transboundary joint...

Transboundary Joint Secretariat - Seminar 26 March 2015 1

1

Transboundary Joint SecretariatNature Conservation in the Caucasus

Overview of context and

TJS activities 2011 - 2015

TJS II Final Seminar

Tbilisi, 26 March 2015

South Caucasus

2


Threats to the nature

• Economic development

• Infrastructure

• Unsustainable use

– (deforestation, overgrazing)

• Mining

• .....

3

German Financial Cooperation:Ecoregional Nature Protection Programme

4

1Support

Programme for Protected Areas

2Caucasus

Nature Fund

3Transboundary

Joint Secretariat

4Eco-corridor Development Programme

Invest in Protected Areas

and adjoining communities development

Co-finances up to 50% of the operational costs

of Protected Areas

Select priority eco-corridors,

land use planning and operate an

eco-corridor fund

Ecoregional conservation

strategy implementation and further development


5

German Financial Cooperation Ecoregional Nature Protection Programme (ENP)

Objectives:

1. Reduce the pressure on land use at the selected locations

2. Support the sustainable socio-economic development of the local population in harmony with nature

3. Develop an eco-regional model for conserving biodiversity in the Southern Caucasus region

4. Contribute to the sustainable financing of the conservation area system of the partner countries

6

Transboundary Joint Secretariat (TJS)

Objective

Support ecoregional conservation strategy implementation and further development

Results

1. Harmonisation of protected area sectors and enhancing cooperation between countries

2. Implementation and development of sector strategies in a technical sense

3. Strategies and instruments for sustainable financing of protected areas


7

TJS Operational Structure

International Team LeaderMinistry of Nature Protection

(EPIU), Armenia

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection /

APA, Georgia

Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Azerbaijan

Focal Point - Armenia

Focal Point - Azerbaijan

Focal Point - Georgia

National Coordinator Armenia

National Coordinator Azerbaijan

National Coordinator Georgia

Consortium AHT-RECC

Planning and Implementation

• Inception period Feb - Aug 2011

Sector assessment in all three countries:

Signed up for CBD

Coordinated policy development is desirable, but national priorities prevail

Seven main activity categories were agreed upon as structure for the work plan

Need for flexibility and responsiveness

• Half-yearly progress and review workshops with Nat Coordinators and Focal Points

• Half-yearly progress reports and workplan updates

• Activities financed through a Special Operating Fund (SOF; EUR 930,000)

• 4-monthly SOF Statements of Expenditures to KfW

8


R1: Harmonisation of PA sector & cooperation

Use and create opportunities for joint meetings, consultations and exchange, some examples: Joint TJS Planning Workshops

Meeting among experts of reintroduction studies (Red Deer, Bison and Bezoar)

Experience exchange of PA managers and staff (SYNP - BKNP; Javakheti PAs - Lake Arpi NP)

Participation at World Conservation Congress 2012 with South Caucasus Forum

Red Book publication & web sites in AM and AZ

International Certification Ramsar (Shirvan NP), European Diploma (Khosrov Forest SR), Blue Flag (Shirvan NP)

9

R2: Implement & develop sector strategy implementation instruments

TJS-I: regional guidelines for PA Management Planning

TJS-II technical guidelines / support for biodiversity conservation and for socio-economic development: Guidelines for tourism planning in PAs

Reintroduction studies (red deer, bison, bezoar goat)

Equipment and facilities for PAs in Armenia

Financial Participatory Approach for socio-economic development: pilot, assessment and manual

Strategy and Action Plan for SPNAs in Armenia

Passporting of 4 Natural Monuments in Armenia

New web site for APA

Training of APA staff (management, language, visitor services)

10


R3: Strategies and instruments for financing PAs

Within ENP the Caucasus Nature Fund is the main instrument for sustainable financing

TJS-II implemented: Support to PAs in CNF fund application &

reporting in Armenia and Azerbaijan

Computer-based budgeting and accounting in Armenia and in Georgia

Study on the potential of eco-tourism in PAs in Georgia, with relevant outcomes for all three countries

Participation on international tourism fairs FITUR (Spain) and World Travel Market (UK) by APA

Participation on international GEF Conferences (AM)

ITB Participation and preparation of Legends of Nature tourism brochures and image films

11

Cross-cutting activities (in all 3 countries)

• Twinning visit to Eifel National Park in German, learning about visitor services, collaboration with local partners (hospitality, guides, schools) and eco-education; joint participation of all 3 countries

• Institutional study for TJS-III

• Sector Observation for BMZ, German Embassies and German Development Cooperation Organisations

12


Financial Participatory Approach

Participatory development approach which allows people to take charge of their own development

It uses four instruments: Contests and awards

Capitalisation:

Exchange & learning

Media

Lessons learned: Proper facilitation without prescribing solutions

Plan for progressive evolution from ideas to implementation and business development

Pay sufficient attention to the learning

FPA Manual prepared, coach SPPA

13

Tourism in PAs

• ITB Participation in 2013 & 2014

• Legends of Nature Promotion materials (brochures) and image films

• Study to potential of eco-tourism in PAs in Georgia

• Manual for tourism planning and development in PAs

14


Financial Management in PAs

• Support was provided to access CNF funds (Armenia, Azerbaijan)

• Budgeting and accounting can be improved through proper accounting software

• Training, capacity building and coaching is still much needed

• This allows PAs to make better use of CNF funds, other donor funds, and other fund sources

• Further assistance for preparing business plans would help to improve integration of management plans and financial management & efficiency

15

16

Lessons learned

• Clear criteria and procedures for planning and selecting TJS activities (more focus on key areas, e.g. as socio-economic development, tourism and PA financial management)

• Continue transboundary cooperation and exchanges

• International accreditation can contribute to sector harmonisation and modernisation according to international standards

• Closer coordination with the other ENP componentswill generate more synergies

• Good communication and PR to assist in better regional sector information exchange and make the substantial donor role of German Development Cooperation/ENP more visible

• Sector observation served the information needs of BMZ, but has also good potential for a sector dialogue with the partners and other key actors


Collaboration with projects & partners

• The ENP envisages complementarity and synergies among the 4 pillars

• Analysis showed many synergetic interactions

• Next to collaborating with the ENP components many thanks to the many other partners, in particular the partner Ministries, and others...

17

Thank you for your attention

Have a successful seminar with good exchanges!!

18

transboundary joint...

Documents