Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Pakistan Hydro-Meteorological and Ecosystem Restoration Project National Disaster Risk Management Fund Pakistan Hydro-Meteorological and Ecosystem Restoration Project Executive Summary Background Climate change is expected to have an adverse impact on Pakistan, as it ranks 7th on the climate risk index. It continues to be one of the most flood-prone countries in the South Asia Region (SAR); suffering US$18 billion in losses between 2005 and 2014 (US$10.5 billion from the 2010 floods alone), equivalent to around 6% of the federal budget. Hydromet hazards have been coupled with rapid population growth and uncontrolled urbanization, leading to a disproportionate and growing impact on the poor. Climate Change impacts have been exacerbated due to declining forest cover. During 1989- 2009, Pakistan lost 25 percent of its natural forests (FAO 2009)1. Forest resources continue to deteriorate both qualitatively and quantitatively because of increasing pressure from a rising population and associated needs. Significant areas of forest lands have been transferred for non-forestry and commercial purposes, including agriculture, infrastructure, defense, and tourism (FAO 2009). To increase economic productivity, and improve climate resilience, it is critical to improve the quality and accessibility of weather, water, and climate information services as well as to introduce nature-based solutions. Climate-resilient development requires stronger institutions and a higher level of observation, forecasting, and service delivery capacity, and restoration of natural or modified ecosystems can strengthen the climate resilience of the country; these could make a significant contribution to safety, security, and economic well-being. The Pakistan Hydro-Meteorological and Ecosystem Restoration Project expects to improve hydro-meteorological information and services, strengthen forecasting and early warning systems, and improve dissemination of meteorological and hydrological forecasts, warnings and advisory information to stakeholders and end-users, as well as restore ecosystems which contribute to build climate resilience in the country. Project Description The project has two main components and will be implemented over a period of five years. Component 1: Hydro-Meteorological and Climate Services The objective of this component is to improve the capability and thereby performance of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) to understand and make use of meteorological and hydrological information for decision making. This objective will be achieved through investment in strengthening institutional setup and building capacity of human resources at the PMD. Sub-component 1.1 will lead to institutional strengthening and improve the capability of the PMD to understand and make use of meteorological and hydrological information for decision-making. Sub-component 1.2 would lead to modernization of the observation infrastructure, data management and forecasting systems of PMD through investments in radars, automatic weather stations, weather observatories and modern ICT systems. 1 FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). 2009. “Pakistan Forestry Outlook Study.” Working Paper No. APFSOS II/WP/2009/28, Office of the Inspector General of Forests, Ministry of Environment. Asia Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study II. Executive Summary i Pakistan Hydro-Meteorological and Ecosystem Restoration Project Component 2: Nature Based Solutions and Climate Adaptation This component is to support the Ministry of Climate Change to design and roll-out Nature- based Solutions to enhance climate resilience and adaptation through reinforcing ecosystem services as well as to support climate actions carried out by community and startups. The National Disaster Risk Management Fund will be responsible for implementing the component on behalf of the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), as custodian of the ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation fund. Sub-component 2.1 will support the activities proposed under Eco-system Restoration Initiative (ESRI). Main focus of the activities to be supported under this component will be on Forest conservation, and biodiversity conservation and preventing land degradation. Relevant provincial departments (forest & wildlife) will be responsible for implementation on behalf of MoCC. Under Sub- component 2.2, the activities planned and implemented by NGOs or community-based organizations will be supported to enhance resilience of communities, and/or ecosystems on which they rely, to climate change risks and impacts. Sub-component 2.3 would introduce a seed funding for tech startups around climate resilience, working with partners such as the National Incubation Center which is the largest technology incubation center in Pakistan and supports the entire incubation process of entrepreneurs. Need for the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) In line with the environmental legislation of Pakistan as well as World Bank (WB) Operational Policies, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the project has been prepared. This ESMF assesses environmental and social impacts related to the physical interventions to expand facilities at PMD offices, install Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and ecosystem restoration activities across Pakistan. The ESMF outlines an Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plan (ESMMP) as well as a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) to address any adverse potential impacts as a result of this Project. The ESMF includes institutional arrangements required to implement environmental and social aspects and presents monitoring requirements for effective implementation of mitigation measures; describes training needs and specific reporting and documentation requirements; and proposes a third-party validation mechanism. Assessment of Environmental and Social Baseline Physical Location and Land Use Component 1 will be implemented in across Pakistan. The project’s physical intervention includes the establishment of a Monsoon Research Center (MRC) in Islamabad, installation of Weather Surveillance Radars (WSR) at Gwadar, Khuzdar, D. I. Khan, Quetta and Cherat, and establishment of a Regional Flood Forecasting Center in Peshawar. The exact locations of these facilities are unknown at the moment and will be finalized during project implementation. Likewise, Component 2 i.e. Nature Based Solutions and Climate adaptation will be implemented throughout Pakistan. Potential locations and methodology for forest conservation, biodiversity and land protection areas have been pre-identified by the provincial governments. Actual intervention will be selected through prioritization and selection process carried out between NDRMF and provincial governments during project implementation. The remaining activity areas under ESRI such as protection of marine environment and promotion of blue economy may also be possibly supported under this sub- component as the technical details and feasibility of these areas are substantiated. The site specific safeguard instruments for the sub-projects under both components would be prepared as the result of environmental and social screening procedures included in this ESMF when locations have been identified. Executive Summary ii Pakistan Hydro-Meteorological and Ecosystem Restoration Project Surface and Ground Water Hydrology Pakistan can be divided into three main units in terms of hydrology, Indus Basin, closed basin of Kharan desert and the Makran coastal basin. Groundwater availability is limited in Pakistan and poses a severe problem for water supply. Worst affected are the most arid regions of Baluchistan and the southeast of Pakistan. Natural Hazard Vulnerability National Seismic Monitoring Centre of Pakistan issued the seismic zone map for Pakistan. Parts of KPK Province, Federally Administered Areas, Baluchistan and Sindh fall in Zones 3 and 4 which indicate moderate to severe damage to infrastructure and topography from earthquakes.2 The entire country is prone to floods, particularly along the Indus River Basin, with major flooding experienced in 2010 and 2015. Sub-projects may be installed in areas that are prone to flooding. Ecological Environment Pakistan has a rich natural heritage of biodiversity due to diverse physiography, soil types, and climate. Terrestrial biomes of Pakistan range from deserts in the south to the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, Karakorum, and Hindu Kush in the north and west. Pakistan can be divided in to eleven ecological zones and nine main agro-ecological zones according to distribution of flora and fauna. More than 6,000 flowering species have been recorded in Flora of Pakistan, of which 465 are thought to be endemic and 50 species are on the verge of extinction.3 There are 174 species of mammals, 668 species of birds, 177 species of reptiles, 22 amphibians, 198 freshwater fish species, 788 marine fist species found in Pakistan. 4 There are six endemic mammal species in Pakistan. Among them two — the little known woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus), found in the northern mountain areas, and the Indus dolphin — are endangered. In birds, two species of pheasants, the western tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus), and the cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichii), together with the great Indian bustard (Ardeostis nigriceps) are listed as endangered. Of