INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET
APPRAISAL STAGE
I. Basic Information
Date prepared/updated: 01/27/2010 / Report No.: 529171. Basic Project Data
Country: Sri Lanka / Project ID: P113709
Project Name: Sustainable Tourism Development Project
Task Team Leader: Michael D. Wong
Estimated Appraisal Date: January 18, 2010 / Estimated Board Date: March 30, 2010
Managing Unit: SASFP / Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan
Sector: Other industry (100%)
Theme: Other financial and private sector development (33%);Other human development (33%);Export development and competitiveness (17%);Other rural development (17%)
IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00
IDA Amount (US$m.): 18.00
GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00
PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00
Other financing amounts by source:
BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.00
0.00
Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment
Simplified Processing / Simple [X] / Repeater []
Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) or OP 8.00 (Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies) / Yes [ ] / No [X]
2. Project Objectives
The project objective is to strengthen the institutional framework for the Tourism Sector to facilitate environmentally and socially sound investments, in particular in the East of Sri Lanka.
3. Project Description
Expanding tourism to under developed regions of Sri Lanka through environmentally and socially sound investments will require systemic changes that can be summarized in three broad objectives:
a) improving the efficacy and efficiency of the institutional framework: This will require reviewing existing processes, practices and institutional arrangements in the policy environment at the national and the local government levels, making it more conducive to investment in sustainable tourism, for small and medium enterprises or communities;
b) providing highly localized tourism related infrastructure services in the East: based on well defined, locally owned and community based tourism development plans, and investment in the provision of infrastructure services that will enable local tourism clusters to compete and extend their market outreach. These investments will be modeled along public private partnerships to ensure ownership and sustainability of these services, and
c) Improving the product content and supply chain for SMEs. This will involve improving the mix and the quality of tourism products offered, in particular by small medium and large enterprises (SMEs) as well as communities. The private sector will be encouraged to innovate and re-invest in products that are consistent with sustainable tourism development.
4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis
Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka
5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists
Mr Sumith Pilapitiya (SASDI)
Ms Asta Olesen (SASDS)
6. Safeguard Policies Triggered / Yes / No /Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) / X
Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) / X
Forests (OP/BP 4.36) / X
Pest Management (OP 4.09) / X
Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) / X
Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) / X
Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) / X
Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) / X
Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) / X
Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) / X
II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management
A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues
1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts:
As the exact location and detailed nature of specific investments/sub-projects are not yet defined, the SLTDA, in preparation of the proposed operation, developed a Social Management Framework (SMF), which outlines the major impacts of the project on local communities along with mitigatory strategies for the identified impacts. It addresses the impacts that would be felt by local citizens in general, and local businessmen, potential external and internal investors etc., in specific locations. The SMF forms an integral part of the Project Implementation Manual of the Sustainable Tourism Project.
It is expected that the Project will have significant positive impact on the local economy through the local ownership and participation in the community driven tourism development, supported by skills training, local investment opportunities and development of economic niches for the local population. The small-scale infrastructural developments to be undertaken by the project will be built on government land or on private lands which will be acquired through market transactions or through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with land owners regarding land use. Hence, no involuntary land acquisition will take place. In the unlikely scenario that land would need to be acquired from private land owners, the SMF provides guidelines and procedures for the acquisition in accordance with the National Involuntary Resettlement Policy of Sri Lanka and the WB OP 4.12.
Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) will be triggered as the project will support selected cultural sites through sub-projects in order to increase visitation to these sites. Utmost care will be taken in preserving these sites in their original form, and the protection and sustainability of these sites is a major concern for the project and for the Local Tourism Fora. Promotion of cultural sites will be according to Sri Lankan laws related to cultural heritage and policies of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Activities to be financed under the project are not expected to trigger significant and irreversible environmental impacts. In fact, the project on the whole will have environmentally beneficial impacts in the long-run due to better planned tourist destinations and improved service infrastructure. However, certain environmental issues that will arise during the construction phase of sub-project implementation such as waste management facilities, tourist friendly facilities, etc will potentially have some negative impacts that need to be addressed and managed. Therefore, this project has been classified as a Category B project for safeguards purposes.
2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area:
It is expected that the Project will have significant positive impact on the local economy through the local ownership and participation in the community driven tourism development, supported by skills training, local investment opportunities and development of economic niches for the local population.
The SMF also points to the risk of certain negative impacts on traditional culture that may also occur due to the influx of tourists and increased risk of transmission of HIV/AIDS. Communication and awareness campaigns, employing locals at cultural sites (with training), obtaining consensus of all stakeholders in the selection of cultural sites, and the development of these sites along internationally accepted guidelines are recommended for the mitigation of any issues that may develop due to the promotion of certain cultural sites over others.
In the long-term, attracting larger numbers of tourists and visitors to the area could put greater pressure on the existing natural resource assets. Improperly managed tourism programs could lead to impacts on the aesthetic qualities of the region through generation of greater demands for sanitation and solid waste management services. Tourism planning process and site specific environmental assessments should create opportunity for taking stakeholder concerns into consideration and for ensuring minimum impacts to the natural resources and the environment.
3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts.
Not applicable.
4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described.
Focal point for Social Planning and Management are placed in the Planning and Development Division of the PIU which will coordinate and supervise the social aspects of the project including safeguards.
Each zoning plan will be subject to a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) prior to its implementation outlining expected impact and proposing mitigation strategies. Additionally, a broader CSIA (Continuous Social Impact Assessment) will be done for the overall project once a year. This CSIA will review the larger issues of overall social impact of the project on land markets, development of local enterprise, local employment, conflict etc. This would be an additional measure of taking care of concerns regarding the conflict sensitivity of the project and its general impact on land ownership in the coastal areas. Both the SIAs and the CSIA will be carried out by independent, specialized consultancy firm.
The project has developed an Environmental Assessment and Management Framework (EAMF), which will be the guiding document to ensure environmental safeguards are in place. EAMF describes clearly the Environmental Management Strategy to be adopted based on the type of sub-project and sites that will be identified. A Focal point for Environmental Management will be also placed in the PIU and will be responsible to ensure the EAMF is implemented in a satisfactory manner. In addition, independent Environmental Audits will be conducted annually to evaluate environmental compliance and actual impacts of the project against the predicted.
5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people.
The mitigatory strategies outlined in the Social Management Framework comprise stakeholder consultations, community participation, working closely with local governments, communication and awareness activities, providing support for those experiencing restrictions on their livelihoods and the establishment of a Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) for complaints to be reported.
The SMF also points to the risk of certain negative impacts on traditional culture may also occur due to the influx of tourists and increased risk of transmission of HIV/AIDS. Communication and awareness campaigns, employing locals at cultural sites (with training), obtaining consensus of all stakeholders in the selection of cultural sites, and the development of these sites along internationally accepted guidelines are recommended for the mitigation of any issues that may develop due to the promotion of certain cultural sites over others.
The EAMF emphasizes the need to conduct consultations and ensure participation of all stakeholders at different levels. The EAMF was disclosed to the public for a period of 30 days. A soft copy of the framework is posted in the SLTDA website and hard copies have been shared with the relevant stakeholder groups at the three levels # district, province, national. The PMU will carry out site-specific awareness creation once the sites have been identified. All EIAs/IEEs that will be prepared by the project once it is effective shall also adhere to this disclosure policy.
B. Disclosure Requirements DateEnvironmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other:
Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? / Yes
Date of receipt by the Bank / 07/14/2009
Date of "in-country" disclosure / 07/14/2009
Date of submission to InfoShop / 07/17/2009
For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors
Resettlement Action Plan/Framework/Policy Process:
Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal?
Date of receipt by the Bank
Date of "in-country" disclosure
Date of submission to InfoShop
Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework:
Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal?
Date of receipt by the Bank
Date of "in-country" disclosure
Date of submission to InfoShop
Pest Management Plan:
Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal?
Date of receipt by the Bank
Date of "in-country" disclosure
Date of submission to InfoShop
* If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP.
If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why:
C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting)
OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment AssessmentDoes the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? / Yes
If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) review and approve the EA report? / Yes
Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? / Yes
OP/BP 4.11 - Physical Cultural Resources
Does the EA include adequate measures related to cultural property? / Yes
Does the credit/loan incorporate mechanisms to mitigate the potential adverse impacts on cultural property? / Yes
The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information
Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Infoshop? / Yes
Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? / Yes
All Safeguard Policies
Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? / Yes
Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? / Yes
Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? / Yes
Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? / Yes
D. Approvals
Signed and submitted by: / Name / DateTask Team Leader: / Mr Michael D. Wong / 01/12/2010
Environmental Specialist: / Mr Sumith Pilapitiya / 01/13/2010
Social Development Specialist / Ms Asta Olesen / 01/13/2010
Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s):
Approved by:
Regional Safeguards Coordinator: / Mr Sanjay Srivastava / 01/19/2010
Comments: cleared.
Sector Manager: / Mr John F. Speakman / 01/13/2010
Comments: Cleared.