10 ADDITIONALITY AND OFFSET PROGRAMMES- CIP, EIP, OFFSET AND OTHER INITIATIVES BTC CIP involved in upgrades to Ranjbar Hospital (Azerbaijan) Clinic construction at Topal Hasali - part of CIP (Azerbaijan) 1010 ADDITIONALITY AND OFFSET PROGRAMMES – CIP, EIP, OFFSET AND OTHER INITIATIVES Execution of the Additionality and Offset programmes are based on a series of regional and community-based projects. These projects are designed to promote and conserve biodiversity, deliver local, sustainable and long term benefits, and empower local communities to solve their own problems. Details of the individual projects were presented in the Q1 and Q2 reports. Information presented in this section the Q3 report does not repeat this information but instead concentrates on new projects that were added to the two programmes, and changes that were recorded to existing projects over the quarter. Some contextual information is retailed where appropriate to minimize the need to refer to previous quarterly reports. 10.1 OFFSET AND EIP Table 10.1 outlines the offset projects and additionality (EIP) projects in each country. The information is the same as presented in previous quarterly reports except that the implementation stage has advanced for three projects. These changes have been highlighted. 10-1 Table 10.1: BTC Offset and EIP Projects Country Project Offset EIP Implemen- (additionality) tation Stage* Cross Country Caucasus biodiversity project P Strategic Environmental & Cultural Management Plan for Proposed Gobustan National Park / I Gobustan Cultural Heritage Reserve. Semi-desert conservation management - Project 1 (RFP) D Semi-desert conservation management - Project 2 (RFP) D Spur-thighed tortoise conservation management (Non-RFP) I Azerbaijan Public Awareness and Community Involvement -Project 1 (RFP) D Public Awareness and Community Involvement -Project 2 (RFP) D Persian gazelle conservation management (RFP) D 2 Tougay Forest conservation and restoration, Kura floodplain I Kura-Araz Lake Management (RFP) D Phase 2 Projects P Forest Eco-Compensation Programme P Rare Floral Species Programme (Population enhancement element) I Borjomi Kharagauli National Park Support Zone Program D** Management Planning for Ktsia Tabatskuri Managed Reserve (Non-RFP) P Georgia Caucasian Black Grouse Research, Monitoring and Conservation Management (RFP) I Ecosystems and Species Conservation in Georgia: Brown Bear (RFP) I Sustainable Forest Pilot Project P Small Grant for NGO Capacity Building and Public Awareness/Environmental Education I** Important Plant Areas I Eco-compensation Planting for: Posof Wildlife Protection Area; Sarikamis Natural Site Area; Miscellaneous forest areas D Important Bird Areas I Improving the conservation status of Caucasian Black Grouse (CBG) in Turkey I Mediterranean Monk Seal Research I Turkey Sea Turtles I Lesser Caucasus Forest Gap Analysis & Sub-ecoregion study I Small Investments Fund I** Forest Habitat Enhancement P Public Awareness / Community Involvement P Wetlands Management P Key: *Project Sequence = Planning (P), Definition (D), Implementation (I); ** advanced one implementation stage since Q2 2 Note that this project is in the implementation stage but BTC/SCP funding towards this project has not yet occurred. 10-2 10.1.1 CROSS-CAUCASUS PROJECT A Request for Proposal was issued for a cross-Caucasus project to address the socioeconomic, political and institutional threats to, and opportunities for, conservation of biodiversity in the region. (Further detail on scope in Q2 report). No suitable proposals were received. BTC is investigating the reasons for the lack of interest. 10.1.2 AZERBAIJAN EIP in Azerbaijan is taking a phased approach. The following section is described in terms of Phase 1 and Phase 2. The following section outlines the scope and status of the Azerbaijan offset and Phase 1 EIP projects that are in the implementation stage. This is followed by a brief update of those projects that are either in the planning or definition stage. IMPLEMENTATION STAGE PROJECTS: Project Name: Project Start Date: Strategic Environmental & Cultural Management October 2003. Plan for Proposed Gobustan National Park / Gobustan Cultural Heritage Reserve. Implementing Organisation: GRSCC (see below) Location: Gobustan Project Description: BTC is partnering with other Stakeholders in a forum to improve management of the Gobustan Cultural Reserve. Stakeholders include the Ministry of Culture, the Institute of Archaeology and the Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources as well as local people and all those with an interest in the management of the area. The Gobustan Reserve Stakeholder Consultative Committee (GRSCC) has been established involving representatives from key public, governmental and corporate groups (i.e. the Ministry of Culture, Institute of Archaeology, Local Authorities, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Environment, BTC/BP and Gobustan Operating Company) in discussions on the future of the Gobustan Reserve. The aim of the Committee is to implement actions proposed by UNESCO during the development of a management plan for the Reserve. Highlights and Achievements: A pamphlet describing the area has been published by BTC on behalf of the Ministry of Culture. Project Name: Project Start Date: Spur-thighed tortoise conservation management 2002 (BTC funding not yet started) Implementing Organisation: Location: Project staff are hired directly by AIOC. Sangachal terminal and BTC pipeline Project Description: AIOC is implementing the Spur-thighed Tortoise Breeding Programme as an offset measure related to the construction of the Sangachal terminal. BTC/SCP are contributing funds to this programme. The objective of the programme is to offset any losses of this red listed species that may occur as a result of pipeline construction activities. Through the BTC/SCP EIP Semi-Desert Conservation Program, opportunities for the release of the tortoises will be sought, and will take into account the range and density of a healthy tortoise community. A monitoring programme will be considered as a means of determining the success of the release strategy. Highlights and Achievements: The BTC / SCP plan was to integrate the release and monitoring of the individuals bred under the programme into the semi-desert conservation area and therefore this project is linked to the Semi-desert conservation management projects (which are still in the definition stage and are described in Q2 report). Due to delays with these projects a contingency is still under development. 10-3 Project Name: Project Start Date: Tougay Forest Conservation and Restoration Q4 2002 (BTC/SCP Funding Contribution will begin in the second half of 2004) Implementing Organisation: Location: BP Kura Floodplain Project Description: This is a joint project involving BP Group, the BP Azerbaijan Business Unit and the BTC and SCP projects. It focuses upon the threatened Tougai forest habitat, and aims to enhance protection of Tougai Forest in a protected area. The project is divided into 3 phases: • Phase 1: Baseline investigations and project site selection (Complete April 2004) • Phase 2 Detailed Project Design (Completed May 2004) • Phase 3: Implementation BTC/SCP is making a financial contribution to help enable the implementation phase. BTC/SCP is represented on the Steering Committee for the project. Highlights and Achievements: The Phase 2 consultations, literature surveys and field studies for flora, fauna, soils and socio-economic conditions allowed the development of an Action Plan for the selected pilot area at Qizil Yugun forest, Agstafa. Proposed actions include tree planting, protection of the planted area from human intervention, monitoring of the planted area and public awareness activities. The Action Plan was elaborated in a Phase 2 design report that was reviewed by BTC members of the project Steering Committee. A revised version will be produced during Q4 2004. The project is preparing to move into Phase 3 – Implementation that will involve the refinement and implementation of the Action Plan. Project representatives continue to form part of the project Steering Committee. PLANNING AND DEFINITION STAGE PROJECTS A number of projects are in the planning and definition stage of development. These have been described in the Q1 and Q2 reports. The following information provides an update on those projects that have advanced or recorded some activity during Q3. Projects that have remained current but inactive during the quarter have not been included. Future quarterly reports will only record changes in project status. Phase 1 EIP Projects In previous reports have outlined that a number of Phase 1 projects are effectively on hold until such time as sufficient support is granted by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR). The project is looking at ways in which this issue can be resolved. • Kura-Araz Lake Management. This project involves the development and implementation of a multi-stakeholder management plan for the Kura-Araz lakes system, an internationally recognised over-wintering ground for important bird species. During Q3 it became apparent that the potential Implementing Partners for this project no longer wish to work together. BTC has progressed discussions with one of the partners. The project is being re-designed to be more acceptable to the MENR. This will involve a greater emphasis on the newly defined national priorities that include emphasis on the Shirvan and Kura Araz protected areas. • Phase 2 EIP Projects There was