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PROTECTED AREAS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Environmental Assessment, Environmental Management Plan

1. Introduction. The of Georgia (GoG) has requested that the International

Public Disclosure Authorized Development Association (the Bank) provide support through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for a Protected Areas Development Project. This Project will help the GoG to improve the conservation and sustainable use of Georgian .

2. The project will: (i) establish three protected areas in eastern Georgia; (ii) facilitate the creation of a national network of protected areas; (iii) integrate biodiversity conservation into forestry, range management, and agriculture; (iv) strengthen institutions responsible for biodiversity conservation programs; (iv) improve public awareness of the values and importance of Georgian biodiversity; and (v) promote regional / international cooperation for conservation of biodiversity in the .

3. The Implementing Agency for the Project is the Georgia Department of Protected Areas. Financing for Project preparation commenced in , 1999. Significant analysis and Public Disclosure Authorized proposals for Project financing were developed in partnership with the Department of Protected Areas administrations of three proposed project sites (Vashlovani, Lagodekhi and Tusheti); NGOs; the scientific community, international experts, and Georgian governmental institutions (Ministry of Environment). During project preparation, an environmental review identified the potential impacts of project activities and elaborated environmental review and management plan to be undertaken during project implementation.

4. The results of the environmental review and the recommended environmental management plan were the subject of public consultations held for each site between June 12 and 14,2000. Comments were recorded in minutes (see Annex 5, Summary of Consultations; full minutes are available in Georgian from the Project Implementation Unit). Issues highlighted at the consultations have been incorporated into project design and monitoring Public Disclosure Authorized plans. This environmental assessment and management plan satisfies World Bank requirements for a "Category B" project, as outlined in the Bank's Operational Policy 4.01 "Environmental Assessment" and is consistent with GoG environmental procedures .

5. The project is expected to be appraised in June, 2000; presented to the World Bank Board of Directors in September, 2000 before becoming effective in November 2000.

Summary of Findings and Consultations.

6. Potential alternative scenarios for this Project include reduced financing for biodiversity management, or a strict focus on protected areas management. Due to the extensive planning and investments needs to stabilize the status of biodiversity in the region during this period of transition, existing government and international financing efforts directed to

Public Disclosure Authorized biodiversity will not ensure protection of globally significant biodiversity in the expanded designated areas. In termnsof protecting biodiversity in the Caucasus region, it is unlikely that the

' Buildingpermits from the Ministry of Environmentwill be requiredprior to the constructionof anynational park infrastructure. limited expenditures will have a significant impact on continuing damage to these fragile habitats. The sustainability of the protected areas are also most likely served through the promotion of well-managed tourism -- for purposes of both public awareness and education as well as the chance for the protected area administration and local communities to develop the potential for revenue-generation. To limit the project to the implementation of protected areas management plans, and reduce technical assistance to the integration of environmental and biodiversity management principles into the production would ignore one of the largest threats to Georgian biodiversity-namely the destruction, degradation and fragmentation of habitat across the .

7. The main environmental issues that have been identified under the environmental review and management plan are (i) the impact of construction of infrastructure, including administrative buildings, checkpoints and guard stations, and tourism interpretation facilities; (ii) the potential increase in recreational use of the national parks; (iii) change in natural resources management use; and (iv) linkage to the proposed World Bank Forestry Development Project (expected to begin implementation in 2002).

8. All project activities are to be integrated into site-specific protected area or regional, landscape-level management plans, and all project activities will be implemented accordingly. The environmental management plan (Annex 1 and 2) summarizes the specific mitigation measures, their costs and implementation arrangements for each environmental issue.

9. Minutes of the public consultations2 on the draft Environmental Assessment and Management Plan were held for all three project sites between June 12 and 14, 2000.

2 A fullsummary of the meetingsare documented in Annex3. Thefull minutes are available in Georgianupon requestfrom the ProjectPreparation Unit in Tbilisi, Georgia GEORGIA

PROTECTED AREAS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT EnvironmentalAssessment

L ProjectDescription 10. This Project will help to improvethe conservationand sustainableuse of Georgian biodiversity. The projectwill: (i) supportthree protectedareas in eastern Georgia;(ii) facilitate the creation of a national network of protectedareas; (iii) integratebiodiversity conservation into forestry, range management,and agriculture;(iv) strengtheninstitutions responsible for biodiversityconservation programs; (iv) improvepublic awarenessof the values and importance of Georgianbiodiversity; and (v) promoteregional / internationalcooperation for conservationof biodiversityin the Caucasusregion. Project Components:

11. Component A. Support Protected Areas Planning: The project would assist the Departmentof ProtectedAreas, Ministryof Environment(MoE), and Departmentof Forestry (DOF), Academyof Sciencesand NGOsto developa representativeprotected area networkplan for the whole country and to prepare a detailedforest use plan for the CentralCaucasus that balances forest conservationand utilization.

Al. Preparation of a National Protected Area System Plan: The objective of the Protected Areas Systemplan is to providedecision makers with recommendationson the creationof an ecologicallyrepresentative network of protectedareas to protect and managethe country's biodiversity,and which balancesthe needs of its local communitiesand economicsectors (e.g. forestry and agriculture).The final plan for the national systemof protected areas with multiple managementobjectives would be submittedto the appropriateexecutive and parliamentarybodies for endorsement.Activities will include:

* The synthesisof existinginformation and field studies to fill gaps (biological,geological, hydrologicaland cultural systems,ownership and user rights, economicactivities, and legislativeinformation);

* The developmentof a systemsplan through a broad consultativeprocess, which will outline network plan objectives,recommendations for boundaryand category gazettement, planningmethods, participatory and partnershipmechanism for managementand implementationpriorities; and

* Public awarenesscampaign before and after governmentendorsement of the national protectedarea systemsplan.

A2. ProtectedArea Planfor Central CaucasusMountains Ecoregion: The Central Caucasus region is rich in biodiversityand forest resources.The PADP will work closely with the proposed ForestryDevelopment Project to developa plan for forest conservation and use in this region- initiallyfocusing on the districtsof Ambrolauri,Lentekhi, Oni and Tsageri.A Central CaucasusCommission backed up by a technical multidisciplinaryteam has alreadybeen set up (duringthe preparationof the ForestryDevelopment Project) for the purposes of preparingmodel land-useplans for the managementof all existingnatural resources,including both the protectedand forested areas availablefor sustainable management.Areas identified for protectedarea status during this process would eventually be reallocatedfrom the Departmentof Forestryto Departmentof ProtectedAreas. This project would co-finance:

* Technicalassistance and field studiesto collect and synethesizenecessary information;

* Analysisof the opportunitiesand constraintsfor sustainablenatural resources managementin the CentralCaucasus Mountain region;

* Economicand socialanalysis of "highest and best use" of the region's natural resources;

* Consultationand the preparationof a generalprotected area plan for the regionwith respect to protectedareas, wildlifecorridors and land use planning.

12. Component B. Promote Conservation and Use of Biodiversity Inside and Outside of ProtectedAreas:The projectwould assist the Departmentof ProtectedAreas, Ministry of Environment(MoE), and Departmentof Forestry,Ministry of Agricultureand local municipalitiesto address biodiversityissues both insideand outside of protectedareas.

B]. Implement Management Plansfor Tusheti National Park, and the Expanded Lagodeckhi Reserve: Management plans or guidelines have been preparedfor three protectedareas in Georgia:Tusheti National Park (115,800 ha), VashlovaniNational Park (44,796ha) and the expandedLagodeckhi (25,400ha). The projectwould financethe implementationof managementplans for all three protectedareas. The draft managementplans include the followingactivities to be financedunder the project:

o Supportfor park and facilitiesmanagement - includinginfrastructure such as park and reserve boundaries,administration and visitor buildings,guard stations, roadwaygates and checkpoints,trails and tourist shelter and interpretationsigns. The project would also fund the removal of dilapidatedstructures currently found within the proposed national parks;

* SupportDepartment of ProtectedAreas professionaldevelopment in protectedareas management- includingtraining in such areas as tourism management,ecological managementand monitoring,revenue generation for both park and local communities, rangering and conflict management;

* Public awarenessactivities - focussingon local communitiesand tourists. Activities financed includethe developmentof audio-visualmaterials and brochures,teacher trainings,and a small grants programfor small-scaleconservation activities by local communitiesor individuals;

* Monitoringand appliedresearch to fill in major gaps in existing informationon biodiversitywithin the protected areas (whichwill also serve to assist in protected area zoning), to guide park managementand to evaluatethe results of managementoptions. Priority inventories,research and monitoringactivities include, inter alia, the developmentof an informationbase (resourcemaps, vegetationtypes, animal migrationroutes, etc), assessmentof grazing carryingcapacity and pasture monitoring,monitoring of visitor impactsand appliedstudies.

Socio-economicmonitoring to inform managementplan implementation.The project would also provide professionaldevelopment and trainingin socialassessments and human ecologystudies. mU.Baseline data

13. Biodiversity and Threats: Georgia, in the western-central Caucasus, extends across several climatic zones of the Caucasus isthmus, ranging from humid subtropical to alpine, within a relatively small area (69,700 sq km). Its covers the four main biogeographic , including:

* the Colchic region of western Georgia, bounded by the Black Sea coast to the west, with a landscape predominantly comprised of lowland subtropical ;

- the Caucasian or Kavkasioni Region which covers the subalpine forests, subalpine, alpine and subnival communities and landscape of the Great Caucasus;

* the Caucasus Minor region with its landscape of grasslands, subalpine meadows, mountain steppes (and occasional forested land and semiarid steppe) of the Trialeti and Meskheti mountain ridges as well as the south-eastern foothills of the Trialeti ridge;

* The Mtvaris (Kura) region, including the Iori uplands and the Lower Kartli, consisting of arid and semi-arid .

14. With thirteen climatic zones and 23 -climatic zones within such a small land area, Georgia possesses globally significant biodiversity. In addition, Georgia's location between Asia and Europe, the Black Sea and the Caspian, makes it a natural funnel for annual migrations. In the project region between the Caucasus Major and Minor ranges of central and eastern Georgia, the and of at least three biographic regions converge, resulting in high levels of biodiversity. The region contains species typical of Europe (e.g. bear, lynx, , ), Central Asia (e.g. Caucasian tur or mountain goat, leopard), and the Middle East (e.g. hyaena, ).

15. The Georgian forests of the Caucasus Mountains contain over 200 plant community associations, and 120- species of tree, 250 bushes, and 4,5000 vascular . Among vascular plants, nine percent are endemic,to Georgia and 14% to the Caucasus region. There are 572 vertebrate species (348 species of , 95 , 52 , 13 amphibians and 64 fishes). The diverse and threatened large fauna include three species of wild goats, chamois, red and roe deer and their predators, including wolf, lynx, wild cats and possibly leopard. Some of these species (e.g. wild goats, deer, wolf) undertake large scale annual migrations, increasing their susceptibility to habitat loss and fragmentation, over and competition with domestic sheep for forage. 16. Despite the large percentage(40%) of Georgianterritory still forested, significant declinesin available habitatthreaten someof Georgia's most distinctivebiodiversity. The most importantthreats include: i. Illegal huntingand habitat loss and fragmentation:Censuses have revealeddramatic declines in the numbers of carnivoresand ungulatesover the last 10 years. The causes identified include overhuntingand habitat loss. The Caucasiantur (Capracaucasica), a mountaingoat endemicto the Trancaucasusregion, has declinedby 50% between 1985and 1994.The bezoar (Capraaegagrus), a wild relative of the domestic goat, is nearing extirpationfrom Georgia and today numbersfewer than 100 individualsin the Lesser Caucasus.Chamois (Rupicaprarupicapra) have declinedfrom an estimated6,000 individualsin 1985to approximately1,000. Red deer (Cervuselaphus) have declinedthree-fold in census areas and the entire Georgianpopulation may be less than 1,500individuals. Lynx (Ly lynx) numbered500 or more individualsin 1990- but today is estimatedat only 160 individuals. ii. Unsustainablerange management:The (alpine meadows and lowland steppe communities)of the Eastern Caucasushave been overgrazedby sheep. Unsustainablerange management,usually due to overstocking, has been intensifiedstarting in the late 1980s. Currently,more than 250,000sheep are herded seasonallybetween the alpine pastures at Tusheti(4000m elevation) and summer steppepastures on the Iori floodplain(200m). The subalpinemeadows, and associateddisturbance is contributingto declinesin the Caucasiangoat (Capra cylindricornis) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). In the lowland grasslandof southeasternGeorgia where the samedomestic sheep move to winter pastures, sever overgrazingis significantlyimpacting the endemicflora and fauna of steppe communities.Such unsustainable grazing practicescontributed importantly to the extirpation of gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) from eastern Georgia. iii. Unsustainableforestry practices (conversion / loss of habitat and overharvesting):Under the former SovietUnion, Georgiaobtained up to 2.5 m3 of timber annuallyfrom , leaving much of the country's forestedareas relativelypristine. Independence has forced Georgiato rely increasinglyon its own forest resourcesfor industrialpurposes, while the recent crisis has led to uncontrolledfuelwood harvesting. Together, legal cuttingsplus illegal harvestingand uncontrolledfuelwood collection exceeds the annualallowable cut by some estimates.Easily accessibleforests such as those in mountainriver valleys and riparianareas are in particularthreatened. The conversionof elm (Alnus barbata)forests to agricultural land has depletedriverine forests, especiallyin the Trialeti and Meskhetiridges of the Lesser Caucasus.Unsustainable forest practiceshave led to the destructionof some forest types previouslycommon in Georgiasuch as those previouslydominated by Quercuslongipes and Ulmus suberosa.

17. Project Sites: The projectwill financethe implementationof managementplans for three new or expandedprotected areas in eastern Georgia:Tusheti National Park and Batsara Nature Reserve,Vaslovani National Park and LagodekhiNature Reserve.

* The proposed VashlovaniNational Park is located in the Iori Plateau. Currently,Vashlovani Nature Reserve covers 8,034hectares. Local and regionalgovernments have endorsedthe establishmentof the VashlovaniNational Park, which would cover an estimated 27,870 ha * (plus 8,664 ha nature reserve),which entails the transfer of managementresponsibilities from the Departmentof Forests and Ministry of Agriculture/local administrations.The adjacent Multiple Use Protected Areas (20,000ha) would be managedby local administrationsand the Departmentof Forestry. The proposedTusheti National Park and Batsara Nature Reserve. Currently,Tusheti and Batsara Nature Reserve cover a total of 15,432ha. Local and regionalgovernments have endorsed the transfer of Departmentof Forest and Ministry of Agriculture/local administrationlands to NationalPark status or an expansionof existingNature Reserves (totaling88,000 ha for TushetiNational Park, and 9,431 ha for Batsara / BabneuriNature Reserve).Protected Landscape Area status would be granted to 27,800 ha, and will be administeredby local administrations.

The LagodekhiNature Reserve (currently17,932 ha). LagodekhiNature Reserve is proposedto be expandedto 29,031ha, with an additional7,596 ha to be zoned as Managed Reserve or MultipleUse.

18. Data: Significantprogress has been made in recent years in compilinginformation on the status of the Georgianenvironment, in particularits biodiversity.The BiodiversityStrategy and Action Plan (BSAP),recently completed, was a direct result of much of this data collection.The BSAP identifiesthe project regionsas centers of Georgianbiodiversity, and the projectactivities as the highest priority for improvingthe protectionof threatenedecosystems. 19. Recognizingthat more informationwill be needed,the projectwill promote several activitiesto further the knowledgebase on Georgianbiodiversity and its threats in the project region:

* ComponentA: NationalProtected Areas SystemsPlanning: At the national level, existing informationwill be synthesizedand field studiesundertaken to fill gaps. Informationon biological,geological, hydrological and culturalsystems, as well as ownershipand user rights and economicactivities is expectedto be compiledas a result of this study.

* ComponentA: Protected AreaPlan for the Central CaucasusMountains Ecoregion: More detailedinformation such as,detailedforest and biodiversitysurveys, economicand social analysis will be collected.

* ComponentB: Implementationof ManagementPlans: The project will financemonitoring and appliedresearch to fill major gaps in the existinginformation on the biodiversityof the protectedareas. This will not only informdecision-makers on the appropriateland-use zone boundaries,but also to guide park managementand evaluatethe results of management actions.

The projectwill fund improvedsurveys for target species, selected on the basis of their importanceto the ecosystem.Expected outputs include maps of project sites, includingvegetation types, elevations,animal migrationroutes, sightings/location of key species, and detailedflora and fauna inventories. Pasturelandscarrying capacity will be assessed,while numbers of sheep and pasture health will be continuousmonitoring during the project. In addition, applied research will include, inter alia, the determination of basic properties of the threatened and endangered plant and animal populations, and plant community studies. m. Main Environmental and Social Issues, Environmental Management Plan and Monitoring

20. The environmental issues that have been identified under the environmental management plan are (i) the impact of construction of national park infrastructure, including administrative buildings, checkpoints and guard stations, trails and tourism interpretation facilities; (ii) the potential increase in recreational use of the national parks; (iii) change in natural resources management use; and (iv)linkage to the proposed World Bank Forestry Development Project (expected to begin implementation in 2002).

21. All project activities are to be integrated into site-specific protected area or regional, landscape-level management plans, and all project activities will be implemented accordingly. However, the environmental management plan (Annex 2) summarizes the specific measures which are proposed to mitigate the project's potential environmental impacts.

22. A. Impacts of Infrastructural Investments: During the course of the project, financing will be provided for infrastructure necessary to establish and manage the three project sites, and achieve the project's objective of biodiversity conservation and the promotion of sustainable development. The proposed infrastructure includes the demarcation and marking of park and reserve boundaries, the construction of administration centers and/or visitor centers, guard stations, roadway gates, checkpoints, tourist shelters, trails and interpretive signage.

Existing Conditions and Impact Analysis: The current infrastructure at the proposed Vashlovani National Park consists of a small residence and former headquarters which was destroyed by fire, both located at the edge of the nature reserve. After the National Park is legally established, the project would construct an administration/visitor center. This center is to be constructed within that part of the park identified for administration purposes in the draft management plan for the National Park. This site is currently a pastureland where grazing pressures have been high. The site is outside of the nature reserve. The small-scale construction of infrastructure under the project will have minor direct impacts on vegetation, mainly through the conversion of less than 0.2 hectares of grassland to developed uses.

At the proposed Tusheti and Lagodeckhi National Parks, the administration/visitor centers will be located in existing buildings which would be renovated under the project.

At all three sites, guard stations, roadway gates and checkpoints, tourist shelters and trails will be constructed or renovated. None of these construction activities will have significant direct impacts on the environment.

Mitigation Measure: The administration of each National Park or Nature Reserve shall be responsible for obtaining the required environmental permit before the construction of any protected area infrastructure. Flora and fauna inventories shall assist in the determination of the siting of all infrastructure and trails to minimize the impact of the construction and of associated human activity. The infrastructure will be designed to blend harmoniously with the traditionalGeorgian landscape. Local communitiesshall be kept informedof all constructionactivities if it is determinedthat infrastructurewill be placed in proximityto communitysettlements.

23. B. Increase in recreational use ofproject sites (nationalparks): The sustainability of the project sites (NationalParks and Nature Reserve)will be served throughthe promotionof managed tourism-- for purposesof both publicawareness and educationas well as the chance for the protectedarea administrationand localcommunities to developthe potentialfor revenue- generation.

Existing Conditions and Impact Analysis: Currently, few national or international tourists visit the three proposedprotected areas, mostlydue to the fact that (a) very little infrastructureis providedfor the generaltourist; (b) little informationor publicawareness both nationallyand internationallyexists; and (c) the current NatureReserve status at Lagodekhi,Vashlovani and Tushetidoes not allow for generaltourism. The promotionof sustainableeco-tourism in Georgia's protectedareas, the concurrent improvementof tourism infrastructurein and aroundthe projectsites, as well as the expansionof the protectedareas and changein protectedarea categoryto ones which allow for tourismis expectedto lead to an increasein visitorused of these areas. Thesenumbers are expectedto rise slowly,and the visitor use will be managedto minimizeits impacton the environment.Overall, the improvedmanagement of the three protectedareas and the revenuesgenerated from tourismfor improvedmanagement will have environmentally positiveimpact. Minor potentialimpacts could include:

* Impactdue to increasein numbers- increasednoise and disturbanceto , increasedwaste, potentialfor socialimpact on local communities.

- Impactdue to under-managementof touristsand their facilities,or tourists disobeying posted regulations- overuseof campsitesor trails, harvestingof live for campfires,purposeful disturbance of wildlife,accidental fires, harvestingof rare or endangeredwildflowers or non-timberforest products,lack of fencing or signs keeping tourists out of fragile areas, and lack of maintenanceof trails leadingto erosionon slopes.

MitigationMeasures: Overall,the improvedmanagement of the three protectedareas will have environmentallypositive impacts. To further enhancethe positiveimpact, the administrationof each NationalPark or NatureReserve shall be responsiblefor managing the impactof increasednumber of recreationalvisitors, and will be given training and technical assistanceunder the projectto developthe skills necessaryfor effectivetourism management.The environmentalmanagement plans, updatedyearly, will have specific componentsdetailing how the protectedarea administrationwill ensure visitorshave minimalnegative impact on both the ecosystemand local communities.Tourism infrastructurewill be sited after initialinventory surveys have been completedto ensure a minimumimpact on biodiversity.The engineeringdesign of all infrastructurewill ensure that waste is appropriatelymanaged (waste bins and appropriatetechnology for toilet facilities (leachfields,organic composting,septic tanks to be determinedduring engineeringdesign). Monitoring protocols will be developedearly in the projectin order to allow for the monitoringof visitorsand their impact on the flora and fauna within the nationalpark. This will provide park managementa continual feedbackon the results of their ecologicaland tourism managementinterventions. Local communitieswill be periodicallyconsulted to ensurethat visitorsare not causingunforeseen problems.

24. C. Change in natural resources management or use: The creation or expansion of the three protectedareas willresult in changesin land use. The environmentalimpact of the resultantchange in naturalresources management and/or use will be positiveas the protected areas' managementplans for ecologicalrestoration and conservationare effectively implemented.Protected areas managementwill need to work closelywith local administrations and communitiesto ensure that the socialimpacts of land use changesare beneficialin the long- term, and that short-termimpacts are minimized.

Vashlovani - Existing Conditions and Impact Analysis: In Vashlovani, the management or use of state lands currentlymanaged by the Departmentof Forestry land (whichare remote from populatedareas) will not changeas a result of the transfer of management responsibilityfrom the DoF to the DPA - as neitherthe DOF nor local communitieshave been utilizingthese forests.MoA pastureswhich have traditionallybeen leasedto private citizens are consideredovergrazed and degradedfor both wildlife and sheep. Underthe project,pasturelands and leasingwill be regulated,restored and monitored.Some traditionalpastures will be closed,and grazing will be permittedonly in the traditionaluse and multipleuse zones at regulateddensities. Hunting will continueto be prohibitedin this area. Reducingthe pressureon the alreadyovergrazed pasturelands within the boundariesof VashlovaniNational Park will lead to an improvementin the ecologicalhealth of the region. The NationalPark administrationwill have to balancethe ecologicaland socio- economicimplications of the proposedchange by improvingthe health of degraded pasturelandsin order to benefitnot only the wildlifebut also the migratoryshepherds who winter in Vaschlovani- who see the potentialfor trading in "quantity"for improved "quality" of pastureland.

Vashlovani -Mitigation Measures: The impacts on natural resources are considered environmentallybeneficial. However, the park administrationwill providethe shepherds with basic extensionservices to ensurepastureland health under the new management system,and will also providesome basic veterinaryassistance.

Lagodekhi - Existing Conditions and Impact Analysis: The forested areas to be transferred from the DoF to the DPA is considereddegraded from years of illegalcutting and . Oncetransferred, the landwill be re-categorizedas managedreserve of multiple use zone. Ministryof Agricultureland, which has been managedessentially by local administrations,will be re-categorizedeither as Nature Reserve or multipleuse zone dependingon the outcomesof consultationswith sheepherdersin the northernmostsection of the proposedexpanded reserve.

By categorizingthe DoF forested landarea as a multipleuse zone or managed reserve,the Lagodekhiadministration is recognizingthe alreadydegraded condition of the locale's forest habitat as well as the need for timber and fuelwoodby the local communities- and recognizingthat neitherlocal communitiesnor wildlifewill benefit in the long-rununless the area is managedsustainably. Grazingwill be permittedonly in the traditionaluse and multipleuse zones at regulateddensities.

Reducingthe level of grazing in the northernsections of the Nature Reserve will reduce disturbancesto wildlifethere, in particularthe mountaingoat. However,the NationalPark administrationwill have to balancethe transitionallysocio-economic implications of the closing down traditionalpasturelands.

Lagodekhi -Mitigation Measures:The impactsare consideredenvironmentally beneficial. However, for ensure socio-economicbenefits, the localadministration has agreed to allocatenew grazing leasesto shepherdsin replacementof existingleases within the park boundaries.

Tusheti - Existing Conditions and Impact Analysis: The forested areas to be transferred from the DoF to the DPA is considereddegraded from years of illegalcutting and poaching. Once transferred,the land will be re-categorizedas managedzone. Ministry of Agricultureland, which has been managedessentially by local administrations,will be re- categorizedeither as a NationalPark or a ProtectedLandscape Area. By categorizingthe DoF forested land area as a managedzone, the Tushetiadministration is recognizingthe need for local communityuse of the naturalresource, and is already planning on initiatinga process of resourcerestoration and the initiationof a community forest managementscheme. Similarly to Vashlovani,MoA/local administration pastures which have traditionallybeen leasedto privatecitizens will be transferredto DPA and regulated,but local administrationsare guaranteeingthe transfer of existingleases to other lands outsideof the parks.

Reducingthe levelof grazing in degradedareas will provide improvedhabitat for biodiversity.Restoration efforts under the project will also help to restore previously overgrazedareas which are currentlyin danger of serious erosion.Social impactsof transferringexisting grazing leasesto other areas will have to be carefullyplanned and monitoredduring the transition.

Tusheti -Mitigation Measures: The impacts are considered environmentally beneficial. For socio-economicpurposes, the local administrationhas agreed to allocatednew grazing leasesto shepherdsin replacementfor existingleases within the park boundaries.

25. D. Linkage with the Forest Development Project:

Existing Conditions and Impact Analysis: The Central Caucasus Planning Region is currentlywithout a systemof nationalparks and other protectedareas, which is an important contributionto sustainableforest management. The projectwould finance cooperationof specialistswith the Departmentof Forestryto: (i) identifyareas of high biodiversitywithin the CentralCaucasus Planning region which merit specialprotection which could best be met through the creationof new protected areas, (ii) provide recommendationsfor integratingbiodiversity conservation objectives into the forest managementplanning process, and (iii) work with local communitiesto build awarenessin forest conservationand to understandhow protectedareas may assist with generating income for local communities. These impactsare consideredbeneficial.

MitigationMeasures: The impactsare consideredenvironmentally beneficial and require no mitigationmeasures.

IV. Alternative Scenario

26. Potential alternativescenarios for this Project include reducedfinancing for biodiversity management,or a strictfocus on protectedareas management.

27. Due to the extensiveplanning and investmentsneeds to stabilizethe status of biodiversity in the region during this periodof transition,existing governmentresources and international financingefforts directed to forest biodiversitywill not ensure protectionof globally significant biodiversityin the expandeddesignated areas. In terms of protectingbiodiversity in the Caucasus region, it is unlikely that these limitedexpenditures will have a significantimpact on continuing damageto these fragile habitats.The sustainabilityof the protectedareas are also most likely -servedthrough the promotionof well-managed tourism-- for purposesof both public awareness and educationas well as the chancefor the protectedarea administrationand local communities to developthe potentialfor revenue-generation,

28. To limit the projectto the implementationof protectedareas managementplans, and reduce technicalassistance to the integrationof environmentaland biodiversitymanagement principlesinto the productionlandscape would ignoreone of the largest threats to Georgian biodiversity-namely the destruction,degradation and fragmentationof habitat acrossthe country. Annex 1 Environmental Management Plan: Georgia Protected Areas Development Project

Table 1: Impact Descriptions Mitigation Measure Issue Description Number

A. Construction of national park Protected area infrastructure will be necessary to establish and manage infrastructure, includingadministration the three project sites, and achieve the project's objective of biodiversity building, guard stations, roadway gates and conservation and the promotion of sustainable development (an overall checkpoints, tourism infrastructure and trails positive environmental impact).

The small-scale construction of infrastructureunder the project will have minor, short-term direct impacts on vegetation and local species - mainly due to soil excavation, dust and noise.

B. Increase in recreational use of project sites Potential impacts could include: 2 (Vashlovani National Park, Tusheti National Park and Lagodekhi Nature Reserve) * Direct impact due to increase in numbers - increased noise and disturbance to wildlife, increased waste, potential for social impact on local communities.

* Direct impact due to under-managementof tourists and their facilities, or tourists disobeying posted regulations- overuse of campsites or trails, harvesting of live wood for campfires, purposeful disturbance of wildlife, accidental fires, harvesting of rare or endangered wildflowers or non-timber forest products, lack of fencing or signs keeping tourists out of fragile areas, lack of maintenance of trails leading to erosion on slopes.

C. Changes in resource management and use The environmentalimpact of the resultant change in natural resources None management and/or use will be positive as the protected areas' management plans for ecological restoration and conservation are effectively implemented. D. Linkage to proposed forestry project The project would have positive environmentalimpacts by contributing to None sustainableforest management through recommendationson the creation of protected areas and integratingbiodiversity conservation objectives into the forest managementplanning Annex 1 Environmental Management Plan: Georgia Protected Areas Development Project

Table 2: Environmental Mitigation Plan (Timing, Institutional Responsibility, Cost) #t MitigationMeasure Phase Institutional Cost

______Responsibility ______1 a) Sitingand construction:The administrationof Each NationalPark or Construction DPAA/MOE No additionalcost Nature Reserveshall be responsiblefor obtainingthe required only environmental permit before the constructionof any protectedarea infrastructure.Estimated by 6/30/01

Floraand fauna inventoriesshall assistin the determinationof the Construction DPAA $150,000inventories 3 siting of all infrastructureand trails to minimizethe impactnot onlyof only $45,000TA facility the constructionbut of the of the humanactivity (guard settlementsor siting daily administration)in fragileareas. Estimatedby 4/30/01

The timing of all constructionand as well as the locationof any Construction DPAA No additional cost fencingshall take into considerationthe migratorymovements and only breedingcycles of identifiedspecies.

b) Architectural design: All infrastructurewill be designedto blend Construction DPAA/ CS No additionalcost harmoniouslywith the traditionalGeorgian landscape. Estimated by only architect 4/30/01 All phases DPA / PIU $18,0004 c) Public consultation: Local communitiesshall be kept informedof all (continuous) constructionactivities if it is determinedthat infrastructurewill be placedin proximityto communitysettlements. Initiation 10/1/00

2 a) The administrationof each NationalPark or Nature Reserveshall be All phases DPAA No additionalcost 5 responsiblefor managing the impact of increasednumber of (continuous) recreationalvisitors.

Staff will be given significanttraining and technical assistance under All phases DPAA $35,000 TA training

3 Costincludes baseline flora and fauna inventories of the entireNational Park / Reservesto be usedfor managementplanning. 4 Lncludesworkshop and staff costs for consultationsover management plans (which include infrastmcture planning) 5 Partof everydayjob of parkrangers and operations and maintenance of NationalParks/Reserves. the projectto developthe skills necessary for effectivetourism (continuous) management.Initiated 1/30/01

The environmental management plans, up-datedyearly, will have All phases DPAA / CS mgt No additionalcod specific componentsdetailing how the protectedarea administration (continuous) planningexperts will ensure visitorshave minimalnegative impacton both the ecosystemand localcommunities. Yearly

b) Tourisminfrastructure will be sited after initial inventoryand animal Construction DPAA $150,000inventories behavioralsurveys have been completedto ensurea minimumimpact only $45,000TA siting on biodiversity.Estimated by 4/30/.01

c) Waste and toilet facilitieswill be providedand managed.In place by Construction DPAA/ $60,000installation 8/30/01 & operations engineers/ $5,000 maintenance rangers

d) Visitor monitoring protocols will be developedearly in the project in Continuous DPAA / local $75,000 visitor impact order to allow for the monitoringof not only the numbersof tourists, administrations monitoring but also their impacton the flora and fauna withinthe nationalpark. Estimatedby 8/30/01

e) Local communitieswill be periodicallyconsulted to ensurethat visitors Continuous DPAA/ local $18,000 are not causingunforeseen problems. Initiatedby 9/1/01 administrations

6 Partof normalmanagement planning process. Annex 2: Environmental Monitoring Plan: Georgia Protected Areas Development Project

# Parameter Monitored Where When How Siting and construction:

* Locationof rare /endangeredspecies; breeding Potentialinfrastructure Beforeidentification of site Inventories,surveys locations;sensitive habitats (baseline) sites (by 5/15/01) (DPAAand TA)

* Impactsto vegetation(construction) Infrastructuresites Duringconstruction; during Inventories,surveys operations (DPAAand TA) * Soilcompaction and/or erosion Infrastructuresites Duringconstruction; during Surveys operations * Litter Infrastructuresites Continual Generalconditions

2 Visitor Management

* Floraand fauna disturbances EntireNational Park, Continuous Surveys;behavioral especiallynear trails studies,Rangers in field; and campsites Ranger reports, incidence reports.

* Soilcompaction and/or erosion Entirepark, especially Continuous Surveys on trails andnear tourisminfrastructure

* Incidenceof accidentalfirs Entirepark Continuous Ranger reports

_ Litter* andsanitary conditions EntireNational Park Continuos Ranger reports.

Annex 3: Environmental Management, Mitigation and Monitoring Implementation Schedule

PROJECTACTIVITY Year and ______Quarters 3 4 5 _6 _

_ __-_ 1 263|4 1|2|3|4 1|3|4 11213|4 1|2|3|4 2 3 4 I ProtectedArea Protection, Management and f Monitoring la. ManagementPlanning and Implementation I_Finalize and updatemanagement plans Annualreview of annualmanagement plans 1 I EKE HU EU (USPSand consultation workshops) * E--*- *-E *E- Managementimplementation b. Monitotingprogram _ I I I I _ _ Baselinesurveys I - -Applied research Monitoring c. InfrastructureDevelopment and Equipment Designand preparation Environmentalpermitting Constructionactivities Constructionof compostsewage system _ I(Tusheti)III Hikingtrails (includes installation of interpretive Isigns) d. InstitutionalDevelopment 1 Training (technical, guard, conflict resolution& 1 I F _ WUI IR .. I Annex 4: Other Information

InstitutionalArrangements: The Department of ProtectedAreas Administrations for each of the projectedareas will be responsiblefor the environmentalmanagement and monitoringof all project activities. Technicalassistance, training and managementreports, flora and fauna inventories,socio- economicinformation and informationgleaned from public consultationswill feed into annual updatesof protectedareas environmentalmanagement plans which will be subjectto reviewsby internationalexperts every secondyear.

Each NationalPark will be under the authorityof a NationalPark Director who will authorize activitiesand expendituresfor NationalPark managementactivities. A Local AdvisoryCouncil will be created for the allocationof a smallgrants programfor biodiversity-friendlydevelopment activities,and for issuesrelated to zoning,boundaries and naturalresource use by local communities.In addition,project activities financed by the Project (GEF)will need clearancefrom the Project ImplementationUnit, the Project's SteeringCommittee and ultimatelythe WorldBank (clearancefor activities,Terms of Referenceunder standardprocurement guidelines).

InstitutionalStrengthening: The overallobjective of this projectis to raise the institutionalcapacity of the Governmentof Georgiato conserveand sustainablymanage their .All equipmentpurchases, training and consultantservices to be financedunder the Project (outlinedin the Project AppraisalDocument and ProjectImplementation Plan) are done so with the ultimateaim to managing,monitoring or mitigatingexisting environmental threats to Georgia'snatural resources.

Annex 5: Summary of Public Consultations

Date andLocation: The environmentalassessment and recommendedenvironmental action plan were introducedand discussedin a publicform in all three of the projectregions -- Dedoplistskaro (VashlovaniNational Park) in June 12, 2000; AkhmetaDistrict (Tusheti National Park) on June 12, 2000 and LagodekhiDistrict (LagodekhiNature Reserve) on June 13,2000.

Agenda and Presentors:The Directorof the Project PreparationUnit (Paata Shanshishvili)and the 3 Directors of the project sites madethe presentationsand facilitatedthe meetingsaccording to the followingagenda: A. Project briefing and update B. IdentifiedEnvironmental Issues: (i) The impactof constructionof protectedareas infrastructure,including administrative buildings, checkpointsand guard stations,trails and tourism interpretationfacilities; (ii) The potentialincrease in recreational/tourismuse of the nationalparks; (iii) Changein naturalresources management use; and (iv) linkageto the proposedWorld Bank ForestryDevelopment Project.

C. Questionsand Answersabout Project D. Discussion

Invilees and Attendees: The Workshopsin all three districtsattended over the 100 individuals,who representedelected and appointedlocal including juridical, agricultural,cultural/ educationaldivisions, environmental, forestry, protected areas local administrations,teachers, youth groups,farmers, shepherds,businesses, NGO's, etc. Specificnames of those invitedand those who attendedare listed in Annex 6.

SummaryofMeeting Minutes: Full meetingminutes are availablefrom the Project Implementation Unit in Tbilisi, Georgia.In general,participants of the workshopssupported the results of the environmentalreview and the recommendedenvironmental management plan and expressed satisfactionwith proposedmitigation measures and indicatedthat they meet regionaland country's requirements.

Specific recommendationsproposedfor the project were: For DedoplistskaroDistrict/ VashlovaniProtected Areas:

- Local communityparticipation and projectmonitoring mechanisms should be improved; - Singleadministration should be authorizedto manageVashlovani Nature Reserve and National Park as well as Natural Monumentslocated with in the Dedoplistskarodistrict. - The VashlovaniProtected Areasadministration should have full authorityto managenatural resourcesand visitors, as well as control privetfirms and other involvedin managementof protectedareas groupsin order to maintainintegrity of the protectedareas.

- With in the Dedoplistskarodistrict Tushetian shepherds should be offered altemativewinter pasturesand compensationsfor sheepfarm facilitiesthat will be removedform the territory of the VashlovaniNational Park. (Some participantswere against of offering any alternativepasture for Tushetianswith in the Dedoplistskarodistrict). For AkhmetaDistrict/ TushetiProtected Areas:

- Singleadministration should be authorizedto manageTusheti Nature Reserve and NationalPark; - With in the boundariesof TushetiProtected Landscape project should supportmunicipal services;

- Negotiationof pasture altematives for Tushetianshepherds in Vashlovanishould take in considerationconstitutional and legal rites of individualson private propertyand lend lees regulation(some participantssuggested not to acceptany winter pasture altemativesand compensationsby Dedoplistskaroauthorities and retain grasslandsin proposedVashlovani NationalPark). For LagodekhiDistrict/ Lagodekhi: - Two recommendationswere suggested:(i) more forest and alpine meadowsshould be included in LagodekhiNature reserve;and (ii) becauseof hardshipsand lack of fuel wood, less forests shouldbe accommnodatedunder proposedexpansion of the Reserve.

All participantsexpressed hope that projectimplementation will be started soon and showedgood will to cooperateand supportprotected areas development.