1. The GMS Core Environment Program: Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Development of the Greater Mekong Subregion The GMS Core Environment Program: Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Development of the Greater Mekong Subregion Javed Mir, Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist David McCauley, GEF Facilitator Asian Development Bank Global Environment Facility - Country Support Program Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points in East and Southeast Asia 2 April 2007

2. Outline of the Presentation The Greater Mekong Subregion & ProgramThe Greater Mekong Subregion & Program GMS Environmental Working GroupGMS Environmental Working Group GMS Core Environment ProgramGMS Core Environment Program Integrating Global Environmental ConcernsIntegrating Global Environmental Concerns Lessons Learned and Next StepsLessons Learned and Next Steps

3. Recent Economic Expansion in the GMS Annual Indicator 19922004 Total exports (US$ billion) 36.3 a/ 129.4 a/ (258%) Intraregional exports (US$ billion) 2.427.1 (1029%) Tourist arrivals (millions) 9.6 (1995) 17.8 (85%) Foreign direct investment (US$ billion) 2.13.4 (62%) a/ Excludes PRC.

4. GMS SUMMIT GMS MINISTERIAL MEETING GMS SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING (SOM) GOVERNMENT NATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE National Coordinator ADB -------------- Secretariat WG on HRD (WGHRD) Ad Hoc SG on Customs Trade Facilitation WG WG on Environment (WGE) Sub. Investment WG WG on Agriculture (WGA)GMS Business Forum Tourism WG (TWG) Sub. Telecoms Forum Sub. Transport Forum Energy Setor Forum RPTCCFocal Group GMS Program Organizational Structure

5. Overview of the GMS ProgramMembers: Cambodia, People’s Republic of China Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam Investment Program: - 26 investment projects over 12 years - Investments of $6.5 billion - ADB contribution of $1.8 billion - ADB project cofinancing of $2.6 billion - 124 technical assistance projects - Grants of $148 million ($69 million ADB) Initiatives: - Cross-border Transport Agreement - Phnom Penh Plan for Development Management Management - Core Environment Program - GMS Energy Strategy

6. “We welcome the recommendations by the ministers on the implementation of the Core Environment Program, together with local communities and development partners at their meeting in Shanghai, China in May 2005.” (July 2005, Kunming, PRC)

7. “ If we do not take care of our natural resources and biodiversity, the region cannot realize its economic potential. ”

8. GMS Core Environment Program - Vision A poverty-free and ecologically rich GMS

9. Core Environment Program – Objectives Embed environmental dimensions in GMS Economic Cooperation ProgramEmbed environmental dimensions in GMS Economic Cooperation Program Positively influence GMS development process, strategies and investmentsPositively influence GMS development process, strategies and investments Integrate and synergize poverty reduction and biodiversity conservationIntegrate and synergize poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation Partner with state and non-state stakeholders on resource mobilization (knowledge, human and financial) coupled with program development and implementationPartner with state and non-state stakeholders on resource mobilization (knowledge, human and financial) coupled with program development and implementation

10. Spatial Elements of the GMS CEP

11. Targets - Phase 1 (2006-2008) Integrate environmental concerns into development planning (NSEC, tourism, energy sectors)Integrate environmental concerns into development planning (NSEC, tourism, energy sectors) Establish structure for GMS biodiversity corridors based on work in at least five pilot sitesEstablish structure for GMS biodiversity corridors based on work in at least five pilot sites Develop pro-poor biodiversity conservation management plans for three protected areasDevelop pro-poor biodiversity conservation management plans for three protected areas Institutionalize use of environmental performance assessment and NSDS, develop regional indicatorsInstitutionalize use of environmental performance assessment and NSDS, develop regional indicators Develop for Phase II (2009-2015) an ADB/GEF partnership and investment programDevelop for Phase II (2009-2015) an ADB/GEF partnership and investment program Prepare proposals for sustainable financing mechanisms (by 2008)Prepare proposals for sustainable financing mechanisms (by 2008)

12. Activities: Develop national-level capacity for environmental assessment of energy, transport and tourism strategies and plans Develop national-level capacity for environmental assessment of energy, transport and tourism strategies and plans Assess potential environmental impacts of GMS energy, transport and tourism strategies and investments Assess potential environmental impacts of GMS energy, transport and tourism strategies and investments Component 1 Environmental Assessment of Economic Corridors and Sector Strategies Aim: Ensure GMS development strategies and investment plans are environmentally sound, economically efficient and socially equitable

13. Activities: Initiate at least five biodiversity corridor pilot sites tied to GMS economic corridors Initiate at least five biodiversity corridor pilot sites tied to GMS economic corridors Link biodiversity conservation to poverty reduction Link biodiversity conservation to poverty reductionActivities: Initiate at least five biodiversity corridor pilot sites tied to GMS economic corridors Initiate at least five biodiversity corridor pilot sites tied to GMS economic corridors Link biodiversity conservation to poverty reduction Link biodiversity conservation to poverty reduction Component 2 Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative Aim: Establish sustainable management and use regimes in the GMS biodiversity conservation corridors

14. Activities: Monitor the state of the environment and build environmental performance assessment capacity Monitor the state of the environment and build environmental performance assessment capacity Link environmental performance assessment to national economic and sector development, planning and monitoring processes Link environmental performance assessment to national economic and sector development, planning and monitoring processes Component 3 Environmental Performance Assessments Aim: Build on SEF I & II to enhance and institutionalize environmental performance assessment capacity and use

15. Activities: Identify options for institutionalizing the functions of the Environment Operations Center Identify options for institutionalizing the functions of the Environment Operations Center Build capacity for integrating sustainable development considerations into planning and monitoring Build capacity for integrating sustainable development considerations into planning and monitoring Develop capacity and networks for environmental information/knowledge generation and management Develop capacity and networks for environmental information/knowledge generation and management Build stakeholder platforms and networks Build stakeholder platforms and networks Component 4 Capacity Building for Environmental Management Aim: Self-sustaining GMS environmental governance and management regime

16. Activities: Prepare a Core Enviroment Program / Biodiversity Corridors Initiative investment framework for 2009-2015 Prepare a Core Enviroment Program / Biodiversity Corridors Initiative investment framework for 2009-2015 Component 5 Sustainable Financing Aim: Initiate strategies and mechanisms to promote the financial sustainability of landscape conservation and environmental management efforts in the GMS

17. Areas of Emphasis – Phase 2 (2009-2015) Further develop GMS environmental management and institutional capacity buildingFurther develop GMS environmental management and institutional capacity building Firmly establish biodiversity corridors and upscale investments tied to watershed restoration and protectionFirmly establish biodiversity corridors and upscale investments tied to watershed restoration and protection Encourage sustainable transport through public- private partnershipsEncourage sustainable transport through public- private partnerships Identify high priority climate change risks and introduce appropriate adaptation measuresIdentify high priority climate change risks and introduce appropriate adaptation measures

18. Core Environment Program – Innovations Makes active use of partnerships (currently over 30 partners)Makes active use of partnerships (currently over 30 partners) Incorporates cross-sectoral development synergies and environmental risksIncorporates cross-sectoral development synergies and environmental risks Applies landscape management approachApplies landscape management approach Includes attention to emerging threats – climate change, acid rain, social/cultural risksIncludes attention to emerging threats – climate change, acid rain, social/cultural risks

19. Environmental Mainstreaming Achievements Implementation in early stages, but mainstreaming efforts center on: Improved environment-sectoral communications: Facilitating cross-sectoral engagement between the Working Group on Environment and GMS development/investment planning bodies in transport, energy (hydropower) and tourism sectors. Partnerships: Bringing together multiple actors – state, communities, NGOs, universities, bilateral and multilateral partners on one common platform. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): Applied to key sectors in GMS Program covering >$3.5 billion now and expected to be >$25 billion by 2015. Using several spatial scales: national, provincial, subregional economic corridors. Poverty-environment linkages: Biodiversity conservation in high priority landscapes linked to local livelihoods development through SEAs tied to conservation investments Environmental investments: Developing an environmentally focused investment framework which will amount to about $1 billion vis-à-vis $10 -$15 billion of infrastructure investments.

20. Environmental Mainstreaming Challenges Primarily Facing Human Resource Constraints: Central and provincial level capacity to undertake integrated development planning Staff at environment agencies and key decision making ministries to engage on environment and development issues Complex program planning and reporting over-loads staff Responses: Embedding initiatives within mainstream development and conservation plans and programs Augmenting public sector capacity by bringing in communities and non-state actors Using SEAs to provide a platform for bringing people, skills and programs together Enabling local communities to generate and manage information, knowledge and financial resources, and become the key decision makers and service providers

21. Lessons: Mainstreaming Global Concerns Still early in the process, but some preliminary lessons: Taking a long-term view: Biodiversity and climate change issues require longer term perspective, and the GMS program provides it Subregional facilitation: Country-driven vision and approach essential, but GMS program allows neutral framwork for subregional cooperation. Relevance to Key Audiences: Environment must be seen not as a constraint, but adding value to everyday lives and jobs for communities, benefits for line agencies, and so on. Multi-stakeholder Networks: Integrative planning is time and information/ knowledge intensive. No single actor including the State can do it. Flexibility to Act: Need an adaptive planning and implementation mode with robust knowledge/technological back-up system.

22. Thank you!