Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Jordan Rift Valley

Integrated ecosystem management in the jordan rift valley

gef project

Process Framework

PF

Abbreviations

CBOCommunity-Based Organizations

CDCPCommunity-Driven Conservation Plans

CLOCommunity Liaison Officer

ESAEnvironmental and Social Assessment

GOJGovernment of Jordan

IBAImportant Bird Area

IEMIntegrated Ecosystem Management

IWGImplementation Working Group

JOHUDJordan Hashemite Fund for Development

JVAJordanValley Authority

LCCLocal Co-management Committees

LUMPLand Use Master Plan

MPManagement Plan

NBCFNature-Based Community Fund

NGONon-Governmental Organization

NRMNatural Resources Management

PAProtected Area

PADProject Appraisal Document

PFProcess Framework

PMUProject Management Unit

PRAParticipatory Rural Appraisal

RSCNRoyal Society for the Conservation of Nature

SASocial Assessment

SCASpecial Conservation Area

Table of Contents

Page

1Introduction

2Background

3Project Description

4Policy trigger

5Process Framework

6Process followed during Preparation

7Process followed during Implementation

8Conflict Resolution Mechanisms

9Monitoring and Evaluation Arrangements

10Disclosure

annexes

Annex A:Helping Nature, Helping People (PF)

Annex B:Local participation in Jordanian protected areas: Learning from our mistakes

1

1introduction

Conservation projects that restrict access to legally designated parks or protected areas (PAs) without acquiring the land outright require a process framework (OP 4.12, para. 7). The purpose of the framework is to describe the process by which potentially affected communities will participate in planning. In these projects, the participation of the affected population in designing the restrictions, as well as in proposing the mitigation measures, is critical for success.

The process framework describes how any action plan will be developed with the local population. Once developed, the action plan, which may be part of a natural resources management plan, is submitted to the Bank for approval.

2Background

The Jordan Rift Valley is an integral part of the Great Rift Valley and provides a globally critical land bridge between Africa, Europe, and Asia that supports a large variety of ecologically diverse habitats of international importance and funnels millions of migrating birds between these continents each year. The Valley’s critical geographical location and great scenic interest, combined with the most productive agricultural land resources in Jordan has made it a focal area for infrastructure and tourism development and land conversion, all of which threaten its unique ecological and cultural values. The Government of Jordan (GOJ) has long recognized this dilemma and is seeking ways to secure the Valley’s economic and ecological integrity for the benefit of its people.

In the context of this project, IEM is defined as a holistic and participatory approach to land use that balances and manages ecological, social and economic components of ecosystems to ensure that biodiversity and ecological processes can be sustained under development pressure and social change. This approach will be applied in the Jordan Rift Valley through small-scale, targeted interventions in the current land use planning framework and through the setting up of a network of conservation sites that are developed as models of the IEM approach.

3project Description

The project development objective is as follows: ‘To apply the principles of integrated ecosystem management to the existing land use master plan of the Jordan Rift Valley and establish a network of well-managed protected areas that meets local ecological, social and economic needs.’

The project development objective will be achieved through the following outcomes:

• Consultative planning and management procedures involving all relevant stakeholders, and based on IEM principles, successfully introduced to the Rift Valley to support the conservation of key biodiversity sites.
• A network of 4 PAs (c. 57,000 ha) and 7 SCAs in the JRV legally established and operating as models of IEM principles to support biodiversity conservation.
• Sustainable financing mechanisms for PAs strengthened through increased capitalization of $ 2 million for the endowment fund, and adoption of economically viable, nature-based livelihood options by local communities in PAs and SCAs.
• Project managed successfully, and development objective achieved through an effective monitoring program.

The proposed Integrated Ecosystem Management (IEM) Projectin the Jordan Rift Valley is being undertaken by the Jordanian Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). The development and implementation of this project is in general associated with enhancement of environmental and social conditions since it will implement environmentally sound management activities and deal with socio-economic initiatives in collaboration with local communities.

Project Components

The Jordan Valley Integrated Ecosystem Management Project consists of the following four components:

Component 1: Assessment and planning for integrated ecosystem management. The objective of this component is to lay the groundwork for integrated ecosystem management in the JRV by introducing biodiversity conservation and community participation measures into the existing land use planning framework, using the proposed protected areas and special conservation areas as pilot sites.

Component 2: Development of a network of biodiversity conservation sites, embodying the principles of integrated ecosystem management.The objective of this component is to legally establish the network of protected areas and special conservation areas defined under the land use planning framework above, and to develop management systems for these sites that become working models of IEM principles.

Component 3: Sustainable Financing Mechanisms Strengthened. The objective of this component is to strengthen and fortify existing financing mechanisms to sustain the long-term management of the Rift Valley protected areas and to ensure adequate financing for all project components during implementation.

Component 4: Project Management, Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation. The objective of this component is to develop an effective project management unit capable of directing and supporting project implementation, liaising with stakeholders and carrying out monitoring and evaluation according to agreed indicators.

Description of Project Component Relevant to Process Framework

The proposed network, under Component 2, consists of four protected areas and seven special conservation areas, representing a cross section of all key habitats and ecosystem types in the Rift Valley. They were selected on the basis of previous survey data collected by RSCN, Birdlife International and independent consultants and they are delineated on the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) Land Use Master Plan (LUMP), and thus recognized by the GOJ. Each of the proposed protected areas is known to support more than 20 globally significant species, including threatened birds, mammals and rare plants and fish. The special conservation areas are smaller sites that have special ecological roles, either as surviving wetlands or ‘stop over’ habitats for migrating birds. Collectively they cover over 57,000 hectares and, if well protected and managed, will create a matrix of sites along the length of the Rift Valley, fundamental to maintaining its ecological integrity and providing major opportunities for nature-related economic development.

Under this component, the four protected areas of Yarmouk, Fifa, Jabal Masuda and Qatar will be officially designated through the government channels used successfully by RSCN over its 40 year history. RSCN will also apply lessons learned from its more recent experience of GEF projects, notably Dana and DibeenForest, by involving key stakeholders in the designation process and by using an incentive based approach to gain support for site protection. Taking Jabal Masuda as an example, the project intends to develop a high quality eco-tourism operation as a lead in venture to the involvement of local communities in the establishment of this protected area, since it lies only a short distance from the tourist hot spot of Petra. This will run parallel to the designation process and will demonstrate to local people that protected areas can be economic assets if developed in the right way, thereby creating a constituency of support for the concept of protected areas.

The economic development of the proposed protected areas will be integrated with conservation strategies and social programs, in line with IEM principles, through the preparation and implementation of management plans. These will require new on-site staff teams to be recruited and trained and essential infrastructure and equipment to be provided, including facilities for eco-tourism and other socio-economic programs. It has been RSCN policy to hire on-site staff teams from communities and villages proximate to the park, hence providing direct socio-economic benefits to them.

The SCAs are a new concept to Jordan and represent a departure from the more conventional notion of protected sites in that they are (a) anchored in the planning system rather than under Ministerial by-laws; and (b) are intended to be managed by local communities rather than by established and remote agencies. They are all earmarked as Important Bird Areas (IBAs).Seven SCAs are recognized on the Rift Valley Master Plan and the project intends to work on four of these sites, as pilots, to prepare Community-Driven Conservation Plans (CDCP). Two of the selected sites are contiguous with protected areas and will act, in effect, as buffer zones. The proximity of the protected areas will influence the management options available to local communities. In contrast, the other two sites will be ‘stand alone’ SCAs, situated in different habitat types, providing different challenges and experiences.

Like the PA management plans, CDCPswill embody the principles of IEM. Participative approaches, such as PRAs, will be used with local communities to define available resources and options for alternative livelihoods and the sustainable management of important biodiversity. Community-based management structures will be developed and mechanisms devised for integrating community action with the land use planning processes, see Section 6.RSCN will facilitate these pilot programs, in concert with the Jordan Hashemite Fund for Development (JOHUD), a well respected NGO with decades of experience in community based enterprises. Through this partnership, the lessons learned from the pilot sites will be used to promote the approach to all relevant agencies and to institutionalize the process in the two lead NGOs so they provide reservoirs of expertise that can support the extension of community-managed SCAs to other areas. This will be the first time the two NGOs have collaborated on a major program.

4Policy trigger

The Process Framework (PF) will be implemented in accordance with the World Bank policy on involuntary resettlement (OP 4.12). The PF covers restriction of access to legally designated parks and protected areas that may result in adverse impacts on livelihoods of the affected persons. Good practice has demonstrated that the objectives of the policy can be better achieved through a participatory process. To determine the appropriate coverage of the Process Framework, several initiatives are currently being undertaken, including a Social Assessment covering the proposed project areas and Participatory Rural Appraisals. Based upon the findings of the SA/PRAs, which will be completed during the early stages of implementation, more exact information with regard to potential restriction of access and loss of income resulting from different types of project interventions will be available.

In general wood cutting, hunting, fishing, grazing, burning of grass etc are going to be managed in a sustainable manner inside the PAs.Some limited exceptions may be made for subsistence users such as nomads. PAs will be typically divided according to zoning plan. These zoning plans are usually made after baseline research has been carried out in several fields including biodiversity, socio-economics, local land-use patterns etc. As a result, PAs would basically have a core zone, where very limited use is allowed other than approved research and enforcement. Other zones in the PAs would include different levels of use. In the case of the PAs in the project, two of these PAs are going to have SCAs that are contiguous to them and these will be used as models for sustainable and integrated land-use.

5Process Framework

The criteria and procedures outlined in the Process Framework will be an integral part of the project. In cases where project-induced involuntary restriction of access to natural resources may lead to adverse livelihood impacts, it should be ensured that eligible affected persons are assisted in their efforts to restore or improve their livelihoods in a manner which strengthens the environmental sustainability of the PA/SCA in question.. Specifically, the PF outlines the participatory approach by which:

1. specific components of the project were prepared and will be implemented;
2. the criteria for eligibility of affected persons will be determined;
3. measures to assist the affected persons in their efforts to improve or restore, to pre-displacement levels, their livelihoods (e.g. creation of new livelihoods such as handicraft businesses, alternative grazing areas etc) while maintaining PA/SCA environmental sustainability;
4. potential conflicts involving affected persons will be resolved.

The PF also provides a description of the arrangements for implementing and monitoring the process.

6Process followed during Preparation

A preliminary SA was conducted during the project preparation phase. This was followed by PRA surveys. Both the SA and PRA were carried out by both national and international experts and covered all areas of focus in this project. A representative sample of rural households in selected communities in and adjacent to the four PAs and their contiguous SCAs were interviewed. The objectives of the SA were to:

• Assess the existing social conditions of local communities living inside and around PAs/SCAs.
• Evaluate the project's potential environmental risks and impacts on their areas of influence, if any:
• Prepare an Environmental Management Plan and, if needed, a Resettlement Policy Framework, in order to ensure that any potential adverse social impacts will be mitigated as appropriate; and
• Inform the ongoing sub-component design

The preliminary SA found that the likely overall impact of the proposed project would be positive since participation of local communities in preparation and management of PAs/SCAs would be increased and alternative livelihoods would be supported.

The preparation of Community-driven Conservation Plans (CDCPs) and subsequent management plans would follow a participatory approach, in which the roles of local communities in the management of these sites would be strengthened, and appropriate measures would be identified with local communities to enhance the sustainability of PA/SCA resource-based livelihood activities and manage pressures on them. In addition, a community-based nature conservation sub-component would assist the four PAs and seven SCAs develop their community-based approach to conservation through support to:

1. decreasing the threats from overuse of natural resources through targeted demonstration of sustainable, appropriate and practical conservation approaches
2. providing training and technical assistance for the identification and demonstration of alternative income generating techniques as alternatives to the use of critical natural resources.

7Process followed during Implementation

The process to be followed during implementation would consist of the following six steps:

1. Full Social Assessments,
2. Site-specific PRA surveys;
3. Local Co-management Committees;
4. Community-Driven Conservation Plans
5. Nature-Based Community Funds
6. Eligibility Criteria and Measures.

The above steps are explained in more details as follows:

a.Full Social Assessment

A detailed Social Assessment will be carried out during the early stages of implementation and will be based on the preliminary SA completed prior to appraisal. The findings of the full SA will be used to refine the design of sub-projects, enhancing positive impacts and mitigating potential adverse effects. Some components could nevertheless adversely affect the livelihoods of persons living in the SCAs.

b.Site-specific Participatory Rural Appraisals

Based on the SAs, and immediately prior to the start of interventions, additional and more specific work will be carried out through PRAs. The PRAs would focus on a more in-depth understanding of (a) the social and geographic setting of the concerned communities, including their economic and social constraints; (b) the nature and extent of community use of natural resources, and the existing de jure and de facto rules and institutions regulating the use and management of natural resources; (c) current community impacts on natural resources; (d) the potential livelihood impact of new or more strictly enforced restrictions on use of resources in the PAs/SCAs; (e) communities’ suggestions/views on possible mitigation measures; (f) potential conflicts over the use of natural resources, and methods for solving these. The results of the PRAs will be an important input into the preparation of CDCPs and ultimately the broader Management Plans.

c.Local Co-management Committees

Local Co-management Committees (LCCs) will be established in each of the four established PAs and the four selected SCAs (two stand-alone SCAs and two contiguous SCAs). The LCCs, which will be charged with overseeing the co-management process, will consist of representatives ofCommunity-based Organizations (CBOs) or other relevant local institutions as well as representatives from nearby JOHUD centers and for example the PA/SCA Community Liaison Officer (CLO). Key responsibilities will include: (a) preparation of selection criteria for the co-management demonstration sites; (b) coordination, review and approval of CDCP preparation; (c) the management of NBCF; (d) resolution of conflicts that may arise from the co-management process.

The exact composition of the LCC would also be determined by the findings of the PRAs.

The PMU/RSCN has an important role to play at several critical junctures of the process outlined above, such as in the selection of activities for NBCF financing, technical assistance and supporting in addressing conflict that cannot be solved at the LCC level. The exact division of tasks between the central and the community level will be finalized in view of the SA/PRA findings.

d. Community-Driven Conservation Plans

As an incentive for local communities to participate in the development and implementation of the Management Plans, the project through the LCC, will assist the communities in preparing CDCPs. This would include both actions that the concerned communities would need to take as well as addressing priority social needs of the communities. In line with the IEM approach, the CDCPs would thus balance longer environmental issues with the key social needs of the local communities in an effort to create sustainable PAs/SCAs.