or sites or critical natural habitats, or any other culturally or socially sensitive areas.)  3 ISDS The bulk of the country's forest biodiversity is found in its mountain forests, and in a narrow strip of forests along the coast which in total comprise less than 5 percent of the total forest area. Amongst the most important of these are the Eastern Arc forests, a focus of this project, which cover an area of around 5,350 square kilometers spread across 10 separate mountain blocks in Tanzania (and one in Kenya). The Eastern Arc forests represent one of the oldest and most stable terrestrial ecosystems on the continent and are recognized globally as one of 25 biodiversity hotspots, which are characterized by high concentrations of endemic species under considerable threat. The Eastenm Arc forests have the highest known number of plant and animal species of any region in Tanzania. The Eastern Arc is also characterized by high concentrations of endemic species. Indeed, the Eastern Arc forests are known as one of the most important sites in Africa for endemic birds, amphibians, reptiles, many groups of invertebrates, and plants, and contains one of the highest proportions of endemic species of any region worldwide. There are at least 16 endemic plant genera in the Arc. Twenty of 21 African violet species (Saintpaulia spp.) are endemic to the Arc. Of the known species occurring within the Eastern Arc, approximately 23 percent of montane plant species, 82 percent of linyphiid spider species, 39 percent of the butterfly species, 63 percent of forest dependent amphibian species, 68 percent of forest dependent reptile species, 3 percent of the bird species, and 6 percent of the mammal species are endemic. B. Clheck Environmental Classification: B (Partial Assessment) Comments: This project is a component of the Forest Conservation and Management Project, P058706, which was approved by the Board on February 26, 2002. The Forest Conservation and Management project is a category B project, and therefore we have retained the B category for the processing of this component. An Environmental Analysis has been included as an Annex to the Project Appraisal Document, Annex 11. Proposed GEF support (P057234) has been fully blended into the Forest Conservation and Management Project. C. Safeguard Policies Triggered Policy Applicability Environmental Assessment (OP/BP/GP 4.01) * Yes ^ No Forestry (OP/GP 4.36) *Yes No Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) *Yes No Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) Yes 0 No Pest Management (OP 4.09) Yes * No Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) Yes 0 No Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20) Yes * No Cultural Property (OP 4.11) Yes * No Projects in Disputed Territories (OP/BP/GP 7.60)* Yes * No Projects in International Waterways (OP/BP/GP 7.50) C Yes 0 No *By supporting the proposed project, the Bank does not intend to prejudice the final determination of the parties' claims on the disputed areas Section II - Key Safeguard Issues and Their Management D. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues. Please fill in all relevant questions. If information is not available, describe steps to be taken to obtain necessary data. II.D. I a. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts.  4 ISDS Protection of forest areas that are considered critical natural habitats and preservation and sustainable use of forests of high ecological value - OP/GP 4.36, OP/BP 4.04. The project proposes to support a number of activities that will adhere to forest sector provisions for identification, protection and management of critical habitats. These include, in particular, the Eastern Arc Mountain Forests. The environmental benefits of this approach are expected to be substantial as the project will support research, park management and community activities targeted at biodiversity conservation. II.D. I b. Describe any potential cumulative impacts due to application of more than one safeguard policy or due to multiple project component. II.D.lc Describe any potential long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area. II.D.2. In light of 1, describe the proposed treatment of alternatives (if required) No alternatives were considered to be necessary, as environmental and social impacts are expected to be minimal. II.D.3. Describe arrangement for the borrower to address safeguard issues Because of the nature of the project, there are no safeguard issues anticipated. Il.D.4. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. Key stakeholders include: villages and communities in the Eastern Arc Forest area; local governments; and staff of the Forest and Beekeeping Division. The identification of the GEF component was an outcome of a UNDP implemented PDF/A activity which in itself was highly consultative. PDF/A support from GEF was sought in 1997 to characterize more fully the nature of the perceived forest conservation problem in the Eastern Arc Mountains, and to propose possible solutions. The Block A grant was approved in late 1997, through UNDP, on the basis of a proposal which suggested potential for collaboration and partnerships with other agencies such as the World Bank. Implementation of PDF/A activities commenced after the December 1997 International Conference on the Conservation and Management of the Eastern Arc which brought together a range of interests in academia, research, and local government. Activities which were financed by the PDF/A grant included: a preliminary assessment of biodiversity values and conservation problems in the Eastern Arc; an assessment of priority actions for conservation of the Arc; an assessment of financial constraints, sustainable financing requirements, and the effectiveness of donor interventions in the Eastern Arc; and the development of preliminary proposals for GEF financing for conservation of the Eastern Arc on the basis of stakeholder consultations in priority sites. PDF/A activities provided an opportunity for closer collaboration between multiple donor and national institutions with interests in the Arc. Stakeholder discussions followed the preparation of background papers, prepared using PDF/A and separate World Bank resources, and these were reviewed and discussed in a number of fora by a range of stakeholders, which helped to provide a stronger framework for future action. A series of consultations and workshops financed with PDF/B resources drew on the skills and expertise of practitioners familiar with the approaches proposed in the project concept. Two stakeholder workshops on the project concept and design were convened in February 2001 and June 2001 in conjunction with the Pre-appraisal and Technical mission. Finally, to build on the synergies possible  5 ISDS through better donor coordination, the project concept was discussed with and reviewed by the Forestry Adviser's Group, a group of donors and other stakeholders with interests in forest sector development in Tanzania, which is chaired by the Director of Forests and Beekeeping. E. Safeguards Classiflcation. 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. SI. - Significant, cumulative and/or irreversible impacts; or significant technical and institutional risks in management of one or more safeguard areas [X] S2. - One or more safeguard policies are triggered, but effects are limited in their impact and are technically and institutionally manageable ] S3. -No safeguard issues SF. - Financial intermediary projects, social development funds, community driven development or similar projects which require a safeguard framework or programmatic approach to address safeguard issues. F. Disclosure Requirements Environmental Assessment/Analysis/Management Plan: Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank 9/1/2001 Date of "in-country" disclosure Not Available Date of submission to InfoShop 11/14/2002 Date of distributing the Exec. Summary of the EA to the ED Not Applicable Not Applicable (For category A projects) Resettlement Action Plan/Framework. Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of "in-country" disclosure Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of submission to InfoShop Not Applicable Not Applicable Indigenous Peoples Development Plan/Framework: Expected Acftual Date of receipt by the Bank Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of "in-country" disclosure Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of submission to InfoShop Not Applicable Not Applicable Pest Management Plan. Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of "in-country" disclosure Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of submission to InfoShop Not Applicable Not Applicable Dam Safety Management Plan. Expected Actual Date of receipt by the Bank Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of "in-country" disclosure Not Applicable Not Applicable Date of submission to InfoShop Not Applicable Not Applicable 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: Nathalie Weier Johnson Nov. 20, 2002 Project Safeguards Specialists 1: Project Safeguards Specialists 2:  6 ISDS Project Safeguards Specialists 3: Approved by: Name Date Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Charlotte S. Bingham Nov. 21, 2002 Sector Manager/Director: Richard G. Scobey Nov. 20,2002 For a list of World Bank news releases on projects and reports, click here SEARCH FEEDBACK - SITE MAP j HODWUCA5E l