Greater Mekong Subregion Core Environment Program 10 Years of Cooperation

This publication was compiled to celebrate the first 10 years of the Greater Mekong Subregion Core Environment Program (CEP). It provides an overview of the environment issues the program has worked on, as well as its solutions, achievements, and future priorities. The articles and stories featured within aim to highlight the CEP’s work, using the voices and perspectives of its partners and beneficiaries.

About the Asian Development Bank

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members— 48 from the region. Its main instruments for helping its developing member countries are policy dialogue, loans, equity investments, guarantees, grants, and technical assistance.

About the Core Environment Program

The Core Environment Program (CEP) supports the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) in delivering environmentally friendly economic growth. Anchored on the ADB-supported GMS Economic Cooperation Program, the CEP promotes regional cooperation to improve development planning, safeguards, biodiversity conservation, and resilience to climate change—all of which are underpinned by capacity Greater Mekong Subregion building. The CEP is overseen by the environment ministries of the six GMS countries and implemented by the ADB-administered Environment Operations Center. Cofinancing is provided by ADB, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Sweden, and the Nordic Development Fund. Past cofinancing Core Environment Program support was provided by the Government of Finland and the Government of the Netherlands. 10 Years of Cooperation

GMS Environment Operations Center Asian Development Bank, 23rd Floor, The Offices at Central World 999/9 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Tel: (+66) 2 207 4444 Fax: (+66) 2 207 4400 E-mail: [email protected] www.gms-eoc.org Greater Mekong Subregion Core Environment Program 10 Years of Cooperation

October 2018 Creative Commons Attribution . IGO license (CC BY . IGO)

GMS Environment Operations Center rd Floor, The Oces at Central World / Rama Road, Pathumwan Bangkok Tel: ( ) Fax: ( ) E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gms-eoc.org

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Cover photo: Hot-air balloons rise as a new day dawns in Bagan, Myanmar (photo from iStock.com). Contents

Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction

Page iv Page v Page 1

Chapter One Chapter Three Chapter Four Policies, Planning, Landscapes and Building a and Safeguards Livelihoods Knowledge Hub

Page 6 Page 28 Page 45

Overview 7 Overview 29 Policies and Planning 8 The Mekong Headwaters 30 Safeguards 16 Sino–Viet Nam Karst 33 Central Annamites 37 Tri-Border Forest 40 Tenasserim Mountains 42 Cardamom and Elephant Mountains 43 Eastern Plains Dry Forest 44 Chapter Two Climate Change

Page 19

Overview 20 Building Climate Resilience 21 Green Road Freight 25 Acknowledgments

This publication was researched and authored by Duncan McLeod, communications specialist, Environment Operations Center (EOC).

The author would like to thank Pavit Ramachandran, principle environment specialist, Asian Development Bank, and project oﬃcer of the Core Environment Program (CEP), for his oversight and guidance. Thanks are also due to Sumit Pokhrel, EOC, for leading the content review, as well as to Lothar Linde, Iain Watson, and Le Quoc Huy, all EOC, for their review contributions. Appreciation is also extended to Daniel Feary, who designed the publication, and to Saowalak Jingjungvisut, EOC, for helping with its production.

Sincerest gratitude also goes to the CEP’s government and development partners, who gave their time to be interviewed and willingly shared their perspectives on the program. In particular, thanks are due to the members of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Group on Environment.

This publication could not have been compiled without the generous financial support that has enabled the CEP to deliver its first decade of environmental cooperation. These cofinancing partners are the Asian Development Bank; the Global Environment Facility; the Nordic Development Fund; and the governments of Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

iv Abbreviations

ADB Asian Development Bank

CEP Core Environment Program

EIA environmental impact assessment

EOC Environment Operations Center

EPA environmental performance assessment

FDI foreign direct investment

GMS Greater Mekong Subregion The Tad Fane Waterfall, in Champasak Province, Lao PDR Lao People’s Democratic Republic Lao PDR (photo from Shutterstock.com).

NGO nongovernment organization

PES payments for ecosystem services

PFES Payments for Forest Environmental Services

PRC People’s Republic of China

SEA strategic environmental assessment

SMEs small and medium-sized enterprises

USAID United States Agency for International Development

VDF village development fund

WGE Working Group on Environment

WWF World Wide Fund for Nature

v Twilight in the Central Annamite Mountains, Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam (photo from the EOC).

vi Introduction

1 he pattern of economic growth that has enabled the countries of the Greater TMekong Subregion (GMS) to grow rapidly over the past decades is no longer sustainable. That growth brought prosperity to many of its million people and lifted millions out of poverty. But it has been fueled by the unsustainable use of the subregion’s natural capital, creating widespread environmental degradation.

GMS governments recognize that this natural capital, which includes extensive water resources and very fertile soil, underpins the subregion’s economic development, and that they need to take better care of the environment. The ecosystems of the GMS, such as tropical forests, glacial mountains, and immense river systems, have a remarkable diversity. Managed well, these ecosystems can not only be preserved for future generations, but contribute to the environmentally sustainable and inclusive growth that the GMS governments are striving for.

In , the six GMS countries and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) established the GMS Economic Cooperation Program. In , the program’s first -year strategy was launched. Among its five strategic pillars were protecting the environment and promoting the sustainable use of shared natural resources. Around this time, the economic cooperation program was implementing a small number of projects to tackle specific environmental problems in some GMS countries. By ¡, concerns over the worsening environment, particularly biodiversity losses, were gaining prominence. Planners working on the GMS program realized that because countries faced many shared an ecologically rich subregion free of poverty. The Greater Mekong Subregion environmental problems, more cohesive The Environment Operations Center (EOC) responses were needed. based in Bangkok, Thailand, is the working Cambodia group’s secretariat and provides technical People’s Republic of China The Core Environment Program (CEP) was support to implement the program. launched in . It is administered by ADB • Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and overseen by the GMS Working Group on In the CEP’s first phase, from to , one • Yunnan Province Environment (WGE). The WGE is composed of its main aims was to identify and protect Lao People’s Democratic Republic of senior environment officials from the six biodiversity areas under threat from economic Myanmar countries and is one of nine sector working development. Its flagship project then was the groups under the GMS Program. The CEP’s Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative. Thailand mandate is to support environmental The CEP soon expanded its work to broader Viet Nam cooperation efforts to contribute to a vision of environmental governance, working with

2 The construction site of a new hospital in Chonburi, Thailand (photo from Shutterstock.com).

GMS governments to improve environmental agriculture, and energy agencies. The CEP also planning capacity. In its first phase, the CEP works closely with ADB sector and country played a leading role in promoting the use of operational teams. strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) and environmental performance assessments A notable contributor to the CEP’s effectiveness by GMS countries. is its ability to adapt and quickly respond to emerging priorities and opportunities in the Operations were expanded in the program’s GMS Program and at the national level. As the second phase, from to £. Over this subregional nexus among governments, period, the program moved from pilot on-the- ADB, and other development partners, the ground interventions in core biodiversity areas CEP is able to leverage large environment to broader landscape and planning support for investments, coordinate collaborative work economic corridors. With climate change rising programs, and facilitate regional knowledge on the international agenda, the CEP became exchange and learning. a leader in the subregion’s efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in road freight, and All around the world countries and their solutions to build the climate resilience of development partners are embracing new rural communities. As well as its continuing technologies, financing opportunities, and work to promote SEAs and environmental best practices as they try to move toward monitoring, the CEP increased its portfolio green growth and achieve their Sustainable with environmental impact assessments, Development Goals. In the GMS there have been land use modeling, and other tools and many other complementary initiatives taking approaches for environmentally sustainable place since the CEP was launched. ADB and the economic development. countries have applied stronger environmental safeguards, and put more emphasis on The CEP also stepped up efforts to build the environment-friendly investments, such as capacity of environment ministries. One way renewable energy. Numerous development this was done was by setting up CEP national organizations and businesses have their own support units in the environment ministries projects and investments in the GMS countries to coordinate and help implement activities. focused on environmental sustainability. Meanwhile, the EOC was strengthened The GMS governments themselves are steadily to become a subregional knowledge hub. putting in place the policies, regulations, It actively mined and then shared lessons and the capacity to develop pathways for learned and other valuable information green growth. from the program activities, and the work of partners. Despite all these efforts, much more needs to “Environment and climate be done to ensure environmental sustainability change challenges in the Over the years covered by both phases and to tackle climate change. To intensify GMS are often transboundary. and with $¡ million invested, the CEP regional cooperation in this regard, a third strengthened its position as the foremost phase of the CEP, covering ¦ to , has Regional cooperation as it environment initiative of the GMS Program. been endorsed by the GMS governments. has been carried out through Partnerships were critical to that success. CEP brings a lot of the The CEP works with rural communities, This publication provides an overview of the instruments and solutions the private sector, nongovernment environmental issues the CEP has worked organizations (NGOs), United Nations on in its first years, as well as solutions, to address these.” agencies, and universities and research achievements, and future priorities for tackling institutes. Although the main government them. Wherever possible, articles and brief Daniel Klasander, first secretary, partners are the environment agencies case studies were used to illuminate the CEP’s Development Cooperation Section, in the GMS countries, the CEP regularly work, using the voices and perspectives of its Embassy of Sweden, Bangkok engages with other ministries, and has partners and beneficiaries. implemented large projects with transport,

3 Core Environment Program by the Numbers 19,000+ $540 $101 GMS participants involved in million dollars of environment million dollars in additional funding investments being prepared raised, including million 500+ for biodiversity conservation knowledge and training events

2.6 Poverty reduced for over people million hectareshectar 30,000 of biodiversitybiodive sity corridorscorrido s createdc eated in

transboundaryt ansbounda7y landscapes 82 10 publications and ﬁlms produced strategic environmental 12 assessments conducted across

laws, policies, and plans inﬂuenced in 2 5 6 3 sectors regional learning and countries exchange networks online knowledge established portals created

4 The Core Environment Program Strategic

Framework and Action Plan, 2018–2022 Rice farming in Mandalay Region, Myanmar (photo from Shutterstock.com).

Under its new strategy, the CEP is evolving The key elements of the new strategy and to better meet the needs of the countries and action plan are as follows: Geographic Focus contribute to the implementation of the GMS + Transboundary landscapes with high Program’s Ha Noi Action Plan –. Impact ecosystem service values Improved environmental quality and climate During the next ¡ years, the CEP will aim to + GMS economic corridors resilience across the GMS plug investment gaps in the environment Sector Linkages sector. A new project preparation facility will Outcome become an integral part of the EOC, dedicated + Agriculture to preparing large investment projects. So Environmentally friendly and climate-resilient + Energy far, over $¡ million of projects have been GMS Economic Cooperation Program identified, some of which will scale up the + Transport CEP’s pilot work on green freight, climate risk Areas of Support financing, and land use planning. Investment Projects Identified + Policy and strategic planning + Rural environmental management, To ensure a strong enabling environment + Investment preparation and financing pollution control, and waste management for these investments, the CEP will continue + Knowledge management and to provide the countries and the GMS + Integrated land management for sustainable technology uptake Program with policy and planning support. development This will build on the CEP’s competencies Themes and Outputs + Climate proofing of rural infrastructure in environmental assessments, spatial planning, and modeling and be provided by + Wider adoption of green technologies and + Green road freight financing a policy advice “help desk.” To ensure the sustainable infrastructure + Electronic waste management investment projects are planned using quality + Increased investment in the conservation information and best practices, the EOC’s + Capacity building to strengthen of natural resources and maintenance of function as a knowledge hub on environmental environmental management ecosystem services management will be further enhanced. New knowledge platforms are planned, including + Climate resilience and disaster risk The strategy and action plan can be one for the uptake of green technologies. management incorporated into downloaded from the CEP website: investment plans www.gms-eoc.org

5 Chapter One Policies, Planning, and Safeguards

6 Overview

he continuing decline in natural capital A main pillar of CEP support to the GMS The Can Tho Bridge stretches 2.75 kilometers stocks and environmental quality in governments since the program’s inception in over the Hau River in Southern Viet Nam Tthe GMS is overwhelming evidence has been to improve planning processes (photo from Shutterstock.com). that environmental governance across and regulatory frameworks. The CEP’s focus the subregion must be greatly improved. has been on facilitating better multisector and Future sustainability depends on it. area-based planning. In particular, it has aimed to mainstream the use of SEAs, spatial multicriteria GMS countries recognize the need to shift to assessments, and the latest modeling tools. + Strengthened data and information planning systems that optimize the allocation The CEP also promoted better environmental generation to support planning decisions. of their natural resources, improve resource monitoring to support decision-making. In , + Enhanced institutional and technical use eﬃciency and reduce wastage for better “safeguards” was added as a key area of support, capacity for sustainable development long-term socioeconomic outcomes. For this enhancing systems for environmental impact planning, including interministerial to happen, the countries need to ensure that assessment. coordination and collaboration. the economic, environmental, and social implications of plans and investments are Key Results Next Steps properly understood and inﬂuence decision- making. Making this shift, however, continues + Created stronger regulatory environments Under the CEP’s third phase, which to be an immense task. Weak regulatory for sustainable development with new and begins in ¦, improving environmental frameworks, a lack of technical know-how, improved laws, policies, and plans. governance will continue to be a key area of fragmented government decision-making support. The CEP will continue to work with + Developed, tested, and promoted key and coordination, and inadequate data and government agencies to develop better policies approaches and tools for more sustainable information are among the many issues to and legal frameworks and promote the uptake planning and decision-making, including for be tackled. of multistakeholder planning approaches and GMS economic cooperation initiatives. tools to improve planning. To do this more + Developed and strengthened national strategically and systematically than in the environmental impact assessment systems and past, the CEP intends to set up a GMS help desk Traditional fishing on Inle Lake, Shan State, application, leading to better environment and on policy advice made up of national and Myanmar (photo from the EOC). social safeguards for economic investments. regional experts.

7 Policies and Planning

Ensuring countries have quality regulations, Achievements A man paints his boat on the banks policies, and planning processes in place is vital of the Mekong River in Chiang Rai Province, + Strengthened laws, regulations, and policies to for sustainable development. Achieving this is Thailand (photo from ADB). guide sustainable development efforts in the GMS. a challenge faced by developed and developing countries alike. Getting there is a long-term + Led the mainstreaming of SEAs in the GMS process, and impacts are notoriously difficult to through awareness raising, capacity building, and assess compared with interventions in the field. the conducting of SEAs that have contributed This is because they are often not apparent for to more sustainable plans, such as Viet Nam’s years and are influenced by many other factors. power-development master plan. + Contributed to emerging national systems for The CEP has responded to country requests monitoring and managing industrial pollution in to help government planners develop Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic environmental legislation policies and plans. (Lao PDR), and Myanmar, and developed a pollution 12 laws, policies, and plans These include national environment strategies, control strategy for the Lao PDR. power-development plans, and more. The work influenced in 6 countries is often across different sectors, including + Assisted Viet Nam in reviewing its national agriculture, energy, tourism, industrial Payments for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) development, and transport, and at different scheme and to develop an improved monitoring spatial levels, such as economic corridor and and evaluation framework. provincial development planning. + Developed, promoted, and built capacity throughout the subregion on tools for sustainable The program proactively promotes multisector development planning, such as land use change planning approaches and tools, especially modeling, pollution modeling, and spatial SEAs and the use of spatial planning and multicriteria assessment. modeling tools. Helping countries generate and use better quality data is vital for effective + Improved national capacity to generate and utilize decision-making, and this is another area of the data and information for environmental planning program’s support. and monitoring.

8 ARTICLE GMS

POLICIES AND PLANNING “CEP has provided valuable support to Viet Nam to enhance its capacity for strategic environmental assessment, and Promoting Strategic now we have a very successful Environmental SEA system in place.” Assessments Kim Thi Thuy Ngoc, head of science and international cooperation, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and The CEP has led eﬀorts since £ to promote Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources the use of SEAs as a key approach for and Environment, Viet Nam sustainable development planning in the GMS.

Using analytical and participatory tools, SEAs A fisher at dawn on the Mekong River bring together actors from the government and (photo from Shutterstock.com). NGOs and from various sectors to assess the environmental, social, and economic effects of proposed government policies and programs. SEAs are particularly useful in identifying Ten SEAs were done from £ to across The Lao PDR’s Environmental Protection Law, the “hidden” costs and benefits that are often five sectors, both nationally and regionally. provided the country with its first legal overlooked in decision-making. If risks are These initiatives generated government basis for an SEA. In early £, a ministerial spotted and addressed early, investments in support for SEA, greatly enhanced technical decree was issued requiring SEAs to be infrastructure, for instance, are more likely to and institutional capacity to apply SEAs, and applied to policies, programs, and strategic be sustainable. An SEA can greatly lessen the contributed to strengthened regulatory and policy plans. Cambodia and Myanmar have less costs and other issues associated with project- frameworks. Although most of the SEAs were experience than other GMS countries in focused environmental impact assessment. pilots, some have had impressive sustainable applying SEAs, but have nevertheless taken development outcomes. the initial steps for mainstreaming them into SEA was a little-known concept in the planning. Cambodia’s draft environment code, subregion when the CEP was launched. The CEP’s SEA work in Viet Nam is a good example which is awaiting government approval to Although a few SEAs had been conducted of the program’s influence in this area. The CEP be enacted as a law, includes provisions for before then, none of the countries had collaborated closely with various ministries on SEAs. Myanmar, meanwhile, has indicated its a supporting regulatory framework. five SEAs, beginning with one on the national interest in gradually adopting SEAs for sector The national technical capacity to conduct an power-development plan in £. Today, boosted planning. SEAs are also gaining traction at the SEA was practically nonexistent. The CEP first by support from the CEP, Viet Nam has strong subregional level. Recognizing the value of the focused on raising awareness of the benefits of capacity to conduct SEAs and has conducted CEP’s work, the GMS energy sector has been SEAs and capacity building activities through around so far. Meanwhile, the country has applying SEAs to subregional power planning regional and national workshops. As interest put in place supporting regulations for SEAs, since . grew, the program began pairing international beginning with the revised Law on Environmental experts with national teams to conduct pilot Protection, . Since ¡, Viet Nam has been Since the early s, the SEA approach has SEAs. These were mainly for land use and drafting a new planning law to improve its slowly but steadily taken root in the GMS. energy planning, where demand was high and socioeconomic development planning system, The CEP has been at the forefront of this had significant impacts on natural capital. and when enacted, it will greatly enhance process and will continue to promote SEAs As befitting a regional program, the CEP also SEA requirements. The CEP contributed to in its ¦– program. Through the CEP’s explored applying SEAs in transboundary this by producing guidelines for a circular on proposed regional policy help desk, the focus planning processes. environmental planning during , which will be on SEA regulations, institutional will be subsumed into regulations that stem from arrangements, and implementation the new law. mechanisms.

9 Examples of Strategic Environmental Assessment Application

Energy Sector Planning: With CEP support, the Government of Viet Nam conducted an SEA of its national power-development plan for 2011–2020. The SEA identified $5 billion of economic savings and benefits by 2030 from emissions reductions and greater use of renewable energy.

Influenced by the SEA findings and recommendations, the power plan was revised to achieve a less thermal-reliant energy mix and to better integrate climate change factors. The revisions included aggressive targets for energy efficiency and the use of cleaner renewable energy technologies. In 2014, the CEP did an impact evaluation, including assessing monetary impacts, for a new SEA of the Subregional Strategic Planning: In 2009, Power lines along the Noi Bai–Lao Cai Highway revised power plan, which is being extended the CEP conducted an SEA of the GMS near Hai Phong City, Viet Nam (photo from ADB). through to 2030. North–South Economic Corridor Strategy and Action Plan to identify environmental Land Use Planning: The CEP provided and social effects of corridor development. technical support to the Government The plan brought together a wide range of The Value of a Strategic of Viet Nam’s SEA of the Quang Nam stakeholders from Yunnan Province in the Environmental Assessment Provincial Land Use Plan, 2011–2020. People’s Republic of China, the Lao PDR, This involved extensive modeling tools that and Thailand. + Improves the performance and efficiency helped land use planners to understand of policy and planning by lessening adverse how future land demand would affect the A major finding of that SEA was that the impacts on the environment and society. performance of agriculture, energy, and construction of roads near transboundary tourism in the province. Because of the biodiversity areas could significantly + Helps avoid costly mistakes and missed SEA, the government formally recognized contribute to the fragmentation of opportunities caused by inadequate biodiversity conservation corridors as a valid ecosystems, and increase land conversion information about the impacts and trade-offs land use option. The SEA also influenced to commercial crops. The SEA’s of proposed plans. the introduction of a provincial scheme for recommendations helped guide the + Provides a framework for project-level hydropower watershed payments for forest design and implementation of the CEP’s assessment and coordination, particularly for environmental services that was launched activities, particularly in the management understanding cumulative impacts. in 2012. of transboundary biodiversity areas. + Builds consensus and public trust through an SEA’s multistakeholder and participatory focus. Source: Author.

10 ARTICLE MYANMAR

POLICIES AND PLANNING

Myanmar Looks to Ecotourism for Sustainable Development

Tourism in Myanmar is booming. In , the country had less than million visitors; in ¡ it had . million visitors, who spent $. billion during their stay. In and ¡, the CEP mobilized a team A tourist explores while local people go of experts to support the Ministry of Natural about their business on Inle Lake, Myanmar With its mix of culture, history, and natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (photo from Shutterstock.com). beauty, Myanmar has quickly become one of and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Asia’s top emerging tourist destinations. To get developing an ecotourism strategy. The team the most out of tourism’s contribution to assessed the state of conservation and “Visitors have been keen to experience socioeconomic development, the government tourism in protected areas designated as Myanmar’s world-renowned cities and is putting in place policies and building and having ecotourism potential. upgrading infrastructure to promote sustainable unique, unspoiled cultural heritage. tourism growth. The findings identified both risks and Accompanying this growth is a new opportunities. For example, potential demand, especially from discerning Ecotourism has played only a small role risks of tourism to cultural practices or international travelers, to explore in Myanmar’s tourism boom. Even so, the endangered biodiversity, and opportunities country’s Tourism Master Plan, – such as features of interest to tourists Myanmar’s natural heritage in a way recognizes its considerable potential. If properly and income generation activities for local that is sustainable and aligned with planned, ecotourism should not only help spur livelihoods. The CEP’s assessment featured principles of green growth.” economic growth, but also contribute to nature prominently in the Myanmar Ecotourism conservation and provide livelihood benefits to Policy and Protected Area Management U Htay Aung, former union minister, Ministry of Hotels local communities. Strategy, –. and Tourism, Myanmar

11 ARTICLE CAMBODIA

POLICIES AND PLANNING

Cambodia’s New Environment Strategy

Cambodia’s ambitious new environment plan, the National Environment Strategy and Action Plan, – (NESAP), aims to ensure that environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management are pillars of economic development.

The NESAP is Cambodia’s ﬁrst major environment plan in more than a decade, and sets out a road map to for the country’s eﬀorts to achieve many of its Sustainable Development Goals.

The NESAP gives a detailed analysis of the environmental situation, and outlines priority policy and governance improvements and ﬁnancing mechanisms. It also includes a $ million pipeline of current and planned donor-funded environmental projects and programs.

Work on the NESAP and on a national environment code to strengthen legal frameworks for environmental management Implementing the NESAP to its full intent will be Rice fields and thatched huts in Siem Reap began in ¡. Both the code and the NESAP were a huge challenge, requiring extensive ﬁnancial Province, Cambodia (photo from Shutterstock.com). approved by the National Council for Sustainable and technical support, institutional capacity Development in October £ and in December strengthening, and greater coordination that year, the NESAP was signed oﬀ by cabinet. between ministries and with other stakeholders. ”The NESAP is a strategy for all

The NESAP’s development process was overseen The CEP is already planning its contribution to government ministries as well as by a task force comprising ministries. this eﬀort. Under the program’s new ¦– the private sector, civil society, The Ministry of Environment coordinated strategy, two large investments have been and development partners the process with extensive support from the identiﬁed that will directly support the NESAP’s to integrate environmental CEP. Multistakeholder consultations were implementation. One will support integrated held nationally and in provinces, involving and sustainable land use management; the concerns into economic policies hundreds of representatives from government other aims to improve rural environmental and investments.” agencies, civil society groups, and development quality, with a focus on pollution control and organizations. waste management. Say Samal, minister of environment, Cambodia

12 ARTICLE GMS STORY THAILAND

POLICIES AND PLANNING POLICIES AND PLANNING

Improving Land Training the

Use Planning In , the CEP partnered with the Free Trainers—Land University of Amsterdam to enhance the in the Greater CLUMondo land use change modeling Use Planning software. The revised tool was easier to use Mekong Subregion and had greater functionality, including a new ecosystem services demand module. Yongyut Trisurat, a professor of forest biology, has been an ardent advocate of the CLUMondo Land use is constantly changing in the GMS. CLUMondo produces maps showing future land use change model since he began using the Yet government planners are often poorly land use based on land demand and the software during a CEP training course in £. informed about land use processes, which risks ecosystem service requirements of sectors. These days he regularly trains trainers on using decisions being made that may lead to social and The risks and benefits of land use scenarios CLUMondo to help build land use planning environmental costs that outweigh the intended can be shown visually and be used to assess capacity in Thailand. benefits. For example, a forest cleared for timber against sustainability criteria. or commercial plantations might, due to poor His background is in sustainable land use land use planning, affect water and soil quality The tool’s application is not only useful for planning in a career that includes years with and negatively impact nearby agriculture. area-based planning processes, but also as the Royal Forest Department and, since , a risk assessment tool for investment sectors lecturing at Kasetsart University’s Department of The CEP has been promoting, developing, that heavily depend on forest ecosystem Forest Biology. He also conducts land use change and applying tools to help improve land use services (e.g., hydropower, tourism). This analyses for development projects in Thailand. planning capacity since . A particularly includes SEAs and cumulative impact successful intervention to achieve this has been assessments for plans for agriculture, energy, Professor Trisurat has trained more than spatial multicriteria assessment, a decision- and transport, among other sectors. ¡ government planners, academics, and support tool that allows planning options to development practitioners to use CLUMondo, be compared and assessed using economic, The CEP formed a land use change modeling as part of his role as Thailand coordinator environmental, and social criteria and scores. network for the GMS in ¡. The network for CEP’s regional land use planning network. brings together government planners and For him, the enhanced version of the CLUMondo The information can be mapped to assist academics from the six countries to raise tool is more user-friendly and better supports decision-makers to prioritize investments by awareness of land use planning and build sustainable land use planning. location, determine optimal land allocation, national expertise to apply CLUMondo. and plan mitigation measures to reduce risks. “CLUMondo provides lots of opportunities for The CEP has trained hundreds of practitioners In ¡, the CEP used CLUMondo to support stakeholder engagement, especially in mapping in the GMS on how to use this tool in planning Viet Nam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and out future land use scenarios. The tool is very processes. Environment in conducting an SEA on the useful for projecting future land use change and ¡-year revision of the National Land Use Plan. the impacts on ecosystem services,” he said. In , the CEP conducted a spatial This generated insights into the risks and “It is also unique in that its ecosystem service multicriteria assessment of the GMS Program’s opportunities of adjustments to the plan’s demand aspect helps us move beyond simple Regional Investment Framework, –, land use scenario. land use thinking.” which at the time had an estimated $¡ billion project pipeline. The assessment gave ADB With increasing competition for diminishing Professor Trisurat has already built up a strong and government decision-makers important land resources and emerging threats such as group of CLUMondo experts in Thailand, but insights into the geographic suitability of these climate change, the CEP’s land use planning his work continues. His goal, he said, is to “fully investments in terms of environmental risks support is of increasing importance to the embed” CLUMondo into the government’s land and economic opportunities. sustainability efforts in the GMS. use planning processes.

13 A coal-fired power plant in the Lao PDR

ARTICLE GMS (photo from Shutterstock.com).

POLICIES AND PLANNING

Despite the data constraints, important insights were generated for all three countries. The main ﬁnding was that they could make large reductions in industrial pollution discharges by focusing resources on a relatively small number of industrial facilities in a few geographic areas. In the Lao PDR, for example, cement lime and plaster enterprises account for more than % of the country’s industrial air pollution emissions. Across all three countries, the most polluting facilities are concentrated in the urban fringes, economic and industrial zones, and near major transport and trade infrastructure, such as ports, airports, and highways.

Among the recommendations that build on Managing the pollution analyses was for a review of pollution control resources to ensure that they Industrial Pollution monitoring and managing pollution, though are allocated to the most polluting sectors and more needs to be done. Cambodia, the Lao PDR, geographic areas. Another recommendation in the Greater and Myanmar are still in the early stages of calls for industrial pollution audits for plants industrialization and pollution is emerging as identified as the largest producers of air, water, Mekong Subregion a growing problem in these countries, where and toxic pollutants. thousands of factories have been built in recent years. Pollution from their burgeoning Using the Industrial Pollution Projection System After centuries of agricultural dependence, manufacturing sectors is a pressing concern was an important first step for mainstreaming GMS countries have pursued industrialization for human health and the environment. So pollution control in the three countries. in recent decades. As a result, their economies far, these countries have inadequate capacity, The analyses raised awareness among are now more diversified and consumer-driven. resources, and systems to monitor and manage government officials about the pollution Although this has brought many socioeconomic pollution. situation, information needs, and where benefits, it has created pollution problems, resources should be allocated. which are worsening. The CEP analyzed industrial pollution risks in the Lao PDR in ¡ and Cambodia in The findings influenced major environmental Air pollution is a growing concern in urban at the request of both countries’ governments. strategies in the GMS, including the Lao PDR’s areas across the GMS, as is the level of pollution The program used the World Bank’s National Pollution Control Strategy and in coastal and other water bodies. The impacts Industrial Pollution Projection System, with Cambodia’s NESAP. The findings can also be on health and the environment are already its coefficients for water, air, and land used to inform environmental quality guidelines considerable and coming at an increasing cost pollutants. The system is fairly easy to use and broader policies and regulations for to economic development. Effective efforts to because it mainly relies on a database of environmental and social safeguards. tackle all forms of pollution will be essential national enterprises with information about for the GMS countries to achieve many of their the size, location, and type of manufacturing With better input data and coefficients adjusted Sustainable Development Goals. businesses. In £, Myanmar sought CEP to national contexts, an adapted version of support to analyze its industrial pollution risks, the Industrial Pollution Projection System The GMS’s most industrialized countries— but because of inadequate enterprise data, the could be a powerful tool to help the GMS the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Thailand, analysis was less comprehensive than for the countries estimate emissions and to avoid and and Viet Nam—are already investing heavily in other countries. mitigate pollution.

14 ARTICLE GMS

POLICIES AND PLANNING

Assessing Environmental Performance

From £ to , the CEP worked with the six GMS countries to strengthen their monitoring capacity and produce a second round of environmental performance assessment (EPA) reports.

This work built on an ADB technical assistance project that produced the subregion’s first EPA reports from to . The CEP put more emphasis in the second round on building national capacity to conduct these assessments to produce better quality information and ensure that analytical results fed into planning The national reports and a subregional one Tourist accommodations on the processes. were published in , and timed to influence Khwae Noi River, in Sai Yok National Park, national development strategies, such as the Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand (photo from National consultants and concerned Lao PDR’s Seventh Five-Year Socioeconomic Shutterstock.com). government agencies led this work, using the Development Plan, –. Yunnan provincial learning-by-doing approach. This effort resulted authorities decided to test the EPA approach in national EPA units being established in the at the prefecture level. In , they adapted six countries. With the EPA process embedded in the EPA methodology to track the performance “Pressures on forests are generally government agencies, closer collaboration with of Xishuangbanna Prefecture’s th Five-Year high and increasing, the key a wide range of sectors and ministries became Plan for Development of Ecological Construction pressures being natural forest easier and in turn resulted in better information and Environmental Protection. As well as the and data. EPA report, they also produced a guidebook for conversion to agriculture and applying prefecture EPAs. plantation forest, excessive The second round of EPAs continued to analyze logging, and land clearance for the same environmental priorities undertaken In , the CEP switched its emphasis from large-scale development projects in the first round: biodiversity conservation, national support for EPAs to providing more climate change, poverty reduction, capacity timely monitoring information by developing such as hydropower and mining.” building, and sustainable natural resource an online statistics portal. This portal includes management. A notable difference in approach data to track regional, national, and landscape Greater Mekong Subregion Environmental was the use of the driver-pressure-state-impact- environment trends, and has become an integral Performance Assessment 2006–2016. response framework, an extension of the part of the broader GMS Information Portal. Page 2. (2017). pressure-state-response framework used for the first round. This enabled deeper insights into The CEP produced a third subregional EPA, pressures on the environment, as well as deeper covering –, as a knowledge product for insights into the social and biophysical impacts the ¡th GMS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, associated with environmental change. in January ¦.

15 Safeguards

Fishers cast their nets over flooded rice fields Environmental impact assessment (EIA) Achievements near Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia (photo from the EOC). is an essential tool to safeguard the natural + Developed procedures, technical guidelines, environment and communities from the national environmental quality standards, negative effects of economic development. and sector-specific guidelines as pillars of EIAs identify and manage the potential Myanmar’s EIA system. impacts of all types of investments, but they What Is an + Leveraged a $.¡ million ADB capacity support are particularly important for large or risky Environmental Impact infrastructure, agriculture, industrial, and project for Myanmar and influenced the mining projects. safeguards support programs of ADB and other Assessment? development partners. In the GMS, EIAs are being more rigorously + Raised awareness about EIA for over An environmental impact assessment applied in Cambodia, the PRC, Thailand, a thousand stakeholders in Cambodia and (EIA) systematically identifies and and Viet Nam, all of which have used them Myanmar through consultation events and assesses the environmental risks of for many years now. The Lao PDR and publications. proposed projects, and recommends Myanmar are in the process of developing actions to improve their design to avoid EIA systems. + Contributed to an improved EIA system or lessen adverse environmental and social in Cambodia through a capacity needs impacts during project implementation. The CEP has been supporting EIA efforts assessment and training program for in the subregion since . In Myanmar, provincial EIA officials. A strong EIA system can stop risky projects from getting underway in the its EIA program was instrumental in Next Steps establishing the regulatory framework for first place, and hold investors accountable a national EIA system. In Cambodia, the Under the CEP Strategic Framework and Action by ensuring that project design avoids CEP helped identify and address capacity Plan –, the CEP plans to continue its potential environmental problems. weaknesses to strengthen the EIA system. support for mainstreaming and improving EIA An effective EIA process will help avoid In both countries, the CEP’s efforts are in the GMS. This will include policy advice to project delays, enable conflicts to be benefiting the environment and society strengthen EIA legal frameworks and helping better managed, and build trust and through hundreds of investments that countries identify and secure funds to strengthen transparency among stakeholders. are more environmentally and socially capacity to implement EIAs. sustainable. Source: Author.

16 ARTICLE MYANMAR “Myanmar’s EIA process will effectively help prevent the potentially adverse environmental and social impacts of SAFEGUARDS development projects and contribute to the nation and its people’s achievement of sustainable development.”

Safeguarding Daw Thet Thet Zin, former deputy minister, Ministry of Environmental Conservation Myanmar’s and Forestry, Myanmar Environment

The CEP has taken on a leading role in assisting Myanmar established the legal basis for Myanmar to develop an environmental impact EIA in through its new Environmental assessment (EIA) system to safeguard the Conservation Law, supported by framework country from the adverse environmental effects EIA rules. The Ministry of Natural Resources of economic development. and Environmental Conservation was given the mandate and increased powers to The support has been particularly timely, build and oversee the EIA system, led by its given Myanmar’s recent political and Environmental Conservation Department. economic reforms reconnecting the country The CEP has been at the forefront of with the global community and leading to an international support to the department to upsurge in foreign direct investment (FDI). put together other pieces of the EIA regulatory Much of this investment is tapping into framework. These include EIA procedures, Myanmar’s extensive natural resources. technical guidelines, national environmental Oil and gas extraction make up nearly a third of quality standards, and some sector guidelines. FDI, and forestry, manufacturing, hydropower, “EIA is the key instrument and agriculture are also attracting FDI. The CEP has also helped build capacity for to mainstream environmental Other investments are helping the country EIA through national multistakeholder management in development to leverage development opportunities consultations, awareness-raising events, through transport, telecommunication, and training programs. These involved projects. CEP’s support has been and infrastructure projects. over , stakeholders. Environmental of fundamental importance.” Conservation Department is working with These investments are essential for Myanmar to other ministries to test the new EIA system. Hla Maung Thein, director general, reduce poverty and achieve other development More than investments projects in energy, Environmental Conservation Department, goals. They can also cause considerable infrastructure, manufacturing, and mining Ministry of Natural Resources and damage to ecosystems and communities if are going through the new EIA process. Environmental Conservation, Myanmar they are not designed and implemented with adequate environmental safeguards. Myanmar’s The policy and legislative environment natural environment is still in relatively good for EIA is nearly complete and piloting is condition. That said, its forest and biodiversity underway, though much remains to be done losses are among the highest in Southeast Asia, before Myanmar has a fully functioning and water and air pollution, and soil damage, EIA system. Institutional capability and are emerging environmental problems. interministerial coordination are two big challenges. Since late ¡, a $.¡ million ADB Myanmar’s fledgling EIA system will play technical assistance project, leveraged by the a key role in managing the potential negative CEP, has been building EIA capacity. Although impacts of investment projects. Most of these it is still early days for Myanmar’s EIA system, are financed through private companies, which its emergence marks an important milestone often have weak or practically nonexistent in the country’s efforts to safeguard its environment and social safeguards. environment.

17 STORY CAMBODIA

SAFEGUARDS

Building

Environmental Impact Chapter Two Assessment Capacity in Cambodia Climate Change When Chea Leng (pictured above) learned about Leng agrees with the review, pointing out that “Before CEP, our provincial officials had never environmental impact assessments (EIAs), in having enough people with the right expertise to been trained on EIA review; they just learned by the mid-s, it was a concept few in Cambodia oversee and implement EIAs is as important as doing, but were often afraid and unsure how to knew much about. Two decades on, the country’s ensuring that the right laws and regulations are deal with these lengthy EIA reports,” said Leng. attempts to mainstream EIA have met with mixed in place to carry out these assessments. results. But Leng, who is the deputy director of He praised the program’s training for using the Ministry of Environment’s Environmental In Cambodia, EIA provincial departments a step-by-step and practical learning approach Impact Assessment Department, believes that is are responsible for reviewing environmental based on actual EIA reports. “Our officials soon going to change. assessment reports and monitoring compliance quickly developed greater understanding for investment projects worth up to $ million. and more confidence to perform their This is because a new, comprehensive draft Provincial authorities, however, are often unable role,” he added. EIA that covers climate change, gender, and to cope. Much of their workload is passed public participation is in the works. “Overall, back to the Environmental Impact Assessment Even though CEP’s participation ended in , there is now stronger political support and the Department in Phnom Penh, which is itself the department continues this work by using EIA process is becoming more rigorous and overstretched in dealing with bigger investment CEP training methods and materials in its systematic,” said Leng. projects, such as mines, hydropower schemes, EIA workshops. But Leng said more external and large agriculture concessions. support will be needed to build Cambodia’s In , the Ministry of Environment sought EIA expertise to the level required. the CEP’s support to review the country’s Following the review, the CEP and the EIA practices and develop a priority plan for department partnered to train provincial officials improvements. The review found, among other to review EIA reports and monitor compliance. things, that provincial EIA departments were In ¡ and , four multiday workshops were Deforested land and newly planted rice understaffed, and lacked the expertise and held around the country, involving ¡ provincial in the Central Annamite Mountains, Viet Nam experience to effectively oversee EIAs. EIA officials. (photo from the EOC).

18 Chapter Two Climate Change

19 ”CEP is in a key position to promote climate resilience and adaptation and mitigation among GMS countries.”

Hla Maung Thein, director general, Environmental Conservation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Overview Environmental Conservation, Myanmar

limate change is humanity’s greatest has carved out an important niche as a subregional Cassava farmers in Lao Ngam District, challenge of modern times. The GMS platform to generate knowledge, build capacity, and Lao PDR (photo from ADB). Cis expected to be at the sharp end of test solutions for both adaptation and mitigation. a changing climate, with Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam ranked among the With its partners, the CEP has shed light on how world’s ¡ countries that are most vulnerable. climate change is likely to unfold in the GMS, and Many cities and coastal and rural communities identified practical and effective responses. The across the subregion are already grappling with focus is on two fronts: solutions to build the climate the increased frequency and severity of weather resilience of rural communities and solutions to events, such as floods, storms, and droughts. reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road freight. In the longer term, temperature change will be a huge challenge for these countries. Their Key Results food production systems and biodiversity will come under increasing pressure from + Developed, tested, and promoted tools and Next Steps climate-induced ecosystem change. Their flora approaches for practitioners and planners and fauna will have to adapt or possibly face to better understand how climate change Climate change will continue to be an integral extinction in some places as habitat conditions will affect rural GMS communities, and how CEP pillar. Under the program’s third phase, become less favorable. Areas where crops now rural resilience to climate change can be two of the six planned investment projects flourish may be rendered far less suitable for strengthened. will build on the gains identified in the key agriculture. results. One is to increase access to financing + Built national and regional capacity for for projects and programs to scale up using climate change adaptation tools and Governments, development organizations, investments in green road freight. The other methodologies by developing regional networks, businesses, and communities are accelerating investment focuses on climate proofing rural holding training programs, and creating efforts to find solutions to climate change. infrastructure and using risk financing to knowledge resources. The signs are increasingly encouraging that the strengthen the resilience of rural households global community can and will take meaningful + Tested and proved the cost-effectiveness of fuel to climate change. The CEP will also generate action to reduce climate impacts. Tackling efficiency technologies and eco-driver training and disseminate more knowledge on climate climate change is a key pillar of the CEP’s to reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions change by strengthening its efforts to build support to the GMS countries. The program from road freight. a GMS network for adaptation.

20 Building Climate Resilience

For most of the past decade, climate change of helping rural communities become more adaptation has focused on physical engineering resilient against an increasingly uncertain solutions to protect urban and coastal future caused by climate change. Since populations from storm surges, floods, and then, the program has made significant rising sea levels. More recently, the adaptation contributions to the region’s knowledge base needs of rural communities have gained on climate adaptation. increasing prominence on the international climate change agenda. In the GMS, thousands Achievements of geographically isolated communities are A large landslide caused by a storm covers + Built climate change knowledge home to many of its poorest people. Subsistence a main road in Thua Thien Hue Province, Viet Nam partnerships among regional farming dominates livelihoods in these areas, (photo from the EOC). development organizations. which have been long used to damaging floods, droughts, and storms. These disasters are set + Strengthened national capacity to assess to worsen with climate change, and are already climate change vulnerability and use happening through the increased frequency participatory approaches to identify “In 2011, large-scale floods in Thailand and severity of weather events. For farming adaptation solutions. affected almost 14 million people, households living below or just above the + Created and promoted platforms, resulting in an estimated $45.7 billion poverty line, a major flood or drought can have guidelines, tools, training materials, dire long-term livelihood consequences. in damages.” and other knowledge resources for conducting vulnerability assessments. Expensive, hi-tech climate adaptation solutions Risk Financing for Rural Climate Resilience in the GMS rural communities are not feasible + Assessed the potential of climate in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Page 1. (2017). right now. Instead, practical and cost-effective risk financing mechanisms to build solutions will have to be found. Since , the resilience of rural communities the CEP has worked with hundreds of rural in the GMS. communities in the subregion’s transboundary areas through the CEP biodiversity corridors initiative (Chapter ). The CEP began broadening this support from with the long-term aim

21 ARTICLE GMS

CLIMATE CHANGE

Risk Financing for Rural Climate Resilience

In , the CEP conducted a study to assess how social capital networks, and reliance on public Farmers hard at work in rice fields in Luang risk financing could help strengthen the climate assistance. But they are ill-equipped to cope Prabang Province, Lao PDR (photo from the EOC). resilience of rural households. Such financing with severe climate shocks. mechanisms have been set up in other parts of the world, but little was known about their potential The study’s main conclusion is that a mix of in the GMS until this study. climate financing risk mechanisms are needed to effectively protect rural communities from The study assessed the frequency and severity destructive climate events, even though these of climate-related disasters, the impact of these mechanisms come with considerable financing events on rural livelihoods, and how local people and organizational requirements. There is “Households from the Koh Kong manage climate risks in ¦ rural communities in potential to incentivize household saving coastal zone reported as much as Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic schemes, and to create disaster risk funds at a 90% loss in economic income (Lao PDR), and Viet Nam. It also explored the the community, national, and even subregional potential of climate risk financing strategies to levels. The CEP’s £ publication Risk Financing from paddy rice due to seawater build community resilience. for Rural Climate Resilience in the Greater intrusion events.” Mekong Subregion examines this issue, presents The study found that agrarian communities are findings, and offers recommendations for the Risk Financing for Rural Climate Resilience in the often beset by droughts, floods, and storms, greater use of risk financing. Greater Mekong Subregion. Page 18. (2017). which sometimes severely damage livelihoods. Nearly all these communities already face Climate risk financing and climate proofing of considerable socioeconomic challenges, and rural infrastructure are two investment projects severe climate events can tip many into extreme to be prepared by the CEP under its ¦– poverty. Nearly all of the rural households have strategic framework and action plan. some means of managing climate and other risks through diversified farming practices,

22 STORY CAMBODIA

CLIMATE CHANGE

Government Planners Help Farmers Fight Climate Change

Heng Hong grew up in a rice farming family near Santuk Mountain, one of Kampong Thom Province’s most sacred sites. According to locals, the dry season is getting longer—a pattern seen across Cambodia and one of the most obvious signs of climate change. The dry and wet seasons usually last for months each, but recent years have seen the dry season lasting ¦ months.

These days, Hong lives and works in Phnom Penh, but he remains closely engaged with rural life in his role as deputy director of the Department Times are getting tougher for many of Villagers participate in climate-adaptation of Community Livelihoods, an agency under the Chikhaleu’s farmers. Land conflicts have planning exercises, Lao PDR (photo from the EOC). Ministry of Environment. emerged as commercial sugar plantations moved into the areas. Climate change is making it Hong was one of the ¡ government planners from harder for the farmers to make a living from the Cambodia, the Lao PDR, and Viet Nam who trained land because of the shorter growing seasons. One of his biggest takeaways was the need to under the CEP to work with communities to assess consider future change scenarios and to plan their vulnerability to climate change and help find Chikhaleu’s farmers can no longer rely on the for these rather than base interventions on adaptation options. A series of three CEP-funded traditional farming practices passed down by the current situation. workshops were held by the Southeast Asia previous generations, but need to learn technical Regional Center for the Global Change System solutions to adapt to climate change. During and , the CEP developed for Analysis, Research, and Training (START) in a participatory framework to assess rural Bangkok between August and February £. “Adaptation planning is very important for these vulnerability to climate change in the Participants learned how to conduct situational farmers as they depend on natural resources to GMS and identify adaptation solutions. analyses, risk profiling, and future visioning, farm rice, raise livestock, and gather non-timber The framework was tested in communities and how to identify and implement adaptation forest products,” said Hong. “If they don’t in Cambodia, the Lao PDR, and Viet Nam. solutions. In between the workshops, participants adapt to climate change it will destroy their In , the framework was refined and were encouraged to try out these skills in the field. livelihoods.” published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In , training materials and an Hong did his fieldwork in Chikhaleu Commune, He believes that the CEP’s “deep and detailed” online platform were developed to help in Koh Kong Province’s Dong Peng Protected Area. training on climate adaptation planning implement the framework. Training on This is one of Cambodia’s three “multiple use” will enable him to work better with rural the framework was started that year for protected areas, where communities within Dong communities to find solutions to tackle a core group of practitioners in the GMS, Peng’s £, hectares are allowed to sustainably climate impacts using the analytical tools and including government planners who work use natural resources to support their livelihoods. approaches taught at the workshops. with communities.

23 ARTICLE GMS

CLIMATE CHANGE

The Greater Mekong Subregion Roundtable on Climate Change Adaptation

The GMS Roundtable on Climate Change That same year, roundtable partners began Farmers harvest rice in Cao Bang Province, Adaptation was launched by the Environment working on guidelines for assessing climate Viet Nam (photo from Shutterstock.com). Operations Center (EOC) in as forum change vulnerability within the subregion’s for Bangkok-based regional organizations many watersheds. Building capacity for such working on climate change to regularly meet, assessments is critical as the impacts and Roundtable Organizations share information, and collaborate on climate changes from climate change will be felt most challenges. Since its inception, roundtable acutely in catchment areas, which are becoming partners have identified critical research gaps, an increasingly important geographic focus of developed adaptation tools and methodologies, government planning processes. A workshop was and collaborated on new knowledge resources. held in September £ where the guidelines were tested and refined. The guidelines were finalized GMS Environment Operations Center For Alex Smajgl, managing director of the in November £ and will be a valuable tool for Food and Agriculture Organization Mekong Region Futures Institute, a roundtable climate change practitioners and government of the United Nations founder, the initiative provides a mechanism planners throughout the subregion. for regional climate change specialists and Institute for Global Environmental Strategies their organizations to better coordinate their The roundtable is a good example of the CEP’s Mekong Region Futures Institute work to maximize impact. “It’s all about an value to the region. “CEP occupies a very opportunity to influence climate change policy unique space with its focus on the GMS and International Union for Conservation of Nature and programs,” he said. its coordination function bringing together Southeast Asia START Regional Center environment ministries and stakeholders,” Stockholm Environment Institute One of the early collaborations for the said Smajgl. roundtable members was shaping events Thailand Environment Institute and knowledge products for the th GMS Under the third phase of the CEP, the EOC will UN Environment Environment Ministers’ Meeting, held in continue to coordinate the roundtable, and United States Agency for International early ¡. This ensured that climate change develop its already prominent role in generating Development adaptation issues and solutions were high on the and disseminating knowledge on climate change agenda at the flagship GMS environment event. issues in the GMS. United States Forest Service

24 “Reducing logistics costs will improve economics in the Mekong region. It’s also a major opportunity for climate change mitigation. We need better technology, better management, and better drivers.”

Leena Klossner, vice president and deputy managing director, Nordic Development Fund

Green Road Freight

Millions of trucks travel along the many Aerodynamic panels being tested on highways that connect the GMS countries, a freight truck in Chonburi Province, Thailand carrying about ¦% of the freight moved in “The Green Freight Initiative has (photo from the EOC). the subregion. Road freight is vital for trade proved that our approaches to and prosperity, helping connect farmers and reduce fuel consumption are factories with markets, both within the GMS and beyond. But the road transport sector faces headed in the right direction.” From to £, the CEP’s Green Freight sizable environmental and economic challenges. Initiative helped SME freight companies Thibodee Harnprasert, adviser to the in the Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam to Road freight is a large contributor to the % Federation of Thai Industries and transport test ways to make their businesses more fuel of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions company owner efficient. Interventions included retrofitting from transport in the GMS (excluding the PRC). aerodynamic technologies on trucks, Air pollution from other emissions causes low-rolling resistance tires, and piloting a range of environmental and human health software for truck maintenance. Forty driving problems. On the economic front, the small and To tackle these problems, which are instructors were trained under an eco-driver medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that dominate common to many developing countries, training program for truck drivers to learn road freight in the GMS face high logistics costs. green freight programs are underway more fuel-efficient and safer driving and Fuel often accounts for about half of a trucking around the world. These programs bring maintenance practices. company’s operating costs, and fuel price governments, the private sector, civil society, increases can cut deeply into profits. Truck and transport companies together to find Rigorous road testing under a range of fleets are often old and inefficient, and most ways to move goods more efficiently to conditions proved that fuel efficiency gains drivers lack driving skills that can conserve fuel. reduce negative climate, health, energy, and could be made from both the technologies Poor logistics management sees many trucks economic impacts. The programs aim for and eco-driver training. Simple changes making return trips with empty loads. In the environmental and economic “win–wins” such as better tires can cut fuel costs by GMS, most SME truck companies do not have that can help countries meet climate change about ¡%. Cost–benefit analyses showed that the financial means to upgrade their fleets or mitigation targets and implement green these technologies will repay the investment develop advanced logistics systems. growth strategies. cost within a few years.

25 The CEP also investigated the reasons for empty Although the Green Freight Initiative has return trips in the GMS. Studies show that closed, its partners continue to build on its Origins of the Green online platforms integrating global positioning work. All three participating countries are Freight Initiative system technology can better connect freight planning to integrate eco-driver training into forwarders and truck companies to maximize national driving curricula. Thailand is looking In 2010, a CEP study, Carbon Neutral freighting opportunities. They also show, to develop nationwide logistics software Transport Corridors, examined transport however, that trade imbalances within and and other green freight projects using their sector contributions to greenhouse gas between countries make it difficult to avoid own funding sources. Germany’s GIZ has emissions in the GMS East–West Economic empty backhauling. a €. million European Union-funded project Corridor. The study found that emissions that builds on the Green Freight Initiative in along the corridor, which connects Myanmar, the three countries, as well as expanding into Thailand, the Lao PDR, and Viet Nam, were Cambodia and Myanmar. “Viet Nam has a lot of 1.1 million tons in 2010, and could double in 20 years if the pattern of emissions For the CEP, green freight continues to be potential to adopt green continued. It found that road freight was a priority. During £, the CEP and the freight because transport responsible for 60% of emissions, despite transport ministries of Thailand and Viet Nam making up only 30% of corridor transport technology here is in an worked on green freight being included as activity. early stage and logistics a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action for both countries under the United Nations management is not strong.” The study identified two actions to mitigate Framework Convention on Climate Change. emissions: reforestation investments to If successful, this would open substantial Nguyen Huu Tien, deputy director general, offset carbon emissions, and increasing fuel funding through international climate Environment Department, Ministry of efficiency in road freight. It estimated that change financing. A green freight Nationally Transport, Viet Nam green freight could lessen emissions along Appropriate Mitigation Action could help the GMS East–West Economic Corridor Viet Nam reduce transport emissions by by 23% by 2030. The second option was % through interventions such as compulsory deemed more feasible, and the Green The CEP looked at financing issues for green tire standards and eco-driving for truck drivers. Freight Initiative—one of the CEP’s flagship freight. Despite learning about fuel-saving The CEP also plans to develop large green projects—was launched in 2012. benefits, many SMEs cannot afford the up-front freight investments as a priority activity under investment costs for retrofit technologies, the program’s third phase, starting in ¦. Source: Author. let alone buying new trucks. Setting up specialized energy service companies could help solve these problems. As not-for-profit entities, these companies can arrange access Fuel Savings (averaged across the three countries) to affordable technologies for member SME % freight companies through group purchasing 11 discounts. As members, they would also get technical support services. 6% 14% 5%

Fuel-efficient The Green Freight Initiative made the following Fuel-efficient Eco-driver technologies plus Low rolling important contributions to cleaner trucking technologies training eco-driver training resistance tires in the GMS: it (i) helped prove the viability and value of fuel-eﬃcient technologies and driver training; (ii) raised the awareness of Green Freight Initiative Partners transport ministries and truck companies about green freight issues and opportunities; Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Lao PDR (iii) provided deeper insights into ﬁnancing Ministry of Transport, Viet Nam and logistics challenges; and (iv) demonstrated Ministry of Transport, Thailand a mechanism for freight companies, transport Federation of Thai Industries agencies, industry partners, and development organizations to collaborate on promoting Grutter Consulting green freight. Clean Air Asia

26 ARTICLE THAILAND

CLIMATE CHANGE

company, Jira Charoen employs staﬀ and Staff from Jira Charoen Ltd. gather for a Green Freight operates a ﬂeet of over ¡ vehicles, which ply day of testing fuel-efficient truck technologies routes throughout Thailand, carrying consumer (photo from the EOC). Company Profile: goods and construction materials.

Jira Charoen Ltd., The company was one of the most active in the Owner Silp intends to continue pursuing green Green Freight Initiative. Its trucks were used freight approaches for her company and hopes Thailand to test fuel-efficient technologies and conduct this effort will be supported by others in the software trials to improve freight logistics and transport sector: “We would like to see the Jira Charoen, a family-owned road transport vehicle maintenance systems. All its drivers were further development of green freight for not company, joined the Green Freight Initiative to trained on eco-driving. As was the case for the only our company, but others, too, so together help achieve its social and environment goals. other companies that participated in the Green we progress and become more environmentally Freight Initiative, Jira Charoen’s test results were sustainable.” “We were confident that when we joined this highly encouraging. project it would benefit not only our company but also the community,” said the company’s “The technologies and eco-driver training helped “We were confident that when we owner, Jetsanee Charoen Silp. “By improving the our company reduce transportation costs and be joined this project it would benefit efficiency and quality of transportation services, more competitive. We use less energy now and not only our company but also the we will take better care of society as well as have better fuel consumption,” said Silp. decrease costs.” community.” As reflected by its motto “happy people work,” Jira Charoen is headquartered in Ratchaburi, Jira Charoen is committed to being a safe, Jetsanee Charoen Silp, owner, Jira Charoen Ltd., a few hours to the west of Bangkok, with enjoyable, and productive place of employment, Thailand a second depot in Saraburi, a similar distance something the Green Freight Initiative has northeast of the capital. A sizable and successful contributed to.

27 Chapter Three Landscapes and Livelihoods

28 conservation corridors, and test innovative Overview and integrated livelihood and conservation interventions.

he GMS has an impressive array of During the CEP’s second phase, focus shifted ecosystems and landscapes that include from on-the-ground interventions in the Tglacial mountains, extensive river systems, corridors to supporting landscape assessments large tracts of pristine forests, vast wetlands, and and planning in three priority landscapes: rich coastal marine life. These make the GMS the Mekong Headwaters, Sino–Viet Nam Karst, one of the world’s most important biodiversity and the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains. areas, and home to an incredibly diverse range In doing so, the CEP moved beyond the of plants and animals, many found nowhere else biodiversity lens to a broader ecosystem services on the planet. approach. This wide range of work included assisting joint biodiversity collaboration But with growing populations and rapid economic between countries in border forest areas, development, biodiversity losses have been helping establish systems to reward local people substantial across the subregion in recent decades. for forest stewardship, and climate change Coffee beans ready for harvest (photo from Large tracts of natural forest have been cleared planning. The CEP landscape initiatives have Shutterstock.com). for timber and agriculture. Species that are iconic helped protect the subregion’s valuable natural to the GMS, such as the tiger, are on the verge of capital, and by ensuring that local communities Women harvesting tea leaves in Viet Nam extinction because of habitat loss and hunting. are active partners and beneficiaries, they have (photo from the EOC). Chapter Three Freshwater systems have been unsustainably directly contributed to poverty reduction. fished, rivers greatly modified, and swamplands drained—and climate change is worsening the Key Results effects of these incursions. + Successfully introduced the biodiversity Transboundary Biodiversity corridor approach in the GMS, leading to the Landscapes The loss of natural capital and the ecosystem Landscapes and Livelihoods better protection and management of more services they provide often affects local than . million hectares of habitat in five livelihoods, and undermines efforts to achieve countries. environmentally sustainable economic growth. Protecting the subregion’s ecosystems is a huge + Leveraged $¦ million in additional task, and has become an increasing priority for all investments for forest and biodiversity six GMS countries. conservation, including $ million under Cardamom and Elephant Mountains the ADB-supported Biodiversity Conservation Central Annamites Since its inception in , the CEP has been at the Corridors Project. Eastern Plains Dry Forest forefront of efforts in the subregion to strengthen + Contributed to poverty reduction Mekong Headwaters and enlarge protected area networks in the GMS. for over , local people through The program introduced and piloted biodiversity Sino–Viet Nam Karst infrastructure and development funds in conservation corridors in seven transboundary Tenasserim Mountains villages and training programs. biodiversity landscapes to ensure better forest Tri-Border Forest connectivity between protected areas. These + Developed landscape management plans corridors provide vital habitats for many plant and policies. and animal species, and environmental services + Strengthened biodiversity conservation Next Steps such as regulating and maintaining water and soil collaboration between environment agencies quality. Economic development threatens both. The CEP’s third phase will involve building and local communities, and between on the landscapes and livelihoods work and governments in the subregion. The Biodiversity Corridors Initiative was the prioritizing the sustainable management of areas flagship work of CEP’s – first phase. + Contributed to regional knowledge of with high ecosystem service values, economic During that period, the CEP successfully brought livelihoods and biodiversity issues in growth pressures, and potential. This will together government agencies, hundreds of landscapes through socioeconomic, include ecosystem valuations, sustainable land local communities, and leading conservation biodiversity, and climate change assessments use planning and management strategies, and organizations to map out biodiversity and monitoring. initiatives to restore degraded land.

29 The Mekong Headwaters

This landscape stretches kilometers from the identiﬁed and mapped, and two new nature far north of Yunnan Province to the northern reserves being created. Two corridors, Nabanhe– What is a Biodiversity border provinces of Cambodia and the Lao PDR, Mangao and Mengla–Shangyong, were prioritized Conservation Corridor? and to the western parts of Myanmar’s Shan for integrated conservation and development State. It covers a large variety of ecosystems, activities, and corridor management planning. A biodiversity conservation corridor ranging from mountains in its far north to provides habitat connectivity, particularly subtropical forest in its far south. The landscape Support included livelihood training for forest cover, between protected areas. has the headwaters for ﬁve major rivers, communities in agroforestry and environment- The many protected areas in the Greater including the Mekong. Its upper reaches in friendly tea plantations. The CEP built village Mekong Subregion (GMS) range from large Yunnan act as a “water tower” by providing infrastructure, such as medical clinics and national parks to small wildlife sanctuaries. hydroelectricity to the PRC’s east coast. classrooms, and funded tree nurseries and reforestation (over .¡ million trees have been Biodiversity corridors can greatly improve The CEP and the Yunnan Environmental planted since £). Village development habitat for fauna and flora, as many species Protection Department have partnered since funds were established in ¦ corridor villages need to migrate beyond specific protected £ to establish biodiversity corridors in and these have provided cash loans to support areas. Corridor areas usually already provide Xishuangbanna Prefecture. This small southwest the livelihoods of more than families. important forest habitats, but because of corner of the PRC is less than , square At the planning level, the CEP created corridor a lack of protection, they are under threat kilometers in area, but contains a quarter of the management rules, a land use plan, and technical from economic development. country’s animal species, one-seventh of its plant guidelines for forest restoration. Yunnan’s species, and its largest subtropical rainforest. provincial authorities recognized the importance Corridor management practices, which Xishuangbanna’s habitat and biodiversity are of the biodiversity conservation corridors have local people at the center of forest under threat from rubber plantations and other approach by incorporating it in their Biodiversity protection measures, maintain and monoculture investments. Strategy and Action Plan, . enhance forest integrity, and help improve and expand protected area networks. The CEP began its work on Xishuangbanna’s The CEP’s interventions in Xishuangbanna created Today, the GMS has more than 2.6 million biodiversity conservation corridors by a strong collaboration between local communities hectares of biodiversity corridors. conducting biodiversity and socioeconomic and government agencies to enhance the assessments. These led to nine biodiversity prefecture’s protected area network. Because of Source: Author. corridors connecting six protected areas being this collaboration, forest connectivity between

30 “CEP helped increase local people’s awareness of environment and biodiversity conservation, and increased their self-management capacity.”

Lianxian Zhu, vice director, Menghai Environment Protection Bureau, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan the Asian elephant, which regularly migrates Protected Areas, PRC (photo from the EOC). between the two countries. With support from the CEP, a joint protected area was created along “CEP introduced international best “Eco-village” participatory planning in the border, and a protection plan drawn up for biodiversity conservation concepts Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, PRC the elephant population. In ¡, provincial and experiences to Yunnan.” (photo from the EOC). environment agencies in the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to Zhou Bo, director, Department of Soil Environment formalize their collaboration on biodiversity Management, Yunnan Environmental Protection protected areas is improving, and has benefited conservation initiatives. For the whole of the Department, Yunnan the livelihoods of over , households Mekong Headwaters, the CEP worked with in the two corridors. Building on the CEP’s government partners in the Lao PDR, Myanmar, work, Yunnan Province is now mobilizing its and Yunnan Province in and £ to draft own resources to replicate the conservation a management strategy. and livelihood activities in the other seven biodiversity corridors. Achievements + Improved biodiversity conservation and + Contributed to poverty reduction through With the CEP’s support, environment officials forest connectivity in two priority corridors village development funds (VDFs), livelihood from Yunnan Province and three northern in Xishuangbanna, covering ¦, hectares, training, and village infrastructure. provinces of the Lao PDR are working together and mapped out seven additional corridors. to improve biodiversity conservation in their + Developed corridor and landscape heavily forested border areas. The extensive + Influenced the creation of the management plans and guidelines to steer old-growth forests there include rare rainforest ,-hectare Sino–Lao Joint long-term biodiversity conservation efforts. ecosystems of international significance, and Protected Area, and two prefecture nature many iconic and endangered animals, such as reserves in Xishuangbanna.

31 ARTICLE PRC The local produce now goes to distant markets

LANDSCAPES AND LIVELIHOODS in northern PRC, such as the watermelon that dominates the fertile valley ﬂoor just below the village.

Manxing Eco-Village, While the economic situation slowly improved, environmental problems worsened. Forested People’s Republic areas were cut down for firewood or cleared for farmland. Wastewater treatment was nonexistent, of China and rubbish disposal often meant refuse was tipped into the nearest stream or gully. These It is late morning on a hot September day as our car environmental impacts extended much farther winds around the edge of a valley and enters than Manxing, which is one of villages in Manxing village. The narrow streets look paved in a ¡,-hectare strip of land between two nature gold, but the illusion is dispelled when it becomes reserves. The forest cover there has been slowly clear that they are carpeted in corn kernels, there to destroyed over the years, causing the loss of an dry on the warm concrete. important habitat. This has severely affected the animals, such as the endangered gaur, which need This is Menghai County, in Xishuangbanna to move between the two nature reserves. Coffee beans laid out to dry in Manxing village, Prefecture. This southern corner of Yunnan Yunnan Province, PRC (photo from the EOC). Province is nearly the farthest southern point of the In , CEP and Yunnan environment officials PRC, and the borders of Myanmar and Thailand are mapped out that strip of land as a priority about kilometers away. biodiversity corridor. Manxing village leaders The villagers voiced their appreciation for the support were then asked to participate in a project that that transformed their community into an eco-village. The village’s hundred or so houses are terraced on would turn Manxing into a demonstration village Some were glad about the cleaner environment, a hill, overlooking the small valley. Despite the heat, to show how the village environment could while others spoke of how their crop yields and some villagers are at work, raking corn kernels, be improved and the corridor protected. Local incomes had improved due to eco-farming practices. shelling nuts, sweeping yards, or stirring embers officials and villagers put together an eco-village The development fund was welcomed as being to boil water for tea. The village is quiet, though. plan, and through CEP and government funding particularly helpful in times of need. All but the youngest children are in school, and for the next years, a range of interventions most of the adults are away in the bigger towns, helped achieve this goal. Although Manxing is now a successful eco-village, working in restaurant or construction jobs. not all the interventions there can be replicated Over villagers were taught eco-farming, such in other villages in the corridor at the same scale. Manxing is by no means a wealthy place now, but as planting mixed tea and tree plantations and Even so, local and provincial authorities are planning life was much tougher just a decade ago, as it was medicinal plant gardens. One villager, whose projects and mobilizing funds to ensure that the best for many rural villages in the prefecture. Most livelihood depended on gathering wild honey practices are introduced throughout Xishuangbanna’s families were poorer then, making a basic living from the forest, was taught to build beehives and biodiversity corridors in the coming years. planting corn and sugarcane. “We only had dirt how to farm honey. Tree nurseries were set up roads and they turned to mud in the rainy season, and seeds collected. More than hectares of making it impossible for vehicles to come here,” degraded natural forest were replanted with local a villager said. tree species. A village patrol team was set up to “The CEP project promoted the concept guard , hectares of forest. of sustainable development of the Development reached nearly every corner of environment and natural resources. Yunnan Province, no matter how isolated, in the In Manxing itself, solar streetlamps and The project protected our ecosystem, s. As elsewhere in the country, government a waste collection system were installed. support in Manxing initially prioritized basic An artificial wetland was built below the village, and living conditions and the livelihoods infrastructure, such as paved roads and better enabling wastewater to be naturally filtered of local people greatly improved.” housing. With modern roads, employment and and safely dispersed. Retaining walls were built trade opportunities gradually opened up for the to stop erosion around the village. A village Lianxian Zhu, vice director, Menghai Environment villagers. Tea and other crops could be grown to development fund was established to provide Protection Bureau, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, generate some income, not just for subsistence. low-interest loans to help secure livelihoods. Yunnan

32 Sino–Viet Nam Karst

As its name suggests, the Sino–Viet Nam Karst’s In Cao Bang, through extensive socioeconomic defining feature is its large limestone karst and biodiversity assessments, the CEP formations. This diverse and visually impressive identified and mapped five biodiversity landscape provides many niche habitats for rare corridors that connect six protected areas, species, including the world’s only population of totaling ¦, hectares. Four corridors the Cao Vit Gibbon, one of the world’s rarest apes. have so far been approved by the provincial government. Two priority corridors, Pia Oak– This landscape covers southern Guangxi Zhuang Pac Bo and Cao Vit Gibbon–Halang, are the Limestone mountains in the hazy Autonomous Region, in south-central PRC, and focus of integrated conservation and livelihood background behind a centuries-old building extends into the northern Viet Nam province activities. in Guangxi, PRC (photo from the EOC). of Cao Bang. Large areas of this landscape have been converted to sugarcane plantations, with Within these corridors, the CEP worked with original plant species pushed back to the hills. ¦ villages in three communes. There is This encroachment also makes it increasingly little farming space for these communities, difficult for animal species to maintain healthy and living conditions are difficult. Three and wide-ranging populations. commune development funds were established supporting poverty reduction for ¦¦ Since the CEP has worked with environment households (,¦ people). The funds were officials in Guangxi and Cao Bang to establish also used for forest restoration, particularly biodiversity conservation corridors. These have in the Phong Nam commune, the pilot site enhanced biodiversity connectivity between for testing integrated conservation and 5,848,840 hectares the Bangliang Nature Reserve, in Guangxi’s livelihood interventions. Here, more than ¦ Jingxi County, and the adjacent Trung Khanh hectares of important habitat were reforested, Area of the Sino–Viet Nam Karst landscape Nature Reserve, in Viet Nam’s Cao Bang Province. and community teams were mobilized to A particular focus of this effort is the border patrol , hectares of the Cao Vit Gibbon forest areas, which are home to Cao Vit Protected Area. The CEP trained more than Gibbons. Forest restoration efforts within the villagers in animal husbandry, commercial corridor are helping protect and expand the area tree plantations, agroforestry, interplanting, of habitat for these critically endangered apes. and rural environmental management.

33 Over the border, in Guangxi, nine corridors to for Cao Bang; and various technical guidelines The Cao Vit Gibbon is the world’s rarest connect nine protected areas were identified for forest restoration, participatory land use ape and lives along the Viet Nam-PRC border and mapped. These cover ¡, hectares in planning, and commune development funds. (photo from the EOC). four districts. Poverty reduction interventions included piloting development funds in five The CEP is helping environment officials villages, which have so far provided loans to in Guangxi and Cao Bang collaborate on households for sustainable livelihood biodiversity conservation in their border activities, such as environmentally friendly areas. Officials meet regularly, participate Achievements farming practices. The CEP’s socioeconomic in joint training programs, and conduct + Improved forest connectivity in £¡,£ and biodiversity assessments led directly to the activities to monitor the Cao Vit Gibbon. hectares of biodiversity corridors. creation in of the ,¡-hectare Bangliang In ¡, a CEP-facilitated memorandum of Nature Reserve in a core area of the Cao Vit understanding was signed between environment + Contributed to poverty reduction for Gibbon habitat. Using mainly government agencies on both sides to guide future joint ¡+ households (over , people). funds, six reforestation projects were initiated activities. Although not directly supported by + Influenced the establishment of to improve forest connectivity in the reserve. the CEP, one outcome was a joint management the Bangliang Nature Reserve, in plan, finalized in , for protecting Cao Vit Guangxi, and a joint management In Guangxi and Cao Bang, the CEP’s support led Gibbons in transboundary areas. Domestic plan for protecting the Cao Vit Gibbon to extensive plans, strategies, and guidelines and donor funding of nearly $. million was population. for improving landscape and corridor earmarked for this effort. The CEP worked with management. These included biodiversity the Guangxi authorities in and Vietnamese + Produced a memorandum of corridor master plans for both Guangxi and authorities in £ to draft a management understanding between Cao Bang Cao Bang; proposed corridor management rules strategy for the Sino–Viet Nam Karst landscape. and Guangxi.

34 ARTICLE GMS

SINO–VIET NAM KARST

Village Development Funds in the Greater Mekong Subregion

In Guangxi, near the border with Viet Nam, a concrete slab was laid in a small village to give its children somewhere to play basketball. A long way to the east, a Dai ethnic man in southern Yunnan Province was able to buy ¡ chickens to start a new livelihood. Down south, in the Tenasserim Mountains, in western Thailand, local people gathered on a royal holiday to plant trees to help restore a damaged forest. These are just a few examples of how people are using village development funds (VDFs)—revolving funds that provide low-interest loans to local people in some of the poorest areas of the GMS—to improve livelihoods.

Since , the CEP has set up VDFs in pilot villages in biodiversity conservation corridors to help the poorest households have access to cash in times of need, and to be able to seize borrow, the repayment period, and the interest A man in Guangxi, PRC, became livelihood opportunities when they arise. These rate also vary between countries. Interest a pig farmer using a loan from a village isolated communities and their households is usually %–% a month. On occasion, development fund (photo from the EOC). have little or no access to formal lending: the funds are used for community projects informal money lenders are an option, but the such as improving village roads, but far more high interest rates that are charged often do common are loans to households for rice more harm than good. production, cash crops, and livestock. “The money has really helped. I bought pigs with it and now The CEP provided the seed capital to set up VDFs are one of the most valued poverty farm them. Before, I worked VDFs. Depending on the size of the village, reduction interventions under the CEP’s fund amounts range from $¡, to $,. biodiversity corridors initiative. In Cambodia, in construction, but this is Community members elect VDF committees, the Lao PDR, and Viet Nam, more VDFs have much better.” who are then trained in basic financial been established since through the management. The rules for lending are clarified Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project. Villager in Genglao, Guangxi Zhuang and beneficiary households identified. In some Today, nearly VDFs throughout the six GMS Autonomous Region countries, all the seed capital can be lent out, countries are helping prevent or reduce poverty while in others it is capped, for example at % for thousands of vulnerable households living in Viet Nam. The amount each household can in the biodiversity corridors.

35 ARTICLE GMS

SINO–VIET NAM KARST

Cooperation on Transboundary Conservation

Border areas have historically been a source of conflict and strife in the GMS. Nowadays, with over years of continuing peace and growing prosperity, border areas are focus points for countries in the subregion to work together. To this end, governments and their development partners are working hard to better connect the GMS through transport infrastructure, customs procedures, and border management. “The environment has no boundary Ban Gioc–Detian Falls, on the border Biodiversity conservation collaboration is also and therefore we must collaborate between Guangxi, PRC, and Cao Bang Province, focused on border areas. Most of the subregion’s to protect the biodiversity in these Viet Nam (photo from the EOC). pristine forests and its richest biodiversity are found in mountainous, isolated areas that landscapes.” straddle the subregion’s countries. Cooperation on biodiversity conservation has significantly Sao Sopheap, director of cabinet, Protected Area. This collaboration includes joint increased in recent years with the support of Ministry of Environment, Cambodia patrols and monitoring, and shared training CEP and other partners, including Fauna & Flora events and public awareness activities. In , International and the World Wide Fund for officials and experts from both sides conducted Nature (WWF). In the Sino–Viet Nam Karst landscape, surveys of Asian elephant populations living in collaboration between Guangxi and Cao Bang is their border areas, and they are finalizing a joint The PRC has taken a lead role in this effort. focusing on animal species, and particularly the elephant protection plan. The country often uses its own financial Cao Vit Gibbon, whose entire global population resources to share its experiences on is only found in a small area of forest along the In £, Cambodia and Thailand began working on transboundary conservation and find areas border. Both are working together to learn about a memorandum of understanding to collaborate for collaboration with neighbors such as the this critically endangered animal, and have on adjoining areas of the Eastern Forest Complex Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam. For a decade, developed a joint protection strategy with the and the Cardamom Mountains. Both countries regular exchange visits have taken place between support of Fauna & Flora International. Under are also exploring the potential for establishing environment officials in Yunnan Province with a ¡ memorandum of understanding, the a transboundary biodiversity corridor. their counterparts in the northern provinces two governments plan to collaborate more on of the Lao PDR. Guangxi officials have done the biodiversity conservation research, training, As GMS countries pool their resources and same with their counterparts over the border in monitoring, and awareness raising. deepen their collaboration on transboundary Cao Bang, Viet Nam. This collaboration has been conservation, the outlook for many endangered greatly strengthened by recent memorandums of In the Mekong Headwaters landscape, animal species and forest ecosystems in these understanding on transboundary conservation the Lao PDR and Yunnan Province are working areas is looking up, though they still face for more active interventions. closely in the ,-hectare Sino–Lao Joint many threats.

36 Central Annamites

The Annamites mountain range is spread over , kilometers, from the southeast corner of the Lao PDR through much of the length of Viet Nam. Its midsection, the Central Annamites, provides a natural border between the two countries, with the provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam in Viet Nam on the eastern side of the divide.

This landscape is rich in unique biodiversity, more ecologically friendly and productive Forested hills of the Central Annamites in including many endemic bird and animal species. farming practices. Commune plantations, for Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam (photo from the EOC). The antelope-like Saola was discovered in the example, were established on ¡ hectares, Central Annamites in after being thought and they provide income and timber for ¡£ extinct for over half a century. Although there households. Commune development funds is still substantial forest coverage in this (called “village development funds” elsewhere landscape, much of it has been degraded or in the GMS), were set up to provide households Although the Biodiversity Conservation cleared through agriculture, logging, and hunting. with low-interest loans in times of need. The Corridors Project took over the CEP’s work On the Viet Nam side, the remaining forested CEP created £ of these funds, providing $£, on biodiversity conservation corridors, the areas, as well as supporting local livelihoods in seed capital, which was used by over program continues to be engaged in the and biodiversity, play a critical role in providing households to buy medicine, livestock, and Central Annamites. Together with the WWF and quality water to more than hydropower seeds, among other things. Community patrol Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural plants. These forests are home to many ethnic teams were established and trained to help Development, the CEP is testing ways to improve minorities, and these predominately highland protect the forests. The program also organized the implementation of the country’s payments communities are some of Viet Nam’s poorest. participatory land use planning involving the for the forest environmental services scheme. authorities and communes. From to , the CEP worked with the three Key Results provincial governments and the WWF to pilot the Ecosystem restoration efforts included tree + Better forest protection and connectivity in biodiversity conservation corridors approach in planting on ¦ hectares of mainly degraded six corridors covering , hectares. the Central Annamites. Following biodiversity forest areas, and a further ¡ hectares of and socioeconomic assessments, six corridors underused land was turned into community + Poverty reduced for over ,¡ local were identified to connect seven protected areas. plantations. Trainings in community-based people through commune development The program then tested integrated conservation forest management were conducted in the funds, community plantations, and and livelihood activities in two corridors, communes. livelihood training. in Quang Nam and Quang Tri, to improve + Raised $ million additional financing livelihoods, harmonize land management, and The success of the biodiversity corridor pilot for biodiversity activities under the restore and protect forest habitats. initiative led to the Government of Viet Nam’s Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project. taking a $ million loan from the Asian There, the CEP worked closely with communes Development Bank (ADB) in to scale up the + Developed a participatory forest monitoring where % of the households lived below the CEP’s work under the Biodiversity Conservation system to improve the implementation of national poverty line. The CEP’s livelihood Corridors Project. The Global Environment Viet Nam’s payments for its Payments for training programs helped the communes develop Facility contributed a further $.¦ million in . Forest Environmental Services (PFES) scheme.

37 ARTICLE VIET NAM

CENTRAL ANNAMITES

Game-Changing New Technology Recently cleared forest in the highlands of Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam (photo from for Forest Protection in Viet Nam Shutterstock.com).

A villager field-tests new forest- Every day, tens of thousands of rural folks get In the central province of Thua Thien Hue, monitoring software in Thua Thien Hue together in small groups to patrol Viet Nam’s members of ,¡ households patrol ¡, Province, Viet Nam (photo from the EOC). forests. On their rounds they record evidence hectares of mountain forest. Much of this is of illegal logging, hunting, and other forms of happening in A Luoi District in the Central encroachment. They assess the condition of Annamite mountains, close to the border with the forests that they are protecting, keeping the Lao PDR. A Luoi is one of the pilot sites where an eye out for recent landslides and signs the CEP is working with the WWF and Ministry of animals. of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop and test new monitoring approaches to improve For this work, they receive cash payments from Viet Nam’s PFES scheme. provincial and district authorities that have been gathered from hydropower and water One of the major challenges facing the scheme utility companies, and ecotourism operators. is ensuring that participating households are These rely on nearby forest watersheds being properly compensated. Another is making sure in good condition to naturally regulate the that information about the condition of the water resources and other ecological services forests they are monitoring is detailed and timely that their operations depend on. enough to influence forest management decisions. Examples include reporting on important forest Since Viet Nam’s ambitious Payments for areas that may urgently need greater protection Forest Environmental Services (PFES) scheme or on flash flood damage to access roads that may was launched in , some ¡, local require remedial action. people have been mobilized to protect ¡. million hectares of forests in provinces. The CEP’s pilot work is using the latest technology Nearly all these forests are under some form of to overcome these challenges. Although this effort legal protection, but boots on the ground are is in its early days, the signs are promising that still essential to prevent encroachments. it could be scaled up nationally, and so greatly

38 “With this new system we can better protect our forests, and importantly, we can do this more transparently and equitably.”

Nguyen Xuan Hien, director, Forest Protection and Development Fund, Thua Thien Hue Province, Viet Nam

improve the PFES scheme. Until now, patrollers This tool has many advantages. For the have used global positioning system (GPS)-enabled patrollers, the paperless system means they mobile phones to make a visual record. On no longer fill out onerous reports and take returning to their villages, the patrol leader writes handwritten notes along the route (often hard a monitoring report and e-mails this, as well as in a torrential downpour). They also have better the images, to provincial authorities. With nearly evidence that they have fulfilled their duties. , patrol groups sending monthly reports to With proof and more timely information on the ministry’s provincial headquarters, this means who patrolled what area and when, provincial a mountain of work to sort, assess, and act on the authorities are able to issue payments more Project staff and villagers on patrol analyze evidence. Mistakes and delays can easily occur. quickly and fairly. forest-monitoring information on a tablet in Thua Thien Hue Province, Viet Nam (photo from To tackle this problem, the CEP developed a web The tool also enables new patrol groups and the EOC). geographic information system (GIS) tool that new PFES areas to be registered quickly and will likely change the way the reporting is done. accurately. With a centralized database of Village patrol teams being taught how to use Equipped with a specially designed computer presorted information on forest conditions new forest-monitoring technology in Thua Thien tablet, forest patrol groups take time-coded and and trends, provincial authorities can make Hue Province, Viet Nam (photo from the EOC). GPS-defined photos at the starting point of their more informed decisions. By December £, patrol. From then on, the route taken, including ¡¦ forest patrol groups had been trained in the time and distance, is automatically recorded and new software at pilot sites in Thua Thien Hue mapped. Patrollers use the tablet to take pictures and Quang Nam provinces. Applying the system in all PFES provinces along the route, and add in notes and tick boxes would enable a national database to be to questions in required fields in the tablet’s High-level support for the monitoring tool created. This would provide the central software. The questions cover all the essential is emerging. At a PFES review meeting held government with unprecedented insights into forest condition information that the authorities in Ha Noi in early December £, the deputy what is happening on the ground in many need. Back in their villages (or the nearest director of the Viet Nam Administration of of Viet Nam’s most important forest areas. Wi-Fi signal), the information is uploaded to the Forestry, Nguyen Ba Ngai, expressed his strong It would also help them fine-tune the national provincial database and automatically sorted. support for the tool being scaled up nationwide. PFES system to operate at peak efficiency.

39 Tri-Border Forest

Located in the border triangle of Cambodia, the and livelihood activities mainly in one corridor, The Si Phan Don archipelago, in the Lao PDR, and Viet Nam, most of this -million- a ,-hectare strip connecting the Xe Pian Mekong River, Champasak Province, Lao PDR hectare landscape is made up of lowlands with and Dong Hua Sao protected areas, located in (photo from Shutterstock.com). dry evergreen forests. The Mekong River runs Champasak and Attapeu provinces. through these lowlands on the landscape’s western edge. There are small rainforests in This priority corridor is rich in wetland habitats the hilly areas of the northeast. Many rare and and biodiversity, with natural forest covering endangered species, such as the tiger, sun bear, % of the pilot site and adjacent areas. The area gaur, and giant ibis, live in the Tri-Border Forest. provides an important source of nontimber Tri-Border Forest forest products, which many local people depend Its isolation has preserved this landscape’s on for their livelihood. extensive forest cover, much of it pristine. But 2,002,420 hectares nearby highways are making it more accessible, Eleven villages (,£¦ people) were initially and this has increased pressure not only on its selected for pilot site activities. The villages 544,000 people timber resources but also on rare animal species. were chosen because of their high incidence of Hunting is a problem here, including poaching poverty and a reliance on natural resources for of the sun bear, whose gall bladder is popular their livelihood. The interventions focused on 40% of land in in some traditional medicines. The Tri-Border poverty reduction, land use planning, and forest protected areas Forest has important cultural and natural restoration. attractions, including the Mekong rapids, Si Phan 13 key biodiversity areas Don (, Islands), war relics, and the ancient To contribute to poverty reduction, the CEP Khmer Temple Wat Phou, a World Heritage Site. established VDFs that provided low-interest cash loans to households and trained In , with support from the WWF, the CEP ¡ local people in alternative livelihoods. conducted socioeconomic and biodiversity For example, local people in one corridor assessments that led to three conservation village in Champasak were taught how to grow corridors being identiﬁed and mapped in the mushrooms indoors. These are now sold in southern region of the Lao PDR. These totaled nearby districts and generate signiﬁcant income. , hectares and connected four protected In a village near the Xe Pian protected area, areas. The CEP piloted integrated conservation the CEP helped set up ecotourism activities,

40 A woman weaves a basket in Champasak Province, Lao PDR (photo from the EOC). such as elephant rides, and built small-scale infrastructure, including classrooms, a medical A large tree in Champasak Province, Lao PDR (photo from the EOC). clinic, a tourist information center, and an ecolodge for tourists.

The CEP supported land use planning and The Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project mapping by the Lao PDR’s National Land Management Authority to determine village One of the biggest achievements of the Core Environment Program (CEP) to date has been boundaries and help clarify land tenure for the leveraging of $94 million in loans and grants to scale up the program’s biodiversity villagers. About ¡ land use certiﬁcates were conservation corridors. The Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project, administered by the issued to households. Forest restoration Asian Development Bank (ADB), has been operating in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic measures included establishing demonstration Republic (Lao PDR), and Viet Nam since 2011. It is funded by ADB, the Global Environment plots for agroforestry and enrichment planting Facility, and the Strategic Climate Fund. In the Lao PDR, the project is working in the provinces of and setting up tree and shrub nurseries, Attapeu, Champasak, and Sekong, core areas of the Tri-Border Forest transboundary landscape. managed by locals. About £¡ hectares of The project’s progress in the Lao PDR illustrates the influence of the CEP’s pilot work: degraded forestland were replanted, and forest protection was enhanced by £¦ village + $32.8 million funding teams trained to patrol corridor forest areas + 352,939 hectares of biodiversity corridors and wetlands. + Provincial decrees issued to protect the corridors Since , the Biodiversity Conservation + 67 villages involved Corridors Project has been scaling up the CEP’s pilot work in this landscape. + 67 forest patrolling teams

Achievements + 67 village development funds, benefiting 1,136 people + 848 households given livelihood improvement training + Identiﬁed and mapped , hectares of biodiversity corridors and improved forest + 3,400 hectares reforested connectivity in , hectares. + 65 village-level infrastructure projects completed or underway + Contributed to poverty reduction for Source: Author. , people.

41 “Since we established the corridor, wildlife has increased and migration has improved for [the] gaur, tiger, elephant and other species. The key to this success has been the participation of local people.” Tenasserim Mountains Songtam Suksawang, director of the National Parks Office, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand

The Tenasserim Mountains extend ,£ Pilot site activities were implemented with kilometers between Myanmar and Thailand. support focused on poverty reduction, The Khwae Noi River, in Sai Yok The mountain chain, which has about million land use planning and management, and the National Par, Kanchanaburi Province, hectares of forest, is one of the largest and most restoration and maintenance of ecosystems. Thailand (photo from Shutterstock.com). intact natural landscapes in the GMS. It is home Poverty reduction initiatives included VDFs to many important and endangered species, established for the corridor’s villages. The CEP including the Asian elephant and tiger, as well as provided $, in seed capital to set up these other medium-sized and large mammals. funds. The program created new conservation- based employment opportunities, such as In Thailand, most parts of the Tenasserim nurseries for seedling production in four villages. landscape (the Western Forest Complex) is More than , local people were involved protected; the Myanmar side, although isolated in livelihood training in, among other things, and in good condition, is largely unprotected. producing and marketing herbal toiletries. In Thailand, two of the Western Forest Complex’s important protected areas are connected by The CEP organized village meetings to create Achievements a dwindling, narrow strip of forest. From £ participatory land use zoning plans for the + Created more sustainable management of to , the CEP and Thailand’s Department of corridor; these were divided into maintenance ,£ hectares. National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation zones, natural-regeneration zones, human-made created a £-kilometer-long biodiversity corridor restoration zones, and sustainable-use zones. + Contributed to poverty reduction for to improve forest connectivity between them, The restoration work included ¦ hectares of ,¦ people. starting at the southern tip of Sai Yok National planted trees and check dams built to better + Influenced a national master plan for Park and ending at the northern border of manage water flows during the rainy season. biodiversity corridors. Maenam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary. Although the CEP’s pilot work in the Tenasserim + Influenced a cabinet resolution to support Initial assessments showed that this Mountains finished in , the Government the biodiversity corridors approach. ,£-hectare corridor—home to villages of Thailand is using its own resources to (,¡ people)—faces a wide range of threats, continue the pilot corridor activities. Based on including plantations, tourism, housing the Tenasserim experience, the government developments, illegal forest use, mining, and developed a national plan to scale up the poorly managed fishing and livestock raising. biodiversity-corridors approach in other forest Many of the people living in the corridor have complexes in the country. So far, £ corridors limited access to land for agriculture, and have been identified, and work on them has depend upon the forest and its products to initial government funding of $¡,. support their livelihoods.

42 Cardamom and Elephant Mountains

Bang Kayak mangrove forest, in Koh Kong Located in southwest Cambodia and extending ecotourism (boating and trekking) was set up Province, Cambodia (photo from Shutterstock.com). into eastern Thailand, the Cardamom and in two communes to open up new livelihood Elephant Mountains is one of the subregion’s opportunities. most species-rich areas. It is home to many endangered mammals and birds, and its forest One of the ecosystem restoration projects was large elephant populations. Habitat loss near the habitat includes vast tracts of wet evergreen the establishment of a pilot restoration tree protected areas is a big worry, and one result of forests and coastal mangroves. nursery on the outskirts of Chi Phat commune, this has been a sharp rise in conflicts between where locals created a stockpile of £¡, elephants and farmers. Through biodiversity In , with support from the Wildlife Alliance, seeds. Over , hectares of corridor land was and socioeconomic assessments, the CEP and Conservation International, and Fauna & reforested. In total, small-scale infrastructure the Department of National Parks identified and Flora International, the CEP mapped out projects were completed, including the mapped five biodiversity conservation corridors ,¡ hectares of biodiversity corridors to construction of wells, community meeting connecting eight protected areas. Fourteen pilot integrated conservation and development halls, and ecotourism facilities. Since , the communities and households live in these activities. The corridor areas provide important Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project corridors. Ecosystem-based vulnerability habitat links with four protected areas, but has been building on CEP’s pilot work in the and adaptation assessments were carried out hunting, agricultural expansion, and tourism Cardamom Mountains. in to help understand the impacts of have affected the areas’ biodiversity. Other, more climate change on these corridors and to find localized threats include mining, illegal logging, In early £, the Government of Cambodia solutions. Work is ongoing to develop a corridor and hydropower. issued a prakas (subdecree) legally recognizing management and implementation plan. . million of biodiversity corridors nationwide. The CEP’s pilot activities in the corridor were Achievements carried out from to . They focused In ¡, the CEP and Thailand’s Department + . million hectares of biodiversity corridors on villages in ¦ communes, in Koh Kong of National Parks began planning biodiversity in Cambodia given legal recognition and now Province, and villages in Kompong Speu and conservation corridors in the Eastern Forest are under better protection, including £, Pursat provinces, all in Cambodia. The pilots Complex, on the Thailand side of the Cardamom hectares in the Cardamom Mountains. focused on poverty reduction, land use planning landscape. This is the biggest remaining area of and management, and ecosystem restoration. forest in northeastern Thailand, and a hugely + Leveraged $£ million in additional financing important watershed for the country. Tourism, for scaling up the biodiversity corridor Poverty reduction measures in the Cardamom land conversion, and poaching are among the approach in Cambodia. Mountains included improving agricultural many threats facing the Eastern Forest Complex. + Contributed to poverty reduction for practices, such as paddy restoration, and using Here, the focus is on a ,-hectare area in , people. the System of Rice Intensification method to four eastern provinces. It contains five national increase yields. Ecological chicken farming and parks and three wildlife sanctuaries. More than + Initiated five new corridors in Thailand’s composting were introduced. Community-based ¦ species have been recorded there, including Eastern Forest Complex.

43 Eastern Plains Dry Forest Chapter Four Building a Knowledge Hub The Eastern Plains Dry Forest landscape is in benefited families. Agricultural initiatives Elephants at a rescue center in Mondulkiri Cambodia’s east, extending into Viet Nam, and contributed to livelihood improvements; these Province, Cambodia (photo from the EOC). has the last remaining tropical and subtropical included training in rice farming and poultry, dry broadleaf forests in the GMS. The area is frog, and fish raising. A savings and loan scheme A fisherman on the Nam Song River at dusk, famous for its large mammals, many of which are set up in two villages provided direct support Vang Vieng, Lao PDR (photo from the EOC). endangered. These include Asian elephants, gaur, to more than families, and a homestay and bantengs, tigers, and clouded leopards. Shifting bird-watching ecotourism initiative provided cultivation, mining, hydropower, and illegal much-needed income in two villages. logging have reduced biodiversity in the Eastern Plains Dry Forest. The CEP’s land use planning and management Achievements efforts included setting up natural resource In , with support from WWF and the management committees in seven communes. + . million hectares of biodiversity corridors Wildlife Conservation Society, the CEP established These committees gained government given legal recognition and now under better a ¦,-hectare biodiversity conservation recognition, and were successful in involving management, including ¡, hectares corridor connecting four protected areas in community members in the management and in Mondulkiri and Kratie provinces, Cambodia’s Mondulkiri Province. Pilot activities regulation of land use. Government-signed in Cambodia. focused on villages in seven communes, conservation agreements for community natural + Leveraged $£ million in additional and were carried out from to . resource management were drawn up for two financing for scaling up the biodiversity The interventions focused on poverty reduction, communes, covering nearly ¡, hectares. corridor approach in Cambodia. land use planning and management, and ecosystem restoration. Since , the Biodiversity Conservation + Contributed to poverty reduction for Corridors Project has been building on the ,¡ people. Poverty reduction projects included support to CEP’s pilot work in this landscape and have establish a wild honey product line, which directly significantly expanded the corridor coverage.

44 Chapter Four Building a Knowledge Hub

45 cross the GMS, innovative initiatives the past because of more readily available are testing practical ways to improve information from the media and development Aenvironmental sustainability. However, organizations. During the same year, the CEP “The CEP plays a very important the potential of these initiatives to exert also helped the Government of Myanmar build role in information sharing, and an influence beyond projects to policy, for a national environment information portal. as a center for excellence for the instance, are limited unless their information, subregion.” lessons, and best practices are systematically In the years since its launch, the CEP has mined, packaged, and disseminated. stepped up its capacity building and knowledge Sao Sopheap, director of cabinet, exchange activities, such as workshops and Ministry of Environment, Cambodia The CEP is well-placed in the GMS to source and symposiums. So far, the CEP’s more than ¡ share the latest environmental management regional and national knowledge events have practices. Not only does the program have its brought together over , government own large portfolio of work in the six countries officials and development professionals. to draw upon, it also has ready access to These events include subregional forums on a wide range of resources on the environment, transboundary landscape management, natural The GMS Information Portal including those of government agencies, capital, and payments for environmental The GMS Information Portal nongovernment organizations, and ADB. services, to name just a few areas. Many of these events led to increased collaboration The CEP’s Environmental Operations Center among participants on environmental issues. (EOC) had begun evolving into a regional knowledge hub on environmental management The CEP’s oversight body, the Working Group by , when the program’s second phase was on Environment (WGE), is central to the initiated. The aim was to connect decision- program’s knowledge exchange and learning http://portal.gms-eoc.org makers and planners from across the GMS opportunities. Its membership of senior with more up-to-date and comprehensive environment officials are well placed to information and knowledge. Since then, the influence national agendas and priorities. The EOC has steadily fulfilled this role. group gets together at the WGE annual and semiannual meetings. Both these meetings 50 statistical 200 publications In late , the EOC launched a new website to include thematic knowledge events where indicators be the hub of its knowledge work. The website officials can share experiences and learn from went far beyond only promoting the CEP’s each other in an informal setting. The CEP portfolio; it also included statistics and map provides many more opportunities for the databases, and an online library hosting working group to participate in other regional 10 tools 28 GIS datasets the latest environment news, events, and and international events that can deliver knowledge resources from across the GMS. important learning opportunities. A tools section was added to further assist planners. It features content such as the Since its inception, the CEP has mined its own United States Agency for International projects to generate knowledge resources and 1,500+ 400+ environment Development’s ecosystem service calculator tools for further use in the subregion. These news items event listings and Southeast Asia START’s climate model. included guidelines and training modules for assessing climate vulnerability and improved In ¡, the online GMS Information Portal tools for spatial planning. To leverage their use, was created to enable better functionality the CEP developed regional learning networks and to cope with the increasing content to bring together international experts and being added to the website. An online national practitioners. So far, the CEP has “The CEP offers the convening power newsletter was published to more actively produced ¦ publications and six films to share and space for environment ministries share the best content from the portal to the program’s knowledge and experiences. to engage with each other.” over , environment stakeholders in the GMS and beyond. The portal and Today, the EOC is widely recognized as Tracy Farrell, vice president, strategy and fundraising, newsletter systematically aggregate and an important knowledge hub in the GMS Asia-Pacific Division, Conservation International share GMS government knowledge resources and beyond. and news. These were often overlooked in

46 Key Results Next Steps + Built regional awareness of environmental Enhancing the EOC as a knowledge hub challenges, opportunities, and solutions. will continue to be a major pillar of the program. Under its third phase, which + Strengthened the environmental management capacity of ,+ begins in ¦, more resources and new stakeholders through more than initiatives are planned for generating ¡ subregional and national and sharing knowledge. These include knowledge events. platforms on sustainable infrastructure and green technologies, natural resources and + Established the EOC as a well-regarded ecosystem services, and expanded learning knowledge hub on environment. networks, including on climate adaptation. 82 CEP publications + Facilitated greater collaboration on The CEP also aims to develop its national and six films produced environment across sectors and countries support units into centers of excellence on through the GMS Working Group on these and other environmental topics to add Environment. value to the EOC’s subregional focus.

47 ARTICLE GMS ARTICLE GMS

BUILDING A KNOWLEDGE HUB BUILDING A KNOWLEDGE HUB Building Partnerships Across the Subregion

In ¡, the CEP organized the th GMS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, with the theme “Increasing Investments in Natural Capital.” The event highlighted the important role the CEP plays in forging partnerships for environmental sustainability solutions.

As well as formal meetings, thematic knowledge events were organized and served as venues for government officials to meet business leaders, representatives of youth organizations, and development experts from the GMS. One forum explored ways for government agencies and local communities to work together working. At the meeting, Viet Nam made to protect transboundary biodiversity landscapes. Stimulating a presentation on the successful pilot of its In another forum, executives met representatives national Payments for Forest Environmental from government, business associations, and Knowledge Services (PFES) scheme. Under this scheme, development organizations to identify opportunities more than half a million rural people receive in the GMS for companies to meet the objectives of the Exchange Between cash payments from hydropower and triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits. water utility companies for patrolling and Countries monitoring forest watersheds. At another event, young people from the six GMS countries met officials to discuss the vital role the The GMS countries share many common Inspired by the presentation, Cambodia’s youth can play in promoting better protection of the environmental challenges, and each country is Working Group on Environment coordinator, environment and sustainable use of the subregion’s testing solutions to suit its national priorities Khieu Borin (pictured above), approached natural capital. The perspectives from these events and contexts. This creates fertile ground for the his counterpart from Viet Nam, Kim Ngoc, were brought together at the Natural Capital Dialogue, six countries to exchange experiences and ideas. to learn more. In , and with CEP support, the meeting’s main knowledge event. A key knowledge Sometimes, the spark for a country to try new Borin organized a national workshop on input to the dialogue was the CEP’s report Investing approaches can be created simply by bringing payments for ecosystem services (PES), in Natural Capital for a Sustainable Future in the people together to inspire and learn from each which was attended by representative of Greater Mekong Subregion. More than development other, as is happening in the GMS. ministries and development organizations. organizations, including ADB, United Nations agencies, The momentum for PES has since gathered and government agencies contributed their expertise The CEP provides many such opportunities steam in Cambodia, with government to the report. through its knowledge events for environmental plans underway to trial PES for important officials and development experts. The CEP watersheds in Sihanoukville and Siem Reap At the th GMS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, network now includes many partners from provinces, and possibly to develop a national the voices of youth, business, and development throughout the subregion who have forged policy. This example shows that good ideas partners reached national environment leaders close working relationships with each other can catch on due to the willingness of GMS through statements. The meeting raised the profile over the years. countries to exchange their experiences and of approaches to maintain and protect natural capital knowledge. in the subregion, and influenced national initiatives, The Working Group on Environment’s annual for example, Viet Nam’s natural capital partnership and meeting in ¡ is a good example of how Rural landscape at dusk, Cao Bang Province, online platform (www.naturalcapital.vn), which was this spirit of sharing and cooperation is Viet Nam (photo from Shutterstock.com) supported by the CEP.

Greater Mekong Subregion Core Environment Program 10 Years of Cooperation

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About the Core Environment Program