Catalyzing sustainability of Catalyzing sustainability of the wetland protected area the wetland protected area

system in Belarusian system in Belarusian Polesie through increased Polesie through increased

management efficiency and management efficiency and realigned land use realigned land use

practicespracticesOP 2, SP 1OP 2, SP 1

Dmitry Goloubovsky, UNDP BelarusDmitry Goloubovsky, UNDP Belarus

EE COP, Bratislava, Sep 27-28, 2005EE COP, Bratislava, Sep 27-28, 2005

Protected Protected Areas Areas

System of System of BelarusBelarus

•Total – 1.6 m ha Total – 1.6 m ha (7.9%)(7.9%)• 1 Biosphere 1 Biosphere ReserveReserve• 4 National Parks4 National Parks• 96 National 96 National +473 local +473 local Zakazniks (70% of Zakazniks (70% of PAs)PAs)

Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Belarusian PolesieBelarusian Polesie

BaselineBaseline

Polesie bio-geographical region Polesie bio-geographical region Spans - Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, RussiaSpans - Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Russia Severely damaged by Soviet-era wetland drainageSeverely damaged by Soviet-era wetland drainage Retained unique wetland biodiversity and landscapes of international importanceRetained unique wetland biodiversity and landscapes of international importance Zakazniks’ biodiversity particularly vulnerable to threats from Zakazniks’ biodiversity particularly vulnerable to threats from agriculture, forestry, flood-defenseagriculture, forestry, flood-defense

Project ScopeProject Scope

Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Belarusian PolesieBelarusian Polesie

Project StrategyProject Strategy Demonstrate feasibility of enhanced Demonstrate feasibility of enhanced

wetland reserves management:wetland reserves management: Build reserves management capacity (PAMUs)Build reserves management capacity (PAMUs) Legislate reserves MPs, incl. buffer zonesLegislate reserves MPs, incl. buffer zones

Realign land- & water use practices in and Realign land- & water use practices in and around reserves with BD needs:around reserves with BD needs: Methodology for balanced land-use planningMethodology for balanced land-use planning BD-friendly forestry MPs, incl. certificationBD-friendly forestry MPs, incl. certification BD-friendly guidelines for water use, incl. BD-friendly guidelines for water use, incl. amended anti-flood programamended anti-flood program

Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Belarusian PolesieBelarusian Polesie

Programming Tips Programming Tips Detailed stakeholder analysis, incl. Detailed stakeholder analysis, incl.

mechanisms for local participation, NGOsmechanisms for local participation, NGOs Strategy to mitigate impact on local Strategy to mitigate impact on local

communitycommunity High gov-t co-financing as a risk, High gov-t co-financing as a risk,

mitigation strategy mitigation strategy Strategy for integration of GEF Strategy for integration of GEF

interventions into national framework, interventions into national framework, sustainabilitysustainability

Post-project PA financing Post-project PA financing

Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Belarusian PolesieBelarusian Polesie

Programming Tips (contd.)Programming Tips (contd.) Project-induced modified baseline to Project-induced modified baseline to

qualify as co-funding qualify as co-funding Ensure co-financing is sufficiently Ensure co-financing is sufficiently

justified justified Management Effectiveness Tracking Management Effectiveness Tracking

Tool Tool Diversify PA financing by enhancing Diversify PA financing by enhancing

MPs into business plansMPs into business plans Plan and budget for M&E, sufficient $ Plan and budget for M&E, sufficient $

for external evaluations ($40K each)for external evaluations ($40K each)

Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Belarusian PolesieBelarusian Polesie

Programming Tips (contd.)Programming Tips (contd.) If tourism considered as If tourism considered as

alternative source of income, alternative source of income, provide feasibility dataprovide feasibility data

BD monitoring data as objective-BD monitoring data as objective-level indicator level indicator

Project to link up with international Project to link up with international strategies, e.g. CMS, AEWA, GPIstrategies, e.g. CMS, AEWA, GPI

Linkages with other IAs programs Linkages with other IAs programs

Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Belarusian PolesieBelarusian Polesie

Thank you!

Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Areas in Belarusian PolesieBelarusian Polesie