Bolivia Biodiversity Conservation Projzct (Bcp)

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Bolivia Biodiversity Conservation Projzct (Bcp) GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY IOU3-3o Public Disclosure Authorized Bolivia BiodiversityConservation Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized ProjectDocument March 1992 Public Disclosure Authorized THEWORLD BANK CURRENCYAND EOUIVALENTS Currency Unit - Boliviano (Bs) ExchangeRate Effective June 1992 US$1.00 = Bs 3.8992 US$0.2665 = Bs 1.00 WEIGHTSAND MEASURES Metric System GOVERNMENTOF BOLIVIA FISCAL YEAR January 1 - December 31 GLOSSARYOF ABBREVIATIONS BII - Bolivian Indigenous Institute CDC - Centro de Datos para la Conservacion CIDOB - Indigenous Indian Federation SDC - Swiss Development Cooperation DNAPVS - NationalDirectorate for Protected Areas EAP - Environmental Action Plan FAN - Friends of Nature Foundation FONAMA - Fondo NacionalPara El Medio Ambiente (NationalEnvironmental Fund) GEF - Global Environment Facility GET - Global Environment Trust Fund GOB - Government of Bolivia SEDEMAS - DepartmentalEnvironmental Offices SENMA - Secretaria Nacionaldel Medio Ambiente (NationalEnvironmental Secretariat) SNAP - National Systemof Protected Areas UNDP - United NationsDevelopment Program BOLIVIA BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION PROJZCT (BCP) Grant and Progect Summary Grantor: Global Environment Trust Fund (GET) Grant Recipient: Government of Bolivia Beneficiaries: National Environmental Secretariat (SENMA) National Environmental Fund (FONAMA) Amount: SDR 3.1 million (US$4.5 million equivalent) Terma: Grant Financing Plan: GET US$ 4.5 million Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) USS 3.9 million TOTAL USS 8.4 million Economic Rate of Return: N.A. Map: IBRD 23957R BOLIVIA BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Background 1. Bolivia is one of the most important countries in Latin America for the conservation of biodiversity, not only because the ecosystems in many areas are still pristine, but because it contains about 18,000 species of plants and 1,274 species of birds (very high for a landlocked country). It has a high index of endemism. Moreover, many of the forest and natural grassland habitats, which have been greatly reduced in neighboring countries, (particularly Brazil and Argentina) are still relatively extensive in Bolivia. 2. The principal threat to most of Bolivia's rare plant and animal species is the loss or degradation of the natural habitats upon which these species depend. By far the most serious and widespread cause of habitat loss is deforestation, particularly in the eastern slopes of the Andes, the eastern (Santa Cruz) lowlands, and the Amazonian lowlands. The extensive annual burning of natural grasslands for pasture management also threatens certain native plants and animals. A relatively few plant and animal species are threatened by direct over-exploitation (for wood, meat, skins, or the pet trade). 3. Thus far, nearly 10 percent of the country's surface area has been set aside in 31 National Parks, Wildlife Reserves, Biological Reserves, or other categories of protected areas. Some of these protected areas are already being financed in part through ongoing or planned development projects supported by the Bank/IDA. For example, the Noel Kempff Mercado and Amboro National Parks are being strengthened under the IDA-supported Eastern Lowlands Project, and several new protected areas in the Chaco region (Bafiadosde Izozog, Bafiados de Otuqis, and possibly others) are likely to be supported under the proposed Bank/IDA Power/Gas Pipeline Project. However, most of Bolivia's protected areas are still only paper parks", with little or no on- the-ground protection. 4. The Government's awareness of the need to address environmental problems, including biodiversity loss, has grown considerably within the past several years. Recent Governmental initiatives relevant to biodiversity conservation include: 2 the establishment of the Secretaria Nacional del Medio Ambiente (SENMA) responsible for formulating environmental policy and monitoring implementation; the establishment of a National Environmental Fund (Fondo Nacional para el Medio Ambiente, FONAMA) to coordinate and administer local and external financing for environmental programs, including biodiversity; the elaboration of an Environmental Action Plan (Plan de Acci6n Ambiental Boliviano, EAP) and a Forestry Action Plan (Plan de Acci6n Forestal para Bolivia, 1990-1995), both of which devote considerable attention to biodiversity conservation; the first ever debt-for-nature swap (in 1987, when US$650,000 of Bolivian debt was used to finance the long-term management of the Beni Biological Reserve and Chimanes Forest Reserve); and the enactment of a broad environmental law. 5. The EAP establishes a permanent environmental planning process at the national, regional and local levels, identifies key environmental issues giving emphasis to biodiversity, and incorporates public participation (NGOs, community groups), as an essential element in environmental planning. The broad-based composition of the Board of FONAMA and of the Advisory Council of SENMA will further strengthen the EAP's participatory process in environmental planning and management. 6. The new institutional structure under the new Law includes, in addition to SENMA and FONAMA, nine departmental secretariats (SEDEMAS) under the auspices of SENMA, as well as nine departmental environmental councils (CODEMAS). CODEMAS will be responsible for formulating environmental policies in their respective departments, while SEDEMAS will be responsible for executing such policies. SENMA, through CODEMAS, will keep close communication with department, municipal authorities and local groups to ensure that national environmental strategies reflect local needs. FONAMA will support SENMA by securing donor funding to address investment needs, without engaging directly in project implementation. SENMA's Secretary would chair FONAMA's Board. 7. The new Environmental Law provides a solid base for the protection of Bolivia's biodiversity. The law formally establishes the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) and gives jurisdiction over the country's protected areas to SENMA. The broad framework and principles of the Law represent an integrated, cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach to environmental management and sustainable development. Within the term environment the Law includes urban and rural development and quality of life, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, environmental education, environmental research and the incorporation of environmental aspects into national planning (ecological, economic and social). The Environmental Law sets broad guidelines and institutional responsibilities for the protection of Bolivia's threatened ecosystems, and gives SENMA the responsibility for formulating policies and overseeing the management of protected areas. Furthermore, the Protected Areas Law, soon to be presented to Congress for approval, will further strengthen SENMA's ability to enforce the implementation of biodiversity conservation policies, and effectively manage the SNAP. 3 8. The Biodiversity Conservation project is complemented by the IDA supported "Environmental Technical Assistance Project" (ETAP). The ETAP's objectives are to strengthen key Government environment-related institutions to formulate and implement environmental policies; develop the human resources necessary to plan, evaluate and implement action programs; support initial steps toward a rationalized and more effective legal and regulatory system for environmental protection and natural resources management. Proiect Obiective 9. The proposed project would help ensure the protection of representative samples of some of Bolivia's most diverse and threatened ecosystems. It would help to convert some of Bolivia's "paper parks" into "real" ones. This would be accomplished, in part, by strengthening the Government's institutional capability to protect Bolivia's biodiversity. The management of the protected areas system would be done through an integrated approach which will involve local and indigenous communities and institutions. This approach would be strengthened by a training program for local people and an outreach program, both designed so local communities may assume increased responsibility for the management of buffer zones and protected areas. Proiect Description 10. The major project components include: (i) support for the organization, implementation and follow-up of the National System of Protected Areas -SNAP; (ii) support to existing protected areas and establishment of new priority protected areas; (iii) alternative management systems of natural resources in buffer zones; (iv) monitoring and evaluation; and (v) administrative support to the project coordinating unit. 11. Support for the Organization, Implementation and Follow-up of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). (US$1.9 million). This component would include: (a) institutional support to SENMA's Direcci6n Nacional de Areas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre (DNAPVS) to manage the SNAP; (b) development of an information system for the SNAP; (c) consolidation of the system of protected areas; (d) training of protected areas personnel; and (e) a program of control and enforcement for the SNAP. (a) Institutional support to SENMA's DNAPVS to manage the SNAP: The Environmental Law gives SENMA the responsibility for managing the SNAP. The proposed operation would provide the resources to develop Bolivia's administrative capacity to effectively manage its protected areas. It would support the administrative structure of the DNAPVS by funding incremental salaries, technical assistance,
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