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PROJECT DOCUMENT
Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Belize Barrier Reef Complex
(BZE/98/G32/A/1G/99)
United Nations Development Programme
Global Environment Facility
Project of the Government of
Belize
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY
PROJECT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE
PROJECT DOCUMENT
No. & Title: BZE/98/G32/A/1G/99 UNDP/GEF and Co-financing
Conservation and Sustainable
Use of the Barrier Reef Complex UNDP/GEF: US$5.355
Duration: 5 Years Other
GOB 0.250
Project Site: Belize EU 0.661
IDB 0.170
ACC/UNDP Sector: Environment (2000) WCS 0.500
and Subsector
Government Sector: Environment Total 6.936
and Subsector
GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity
Government: Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and
Implementing Agency: Cooperatives/Coastal Zone Management
Authority
Executing Agency: The Government of Belize
Estimated Starting Date: April 1999
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Description: This Project will support the Government of Belize in implementing an integrated coastal
zone management programme by undertaking targeted interventions for biodiversity protection in a
sustainable manner. These measures include strengthening the planning, management and operation of a
network of 7 marine protected areas (five of which are World Heritage Sites); integrating development
planning on the cayes with marine biodiversity conservation principles; developing a sustainable
financing mechanism; establishing legal and institutional capacities for facilitating bioprospecting; and
complementing widespread environmental conservation advocacy with coastal and marine biodiversity
concerns.
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On behalf of: Signature Name/Title Date
Yvonne S. Hyde
Permanent Secretary
The Government ----------------------- Ministry of Economic Dev. -------------------
Wendel Parham
Ag. Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Agriculture
Executing Agency: ------------------------- Fisheries & Cooperatives --------------------
Bruno E. Moro
UNDP: ------------------------- Resident Representative --------------------
Project Document
1. Identifiers
Project Number: BZE/98/G33/A/1G/99
Project Name: Belize: Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Barrier Reef Complex
Duration: Five years
Implementing Agency: United Nations Development Programme
Executing Agency: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives/ Coastal Zone Management Authority
Requesting Country: Belize
Eligibility: CBD ratification: December, 1993
GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity
GEF Programming Framework: Coastal, Marine, and Freshwater Ecosystems
Estimated Starting Date: April 1999; Five years
2. Summary
Belize’s coastal zone contains a globally significant diversity of ecosystems and organisms, of which the most striking is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, stretching 220 kilometers along the country’s coastline. The government has demonstrated its commitment to the sustainable use and conservation of these coastal resources by, among other initiatives, passing the Coastal Zone Management Act that provides the institutional framework for intersectoral coordination. The proposed project builds on the achievements of the pilot phase initiative by consolidating and implementing the institutional structures, financing mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and conservation priorities identified during the pilot phase. More specifically, it will complement the implementation of the CZM Act by undertaking targeted interventions for biodiversity protection. These measures include operationalizing a network of 7 marine protected areas (five of which were designated as World Heritage Sites under the aegis of the pilot phase project); integrating development planning on the cayes with marine biodiversity conservation principles; implementing pilot phase findings on a sustainable financing mechanism; addressing legal and institutional barriers to bioprospecting; and complementing widespread environmental conservation advocacy with coastal and marine biodiversity concerns.
3. Project Costs and Financing (million us$)
GEF: Project 5.355
(Of which project support costs are: 0.176)
Co-financing: 2.085
Government of Belize 0.754
EU 0.661
Wildlife Conservation Society 0.500
IDB 0.170
Total Project Cost: 7.440
4. Associated financing (million us$): 8.310
5. Operational Focal Point Endorsement:
Name: Ms. Zenaida Moya
Organization: Ministry of Economic Development Date: 4 August, 1998
6. GEF Implementing Agency Contact: Lita Paparoni, Regional Coordinator, Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, Tel: (212) 906 5468, Fax: (212) 906 6688, email:
Table of Contents
Table of Contents iv
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations vi
A. CONTEXT 1
A.1 Description of the country and sub-sectors 1
A.2 Host Country Strategy 1
A.3 Prior and On-going Assistance 1
A.4 Institutional Framework 2
B. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION 2
B.1 Background 2
B.2 Baseline course of action 3
B.3 Project strategy 6
B.4 Expected End of Project Situation 7
B.5 Target Beneficiaries 8
B.6 Implementation Arrangements 8
B.7 Reasons for UNDP Assistance 9
B.8 Special Considerations 9
C. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE 10
D. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES, OUTPUTS, ACTIVITIES 10
Immediate Objective 1: Consolidate capacity to effectively integrate biodiversity conservation concerns into a Coastal Zone Policy Framework. 10
Immediate Objective 2: The Belize Barrier Reef Marine Protected Area Network is established and fully functional. 13
Immediate Objective 3: Caye development plans are integrated with marine biodiversity conservation concerns through a demonstration project. 15
Immediate Objective 4: Sustainable financing mechanism for marine biodiversity conservation is established and operational. 16
Immediate Objective 5: Legal and regulatory capacities for facilitating bioprospecting agreements are in place. 18
Immediate Objective 6: Training, awareness-raising and information dissemination activities garner public support for biodiversity conservation through coastal zone management and the barrier reef marine protected area network. 19
E. INPUTS 20
F. RISKS AND SUSTAINABILITY 21
G. PROJECT MONITORING, EVALUATION AND DISSEMINATION 21
H. PRIOR OBLIGATIONS AND PREREQUISITES 22
I. LEGAL CONTEXT 22
J. UNDP-GEF BUDGET CONTRIBUTION 23
Annex 1 A-1
Incremental Cost Assessment A-1
Annex 2 A-7
Biodiversity Significance of Sites A-7
Annex 3 A-11
Public Participation Plan A-11
Annex 4 A-13
Terms Of Reference A-13
Annex 5a A-25
Sequencing Of Outputs over Project Life A-25
Annex 5b A-26
Detailed Operational Plan for 1st Year A-26
Annex 6 A-35
Logical Framework Matrix A-35
Annex 7 A-40
Recommendations and Lessons Learned from the Independent Evaluation of the Pilot-phase Project A-40
Annex 8 A-42
Letter of Endorsement A-42
Annex 9 A-43
STAP Review of GEF Project Proposal A-43
Annex 10 A-48
Incorporation of STAP Reviewer’s comments A-48
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
BTB Belize Tourist Board
CAC Coastal Advisory Committees
CARICOMP Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity
CBD Convention on Biological Diversity
CHPA Central Housing and Planning Authority
CZM Coastal Zone Management
CZMA Coastal Zone Management Authority
DoE Department of Environment
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EU European Union
GIS Geographic Information System
GoB Government of Belize
ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management
IDB Inter-American Development Bank
IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature
LIC Lands Information Center
MPA Marine Protected Area
MPAAC Marine Protected Area Advisory Committees
NEAP National Environmental Action Plan
NGO Non Government Organizations
NPA National Project Advisor
ODA Overseas Development Administration
PDF Project Development Facility
PIR Portfolio Implementation Review
STAP Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel
TIDE Toledo Institute for Development and Environment
UCB University College of Belize
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNOPS United Nations Office of Project Services
USAID United States Agency for International Development
WCS Wildlife Conservation Society
WHS World Heritage Site
WRISCS Watershed-Reef Interconnectivity Scientific Study
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A. CONTEXT
A.1 Description of the country and sub-sectors
The total population of Belize is approximately 230,000 persons (1997). Although the country has received several thousand refugees from Central America, the population density figure is still the lowest in the region (9 persons per square kilometer in 1995). Clearly, severe demographic pressures that have caused exploitation and over-use of the environment in many other parts of the world are relatively muted in the Belizean context. However, population aggregation in the coastal zone suggests mounting pressures. The economy has performed well, and has been growing at an average rate of 2.7% since 1993. Much of this growth has been driven by rapid expansion of agriculture, fisheries and tourism, all of which rely heavily on natural resources.
Situated in the Wider Caribbean Region, Belize’s coastal zone supports a wide diversity of ecosystems and organisms, many of which are gradually being degraded by developmental pressures. The coastal zone is central to economic and socio-cultural development. Over 50% of Belize’s national territory is under the sea, and the variety of reef formations occurring here are unparalleled elsewhere in the Caribbean. The most striking feature is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, stretching 220 kilometers along the country’s coastline, second in size only to the Australian Great Barrier Reef. Associated with this barrier reef complex are three offshore atolls that are classic examples of atolls in the Caribbean, over 1,060 sand and mangrove cayes, sea grass beds, extensive mangroves, littoral forest, estuaries and wetlands. Many endangered species such as the West Indian Manatee, American Crocodile, sea turtles, and several threatened bird species, inhabit the coastal region.
The coral reef ecosystem is highly diverse in terms of taxonomic variety. The framework built by corals and algae supports a variety of sponges, sea whips, sea anemones, worms, tube worms, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, snails, clams, starfish, brittle-stars, feather stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and fish. The most impressive mangrove forests in the Caribbean are found along the Central American coast. Further details on globally significant biodiversity are presented in Annex 2.
Along the coast, mangroves, sea grass and corals are closely linked. The reefs act as effective barriers, dissipating the force of incoming swells and this creates a low-energy environment on the leeward side. The breakdown of calcareous materials leads to sediment accumulation and the formation of the reef lagoon, which is colonized by sea grass, and closer to shore, by mangroves. The reef also reduces shoreline erosion by controlling the impact of coastal currents. Sea grass and mangroves trap silt and toxics in inland run-off before it enters coastal lagoons. Mangroves also buffer the physical effects of storms and an elaborate network of prop roots acts to stabilize the shoreline. Both mangroves and sea grass beds provide nursery areas for many juvenile reef organisms (National Environmental Action Plan, 1996).
A.2 Host Country Strategy
Belize has demonstrated strong legal commitment to the conservation of coastal and marine biodiversity at both the international and national levels. It ratified the MARPOL in 1995, the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 1993, the World Heritage Convention in 1990, and CITES in 1976, amongst others. At the national level there is a wide range of legislation that has a bearing on coastal and marine resources. The most important of these are: the Forest Act, Forests (Protection of Mangroves) Regulations, the National Parks Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, Wildlife Protection Act and the Fisheries Act (this has recently been extensively revised and strengthened, but has yet to be passed and gazetted). Of prime significance to this project is the Coastal Zone Management Act that took effect on May 8, 1998. This Act mandates the creation of the Coastal Zone Management Authority and a supporting Technical Institute to coordinate all the different sectors active in the coastal zone.
A.3 Prior and On-going Assistance
The proposed project occurs within a broader framework of previous and current UNDP and GEF assistance to Belize. These include the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BZE/97/G31), the Mesoamerican Biological Corridors Project (Bladen and Chiquibul areas), Climate Change Enabling Activity (BZE/98/G31), the GEF Small Grants Project (BZE/95/G52), the PACT Community Co-managed Parks System (BZE/98/G32), and the Sustainable Human Development Project (BZE/96/001). All these projects seek to protect our natural resources through research, policy formulation, active management of some designated areas, and, in the case of the Sustainable Human Development Project, through building up leadership capacity in rural areas. The project will build on current UNDP and GEF programs in Belize and will add value in terms of operationalizing a network of seven marine protected areas and providing a successful model for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), a model that can be adapted to the individual country contexts and replicated within the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Initiative.
A.4 Institutional Framework
This project will be executed by the Government of Belize and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives through the Coastal Zone Management Authority. The project will include the active participation of government ministries, in particular Natural Resources and the Environment, Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives, and Tourism. In addition, NGOs, International Agencies and Academia will actively participate in the project.
B. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION
B.1 Background
Belize has successfully completed steps 1 and 2 of an accepted planning cycle for coastal zone management, and as such possesses the required information, institutional framework and political support necessary to initiate the next steps in a CZM planning cycle.
The pilot phase project was designed to initiate a long-term process aimed at overcoming key barriers to effective management and conservation of globally significant coastal and marine biodiversity. Barriers included: a) absence of an effective institutional framework to coordinate the mandates and programmes of the different agencies and institutions with management responsibilities over coastal resources; b) conflicting or overlapping policies and regulatory frameworks; c) insufficient scientific data and information for effective policy and decision making; d) absence of economic analyses regarding the value of biodiversity resources to national development, as well as appropriate economic instruments and financial mechanisms to sustain conservation; and e) inadequate public awareness regarding the benefits, goods and services derived from the sustainable management of biodiversity resources.
The achievements of the pilot phase project are best described under the four broad headings listed below:
(i) Institutional foundation and legal framework
· Establishment of a Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) - comprised of the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Economic Development, Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Tourism, and Natural Resources and the Environment, as well as representatives of the private sector, NGOs and academia - to ensure effective intersectoral coordination and facilitate main streaming of biodiversity conservation issues into productive sector activity and policy development.
· Creation, as part of the CZMA, of a Technical Institute, to provide reliable scientific data and information to CZMA members for decision making, appraisal of potential benefits or impacts from investments and economic activities, design of programmes and projects to mitigate negative environmental impacts, and the integration of conservation principles into sectoral activity.
· Development of policies and guidelines governing coastal development, including aquaculture, caye development, dredging, cruise ship activity, diving operations, oil spill contingency planning, and fisheries management.
(ii) Scientific data for baseline assessments and monitoring:
· Establishment of a data center with information on species distribution, an inventory of critical habitats and high-vulnerability areas, reports on changes and trends identified as causing degradation of the coastal system, detailed studies and recommendations on appropriate management and protection measures for endangered species, such as crocodiles and manatees, and use of remote sensing and GIS to map baseline data.