GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

Component 1: Environmental Planning Systems, Methods and Safeguards Improved

Activity Progress and Component Strategy

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMActivity Progress May-Oct 2012

• Contingent valuation of ecosystem services in Champassak province, Lao PDR – Study completed by Champassak University, report underway

• SEA application and decision support for area based plans– Training on applying SEA in river basin context (RR SEA)

– Completion of Golden Quadrangle Tourism SEA and presentation of findings and recommendations at Tourism Working Group.

• Development of interactive knowledge portal – Completion of 28 core indicators and launch of the GMS

Indicator Portal

– Identification of new indicators inetgrating into GMS Program

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

Improved environmental planning systems, methods and safeguards

STRATEGIC PLANNING: Subregional and national strategic planning capacity strengthened

1. Economic assessment of natural capital, 2. Support for area-based plans, 3. Support for sector plans

SAFEGUARDS: Environmental safeguards application improved and compliance monitoring mechanisms enhanced

1. Strengthening environmental safeguard systems / capacity, 2. Safeguards application, monitoring and evaluation (ADB projects)

MONITORING: Environmental monitoring processes strengthened1. Establishment of Environmental Information System, 2. Strengthen

monitoring systems / capacity building (Regional / National), 3. Monitor trends in biodiversity corridors / landscapes (Site)

Component 1

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMResults-based management: Planning

2013Understanding of natural

capital and ecosystem services in the GMS

improved Research partnerships

established; methodology in place

Environmental valuation methods integrated into into

area based planningPlanning support tools being

applied to 3 or more area-based plans

Initial SEA awareness raised in energy sector in Cambodia

and Lao PDRAt least 30 stakeholders

trained in SEA application for energy/ power development

2014

Awareness of value and financial costs related to

ecosystem services increasedVES maps and values

published and disseminated

Capacity of planners to support greening of sector

strategies and plans improvedAt least 3 GMS universities trained in SEA and related

tools

Environmental planning tools introduced & capacity built for

energy sectorAt least 1 institution/

university in each county is capable of applying SEA in

energy/ power development plans

2015

VES methods integrated in strategic planning

VES statistics / maps used in area-based and/or sector

plans

Environmental considerations integrated into GMS area-

based plansSEA guidelines in place /

underway in 3 GMS countriesDocumented changes in area-

based plans based on SEA support

Environment/ Ecosystems services values (cost/benefits)

incorporated in national power/energy development

plansDocumented changes in

energy/power development plan in 2 additional countries

2016• Environmental and

social considerations included in at least 10 GMS sector or corridor strategies and plans

• At least two new / updated legal instruments (law / regulations) at a sector / national level supporting SEA or related tools prepared in GMS countries

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

Results-based management: Safeguards and monitoring

2012

Transition from static program website to

interactive knowledge portal completedIndicator portal

receives at least 100 hits per month within 6 months from launch and at least 2500 hits

within the first 18 months

2013

Priorities for country-specific safeguards

capacity building and monitoring identifiedSafeguards diagnostic report and action plan

prepared

Environmental Information System

developed and integrated at country-

levelAt least 80 DPSIR

indicators available and updated with support from NSU

Site level monitoring and evaluation

framework adopted by BCC

BCC site progress monitored and

published annually

2014Improved safeguards

application in ADB project (incl. transport

& BCC)RSAT tested in at least 2

river basins; documented

improvement in EIA application for

transport in 3 countries

EIS supports relevant national & site-level

monitoringAt least 2 new

knowledge management / sharing

tools deployedAt least 2

environmental reporting systems

making use of EIS data

2015Harmonization of GMS

country safeguards with international best

practiceAt least 6 safeguards

training per year Documented

improvement in safeguards application

CEP-BCI online knowledge portal

recognized as a key resource center

At least 10 external publications (reports,

journal papers, conference

presentations) make use of EIS data

Effectiveness of BCC investments monitored

10 key indicators on BCC sites and landscapes

maintained annually

2016

• At least 100 agency staff (at least 35% women) able to implement safeguard assessments

• At least five GMS strategic plans and environmental reports supported by the Environment Information System

GREATER MEKONG SUBREGIONCORE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMPlanned Activities (rest of 2012)

Strategic planning

• Scope out activity on economics of natural capital (Regional)

• Technical inputs into ADB‟s Red River basin water resources planning (VIE)

• Preparation of publication on subregional tourism SEA

Safeguards

• Assessment of GMS country safeguards sufficiency and potential to harmonize with ADB safeguard approaches

• Myanmar EIA, monitoring and compliance capacity development

Monitoring

• Upgrade EOC GMS Indicator Portal with new indicators

• Scoping of regional forest mapping and EOC knowledge portal upgrades

• Publication of national EPA reports and subregional EPA synthesis report