Objectives

To establish the institutional and technical infrastructure in Turkiye to achieve integrated natural resource management (INRM) in regions with very humid climate through demonstration of SLM techniques that blend the new global approaches and traditional knowledge in Eastern Black Sea region of Turkiye.

Other

Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.

Target Groups

The socio-economic benefits in the project will be observed at the individual (household level) as well as at the collective community level for economic groups like farmers and forest dependents as follows: ? At least 1,000 people living, in and around the Kirechane micro-basin will directly benefit through improved tea plantation and SLM practices, forest resource use, sustainable agriculture, diversified livelihood improvements and improved ecosystem services. ? At least 20,000 persons indirectly benefiting from GEF investment (at least 50% women), including farmers receiving training and extension services by ÇAYKUR and forest management plans updated to provide for community use of forest products ? Improved conservation of forested areas and watersheds, wetlands, community production areas practices will enhance the ecological value of the ecosystems for community benefits. ? Implementation of strategies and mainstreaming of sustainable resource use via the community organizations will result into sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry and community managed areas and f value chain products and services. This will collectively result in better conservation and livelihoods outcomes; ? Improved access to basic goods and technical services, technology and improved agriculture and forestry practices as well as diversification of livelihoods will ensure more livelihood options and better prices and income. ? The focus on addressing gender inequality wherein various initiatives, such as promotion of alternative livelihood options, participation of women in various local conservation committees are proposed. The project envisages more gender equality in context of sex ratio, decision making powers, ownership and control on marine sources and women leadership as well as participation; ? A reduction in the resource use conflicts and increase in effective implementation of sustainable agricultural and forestry resource use practices. ? Incremental funding through sustainable resource management measures will protect critical biodiversity and provide for improved and diversified livelihoods and incomes and a sustainability of such investments beyond the life of the project; ? Stable or improved populations of native species and improved environments will greatly enhance visitor experiences for increasing potential for community financial benefit. Reduction in erosion and land degradation will help mitigate current loss of community productive assets

Objectives

To promote land degradation neutrality, restore and improve the use of land and water resources in Armenia’s Lake Sevan Basin to enhance the sustainability and resilience of livelihoods, biodiversity and globally significant ecosystems.

Other

Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.

Target Groups

The envisaged benefits to local and national stakeholders will be interconnected with the aggregated environmental benefits enabled by the project’s features: (i) embedded integrated benefits and synergies across focal areas, (ii) mechanisms for integrated decision making and (iii) landscape-scale designed interventions. The project incentivizes local actors away from destructive behaviour through engaging them in biodiversity friendly livelihoods around protected areas, KBAs/IBAs, enlisting community support for safe wildlife migration corridors. The project will support gender equality and women’s empowerment, through inclusion in decision-making processes on natural resource management, delivery of capacity building on improving financial management skills, and disseminating information on available financing options for local community organizations, helping to enhance small-scale entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on engaging women-led community-based organizations and local enterprises. Project activities will emphasise priority inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities, war refugees, and other vulnerable groups.Livelihood benefits will be generated for local households through increased soil productivity, soil and water conservation, access to low-value grant assistance for interventions on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, and through access to capacity building on sustainable nature-positive LDN complaint agricultural practices, best practices in ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and alternative livelihoods. Awareness, technical knowledge and access to financing are key to ensuring that stakeholders will be able to adopt innovative, environmental-friendly practices. Approximately 65,800 people stand to benefit directly from various project’s interventions. The project aims at increasing capacity of 200 public sector employees and 100 PAs staff who will be participating in training activities . PA staff will have an increased knowledge and capacity for biodiversity management and environmental law enforcement. The local authorities will be supported/coached to writing eligible proposals under existing state-programmes in order to leverage additional funding for sustainable pastures and livestock management, improved water infrastructure of remote pastures, local rural development and market access and refurbishment of irrigation infrastructure with financing from available national and local financing programmes. In the same vein, the local natural resource users will be trained and supported to attract additional funding to implement SLM measures. Local tourism entrepreneurs will be trained and supported to implement eco-tourism activities. About 200 of local producers/farmers will benefit from micro-grants and an estimated income increase of at least 20% as a result of the implemented SLM measures. This is a conservative percentage, as income generation from recommended SLM measures will likely provide more benefits: e.g. according to past donor-supported projects[1], application of rotational grazing alone can provide an estimated net profit of up to $16 per sheep (after subtracting the costs per sheep of about $8). In general relatively limited investment sin the irrigation infrastructure has proven economically profitable, for example: repair of small reservoirs could increase water availability and support expansion of cultivation areas (that previously were not suitable); the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 227% and the payback period is 1 year; the repair and lining of water storage basin reduces water losses and leads to increased water supply. The IRR is 15% and payback period is 8 years; construction of drip irrigation systems incrases with approximately 40-50% the fruit and vegetable yields and the IRR is 29% and payback period approximately 5 years. Approximately 58,800 local farmers will benefit from the refurbishment of irrigation systems on demonstration plots in selected villages, demonstrative drip irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting facilities, in the selected in the villages, which are currently struggling with a higher degree of land degradation and poor livelihoods. The generated experience is replicable at the Sevan basin landscape level, particularly through the guidelines, manuals, land use planning tools in particular the LUP4LDN software, demonstrates experiences at local level, aided by the awareness events and radio/TV talk shows. Through the awareness events and dedicated radio and TV shows that are being listened to by a large number of local community members, it is possible that number of beneficiaries of the project will be much larger. Improved awareness and technical knowledge, and assistance to access available funding, will result in improved livelihoods resilience leading to reduced economic losses associated with water scarcity, and greater agricultural productivity, increased revenues and employment prospects and diversification of income sources. The project’s micro-grant scheme (aligned with UNDP low-value grants procedures) include gender sensitive and inclusive criteria that will prioritise mid and small farmers and vulnerable families, including women, youth and vulnerable people thus prioritising support to the most vulnerable from environment and social perspective. Greater resilience will result in reduction in economic losses associated with climate shocks. At national level, the estimated annual economic losses in the agriculture sector driven by drought, hail, floods, spring frosts and mudflows has been estimated at about 15-30 billion AMD for the recent years.[2]Cost benefit analysis will be undertaken for individual investments to be made on demonstration plots. Due to the planned awareness and training events and due to the regional LDN Targets and enabling policies that the country is developing (under similar donor funded projects such as FAO) there is a good prospective potential for scaling up sustainable land management measures and integrated LDN compliant integrated and spatial land use planning at the level of the entire Lake Sevan basin. [1] Based on examples recorded in UNCCD/WOCAT database and examples use in feasibility analysis under AF funded projects in the region. [2] Fourth National Communication to UNFCCC

Objectives

Contribute to the reduction of anthropogenic mercury releases/emissions from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) to the environment, by strengthening formalization processes and enabling environments that foster: inclusion, access to finance and legal supply chains, adoption of clean practices and technologies, and building skills and technical capacities for the ASGM sector.

Other

Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.

Target Groups

513. Mercury reduction is the main objective of the project and the key benefit for both the environment and human health. As described previously, the practices used by mining operations in Nicaragua contribute to mercury emissions and releases, so the project's contribution in environmental terms will be significant, as well as contributing to the country's obligations under the Minamata Convention on mercury. 514. In addition, the project will contribute to economic, social and environmental benefits that support the sustainable development of the country. 515. In recent years, ASGM has become an essential source of economic income and employment opportunities, especially considering the concentration of this activity mainly in rural areas. 516. Due to the absence of an adequate regulatory framework and poor formalization of activities in ASGM, and lack of efficient technologies for gold recovery, the potential socio-economic benefits of this activity are diminished. By strengthening (i) the technical and institutional capacities of national and local authorities, (ii) mechanisms, regulations and measures for control and supervision of gold production and trade activities, revenues at central, regional and municipal levels are expected to increase. 517. The project will promote a scenario in which the ASGM sector can increase its economic benefit and have positive impact at the local and national level for the thousands of families that depend primarily, secondarily or temporarily on this activity. Additional economic gains will be achieved through more efficient technologies and subsequent increased gold recovery and responsible supply chains that ensure access to formal markets and better prices. Economic benefits can be translated into social welfare and livelihood security. 518. In the specific case of women miners, the project will improve their access to finance, savings and entrepreneurship, leading to economic empowerment that will contribute to their well-being and that of their families by indirectly impacting issues such as food security. Gender mainstreaming activities will reduce gender inequalities among project beneficiaries. 519. The transition to efficient and/or clean recovery technologies and the introduction of better practices will improve the working and living conditions of miners, including women and vulnerable populations, resulting in better health for miners. Improved mining practices will improve environmental quality and therefore local communities will have, among other environmental benefits, access to cleaner water. 520. Miners and communities will increase their skills and knowledge, leading to improved education in mining areas. In addition, the promotion of formalization processes will also enable miners to access social and financial services. Proper development of the ASGM sector can reduce conflicts over land use or related to environmental pollution. 521. Finally, and in line with the innovative approach followed by the GOLD+ program, in addition to mercury reduction, the project will enable better land management and proper management and disposal of mining waste, which will benefit biodiversity and make communities more resilient to climate change.