DM 2005 Project Implementation PROGRESS REPORT [02/20/2006]

Transcription

1 DM 2005 Project Implementation PROGRESS REPORT [02/20/2006] I. Background Information II. Progress Against Milestones DM Project Number and Title #5372 Tradable Development Rights in Paraguay s Forests Report Author s Name (if different from Team Leader) Total Award US$ 111,900 Amount Disbursed to Date US$ 27,975 ( 25 % of the Total Award) i) List the milestone objectives in the first column as expressed in the Project Agreement. The second column should indicate the current status of each milestone objective. In the third column, please provide quantitative data and qualitative information describing the status of the project against that particular milestone. Milestone Objectives (Copy from the Agreement) 1. Important biological areas defined and mapped at a fine scale within the two pilot areas showing the forest remnants (to be use as a base line) Status (/ In Progress) Descriptive Information on the Status 11 areas have been selected as important biological areas based on criteria of forest composition, viability as a corridor, biological status, size, relevance to the regional forest complex (see Map 1 location of the pilot area within the WWF biodiversity vision, Map 2 Pirapo water shed location in Paraguay, Map 3 Priorities areas A, Map 4 Priorities areas B and.doc document with the total area selected and its classification). 2. Training and capacity building for local for local government and at least 2 local NGOs on the importance of Law 422 and the application of tradable development rights mechanism Two local NGOs (Guyra Paraguay & Enlace) signed cooperative agreements with the project and are being trained in the TDRs mechanism. The Pirapo and Bella Vista Municipalities agreed to sign a contract to implement the TDRs mechanism. (See copy of the approval resolution attached to this report. Word document: Copy of the approved agreement) 3. Workshop held to define appropriate TDR mechanisms for the first pilot area defined in collaboration with local stakeholders In collaboration with local municipalities, producer associations, the Environmental Secretariat and the General Attorney Office, basic principles have been established. The workshop was planned for February 8 th but postponed for February 22 th. due 1

2 4. One native trees species community nursery set up in the pilot area 5. Negotiation process for TDR with affected land owners in the first pilot area initiated 6. Information provided to landowners as to the TDRs mechanisms through workshops and one on one meetings during the field work 7. Set-up of a GIS data base which will include data on number of landowners and number of hectares affected by the project 8. Monitoring system established to ensure that commitments are being fulfilled to the election process in which the major and other local authorities were involve. As a part of the project, in one, community members have opted to restore a former communal tree nursery. This process is now under way. Seeds and other supplies will be purchase in the coming months and the nursery will provide seedlings for next planting season. The negotiation process has begun. All the remnant forest and its landowners had been identified as well as the landowners without forest cover that will have to pay for the forest in the TDR mechanism. Workshop to sign up the contracts is planed by April. 20 landowners owning a total of 85 properties on 3,201 have received information on the TDR process. This is an ongoing activity, as new land owners want to participate in the project. This activity will continue as the number of landowners involved in the project increases. See attach a sample of the excel spreadsheet (Propietarios pirapo 2.xls file) and one output from the GIS database (sample output of the GIS data base ). As is stated in the agreement to be signed on Feb. 22th, each partner have a role in the monitoring system. The Environmental Secretariat will oversee the compliance with the environmental impact assessment plan, the General Attorney Office will monitor the compliance of the individual agreements, and WWF-Py will monitor the forest cover with satellite image ii) If you did not achieve some of your stated milestone objectives, please explain the reasons. Milestone 2.- Although the project milestone has been achieved, on the ground learning will continue as we work with local NGOs and municipalities in the TDR mechanism. The training process will continue until all the stakeholders are able to implement and develop new ways to adapt the TDR concept to their local needs. Milestone 3.- Due to the election process in one of the largest political parties WWF and other stakeholders agreed to postpone the workshop. 2

3 Milestone 4.- The establishment of a native tree nursery was undertaken within the agricultural year. As seeds need to be planted at a certain time of the year, we decided to focus our efforts on consolidating the local producer group that will work in the nursery. Milestone 5.- Since the workshop is on hold until February 22th the negotiation process is still pending and will not be completed until some 15 to 25 days before the workshop. iii) Has your project s overall accomplishments to date exceeded the original plan? If Yes, describe your achievements: III. Overall Project Progress i) What have been the main challenges of your project to date? What, if any, adjustments have you made to your original business plan in order to overcome the challenges and meet your objectives? Challenges: One of the mayor challengers was and it will continue to be political instability due to the internal elections within one of the largest political parties. The costs of establishing a native tree nursery are greater than foreseen. Adjustments: We will adjust our schedule according to the electoral process to avoid the period of time in which most of the local stakeholders, particularly local authorities are involved in political activities. Due to greater costs, we will concentrate resources in just one nursery instead of two (one in each pilot area). We will seek some support from producers to transport seedlings from the nursery to the restoration areas, instead of setting up another tree nursery. ii) Have any of your objectives changed or have you added new objectives since you signed your Project Agreement? If Yes, explain the changes. 3

4 iii) Do you have any concerns about meeting your next milestone objectives? If Yes, what are the concerns and how do you plan on addressing those challenges? As the project develops it seems that it will not be necessary to establish another native tree nursery. If we are able to supply the demand for seedlings with just one nursery, we will concentrate our resources in to the consolidation of the first nursery established. iii) Although this is an interim report, are there any development outcomes or results of your activities to date that you would like to call attention to? No iv) Reminder: In accordance with Paragraph of the Project Agreement, each project team is required to submit a statement of account showing the use of the funds within three months after the last disbursement. As a part of periodical expenditure review exercise, please provide an annex with un-audited summary of expenses during this reporting period. IV. Ancillary Achievements i) Have you or has your organization received any awards/recognitions or media attention as a result of your DM-funded project during this period? If Yes, please specify the sources and identify the names. Local: National: International: Award /Recognition Media e.g. International: BBC News on Dec. 3-4, 2003 Local: Jul 2005 Ecologia National: Ultima Hora on Jul 27, 2005 International: Explain the Award/Recognition or the Media content: 4

5 Publication on the newspaper related to the project and the award receive by the WB Attach web links/news clips, if available: Filed attached. premio washing diarios.doc ii) Has your organization made any new partnerships as a result of this project during this reporting period? If Yes, specify type of the organization from the list below and describe nature of the partnership: Local Government: National Government: NGO: Bilateral Development Agency: Multilateral Development Agency: Private Corporations: Other: e.g. Multilateral Development Agency: Development Marketplace of the World Bank (financial partnership and technical assistance) iii) Sustainability and scalability after completion of the DM fund are top of the DM Team s priorities. Has your organization leveraged new funding or secured future funding during this reporting period? If Yes, provide the following information. Funding Sources: WWF UK Amounts Funded/Committed: US$ 360,000 V. Requests to the DM i) Do you have any comments on the overall process and support provided by the DM Team or Project Liaison? 5

6 Annex I. Project Expenses for this Reporting Period Items Sub-Totals (USD) 1 Personnel 6, Materials and Equipment 3 Training 4 Travel 5 Evaluation/Information Dissemination 6 General Administration/Overhead Other sources of funding 156, Total Expenses 163,