Block a pdf

Block A PDF

Part I – Eligibility
1. Project name: Conservation of Limestone Biodiversity of Cuc Phuong–Pu Luong Range	2. GEF Implementing Agency: World Bank
3. Country or countries in which the project is being implemented: Vietnam	4. Country eligibility: CBD ratification: 16. November 1994
5. GEF focal area(s), and/or cross-cutting issues: Biodiversity	6. Operational program/Short-term measure: Forest ecosystem operational program
7. Project linkage to national priorities, action plans, and programs: The range between Cuc Phuong National Park and Pu Luong Nature Reserve is the largest continuos lowland limestone forest in Vietnam. It is the only large remaining lowland forest in northern Vietnam. Cuc Phuong National Park, which is part of the limestone range is the oldest National Park of Vietnam and listed as high national priority in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. A recent World Bank workshop on limestone conservation in Southeast Asia has stressed the global importance of protection of limestone ecosystems in Vietnam.^1 The project will also significantly contribute to the conservation of a critically endangered primate, the Delacour’ Langur, one of Vietnam’s endemic flagship species, a top priority of Vietnam’s National Primate Action Plan. As part of its conservation strategy the project will facilitate and provide technical assistance for the implementation of forest protection contracts to develop community conservation stewardship agreements to protect and rehabilitate limestone forest habitats pursuant with the new decree 661 for the 5 million ha program.
8. GEF national operational focal point and date of country endorsement: Submitted: 17/3/99 Acknowledged: 17/3/99 Endorsed: 4/10/99
9. Project rationale and objectives: The conservation of the limestone biodiversity of northern Vietnam is a global priority. The biodiversity of limestone ecosystems under wet tropical conditions, including karst and cave systems, is highly diverse, characteristic and restricted due to the extreme environmental conditions such as a high concentration of calcium and magnesium in the environment, extreme topography of the karst surface, extreme surface dissection (e.g. tower karst separated by valleys with a non-calcerous, alluvial top soil), extreme climatic conditions (species that can endure the severity of exceedingly dry soil conditions over part of the year, or species which are confined or primarily found in limestone caves). These conditions lead to accelerated evolution. In the process, isolated populations in this highly fragmented environment are likely to develop into new species. For example the snail fauna of each major limestone region in northern Vietnam is extremely diverse and differs from surrounding limestone regions. During a recent FFI survey in Cuc Phuong National Park one soil sample gathered along a 200 m transect contained 90 snail species while the number of Cuc Phuong endemics discovered so far is 32. Therefore the landscape ecological approach to conservation will both focus on the maintaining the continuos forest range as well as protect forested limestone outcrops isolated from the main range. Cuc Phuong has the second highest diversity of bats (36) in Vietnam. All leaf- eating Langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) are found in association with limestone Karst. Three of the six sub-species are endemic to Karst areas in northern Vietnam, the Delacour’ langur (Trachypithecus f. delacacouri), the Golden-headed Langur (T.f. poliocephalus), the Hatinh Langur (T.f hatinhensis). All three are critically endangered. The Delacour langurs have been recorded on 10 small isolated limestone mountain ridges in northern Vietnam. The Pu Luong - Cuc Phuong range contains the largest remaining population of Delacour’ Langur. A quick survey of just one karst river segment revealed three new endemic fish species (Cuc Phuong). Compared with other vegetation types, the limestone flora is one of the richest in terms of species numbers and endemism. The area is considered to be a center of global plant diversity. As the remaining limestone forest area was also part of a much larger lowland forest area, many lowland plant and animal species such as the Owston’s palm civet^2 survived in this refugium.^3 The current threats for limestone biodiversity are fire wood collection, grazing, fire, limestone quarrying, agricultural encroachment, and hunting. Significant parts of the forest have been degraded, peripheral hills converted into grasslands. A landscape ecological approach to conservation of the Pu Luong-Cuc Phuong ranges with active participation of local communities will significantly contribute to the conservation of limestone biodiversity in Vietnam.
10. Expected outcomes: The project will preserve the limestone forest ecosystems through improved knowledge on biodiversity, participatory land use planning, gazettement of new protected areas, community conservation stewardship agreements, natural regeneration and reforestation of gaps (supported by the government’s 661 program for forest protection and enrichment planting contracts), and selection of suitable sites for limestone quarrying that are not biologically significant in cooperation with limestone quarrying companies (e.g. cement industry). A conservation awareness program that has proven successful in Cuc Phuong NP will be extended to the key villages in the entire range. Moreover the project will seek to develop a park partnership with the cement industry.
11. Planned activities to achieve outcomes: Scientific assessment of biological diversity throughout the limestone range (month 1-12) The biological assessment will not just focus on the continuous range itself but also isolated limestone hills and outcrops to define biodiversity conservation priorities. Participatory land use planning (month 4-30) Participatory land use planning in cooperation with local communities, peoples’ committees (village, district & provincial level), the forest protection department and other relevant agencies will identify areas for habitat rehabilitation (natural regeneration and enrichment planting), forest protection, and land allocation for agroforestry and small-holder plantations to provide economic incentives to farm households and substitute for fire wood and other forest products. Gazettement of new protected areas (3-24 month) Participatory land use planning and the biological assessment will provide the basis for the gazettement of the two proposed protected areas (Ngoc Son, Pu Luong). Strengthening of protected area management capacity (4-36) The project will provide training to FPD staff for Pu Luong Nature Reserve as well as Cuc Phuong National Park staff to improve community participation in protected area management, public awareness, law enforcement and biodiversity monitoring. Forest protection & rehabilitation and land allocation (12-36 month) FFI will provide technical assistance to the Forest Protection Department in land allocation, the development of enrichment planting and forest protection contracts pursuant to the new government decree 661 (5 million ha program) Selecting sites for limestone exploitation (12-24) Identification of sites that can be exploited for limestone with limited impact on biodiversity: limestone bedrock below alluvial sediments should be selected if possible; Selection of isolated hills due to their potential endemism should be avoided, sites with caves should be avoided, select rather one large quarry instead of numerous small ones preferably within a larger limestone complex. Develop a conservation awareness program (4-36) The conservation awareness program will consist of three main educational components: Training of Trainers for teachers and forest rangers, school-based conservation clubs, adult-focussed village education program Develop conservation partnerships with limestone quarrying companies and cement industry (4-36) Development of private sector partnerships for sustainable funding of limestone ecosystems conservation, as well as the development of national guidelines and criteria for sustainable limestone exploitation. The biodiversity assessment component of this project will identify areas important for conservation as well as areas suitable for quarrying.
12. Stakeholders involved in project: 1. Local community leaders and communities 2. Provincial and district People’s Committee’ Forest Protection Department 4. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 5. Schools and teachers 6. National and international biodiversity experts 7. Limestone quarrying companies
Part II – Information on Block A PDF Activities
13. Activities to be financed by the PDF: Scientific, technical, and economic assessment of project feasibility, stakeholder consultations and participatory project planning.
Expected outputs and completion dates: Project brief with detailed log frame, stakeholder consensus for detailed plan of project implementation. Assessment of scientific, technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of the proposed activity, including its relevance for future funding, as well as biological and social-economic baseline information relevant for project planning.
15. Other possible contributors/donors and amounts: FFI (funds from British Petrol, AusAid, British Embassy, US $ 240,000)
16. Total budget and information on how costs will be met (including the Block A grant): Total (US $): 988,000 240,000 (FFI: British Petrol, AusAid, Canada Fund) 748,000 (GEF grant, incl. Block A grant)
Budget for Block A grant:
Budget Items		TOTAL	GEF	FFI
Int. FFI consultants on project planning including international travel, visa and perdiam		8250	8250
Int. FFI consultants: Experts for limestone ecology including international travel, visa, and perdiam		8250	8250
Int. FFI staff: Land use planning expert		5000		5000
National specialist consultants		3000	2000	1000
Local travel and subsistence costs		3000	2000	1000
Costs of meetings and consultations		2000		2000
Stakeholder project planning workshop		3000	3000
Translation, report production and printing		500	500
Administration and communication costs		2000	1000	1000
TOTAL		35000	25000	10000
Part III – Information on the Applicant Institution
Name: Fauna & Flora International, Indochina Programme	19. Date of establishment, membership, and leadership: Established 1903. Membership 4000. Fauna & Flora International (Indochina Program), which is registered by the government of Vietnam and has been operating conservation projects in Vietnam since 1994. FFI has conducted conservation projects related to limestone biodiversity in Phong Nha National Park, Cuc Phuong National Park, Cat Ba National Park, and Na Hang Nature Reserve.
Mandate/terms of reference: FFI’s mission is:To conserve threatened species and habitats world wide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and that take account of human needs. FFI is active in achieving its mission through field work, applied research, building local partnerships, raising awareness, mobilising funding and other support and working with business.	20. Sources of revenue: (1997 in Pounds Sterling) Donations 507,,700 32% Grants 986,026 60% Legacies 20,322 1% Subscriptions 70,400 4% Investment and Charitable trading 45,973 2% Publications, royalties, And Sponsorship 17,510 1% TOTAL £1,647,931
Recent activities/programs, in particular those relevant to the GEF: Recent GEF related FFI Projects (global): 1994 – present: Technical assistance and capacity building for GEF/World Bank Dana Wildlands Project, Jordan; 1997/98: Project Preparation for GEF/World Bank Transboundary Biodiversity Conservation Project, West Tien Shan, Central Asia 1998: Project collaboration with GEF/World Bank Meso-American Corridor Project 1998: Sub-contract for biodiversity assessment and monitoring component with GEF/World Bank Kerinci-Seblat NP, Indonesia 1999: Conservation of Elephant landscape in Aceh, Indonesia, currently project preparation with PDF grant (GEF/World Bank) FFI projects in Vietnam (and donors): Na Hang Nature Reserve Conservation Project (IUCN Netherlands) Cuc Phuong National Park Integrated Conservation Project (Canada Fund., AusAid, British Petroleum) Tan Phu State Enterprise Elephant Conservation Project (Dutch Gov.) Conservation Awareness Program (Pu Mat/EU & Cuc Phuong/ARA-Germany) Pu Mat Nature Reserve Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring (EU contract) Phong Nha Biodiversity Assessment (Dutch Gov.) Primate Conservation Program (FFI) Elephant Conservation Program (FFI) Cat Ba Biodiversity Assessment for GEF/World Bank project preparation (Haiphong Coastal Region) Fauna & Flora International (FFI) FFI Indochina Programme Great Eastern House, Tension Road IPO Box 78, 104B Pho Hue Cambridge CB1 2DT, United Kingdom Hanoi, Vietnam Tel + 44 1223 571000 Tel + 844 943 2292/3 Fax + 44 1223 461481 Fax + 844 943 2254 e-mail [e-mail] e-mail [e-mail] Chairman: Mr Lindsay Bury Indochina Manager: Mr Frank Momberg Director: Mr. Mark Rose Established in 1994, registered with the Regional Manager SE Asia: Mr. Mike Appelton Peoples’ Aid Coordinating Committee, Established 1903. Membership 4000. MoU with Ministry for Agriculture UK registered charity No 1011102 and Rural Development (Forest Protection Company Limited By Guarantee. Department) Registered in England No. 2677068
Part IV – Information to be completed by Implementing Agency
22. Project identification number: PO68251
23. Implementing Agency contact person: A. Robin Broadfield, GEF Regional Coordinator, East Asia and Pacific, The World Bank, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone] / 7147, Email: [e-mail]
24. Project linkage to Implementing Agency program(s): The World Bank in Vietnam works to assist the government alleviate poverty, achieve rational and sustainable use of natural resources, and to mainstream environmental concerns in sectoral activities. This project will address the needs of the people in the projects, conserve endangered and potentially valuable biological resources, and work with local government to plan limestone exploitation.

1 World Bank workshop on impacts of industrial use of limestone resources on biodiversity and cultural heritage in Southeast Asia. Bangkok 24-27.January 1999.

2 The Owston’s Palm Civet is endangered in Vietnam (vulnerable throughout its Indochina range: IUCN Red Data Book 1996)

3 Nadler, Thilo 1997: Report and distribution of the Delacour’s Langur. Endangered Primate Rescue Center Newsletter, Cuc Phuong National Park, no. 2/1997