Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Forestry - Rural water policy, institutional and capacity development - Water-based natural resources management

The expected impact of the project will be improved ecosystem health and services in the coastal wetlands in Yancheng. The expected outcome will be increased capacity to manage and protect the wetland ecosystems in Yancheng. The project will adopt an integrated approach to address the degradation of the wetland ecosystems in Yancheng through habitats rehabilitation, invasive species control, sustainable forest management, waste management, and ecological services payments. The initial results and lessons learned from these efforts to rehabilitate wetland habitats will be replicated to other areas of the nature reserves and can be a good model for restoration of other wetlands in the PRC. The impact and outcome will be achieved through the following five project outputs: (i) wetland protection at the YRBNNR; (ii) wetland protection at the DMNNR; (iii) coastal forest improvement at the Sheyang forest farm; (iv) coastal forest improvement at the Dafeng forest farm; and (v) project management and capacity development.

The project activities will include (i) wetland habitat rehabilitation and restoration, including rehydration of dehydrated critical habitats for water birds; conversion of fish ponds into wildlife habitats; and improvement of the milu drinking water and food supplies; (ii) control of the Spartina alterniflora as an invasive species along the Jiangsu coast by the use of freshwater flooding; (iii) improvement and protection of coastal forests, including improvement of the irrigation and drainage systems; fire prevention; pest early warning system and integrated pest management; and reforestation; (iv) waste management, including collection and safe disposal of solid wastes in the nature reserves; (v) pilot and demonstration of ecological compensation and sustainable use of ecological services, including the promotion of sustainable financing mechanism through provincial and municipal program, and market-based instruments; the implementation of ecological compensation program in a pilot community; agroforestry, such as forest-crop intercropping; and eco-tourism; and (vi) capacity development for wetland ecosystem protection, including research; ecological monitoring; meteorological and hydrological observation; animal rescue; technical assistance on nature reserve management planning; and training on procurement and contract management, project management, and financial management. The proposed activities will have the benefit of mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration, and the project preparatory technical assistance (PPTA) will quantify this benefit.

The government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide lending support for the proposed Jiangsu Yancheng Wetlands Protection Project. By drawing lessons from previous ADB-financed projects in reviving lakes and wetlands, the proposed project will pay particular attention to wetland restoration and ecosystem protection in a rapid developing region, ecological compensation for ecologically friendly farming practices, and control of invasive species. The project will finance part of the above two master plans for protecting the nature reserves, and introduce an integrated approach to address the current constraints in the wetland ecosystem protection. It will focus on (i) wetland restoration, rehabilitation, and protection; (ii) control of invasive species; (iii) ecological compensation; and (iv) management planning for nature reserves. The project is expected to play a demonstrative role for the restoration of other similar wetlands in the PRC. The project is consistent with the country partnership strategy, 2008-2010 for the PRC which aims to support environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.

Improved ecosystem health and services in the coastal wetlands in Yancheng

Coastal ecosystems of the Yancheng Wetlands conserved with reduced rural poverty and greater environmental sustainability

1. Wetland Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation in YRBNNR and DMNNR

2. Sustainable Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Livelihoods

3. Ecological Monitoring and Evaluation

4. Environmental Governance and Knowledge Dissemination

5. Project Management and Monitoring

The main initial stakeholders are ADB, the Jiangsu provincial government; the governments of the Yancheng and project districts/cities/counties; and the population in the project areas, including farmers and fishermen. The PPTA is currently undertaking stakeholder consultations to identify opportunities for effective stakeholder participation. Their needs and perceived benefits are being identified and assessed through stakeholder meetings at various levels. The ensuing project will provide opportunities for participation in the ecological compensation program, eco-tourism, and alternative livelihoods programs. The level of participation envisaged for project design include information sharing, consultation, and collaborative decision making.

The project may be classified as biodiversity conservation in nature, for which consultation process will primarily include needs assessment of the beneficiaries to be fed into the project design during PPTA. An overall C&P plan will be prepared; and C&P will form part of the design of the various outputs, and part of the monitoring and evaluation of the project's environmental and social impacts.