CI-GEF Project Screening Form 03/02/2016 1. The CI-GEF Project Agency undertakes environmental and social safeguard screening of each proposed project to determine whether an ESIA is required and if so, the appropriate extent and type of ESIA (see Policy #1 and Appendix I for more details). The CI-GEF Project Agency classifies the proposed project into one of three categories, depending on the type, location, sensitivity and scale of the project and the nature and magnitude of its potential environmental and social impacts. The descriptions of the categories and lists of types of projects identified in Appendix I are meant to serve as guidance to proposal reviewers and are not meant to be exhaustive. 2. All proposed activities will undergo safeguard screening to determine eligibility under CI-GEF ESMF policies, the type of ESIA that they are subject to and if proposed project activities trigger any of the safeguards policies. 3. The Executing Entity is responsible for providing responses to each of the questions outlined in this form when submitting a PIF to the Project Agency for consideration. 4. The Project Agency is responsible for conducting all aspects of the safeguard screening process, from initiation to making the final decision on whether or not an ESIA is necessary and, if so, at what level along with whether a project-level plan is required if a safeguard is triggered. I. PROJECT DATA SUMMARY Country: MADAGASCAR GEF Project ID: 9606 Project Title: Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in the Northwestern Landscape (Boeny region) - Madagascar Name of the Executing Entity(ies): Conservation International Madagascar Length of Project: 36 months Start date: May 2019 End date: May 2022 Introduction: (location, main issues to be addressed by project) Location: The Northwestern Landscape (Boeny region) includes five protected areas (Ankarafantsika National Park, Biocultural Site of Antrema, Complex Mahavavy Kinkony, National Park of Baly Bay, and Bombetoka Belemboka . Main issues to be addressed by project are improvement of the management effectives of five key protected areas that harbor globally threatened species, identifying additional sources of funding for the financial needs gaps and finally the promotion of best practices and sustainable utilization of natural resources for the Boeny region, especially in five municipalities bordering targeted PAs, while ensuring that stakeholders understand the multiple benefits that these best practices will bring to local and regional economies. Project Background: (description of physical, biological and socioeconomic context, including Indigenous Peoples and reference to how gender may play a role) The Boeny region, with a total area of 30,000 km2, is located in the Madagascar West Biome. The region is largely drained by a particularly dense river network, giving it significant water resources, including large lakes, such as the Kinkony Lake, the second largest lake in the country. This western region harbors dry forest habitats that rank amongst the most distinctive ecosystems in Madagascar, and is home to several lemur species of global significance. The Boeny region has been identified as containing particularly high levels of biodiversity of global importance, generating environmental goods and services of national importance (e.g. water supply), and being vulnerable to a number of threats of both anthropic and natural origin, as described in earlier sections. The project area is subject to important environmental pressures (threats) such as traditional slash and burn (tavy) agriculture, timber extraction, harvesting of other forest CI-GEF Project Screening Form 03/02/2016 resources, and mining. Charcoal production is a common activity among local communities, with production for home use and sale. It is estimated that there are about 77,500 inhabitants living in the areas surrounding the targeted protected areas. Most of these households in the area engage in subsistence activities, which are characterized by extremely low levels of productivity and sustainability, and high environmental impact such as charcoal production, on agriculture, livestock, fisheries, mining, and ecotourism. According to the National Institute of Statistics (2014), the Boeny region has a population of 821,356 inhabitants of whom the majority is female (55 percent). Despite their number and status as key stakeholders, women rarely influence planning and decision making in land management. There are a large number of women’s associations that pursue various activities such as the promotion of raw silk, cooking, embroidery, etc., but the impacts on women empowerment are still limited. Recognizing the fundamental roles played by women, the project will make great efforts to advance gender equity and women’s empowerment every time it is relevant. Project Objectives: The objective of this project is “to strengthen the long-term conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Northwestern Landscape of Madagascar”. Project Components and Main Proposed Activities: Component 1: Strengthening the management and the sustainable financing of five protected areas to reduce the threats on natural resources and to contribute to the resiliency of the Northwestern Landscape (Boeny region) Outcome 1.1.: Increased management effectiveness of five targeted PAs of the Northwestern Landscape - Mainstream the objectives of PAs into larger planning schemes - Support the implementation of the activities defined in management plans - Strengthen capacities of local communities and their involvement in the PA governance. Outcome 1.2.: Improved financial sustainability of 5 targeted PAs - Improve the long-term financial sustainability of the targeted PAs - Help leverage additional funding by identifying new donors COMPONENT 2: Supporting sustainable use of biodiversity by local communities around targeted PAs to strengthen PA protection efforts and improve community wellbeing Outcome 2.1.: Key local communities around targeted PAs adopted sustainable production practices - Support the development or implementation of municipality land use planning (SAC) in 5 municipalities: Katsepy, Antseza, Ankazomborona, Boanamary and Soalala - Scale-up and support sustainable production practices in PA buffer areas based on the SAC and 5 PA’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Plans - Improve livelihoods while promoting subsistence production approaches that help conserve or sustainably use key biodiversity Compliance with Environmental Conventions: Explain how your project’s objectives, outcomes and outcomes align with the main conventions that CI adheres to. These include UNCBD, UNFCCC, RAMSAR Convention, CITES, and UNCCD. - UNCDB - CITES CI-GEF Project Screening Form 03/02/2016 Compliance with Country Legal and Institutional Frameworks: 1. Explain how your project aligns/will align with national laws and/or frameworks related to the environment (this may include national ESIA or EIA laws, etc.) - This project is consistent with, and will contribute to, the achievement of national development strategies and plans that relate to biodiversity protection and sustainable development. - The project will contribute to Madagascar’s achievement of Aichi Targets 5, 7, 11 and 12. - The project will also focus on ensuring that biodiversity considerations are more actively taken into account in sectoral frameworks and therefore are aligned with the third and fifth pillars of the National Development Plan (2015-2019): "Inclusive growth and territorial anchoring of development” and “Treasuring natural capital and strengthening resilience to risks and catastrophes.” 2. When national legal and institutional frameworks are inadequate, the proposal should include a statement explaining how this problem will be addressed, either as part of the project or by a third party. 3. When national legal and institutional frameworks do not apply to or impact the project and its objectives, the reason for that conclusion needs to be stated. - Project Justification (e.g., Alignment with Country and CI Institutional Priorities, GEF Focal Area Strategies): The project is supportive of ➢ the new Malagasy Strategy of Biodiversity (NBSAP) and the President Rajaonarimampianin’s promise in Sydney to harmoniously integrate PAs into the overall environmental landscape; ➢ Sustainable landscapes and seascapes/ sustainable production(CI) GEF Focal Area(s): Biodiversity (BD-1 program1 et BD-4 program 9) GEF Project Amount: USD 6,817,431 Other Financing Amounts by Source: USD 10,816,936 Safeguard Screening Form Prepared by: Michele Andrianarisata Date of preparation: Comments: II. PROJECT ELEGIBILITY QUESTIONS Answer the following questions to determine if the project is eligible for CI-GEF funding Will the project: Yes No 1. Propose to create significant destruction or degradation of critical natural habitats1 of any type or have significant negative socioeconomic and cultural impacts that cannot be cost-effectively avoided, minimized, mitigated and/or offset? 1 Habitats considered essential for biodiversity conservation, provision of ecosystem services and the well-being of people at the local, national, regional o global levels. They include, among others, existing protected areas, areas officially proposed as protected areas, areas recognized as protected by traditional local communities, as well as areas identified as important for conservation, such as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) Sites, Important Bird