The World Bank Report No: ISR6865

Implementation Status & Results EU Natura 2000 Integration Project (P111205)

Operation Name: EU Natura 2000 Integration Project (P111205) Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 3 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 05-Dec-2011 Country: Croatia Approval FY: 2011

Public Disclosure Authorized Product Line:IBRD/IDA Region: EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection Key Dates Board Approval Date 10-Feb-2011 Original Closing Date 30-Apr-2016 Planned Mid Term Review Date 15-Oct-2013 Last Archived ISR Date 05-Dec-2011 Public Disclosure Copy Effectiveness Date 19-May-2011 Revised Closing Date 30-Apr-2016 Actual Mid Term Review Date

Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The development objectives of the proposed project are to: (i) help support Park and County Public Institutions to implement Natura2000 objectives in investment programs; (ii) strengthen capacity for EU-compliant reporting and biodiversity monitoring; and (iii) introduce programs that involve a wide group of stakeholders in Natura 2000 network management. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project?

Public Disclosure Authorized Yes No

Component(s)

Component Name Component Cost Ecological Network Investments 15.01 Ecological Network Data Systems 6.33 Ecological Network Capacity Building 4.96

Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Satisfactory Public Disclosure Authorized Overall Risk Rating Low

Implementation Status Overview Overall Progress and Key Issues: Performance in meeting project development objectives and progress in project implementation, are rated as Satisfactory. Disbursements currently

Public Disclosure Copy stand at 15 percent and commitments stand at 20 percent. Good progress has been achieved under the Ecological Network Investment Component. Out of 35 proposed protected area-driven investments, seven have been already initiated and one completed in the .

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Institutional and Implementation Arrangements: As a result of parliamentary elections held on December 4, 2011, there was a change in the Government structure. Pursuant to the Law on Organization and Scope of Ministries and Other Central State Administrative Bodies (Official Gazette no. 150 of December 22, 2011) responsibilities for the implementation of the EU Natura 2000 Integration Project were transferred from the Ministry of Culture to the newly formed Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection. A core project implementation unit has remained embedded in the Nature Protection Directorate with the new Assistant Minister on board. The transfer to newly formed Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection did not considerably delay implementation progress.

Locations Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Croatia Not Entered Nacionalni Park

Croatia Not Entered Brodsko-Posavska Zupanija

Public Disclosure Copy Croatia Not Entered Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Istarska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Karlovacka Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Medimurska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Varazdinska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Zadarska Zupanij

Croatia Not Entered Zagrebacka Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija

Croatia Not Entered Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia Not Entered National Park

Public Disclosure Copy Croatia Not Entered Nature Park

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Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Croatia Not Entered National Park

Croatia Not Entered National Park

Croatia Not Entered National Park

Croatia Not Entered Nature Park

Croatia Not Entered Kopacki Rit Nature Park

Croatia Not Entered Nature Park

Public Disclosure Copy Croatia Not Entered Nature Park

Croatia Not Entered Nature Park

Croatia Not Entered Telascica Nature Park

Croatia Not Entered Ucka Nature Park

Croatia Not Entered Vransko Jezero Nature Park

Results

Project Development Objective Indicators Public Disclosure Copy

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Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Number of project-promoted programs in Number Value 0.00 1.00 4.00 operation that actively involve stakeholders Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 with Natura 2000 Comments Progress up to date: 1. Workshop “The basics of interpretation and education in protected areas” from the Training program for 2011 In following period 4 programs will take place:

Public Disclosure Copy 1. Preparations for 2 trainings in April has been undertaken 2. Design – interpretation activity / consultant is in the procurement procedure and will start during 2012 3. Agri-Environment program / consultant is contracted and stakeholders will start get involved during 2012 4. Volunteer program will start in 2013 Extent of Croatia covered by an accurate Percentage Value 2.40 2.40 60.00 habitat map at 1:25,000 scale Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 Comments SINP decided to start the procurement procedure without the satellite images while EEA did not respond to the official request fromthe Ministry. Nevertheless, the end Project target remains realistic and accessible. Progress made in increasing annual capital Percentage Value 0.00 9.66 12.00 and other investment expenditure across the Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 Parks estate Comments Park annual financial statements for 2011 will be

Public Disclosure Copy gathered in the next quarter and baseline calculated.

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During the April mission itwas agreed that at present there is no need to distinguish between investments made from Park’s funds/income, NIP funds and funds coming from other sources but to simply report on Parks’ annual budget/spent as it is the best indicator for increase of investments. In future , the PIU will try to get information on all sources Public Disclosure Copy of income from Parks – state budget, local and regional budget, ownincome, international projects, donations, Environment Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.

Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Integration of existing biodiversity databases to Text Value Stage achieved at scoping In development Full Data Exchange with SGA communicate & exchange data with SGA portal Portal in linewith EU INSPIRE Directive Date 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 Comments A committee for IT connection with SGA was founded but due to changes in Government structures, new members need to be appointed byJune 2012. It is expected that the new Agreement on cooperation with SGA will be signed in June 2012. Number of protected area staff trained to work Number Value 0.00 0.00 40.00 with volunteers Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 Comments This activity is planned for 2013 Value

Public Disclosure Copy Farmers trained in agrienvironment measures Number 0.00 0.00 300.00 relevant to Natura 2000 purposes Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016

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Comments Consultant for AE was contracted at the end of March 2012. Until 3rd year of project no development is expected. Awareness of Natura 2000 Ecological Network Percentage Value 3.00 3.00 20.00 among people living in and around designated Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 sites Comments % of respondents in highest Household survey will be above or equal to percentage level of awareness out of 4 repeated at the mid-term and of sample levels queries end of the Project. Percent of Croatian Red Book species re- Percentage Value 0.00 0.00 40.00 Public Disclosure Copy assessed based on new field survey data Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 Comments The procedure of the reassessment of the red list threat status is difficult and time consuming task and sufficient amount of data need to be collected and analysed. To ensure correct reassessment of the threat status, data from both phases (literature, museum collections and data from surveys) must be included in analysis planned for 2012. The percentage of reassessed species on an annual basis is not possible to determine because it depends on the organization and performance of the field studies in the second stage. Number of 50 x 50 km grids surveyed for Number Value 0.00 0.00 54.00 nationally threatened (CR, EN, VU) species Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 Comments Number of surveyed Percentages quadrants in the second phase of the project depends on the results of gap analysis that will be conducted for specific taxonomic group in

Public Disclosure Copy first phase (during 2012). It is important to stress out that

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survey plan and later results will be basedon data collected and analysed for each taxonomic group in the first phase of the project. Since it is very hard to determine in advance amount of data that will be collected in first phase of the project, i.e. to predict the results of gap analysis, it is also not possible to predict the number of quadrants that will be investigated each Public Disclosure Copy year. . At the moment complete list of scientists for all taxonomic groups is prepared as well as database and webalication for entering data that will be collected from scientists. At the moment contracts for terrestrial snails and dragonflies have been prepared. Next steps is to make a contracts with the rests of the scientists for specific taxonomic groups. Proportion of visitorsto Parks who complete Percentage Value 0.00 0.00 5.00 response forms Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 Comments Mechanism will be developed during 2012 with the consultant (research agency) who will perform the survey. ToR for this activity isbeing prepared. Number ofNational/Nature parks actively Number Value 0.00 0.00 19.00 monitoring their management effectiveness Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 Comments Questionnaire in Croatian No. of Parks using the METT language was prepared in 100% December 2011. Further development is expected in 2012. During April mission it Public Disclosure Copy was agreed to prepare ToR

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for consultant services of an expert who will help introduce and implement METT methodology in Croatia. Before Visibility workshop methodology will be tested on 3 pilot cases in order to improve and finalize the questionnaire and way of introduction. During Visibility workshop in autumn 2012 METT methodology will be Public Disclosure Copy presented to all parties involved. Afterwards all parks will fill out questionnaires. Internet application for filling METT questionnaire is planned to be introduced in 2013 to simplify the process of collecting and storing input data and reports. Number of nature protection projectapplications Number Value 0.00 0.00 30.00 made to EU Structural Funds andaccepted in Date 19-May-2011 28-Apr-2012 30-Apr-2016 the funding pipeline Comments 10 projects proposal in Projects accepted pipeline for programming period of 2014-2020. Structural funds for nature protection will be available fromthe next programming period 2014-2020. For the 2nd half of 2013 Government decided to follow only the priorities as defined in current IPA Operational programs (waste and water in OP Environment). When Project was designed it was foreseen that the SF for nature will be available from 2013. Since the start of SF was shifted to 2014 final target will be difficult to achieve. Public Disclosure Copy During April mission it was

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agreed that all projects in pipeline for any of EU funds (IPA, pre-access, rural development…) will be taken into account.

Data on Financial Performance (as of 23-May-2012)

Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P111205 IBRD-80210 Effective 10-Feb-2011 22-Feb-2011 19-May-2011 30-Apr-2016 30-Apr-2016 Public Disclosure Copy Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P111205 IBRD-80210 Effective USD 28.80 28.80 0.00 4.93 23.65 17.00

Disbursement Graph

Key Decisions Regarding Implementation N/A Public Disclosure Copy

Restructuring History

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There has been no restructuring to date.

Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Public Disclosure Copy

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