Tunis 17th May

2011

John HorberryLead ConsultantEnvironmental Resources Management

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN AFRICA

AfDB Operational Safeguard on Biodiversity

and Ecosystem Services

Introduction

• AfDB is developing an Integrated Safeguard System (ISS), which includes Operational Safeguards (OS) and revised Environmental and Social Assessment Procedures (ESAPs).

• OSs are brief, clear and operational statements that follow Bank policy commitments and outline environmental and social requirements.

• OSs are being developed to be consistent with AfDB Policies (and associated lessons learnt from previous experiences), international best practices and equivalent instruments developed by other MDBs.

• A first draft of the OSs is under preparation.

OS on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

• Requirements for borrowers to identify and implement opportunities to preserve biodiversity, natural habitats and ecosystem services (ES).

• Objectives of this OS:• To preserve biological diversity by the implementation of the

mitigation hierarchy and biodiversity offsets;• To protect natural, modified and critical habitats; and• To sustain the availability and productivity of ecosystem services.

Risk Assessment and Impact Identification

• Identify and assess risks and potential impacts to biodiversity and ecosystem services, as part of the environmental and social assessment.

• Identify biodiversity and ecosystem service values for stakeholders.

• Apply the biodiversity mitigation hierarchy.

Preservation of Habitats and Biodiversity

• Modified habitats: minimize further degradation or habitat conversion in modified habitats.

• Natural habitats: ensure the project will not cause significant modification of natural habitats unless specific measures are undertaken (e.g. Biodiversity Offsets Programme).

• Critical habitats: implementation of Biodiversity Offsets Programme and Biodiversity Action Plan.

• Legally protected / internationally recognized areas: compliance with regulations and stakeholder consultation.

• Need to address risks associated with invasive alien species and GMOs.

Ecosystem Services

• If impacts to ES are identified in the EA an ES Review shall be performed to further identify: • project impact on ES; and• project dependence on ES.

• Undertake an ecosystem services prioritization.

• Facilitate participation of affected communities in the ES prioritization.

• Implement measures to avoid, mitigate and/or minimise adverse impacts on ES.

Sustainable Management and Use of Living Resources and Supply Chain

Requirements relating to: • Plantation forestry and commercial harvesting;• Agriculture and livestock; and • Fisheries and aquaculture.

• Assess the type of habitat that will potentially be impacted and follow the requirements of this OS.

• Implement industry-specific good management practices and best available technologies.

• Supply chain: develop and implement a sustainable resources procurement policy, procedures and action plan.

Next Steps

• Continue with an internal consultation process to improve the OS and ensure its applicability.

• Move into an external consultation process, including with:• External peer reviewers;• Multilateral Development Banks; and• Civil Society Organizations / Non Governmental Organizations.

• Finalize the OS and integrate its requirements into the ESAPs.