Title Page, Including the Date of Completion of the Analysis Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FAA 118 / 119 REPORT CONSERVATION OF TROPICAL FORESTS AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN TIMOR-LESTE JUNE 2012 PURPOSE In 2012, USAID/Timor-Leste will prepare its five-year Country Development Cooperation Strategy. USAID/Timor-Leste recognizes that protection of the environment and sustainable management of natural resources are required for a successful development program. Climate change adaptation, environment and natural resources management will be crosscutting themes in the new strategy. This report is an update of an assessment conducted in 2009 and fulfills the planning requirements set out by two provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act: 1. Section 118(e) "Country Analysis Requirements – Each country development strategy statement or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development shall include an analysis of – (1) the actions necessary in that country to achieve conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests, and (2) the extent to which the actions proposed for support by the Agency meet the needs thus identified." 2. Section 119(d) "Country Analysis Requirements – Each country development strategy statement or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development shall include an analysis of – (1) the actions necessary in that country to conserve biological diversity, and (2) the extent to which the actions proposed for support by the Agency meet the needs thus identified." METHODOLOGY This report is intended as an update to the 2009 draft of the Timor-Leste Tropical Forests and Biodiversity Analyses. Additional information was gathered and incorporated into the previous report during a visit to Timor-Leste in April 2012 by Sarah Tully, USAID, ME/TS. Sarah Tully conducted interviews and meetings with representatives of local country ministries, non-governmental organizations, and USAID staff. Sarah Tully was based in Dili and conducted field visits around the capital. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8 A. INTRODUCTION 15 B. LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES AFFECTING BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 17 Legislation 17 International Conventions 19 Government Institutions 20 Donors and International Organizations 22 Non-governmental Organizations Active in Timor-Leste 24 C. BIOPHYSICAL AND ECOSYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS 25 Climate and Topography 25 Natural Ecosystems 25 D. CURRENT STATUS OF TROPICAL FORESTS AND BIODIVERSITY 27 Tropical Forest Status and Management 27 Biodiversity Status and Management 30 E. ASSESSMENT OF THREATS TO TROPICAL FORESTS AND BIODIVERSITY 36 Energy Issues 36 Lack of Economic Opportunity 37 Lack of Legal Framework for the Environment and Natural Resources 38 Pollution 38 Investments for Economic Growth 38 Lack of Human Capacity and Public Awareness 39 Climate Change 39 Invasive Species 40 F. USAID’S CURRENT ACTIVITIES 40 G. ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CONSERVE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS 43 The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan: Priority Actions and Targets 43 Watershed Management through Sustainable Agriculture and Reforestation 44 Water Quality and Quantity 45 Firewood and Energy 45 Policies and Planning for Forest and Biodiversity Management 46 Biodiversity Conservation 46 Environmental Education and Awareness 46 Conservation of Marine Biodiversity within the Coral Triangle 46 Adaptation to Global Climate Change 47 3 H. MEETING CONSERVATION NEEDS: RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 47 Economic Growth through Watershed Management and Reforestation 47 Economic Growth and Conservation through Clean Energy 48 Economic Growth through Workforce Development 48 Payment for Environmental Services 49 Economic Growth through Fisheries Management and Coastal Tourism 50 Promoting Good Governance through Public Participation in Environment Policy and Natural Resource Management 50 Environment and Health 51 Crosscutting – Adaptation to Climate Change 51 Crosscutting – Capacity Building 52 Crosscutting – Gender 52 Potential Negative Impacts to Forests and Biodiversity in the New Strategy 52 G. BIBLIOGRAPHY 54 ANNEXES 58 1. Summary of Laws and International Conventions Related to the Environment 58 2. Ministries Responsible for the Environment 64 3. Ministries Indirectly Responsible for the Environment 67 4. Donors and International Organizations with Environment-Related Activities 70 5. List of Protected Areas 80 6. Persons Contacted 81 7. Recommended USAID Actions 82 8. Biographic Sketch of Assessment Team Member 85 9. Statement of Work for the 118/119 86 10. Draft FAA 118/119 for Timor-Leste from March 2009 91 4 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research ADB Asian Development Bank AusAID Australian Government Overseas Aid Program CBD Convention on Biological Diversity cd Conservation Dependent CFET Consolidated Fund for Timor-Leste CI Conservation International CIA Central Intelligence Agency CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species COCAR Consolidating Cooperative and Agribusiness Recovery CR Critically Endangered CRS Catholic Relief Services CSO Civil Society Organization CTI Coral Triangle Initiative CTSP Coral Triangle Support Program CWS Church World Service °C Degrees Centigrade DD Data Deficient DGEWS Directorate General of Electricity, Water and Sanitation DHS Demographic and Health Survey DNAAI National Directorate for International Environmental Affairs DNAS National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation DNSAS National Directorate of Water and Sanitation Services DNSB National Directorate for Basic Sanitation DNCQA National Directorate for Water Quality DOCIA Development of Communities through Intensive Agriculture DSHEP Development Scholarships and Higher Education Program DWASH District Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Program EC European Commission Ed Education EN Endangered FAO Food and Agriculture Organization GEF Global Environment Facility GHG Greenhouse Gas GIZ German Society for International Cooperation GoTL Government of Timor-Leste ha Hectares HHI Habitat for Humanity International Hivos Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IDA International Development Association ILO International Labor Organization IMF International Monetary Fund INA Indonesia IrishAID Irish Government Overseas Aid Program IRL Ireland IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature 5 JICA Japanese International Cooperation Agency km Kilometers KOICA Korea International Cooperation Agency LR Lower Risk m Meters mm Millimeters MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation MDG Millennium Development Goals MED Ministry of Economy and Development MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Min Ministry MoE Ministry of Education MoH Ministry of Health MoI Ministry of Infrastructure NAP National Action Programme to Combat Land Degradation NAPA National Adaptation Programme of Action on Climate Change NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NCBA National Cooperative and Business Association NDES National Directorate for Environmental Services NDF National Directorate of Forests NEGA National Ecological Gap Assessment NGO Non-Governmental Organization NKSNP Nino Konis Santana National Park No. Number NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency NOR Norway nt Near Threatened NTF Naroman Timor Foun NZ New Zealand OXFI Oxfam International PoWPA Programme of Works on Protected Areas RR Restricted-Range SCUBA Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus SEARCA Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture SEMA State Secretariat for the Environment SoL Seeds of Life SoS Secretary of State SPRTL Strengthening Property Rights in Timor-Leste TAF The Asia Foundation UN United Nations UNCBD United Nations Convention on Biodiversity UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCDF United Nations Capital Development Fund UNDP United Nations Development Program UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNHRC United Nations Human Rights Council UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund 6 UNTAET United Nations Transitional Administration in Timor-Leste UNTL National University of Timor-Leste USA United States of America USAID United States Agency for International Development USG United States Government VU Vulnerable WB World Bank WFP World Food Program WLDV World Vision WWF World Wildlife Fund 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Timor-Leste is located in the Lesser Sunda Islands (part of the Australian continental plate), and includes the eastern end of the island of Timor, the Oecussi enclave in West Timor, and the islands of Atauro and Jaco. The flora and fauna of Timor-Leste appear to represent a mixture of Asian and Australian families and there are a large number of endemic species including 1500 plants, 262 birds, 127 mammals, 33 frogs, 99 reptiles and 50 freshwater fish. Unique areas of biodiversity include coastal and marine zones, Jaco Island, Nino Konis Santana National Park, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, and non-deciduous forests. These natural systems contain rare species including the Christmas Island Frigatebird, Borneo teak, sandalwood, dugong, loggerhead turtles, and the Timor yellow tiger. Timor-Leste has acceded to the following United Nations Conventions: to combat desertification (UNCCD) in 2003; on Biodiversity (UNCBD) in 2006 and Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2007. National Action Plans have been written for Combating