GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

Component 2: Biodiversity Landscape Conservation and Livelihoods Development

Activity Progress and Component Strategy

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMActivity Progress May-Oct 2012

• Cao Bang-Guangxi biodiversity conservation corridors: Preparatory activities to establish transboundary conservation corridors concluded

– Project completion report prepared with socio-economic and forest cover baselines, corridor designs, status of village revolving funds, and livelihoods development intervention plans

• Xishuangbanna biodiversity conservation corridors: Preparatory activities to expand conservation corridor concluded

– Project completion report prepared with updated socio-economic and forest cover baselines, status of village revolving funds, and livelihoods development intervention plans

• Deqin biodiversity conservation site: Preparatory activities to develop conservation strategy for Deqin county concluded

• Tenasserim, biodiversity conservation corridor: Completion workshop for phase 1 held in May 2012, reviewed achievements, outlined and deliberated plans for scaling up at national level

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMComponent 2

Transboundary biodiversity landscapes conservation and local livelihoods

development

TRANSBOUNDARY BIODIVERSITY LANDSCAPES MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT

1. Biodiversity landscape profiling2. Biodiversity landscape and corridor

management 3. Testing of community based conservation

practices

VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT1. Identification of agro-ecosystems based

livelihoods development options2. Demonstration projects on value chain

development

Objectives:• Strengthen policy and

institutional capacity and leverage investments to manage landscapes with high biodiversity and ecosystem services values

• Promote green value chains of agro-ecosystem products and services in support of local livelihoods development

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMResults-based planning

2013

Establishment of a regional multi-

stakeholder platform to initiate dialogue on

conservation

Potential livelihoods opportunities from

agro-ecosystem products and services

identifiedValue chain

interventions identified for 30 communities

2014

Effectiveness of existing protected areas and corridors understood

Biodiversity profile database available for 3

landscapesRecognition of protected areas & corridors in land

use planningProtected areas and

corridors delineated in 3 landscapes

2015

Regional coordination for management of

transboundary landscapesMoU signed in 3

transboundary biodiversity landscapes

Local instruments (e.g. Conservation Stewards Program, development

funds) strengthenedApproaches strengthened in 30 communities in BCI sites

Investment-worthy livelihoods opportunities based on agro-ecosystem

products and services promoted/tested

Average household income increased in 60 communities

2016• Biodiversity

corridors are gazetted in at least three GMS countries.

• Management and operational plans formulated and implemented in at least 3 biodiversity conservation corridors.

• Innovative livelihood interventions tested in at least 4 biodiversity conservation corridors

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMPriorities for the next six months

• Recruit technical lead and coordinator for the component

• Scope out activity on ecosystem function and services assessment

• Scope out feasibility assessment to strengthen value chain of agro-ecological product and services support of livilihoods development (including eco-tourism)

• Sign LoA’s scoped based on country consultations with an objective to develop investment plan; general outline of scope includes

– Evaluate BCI intervention (CDF and livelihoods development) performance under Phase 1)

– Capacity strengthening• Trainings on assessment tools• Study tours

– Strengthening BCI landscape management• Delineate conservation hot spots and corridors based on ecosystem

functions and services in Thailand and PRC, design additional biodiversity conservation corridors covering four (4) counties in south-west Guangxi

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMPriorities for the next six months

• Sign LoA’s scoped based on country consultations with an objective to develop investment plan; general outline of scope includes (contd.)

– Continuation of pilots in Xishuangbanna , Deqin and Jinxi in PRC and Tenasserim, Thailand

• Develop forest restoration guideline, corridor management plan

• Continue and extend VDF piloting in villages; provide additional seed capital for conservation agreements

• Test livelihoods development interventions– Transboundary MoU in recognition of transboundary protected

area and corridors– Prepare investment plan

• Scope out feasibility assessment to strengthen value chain of agro-ecological product and services support of livelihoods development (including eco-tourism)