Greater Mekong Subregion

GMS Sector Activities
Environment

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GMS Countries Firm Up Components of the Core Environment Program (CEP) and Gear Up for the GMS Environment Ministers Meeting (WGE-11, Siem Reap, Cambodia, 15-16 March 2005)

The Eleventh Meeting of the Working Group on Environment (WGE-11) held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 15-16 March 2005, agreed on the major components of the GMS core environment program (CEP), to be endorsed as a development strategy to conserve GMS natural systems in the forthcoming GMS Environment Ministers Meeting in Shanghai in May 2005.

The components of the CEP include the

• Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (BCI)
• Sustainable Use of Natural Systems in GMS Economic Corridors
• Maintaining Ecosystem Services for Priority Investment Sectors
• Regional Institution Building, Innovative Financing, and Environmental Performance Measurement

The meeting also agreed to the creation of the GMS Environment Operations Center in Bangkok to coordinate the work of the CEP and act as its Secretariat. For the BCI, the WGE-11 meeting agreed on a list of high value biodiversity conservation and protected areas to prepare the BCI framework and action plan.

The meeting noted ongoing efforts to secure cofinancing for regional environmental initiatives; and hoped that discussions with partners would soon reach the concluding stages. An important outcome of the meeting was the agreement on the structure and agenda of the GMS Environment Ministers Meeting, a three-day event comprising the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on 24 May and the Environment Ministers Meeting on 25-26 May. It was agreed to hold the 12th WGE meeting in PRC, after consultations are held with the GMS members.

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GMS Countries Agree to Strengthen Subregional Institutions and Programs for More Effective Response to Environmental Challenges (Hanoi, 23-24 September 2004)

The Tenth Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Group on Environment (WGE) held in Hanoi on 23-24 September 2004 reached key agreements for making environmental cooperation more effective in addressing subregional sustainability and environmental protection concerns.

First, WGE representatives agreed to launch a core environmental program (CEP) by 2006, to protect critical ecosystems within or affected by GMS economic corridors. This will involve improving the WGE's capacity to coordinate with other GMS working groups, initiate regional TA programs, and maintain/ disseminate knowledge, as well as establishing a suitable institutional mechanism (such as the Environment Operations Center or EOC) to implement the CEP and provide interface with other stakeholders.

Second, as part of the CEP, the WGE also endorsed the proposed Biodiversity Conservation Corridor (BCC) Initiative for consideration of GMS Ministers in December 2004. This initiative is designed to ensure long-term conservation of high value ecological processes, biodiversity and threatened species, and involves promoting the development of the biodiversity conservation corridor (BCC) strategic framework and implementing a plan of action to protect these resources by 2006. The WGE members also recognized the support from various development partners and looked forward to their future contributions in developing innovative and sustainable financing arrangements for the CEP.

Finally, the meeting noted PRC's suggestion to convene a GMS Environmental Ministers meeting prior to the GMS Summit to consider appropriate initiatives for consideration at the GMS Summit.

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GMS Countries Meet to Further Advance Environmental Cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (1-2 December 2003)

The 9th meeting of the Subregional Working Group on Environment (WGE-9) was held in Phuket, Thailand on 1-2 1 December 2003, to discuss steps to further advance cooperation among GMS countries in the environment sector, under the overall framework of the GMS Program. The meeting was hosted by the Department of Environmental Quality Protection (DEQP), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MONRE) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The WGE-9 meeting discussed the outcome of the recently concluded 12th GMS Ministerial Conference in Dali, People's Republic of China (PRC), and discussed the work program to advance the Strategic Environment Framework (SEF). Now in its second phase, the SEF II project will develop national and subregional performance assessment systems and build capacities to implement these systems. The WGE-9 meeting also discussed country reports, which enabled the dissemination and sharing of information on GMS country developments in the area of environmental policy and governance.

The WGE-9 meeting also discussed the programs of the MRC, UNEP, and the Universities Partnership for Transboundary Water, to help improve coordination among GMS environmental programs. Consistent with the call of the Dali Ministerial Meeting, the WGE-9 explored arrangements to deepen the involvement of development partners in the GMS Program. WGE members also gave their views on the Environment Road Map, which will chart future GMS environment initiatives, and the proposed TA to build capacity of GMS countries for sustainable development.

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GMS Strategic Environment Framework- Phase II (SEF II) Workshop Concluded in Manila (20-21 August)

The Inception Workshop on National and Subregional Environmental Performance Assessment Project in the GMS, was held on 20-21 August 2003 in ADB Headquarters in Manila. The Project, also known as SEF II, is a follow up to the completed GMS Strategic Environment Framework (SEF I) project which aimed to address transboundary environmental concerns arising from development programs in the Mekong subregion. The ongoing Workshop for SEF II was held to firm up the work plan and inputs, outputs and activities to develop the subregion's environmental performance assessment systems and capacities. In his welcome remarks, Mr. C. R. Rajendran, Director, MKAE, noted that extensive work was required in setting up environment performance systems. However, he stressed that functioning institutional mechanisms for coordination under the GMS Program, as well as the understanding by GMS countries of the importance of establishing suitable monitoring indicators bode well for the success of SEF II efforts.

The Workshop agreed to endorse in principle, the proposed implementation plan for the SEF II project, subject to revision of the items especially concerning the project management office, budget and consultants, and in accordance with the comments and suggestions made by participants. After finalization of the implementation plan, the workshop noted the next steps for the project which included the fielding of consultants and the holding of the second Experts Meeting in Kunming in November 2003.

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ADB Holds Expert Meeting to Build GMS Capacity for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development (18-19 August 2003)

An Expert Meeting on Development of Institutional Mechanisms for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development in the GMS was held on 18-19 August 2003 in Manila, to come up with a work plan to build the capacity of GMS countries in formulating and implementing their respective National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDSs). The development of NSDSs was one of the priorities recommended to implement the Johannesburg Declaration and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), made by the Heads of States and Governments in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg in September 2002. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Rajat Nag, Director General of the Mekong Department.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Liqun Jin, ADB Vice President for Operations Group 1, noted ADB's policies to achieve its vision of sustainable development for the Asia-Pacific region, namely, the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Environment Policy and the Water Policy. He cited the extensive cooperation achieved by the GMS countries under the GMS Program, as an important factor that will contribute to the success of efforts to develop institutions and processes for joint environmental action.

The Meeting reaffirmed the GMS countries' strong commitment to sustainable development (SD) principles and poverty reduction objectives, and noted the need for meaningful stakeholder involvement and donor support for the processes of SD. The meeting also emphasized the need for regional cooperation to address transboundary impacts of development activities. Taking note of proposed actions during the Meeting, ADB committed to work with other development partners in supporting the development of appropriate institutional structures and capacity building required for SD initiatives.

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Working Group on Environment Agrees to Pursue Follow-up Project on Strategic Environment Framework (April 2002)

The GMS Working Group on Environment (WGE) members who attended the Eighth Meeting of the Working Group on Environment (WGE-8), held in Yangon, Myanmar, endorsed the follow up proposal for the SEF, prepared by ADB as endorsed in the last GMS Ministerial Conference (Yangon, November 2001). The technical assistance proposal would in essence bridge environment data gaps through more uniform standards and better data disaggregation, and included preparation of preliminary tools for performance assessment, capacity development, as well as a project timetable and budget. The WGE members also supported the idea to seek GEF Block B grant funding for the detailed project estimated to cost $30 million; in so doing, the WGE agreed to assist ADB in obtaining formal concurrence on the proposal by the national GEF focal points.

The Meeting also achieved a first by holding a joint session with the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG). The session tackled the need for enhancing the preservation of subregion's cultural heritage, and discussed issues of sustainable management of tourism/ cultural resources, including the critical training requirements. Another important item discussed was the forthcoming GMS Summit, and the preparatory actions required for the Summit. A GMS Atlas was proposed for presentation to the GMS Leaders during the Summit. This Atlas would cover issues on poverty, resource degradation and environmental trends, and would focus on GMS environment projects and up-to-date maps. WGE members endorsed the idea for the Atlas and expressed willingness to contribute to its preparation, which would be coordinated UNEP Regional Resource Center (RRC).

As in the past, WGE-8 discussed the findings key GMS environment projects, namely, SEF I (completed) and the ongoing Subregional Environmental Monitoring and information System Phase II (SEMIS II). The meeting further discussed the status of ongoing major programs of two agencies, MRC and UNEP, whose extensive work in the environment sector provided substantial support to the WGE's program initiatives. Lastly, the WGE representatives presented on recent environmental policy and program developments in their respective countries, to give a general idea of the subregion's progress towards achieving sustainable development.

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GMS Working Group on Environment (WGE) Meets to Discuss Strategic Directions for Enhancing Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management of the Subregion's Resources (August 2001)

The Seventh Meeting of the Working Group on Environment (WGE-7) was held in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR on 29-31 August 2001, attended by WGE members from all six GMS countries as well as representatives of international organizations and ADB. The meeting was held primarily to chart strategic directions for the subregion's program of cooperation for the environment. This was done through an assessment of the progress of the work program of the WGE, and its reformulation in the light of updates in the GMS program and its operational strategy. A substantial portion of the meeting was therefore devoted to discussions of the four ongoing/ completed Regional Technical Assistance projects (RETAs) on environment. Two of these, namely, TA 5899 (SEMIS II) and TA 5783 (Strategic Environment Framework or SEF), concerned enhancements in the way environmental matters are integrated in GMS development processes through improved information, monitoring and planning systems. The other two, TA 5771 (on poverty reduction in watersheds), and TA 5822 (on protection of wetlands) prescribed sustainable livelihood and resource management practices and investment projects for shared eco-systems such as wetlands and watersheds.

The WGE agreed on a number of major strategic directions for subregional cooperation in environment. Four priority areas for the environment sector were agreed upon, and these are as follows: poverty reduction; Strategic Environment Framework (Phase II); capacity building for local governments; and cleaner production (CP). The WGE also called for adoption of more participatory processes in development decision making, requiring capacity building for NGOs and local communities that would empower these groups. ADB assistance was sought for formulating a biodiversity conservation program for the GMS countries. Moreover, the WGE agreed on the need for strengthening the WGE structure, and enhancing regular exchanges between WGE members. A joint communique would be presented by the WGE for consideration by the GMS Ministers, for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD, or RIO + 10) to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002. ADB and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were asked to help in the preparation of the draft communique, to be circulated to the WGE members for their comments/ review.

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