the rare pride campaign in the yuhe provincial nature reserve, gansu province a tool for assessing...

The Rare Pride Campaign in the Yuhe Provincial Nature Reserve, Gansu Province

A tool for assessing the feasibility and impact potential of Rare project plans

BRAVO: Barrier Removal Assessment and Viability Overview

Economics Technical Cultural/Political Impact & Metrics

BRAVO: Executive Summary

What: To eliminate the threat stemming from excessive consumption of firewood

, we must take measures to curb the consumption amount. We will promote the

innovative fuel-efficient stove to replace the traditional stoves. We will distribute

150 the stoves to households within and near the Reserve. The project will train

16 stove makers for the target area in two separate workshops, and initiate fuel-

efficient promotion activities in the target area.

Who: With assistance from Rare, the Longyou Environmental Protection and

Social Development Research and Consulting Center will advocate local

communities to adopt the new stove and other alternative energy technologies.

The Administration of the Yuhe Nature Reserve will support the implementation

of the project. The Baishui River Protection Bureau will assist to resolve

technological issues of the stove manufacturing. The Energy Office of Wudu

District of Longnan City will assist in the assessment of the effect of the fuel-

efficient stove.

When: Promotional activities for the fuel-efficient stove will be launched in July,

2009 . 150 fuel-efficient stoves will have been used by local households by the

end of July, 2010. Training workshops for 30 local stove makers will be initiated

in August, 2009 and concluded in October, 2009. Publicity activities will begin in

July,2009 and end in July, 2010.

How: We will promote the new stove by providing free training on manufacturing

skills and offering subsidies for the raw materials. The subsidies will be covered

by the Rare BR Fund (about $10,000) and the technical training will be covered

by the Core Fund. WWF will provide 20 fuel-efficient stoves (the Yuhe Reserve

Administration will be responsible for the distribution). Other funds will be from

the local government and communities.

BRAVO Scores

Feasibility Score: 3.74

Impact Score: 3.83

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Copyright © 2008 Monitor Company Group, L.P. — Confidential — XXXCAS-COD-Prez-Date-CTL 3

Criteria Explanation Score

Costs

Preliminary projected costs

The Preparatory Phase for the Target Area:– Commuting expenses: 2000 RMB– Travelling expenses: 3000 RMB

The Implementation Phase for the Target Area:– Material Cost: 125,250 RMB （ 150×835

RMB/piece ）– Payment for technician(s): 45,000

RMB （ 150×300 RMB/ piece ）– Payment for regular workers: 75,000

RMB （ 150×500 RMB/piece ）– Commuting expenses: 3,000 RMB– Travelling expenses: 4000 RMB

The total projected costs : 267 ， 250 RMB

The Assessment Phase for the Target Area– The assessment expenses: 10,000

RMB for the budget breakdowns, please refer to the Appendix.

Predictability of cost burden

1 = Costs are ambiguous and unpredictable; 4 = Costs are predictable and manageableAll materials needed for making the fuel-efficient stove are available in Wudu district. As we have promoted the fuel-efficient stove in Baishui River before, we are fully aware of the costs related to the stove manufacturing. Therefore, it’s very easy for us to manage the manufacturing costs. Despite the fact hat the target area is in mountainous areas and transportation expenses might be higher, the cost for the fuel-efficient stove manufacturing is expected to drop by 10%to 15% with the expansion of the production .

4

Average Score 4

The Rare Pride Campaign in the Yuhe Nature Reserve

Economics (Page 1)

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Revenues

Description of revenue streams

Fundraising total: ￥ 38 ， 000 Sources: WWF, the Yuhe Reserve Administration, Tianshui Teachers’ College

Earned income total: ￥ 100 ， 500 Sources: communities

Percentage of total cost available

1: 0 – 25% 2: 25 – 50% 3: 50 – 75% 4: 75 – 100% WWF will contribute 20,000 RMB to making 20 fuel-efficient stoves, the target community will raise 100,500 RMB, the Yuhe Reserve Administration and Tianshui Teachers’ College will contribute 18,000 RMB. Part of the funding is now in place. However, as the funding from the community is in the form of investment, the community fundraising is still in progress. Part of the community funding may come from the government.

3.5

Likelihood of fundraising success

1 = Very low likelihood of raising the necessary funds; 4 = Likelihood of raising necessary funds almost a certaintyApplication for Rare’s funding is now pending approval, other funding sources are still being negotiated. 3.5

Fundraising timing

Funding from WWF, the Yuhe Reserve Administration, Tianshui Teachers’ College and the target community will be in place on time.

Funding Alignment

1 = Funding timeline is not aligned with project timeline; 4 = Funding timeline is well-aligned with project timeline(Use 1-4 scale) If unknown, write unknown.The funding timeline is well-aligned with project timeline.

4

Sustainable Funding

1 = Unsustainable funding source; 4 = Very sustainable funding sourcethe Longyou Environmental Protection and Social Development Research and Consulting Center will continue to raise more funds for the project, which is still a daunting task. There is a large number of impoverished people in Longnan area, which might hamper the sustainability of the project due to the fundraising difficulties.

3

Profit/(Loss)

Difference between Revenues and Costs

N/A

Average Score 3.5


Economics (Page 2)

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Technology

Attainability & Availability

1 = Technology and/or required assistance needed is unavailable; 4 = Technology is attainable and third-party assistance, if required, is availableDue to poverty, using the fuel-efficient stove is just the first step; with economic development in the area, we might promote solar heater and solar energy buildings in the future. Currently, the Energy Office and the community do not have access to technologies of manufacturing the fuel-efficient stove, but these technologies can be obtained from neighboring areas. Other materials , such as cement, bricks, ceramic tiles, stove grates and water boilers, can be purchased in Tangluo Township and Wudu district. The community already has sand. The fuel-efficient stove is an upgrade from the traditional stove, the technologies required are easy to grasp.

4

Technology assistance

1 = Technology assistance is required, yet not available; 4 = Technology assistance is significant and availableThe fuel-efficient stove has been successfully promoted in the Baishui River Reserve , thus the technologies are ready and the Reserve could help us locate experienced technicians if necessary. However, we need to understand more of the specifications for making the stove.

4

Appropriate for circumstances

1 = Available technology is not appropriate for circumstances; 4 = Acquirable technology is suited for circumstancesIn the 1980s, a fuel-efficient stove project initiated by the local government ended in failure. The main causes leading to the failure were that the size of the fuel-efficient stove was too small and the heat retention capacity was poor. The current project has learned these lessons and based the stove design upon local demands. The new design has been successful in the Baishui River Reserve. Although we may make further improvements on the stove, we stick to the current design for the moment.

3

Average Score 3.7


Technical (Page 2)

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Capacity /

Organizational Abilit

y

Barrier Removal Partner support

1 = BR Partner does not exist or is not willing to support the project; 4 = There exists a willing Barrier Removal PartnerRare will provide some BR funds and guidance. TNC is well-versed in fuel-efficient technologies and cam provide important advice on the project. The Baishui River Nature Reserve will provide a site for visit and assist hiring experienced stove makers for the project . WWF will help the Yuhe Nature Reserve Administration(the project partner) manufacture 20 fuel-efficient stoves ， Wudu district of Longnan City will proffer the required support..

4

Barrier Removal Partner’s ability to drive change

1 = BR Partner lacks a track record of driving behavior; 4 = BR partner has a proven track record of driving behaviorTNC has been undertaking energy-saving projects in northwest Yunnan for years and has achieved many successes. The Baishui Nature Reserve has successfully promoted more than one hundred fuel-efficient stoves, which are well-received by local villagers.

4

Budget planning and cost efficient execution

1 = BR Partner has not demonstrated sufficient budget planning skills and cost efficient execution of plans; 4 = BR Partner has proven proficiency in budget planning and cost efficient execution of past plansThe Baishui Nature Reserve Administration has successfully implemented many projects sponsored by such international organizations as GEF 、 CI 、 WWF and Oxfam. The Administration thus has acknowledged capabilities in budgeting management. We may sign an agreement /contract with the Administration on technical support.

3.8

Average Score 3.9

Other

Partners

Other critical partners

1 = Other partners do not exist or will not be impactful 4 = Other partners are available and capable of assistanceThe Yuhe Nature Reserve Administration in Gansu Province has been providing logistics, manpower and coordination to the project. A long-term collaborative agreement has been signed. 4

Average Score 4


Technical (Page 2)

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Community Leadership

Leaders and influencers in the community

1 = Dearth of strong leaders and influencers in the community; 4 = Visible leaders with clout to drive behaviorThe target community members are all of the Han ethnic group and have such influential leaders as Yin Yumin, Yang Fujiang and Wang Shunyuan. These community leaders can influence other community members, help them take a positive attitude towards the project and encourage them to offer assistance and support to the project. Despite poverty, many community members are willing to participate in the project and demonstrate a high level of environmental consciousness. Due to the devastating earthquake that hit the area last year, the community members are more eager than ever to possess the fuel-efficient stove.

4

Leadership willingness to endorse

1 = Unwilling to get on board with project; 4 = Firm commitment from leadership to help drive change effortsA steering commission will be established. The commission members will include the deputy district mayor, heads of the townships, the Forestry Bureau director, the Energy Office director, the Women’s Federation chair, the Lead Agency directors and the Reserve Administration director . The commission members will discuss the project strategies and express their support for the project.

3

Average Score 3.5


Cultural/Political (Page 1)

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Political Environmen

t

Current legislative and legal landscape

1 = Legislative and legal restrictions will hamper efforts; 4 = Legislative and legal framework will aid programPromoting fuel-efficient stoves and protecting forest resources are in line with the Central Government’s economic development policies and are in conformity with the laws and regulations of environmental protection in China. 4

Ability to drive legislative change

1 = Lack of knowledge regarding political environment and unclear timeframe for advocacy; 4 = Depth of political knowledge and ability to push for appropriate changes within a given timeframeChina has enacted “the Law on Renewable Energies”, but the law still needs to be further enforced, which may take time. The law cannot be fully enforced in the project period. Through publicity activities and demonstrations of the project, the law may exert a more significant impact on the target community.

3

Average Score 3.5

Values

and Norms

Assessment of norms

1 = Plan is unconcerned with political and cultural norms 4 = Plan assesses and takes into account the values and norms governing the political and cultural environmentThrough previous work and qualitative investigations on cultural and political practices in Yuhe, the campaign managers have obtained an in-depth understanding of the area. Last year, the Yuhe Reserve Administration completed a survey on the Reserve’s local socio-economic milieu, the data can ensure all the project activities are appropriate to the local circumstances.

4

Ability to address normative obstacles

1 = Normative obstacles are too formidable to be overcome; 4 = Obstacles are manageable and a clear tack to address them is employedResidents in the target area keep a tradition of helping each other in their farm work, thus they often prefer a large- sized pot. We need to enlarge the pot size to cater to this need. Additionally, the fuel-efficient stove needs to be equipped with a chimney or a fan, which may enhance the combustion efficiency and mitigate the smoke hazard.

4

Average Score 4


Cultural/Political (Page 2)

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Conservatio

n Impact

Likelihood of conservation impact

1 = Conservation impact is unlikely to be achieved; 4 = Conservation impact is very likely to be realizedEach target household consumes 12,000 kilograms of wood annually, or 11 cubic meters of wood, which is equivalent to 0.044hm2 of forest. The fuel-efficient stove can save 40%to 50% of wood consumption. Consequently, the stove may reduce the wood consumption amount per household by as much as 6,000 kilograms, or 5.5 cubic meters of wood, which is equivalent to 0.022hm2 of forest. Given the target community use 150 fuel-efficient stoves, the project will save about 900 tons of firewood, or 825 cubic meters of wood, which is equivalent to 3.3hm2 of forest 。

The project plans to disseminate information on the fuel-efficient stove and its benefits to 16,000 people, encouraging them to engage in discussions on the stove and forest conservation. By the end of the project, most of them will have at least considered using the stove. The Lead Agencies will, after the conclusion of the project, continue to promote the stove and achieve a penetration rate of 70% among local households in 8 years. That means the project will then be able to save 11,000 cubic meters of forest and basically eliminate threats posed by firewood collection to the Yuhe Nature Reserve.

3 ． 5

Impact sustainability

1 = The conservation impact goal is unlikely to be sustained in the long-term; 4 = The impact goal should be viable in the long-termA fuel-efficient stove can be used for decades. Even if the stove does not function after years of use, a user is used to using the stove. All other conditions being the same, the user will most likely continue using the fuel-efficient stove. From this perspective, the stove will exert a long-lasting positive impact on the environment.

4

Average Score 3.8


Impact and Metrics (Page 1)

Note ： According to data collected in such reserves as Duo’er, Axia and Baishui River, 1,100 kilograms of firewood is equivalent to 1m3 of forest

wood （ Li Xiaohong et al. ， the situation, threats and conservation strategies of the Sandpaper Crocodile Newt in Wen County. Fauna in

Sichuan ， volume 27, edition 6, p.1045 ～ 1048 ）， according to the study by Zhang Hanhao, the amount of growing stock in southern Gansu

Province is 278.6 m3/hm2 （ Zhang, H. ． Re-investigation of the forest distribution of the Bailong River and the Tao River & the felling of spruces

and firs. Proceedings of Surveys on the Bailong River and Tao River , edited by Yin Zuodong & He Zhuofeng. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and

Technology Publishing House.1991 ． 16 ～ 29 ．）， we deduce from the data that 12,000 kilograms of firewood is equivalent to 0.044hm2 of

forest 。

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CriteriaExplanation

Score

Tipping Points

1st Tipping Point Conclusion of the project design and information & media mix ， publicity activities targeting the community initiate.The metrics are the project design plan, media contract(s) or finalized plan or funding in place. 3.5

2nd Tipping Point

150 fuel-efficient stoves are manufactured. The Energy Office of Wudu District, Longnan City will be responsible for assessing whether the stoves meet the criteria set by the Central Government for the fuel-efficient stove. Additionally, the plan for the follow-up activities will have been created. The implementing parties are well aware of how to continue promoting the stove after the conclusion of the project. The metric is the completion of 150 fuel-efficient stoves and the plan for the follow-up activities.

4

3rd Tipping Point

By means of training workshops, posters and field meetings, the number of people exposed to the project activities will be 16,000 ， 70% of the local households understand the project message 。 3.5

Average Score 3.7

Metrics

Measurable outcomes

1 = The program lacks clear metrics or are difficult to measure; 4 = The program has established clear, measureable metrics

The metric is the number of the fuel-efficient stove and the amount of the collected firewood. The Energy Office of Wudu District of Longnan City is responsible for assessing the number of the stove, and the stove can reduce the firewood consumption by 50%. The amount of firewood collection will be measured by the Yuhe Nature Reserve Administration. The line transect method will be applied to measure those communities with a relatively higher penetration rate of the fuel-efficient stove, if the firewood collection amount in these communities drops by 30%, then we may consider the conservation outcomes have been achieved.

4

Average Score 4


Impact and Metrics (Page 2)

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Category Subcategory ScoreAverage

Category Score

Feasibility

Economics

Costs 4

3.75 Revenues 3.5

Income Substitution N/A

Technical Technology 3.7

3.86 Capacity / Organizational Ability 3.9

Other Partners 4

Cultural / Political

Community Leadership 3.5

3.60 Political Environment 3.5

Cultural Norms 3.8

Feasibility Score 3.74

Impact

Impact and Metrics

Conservation Impact 3.8

3.83 Tipping Points 3.7

Metrics 4

Impact Score 3.83


Composite Score

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Risk Factors

Risk Factors Consequence Mitigation StrategiesThe fuel-efficient stove is not welcomed by the target community and is rejected.

The whole project will collapse. The qualitative research has not identified this risk factor, but the risk factor could derail the whole project, we need to be extremely cautious about it. We must make sure that the stove design is customized to the local traditions and demands. During the project design phase, the stove makers will conduct visits to the community and work along with community representatives to locate the most suitable design for the community. In addition, the design has to be pre-tested by the community and accepted by the community.

Insufficient BR funding. The publicity activities targeting the community are intended to help the community to be more willing to use the stove. As the community is located in a poverty-stricken county, it’s very hard for the community to raise adequate funding for the stove manufacturing. If the BR funding is not sufficient, the project will be negatively affected.

Rare will , within its capacity, provide additional BR funding to the target area and help the implementing parties to raise more funds from other sources.

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Authors and approvals

Wang Shuwen expert in alternative energies

Li Xiaohong the Longyou Environmental Protection and Social Development Research and Consulting Center

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Appendix: The Fuel-efficient Stove Budget Breakdowns

Category Name Quantity Unit Price/unit

Amount（ RMB）

Notes Project investment

Funding raised by

the community

Cement(transportation fee included) 3 bag 30 90

Bricks(transportation fee included) 700 piece 0.65 455

The piece in WWF’s 2007 budget was 0.5 RMB/piece.

Ceramic tiles(transportation fee

included)2 M2 30 60

Stove grates (transportation fee

included)3 piece 20 60

The quantity in WWF’s 2007 budget was 2 for each stove.

Technician(s) 1 300 300

Sand 1 M3 120 120

Mud 250 Kg 0.2 50

Regular workers 10 50 500The pay in WWF’s 2007 budget was 30 RMB/worker

Total 965 670

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