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Fighting against global extinction
UNDP signs five grant agreements to protect biodiversity in China as the world marks the International Day for Biological Diversity.
22 May 2007, Beijing – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed five biodiversity grant agreements today as the world highlights the link between biodiversity and climate change on this year's International Day for Biological Diversity.
The projects are part of the EU-China Biodiversity Programme (ECBP), a landmark US$ 70 million joint initiative established between UNDP, European Union (EU), the Ministry of Commerce and the State Environmental Protection Administration, which aims to mainstream biodiversity conservation into development activities in priority regions of western and central China. A total of 19 local projects will be signed in 2007 under this programme.
 One of the features that sets ECBP apart from other programmes is the unique diversity of institutions involved. The partners represent a diverse consortium of domestic and international organizations, plus Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and governmental partners, and groups are able to implement innovative projects from the grassroots level.
In Sichuan, UNDP and EU partner with the National Appraisal Center for Environment and Engineering, a local government agency and two international NGOs, to undertake strategic environmental assessments of future tourism and mining development projects, a key thrust of China’s West Development Strategy.
Under another project, The Nature Conservancy will partner with the Provincial Policy Research Office and the management authorities of Meili Snow and Laojun Mountains in Yunnan Province to develop and test a new model for protected areas in China which combines biodiversity conservation with local socio-economic development.
Grant agreements signed between UNDP and the partnering organizations from government and NGOs are located in Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Anhui, and Yunnan Provinces. The funds for the first five projects will total about US$ 13 million. The remaining 14 agreements will be signed later this year.
One future project is in Tibet where UNDP and EU cooperate with the local environmental bureau and international NGOs to develop a new environmental action plan and an environmental fund to improve sustainability in the face of rapid development pressure.
 ECBP comes at a critical time in the fight against global extinction of endangered species. In a message to the world community issued today, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also underscored the connection between biodiversity and global climate change, noting that “the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is an essential element of any strategy to adapt to climate change.” For example, “forests, peatlands and other ecosystems contribute to sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby helping to mitigate increases in greenhouse gas emissions.”
Launched one year ago today, the UNDP-implemented ECBP initiative is the largest joint effort in China to improve the protection of ecosystems, species and genetic resources. In addition to the $US 40 million contributed by the EU, other national and international stakeholders contribute about $US 25 million of co-financing.
Background
Additional information about the 6 projects:
Project 1: “Conservation Beyond Protected Areas” will develop and test a new protected areas model for China combining biodiversity conservation with local socio-economic development. The project was proposed by the Nature Conservancy and partners include the Policy Research Office of the People’s Congress of Yunnan Province and the management authorities of Meili Snow Mountain and Laojun Mountain.
Project 2: “Biodiversity and Strategic Environmental Assessments” will produce national guidelines for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of provincial mining and tourism development plans that will ensure systematic integration of biodiversity conservation measures in the planning process. Case studies will take place in Sichuan Province. The applicant is the National Appraisal Center for Environment and Engineering. Partners are the Sichuan Appraisal Center, Conservation International and TRL Limited (UK).
Project 3: “Sustainable Natural Bamboo Forest Management” focuses on development of economically and biodiversity friendly community management of bamboo forests in Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan. Applicant is the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan. Partnering organizations included the Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan Forestry Departments and the Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Project 4: “Sustainable Limestone Forest Management” focuses on sustainable limestone forest management balancing local socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation in Guangxi. The applicant is the Guangxi Environmental Protection Bureau. Partners are Flora and Fauna International, the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, the Guangxi Forest Bureau and the Forestry and Designing Institute of Guangxi Region.
Project 5: “Conservation of Wetlands and Socio-economic Development in Anqing” will develop and implement management plans for wetland conservation in Anqing involving livelihood development for fishing communities. The Applicant is the Peoples Government of Anqing Municipality. Partners are Wetlands International and the Academy of Forest Inventory and Planning of the State Forestry Administration.
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