Ac i 11. Public Disclosure Authorized. Project ID: P Task Team Leader: Allan Rotman. Public Disclosure Authorized.

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1 Ac i 11 Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Updated) Section I - Basic Information Date Prepared/Updated: 06/10/2003 A. Basic ProjectData (from PDS) I.A. 1. Project Statistics Country: TUNISIA Project: Tunisia: GEF: Gulf of Gabes Manne & Coastal Res. Prot. Authorized to Appraise Date: September 3, 2003 Bank Approval: February 27, 2004 Managing Unit' MNSRE Lending Instrument: Technical Assistance Loan (TAL) Status: Lending Project ID: P Task Team Leader: Allan Rotman IBRD Amount ($m): IDA Amount ($m) Global Supplemental Amount (Sm): 6.19 Sector: General water, sanitation and flood protection sector (50%); General agnculture, fishing and forestry sector (30%); Sub-national government administration (20%) Theme: Biodiversity (P); Environmental policies and institutions (S) I.A.2. Project Objectives (From PDS): The main objective of the Project is to protect biodiversity of Mediterranean-wide and international importance and promote more harmonious economic development based on the sustainable management of the marine and coastal natural resources. The specific objectives of the Project are. a) to develop mechanisms for the integrated biodiversity management of the Gulf of Gabes at six (6) pilot sites and implement them on three (3) priority pilot sites; and, b) to identify the long-term institutional and technical resources required to reverse the current trend of biodiversity' degradation through involvement of the communities concerned within a framework of promoting sustainable participatory development. I A 3. Project Description (From PDS) The Project consists of four main components The cost of implementing this project is estimated at US$ of which US$ would be funded by the GEF. Component 1: Institutional strengthening for improved biodiversity management in the Gulf of Gabes Estimated cost of component. US$ including US$ contributed by GEF. The basic framework for implementation involves' a) Management Committee at the national level, ii) Project Management Unit (PMU) at the regional level, which will be housed within a government agency (APAL or ANPE) or directly within a ministerial directorate, iii) local development committees representing the interface between the target populations and the Project. The main activities for this component are. 1) to set up a Project Management Unit, to be staffed by four key permanent employees from the Tunisian civil service, 2) to set up specialized technical assistance to assure the quality of the scientific, technical and participatory planning tasks, and 3) to develop a long-term strategy for biodiversity conservation for the Gulf of Gabes region, that incorporates lessons learned from the Project and incorporated into mechanisms for the replication of the pilot activities.

2 2 Component 2: Training, capacity-building and dissemination Estimated cost of component. US$ including US$ contnbuted by GEF. The aim of this component is to strengthen human resources for technical, scientific and participation issues for biodiversity management in the Gulf region. The component will consist of i) the preparation and implementation of a training program aimed at Project staff (both part-time and full-time) on Mediterranean and international experience in marine and coastal biodiversity management, in an inter-active capacity building manner to enhance the Project objectives, ii) a participatory strategy and awareness program for the target communities, local stakeholder groups and the general public concerned by the Project, with well defined participatory tools and mechanisms, for application to biodiversity management plans, iii) the preparation and implementation of a capacity building program to strengthen biodiversity protection in marine and coastal regulations, iv) an Information Exchange Center which is functionally linked to the PMU, will gather all existing technical, scientific and social information concerning the Gulf of Gabbs, set up user friendly filing (archiving) system, enter regular updated information, and supplement the basic filing system with a Geographical Information System (GIS), v) preparation and implementation of a dissemination program for the scientific and technical groups at the Project, national, Mediterranean and international levels. Component 3: Baseline data acquisition and applied biodiversity monitoring. component. VS$ including US$ contributed by GEF. Estimated cost of The aim of this component is to update or acquire technical, scientific and social data required as basic inputs for the biodiversity management plans (see Component 4 below). The activities of this component include the following studies and inventories: i) baseline hydrodynamics and water quality studies in generally for the Gulf of Gabes, but focussed on Jerba-Zarzis area in particular; ii) inventories of terrestrial flora and fauna at the priority sites so as to prepare the management plans, iii) an inventory of the marine plant cover and mapping of Posidonia sea grass beds; iv) creation of a sea grass bed monitoring network; v) an inventory of marine and lagoon species of regional or global interest and the definition of monitoring methodologies; vi) an inventory of alien species and their distribution within the Gulf, and definition of monitoring methodologies, vii) socio-economic surveys of the target populations and other stakeholder groups, viii) identification of biodiversity impacts caused by the fishing fleet, monitoring of impacts within and adjacent to the sea grass pilot area and recommended changes to fishing practices. Component 4: Participatory Biodiversity Management Plans and mainstreaming biodiversity protection. Estimated cost of component US$ including US$ contributed by GEF The main aim of this component is to prepare sustainable biodiversity management plans for the six pilot areas, and implement the plans for the chosen three priority areas. All the plans will be prepared based on a participatory approach. This component includes. I) preparation of a general methodology for participation mechanisms and biodiversity management, to be based on the existing legal framework ii) preparation of biodiversity management plans with implementation activities for the three priority pilot sites (Kneiss Islands, Gulf of Bou Ghrara and the sea grass pilot area) (iii) preparation (only) of biodiversity management plans for the three other sites, (Kerkennah Islands, El Bibane lagoon, Gabbs Oasis), based on lessons learned from the first three pilot sites (iv) implementation of a pilot Strategic Environmental Evaluation (SEE) to evaluate impacts on biodiversity of the mid-to-long term Tourist Development Plans for the Gulf of Gabbs; (v) preparation of regional ballast water management strategy that would address alien species, and (vi) preparation of a strategy to protect biodiversity areas from accidental petroleum and chemical spills I.A.4. Project Location: (Geographic location, informnation about the key environmenltal and social characteristics of the area and population likely to be affected, and proximity to any protected areas, or sites

3 3 or critical natural habitats, or any other culturally or socially sensitive areas.) The project will cover the full Gulf of Gabes area, with attention focused on 6 areas that will benefit from biodiviersity management plans, including a sea grass pilot area. The six pilot areas are: Kneiss Islands, Gulf of Bou Ghrara, a sea grass pilot area (location to be determuned), Kerkennah Islands, and Bahiret (lagoon) El Bibane Preparation and implementation of management plans will be undertaken for the first three sites listed. Only the preparation of management plans will be undertaken for the last three sites. B. Clheck Environmental Classification: B (Partial Assessment) Comments: C. Safeguard Policies Triggered (from PDS) (click on E1 for a detailed desciption or click on the policy number for a brief description) Policy Triggered Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01, BP 4.01, GP 4.01) YYes (9 No Natural Habitats (OP 4.04, BP 4.04, GP 4.04) U Ycs 0 No Forestry (OP 4.36, GP 4.36) (9 Yes * No Pest Management (OP 4.09) (9 Ycs * No Cultural Property (OPN 11.03) Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20) Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) Safety of Dams (OP 4.37, BP 4.37) Projects in International Waters (OP 7.50, BP 7.50, GP 7.50) Projects in Disputed Areas (OP 7.60, BP 7.60, GP 7.60)* (9 Yes 0 No U( Yes 0 No 0 Ycs U No T( Yes * No (9 Ycs * No (9 Yes * No Section IT - Key Safeguard Issues and Their Management D. Sumnnary ofkey Safeguard Issues. Pleasefill in all relevant quiestions. If information is not available, clescribe steps to be taken lo obtain necessaty data II.D. la. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts. This project is composed of mainly technical assistance activities, and only a few small scale physical structures will be constructed to assist in the biodiversity protection at the three priority sites chosen for implementation of the management plans. The proposed physical structures consist of a visitor reception building for the Gulf of Bou Ghrara area, observation platforms for Kneiss islands area and anti-trawling structures and/or artificial reef structures at the perimeter of the sea grass pilot area. These final site locations and final designs for these structures will be detailed during the preparation of the management plans for each pilot area to avoid potential environmental impacts. As the potential impacts are negligible, this project does not require a separate Environmental Assessment report. Any issues of concern will be addressed by the biodiversity management plans, and appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures will fully developed in conjunction with the management plans for the biodiversity pilot areas. A short 1-2 page summary of the environmental mitigation and monitoring measures incorporated into the project will be prepared. This will be in the

4 4 format of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP). II.D. I b. Describe any potential cumulative impacts due to application of more than one safeguard policy or due to multiple project component Although the direct impacts of project activities are minimal, the key extemal threats and impacts to biodiversity have also been carefully taken into account in the design of the project. In particular, the impacts of industrial and urban water effluents on biodiversity have been reviewed during the site selection process for the 6 areas for which biodiversity management plans will be prepared. Based on the existing information, impacts to the 6 biodiversity sites from degraded water quality due to industrial and urban effluents is also considered to be minimal. The impacts from these effluent sources show high impacts locally (within 5-10 kms), and all of the proposed biodiversity pilot sites are over km distance from major effluent sources. Furthermore dunng the project implementation, the major phospho-gypsum plant at Gabes is scheduled for a full renovation of its production process that will eliminate industrial liquid effluents into the Golfe de Gabes. Secondly two major urban wastewater plants are becoming operational on lie de Djerba to reduce existing urban impacts in the Golfe de Bou Gharra. The project includes mitigation measures during project implementation to assure that water quality threats to biodiversity are monitored, relevant indicators are identified and mid-long tenms in water quality impacts are established. IT.D.lc Describe any potential long term impacts due to anticipated future activities In the project area. There is the potential for long term restrictions of access to the pilot areas, with the biodiversity protection measures to be developed in the management plans. This issue will be clarified during the appraisal stage of the Project, and during Project implementation as the management plans are developed through participatory mechanisms. Any potential restrictions of access will be resolved through use of the Process Framework in accordance with Operational Policy (OP) ll.d 2 In light of 1, describe the proposed treatment of altematives (if required) n/a Il.D.3 Describe arrangement for the borrower to address safeguard issues OPN During the development of the management plans for the biodiversity pilot areas, issues related to physical cultural property will be reviewed and any potential locations will be appropriately screened to assure the absence of significant cultural property. At this time no issues of concern have been identified. Particular attention will be focused to ensure full compliance with the provisions of this policy due to the diverse human uses of the Gulf of Gabes region OP/BP 4.12 At this time the possibility of restriction of access to resources that are the basis of livelihoods has not been determined, and will not be detenmined until the management plans are prepared during Project implementation. To ensure that the Project will be prepared in accordance to the Bank's policy provisions so that, economic livelihoods are not diminished through the Project, a Process Framework will be prepared prior to the PAD stage of Project preparation and prior to the preparation of the management plans. Il.D.4. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. The initial studies identified as key stakeholders those whose sources of income are from tourism,

5 5 fisheries (i.e.traditional as well as commercial fishing), artisanal industries, and other local industries. Participation is seen as one of the essential building blocks to ensure the protection of degraded biodiversity resources, and balance the interests of long-term biodtversity conservation with other investments in the national interest. Initial steps towards the formulation of a participatory strategy are based on two key concepts: (a) that the stakeholders must understand the Project objectives and social development outcomes and in order to take an active part in the decision-making process, and; (b) that their ideas, approaches and solutions must be taken seriously and incorporated into the design of the Project, and in particular into the design of managment plans. While there are institutional and technical measures proposed by the Project, these must be validated and tailored to the specific social realities of each of the pilot sites jointly with the stakeholders. With this approach, no management plans or other measures will be implemented without the appropnate consultation and participation of the key stakeholders. The target populations will participate to: (i) act as sources of up to date information on the local conditions (fishing, production, etc) which will also serve as an initial mechanism of raising awareness about threats to biodiversity; (ii) react to proposals for management in order to leam what measures the population is willing to enact towards a responsible and sustainable management of the biodiversity resources; (iii) jointly formulate the final agreed mechanisms necessary to ensure protection of ecosystem biodiversity. Included in the participation will be measures to address possible temporary restriction to resources used by the population for their livelihood so that the future benefits (gains) made will be measurable in economic terms and beneficial to the population. E. Safeguards Classification (select in SAP). Category is detennined by the highest impact in any policy. Or on basis of cumulative impacts from multiple safeguards. Whenever an individual safeguard policy is triggered the provisions of that policy apply [ ] SI. - Significant, cumulative and/or irreversible impacts, or significant technical and institutional risks in management of one or more safeguard areas [X] S2. - One or more safeguard policies are triggered, but effects are limited in their impact and are technically and institutionally manageable S3. -No safeguard issues SF. - Financial intermediaiy projects, social development funds, community driven development or similar projects which require a safeguard framework or programmatic approach to address safeguard issues. F. Disclosure Requirements EnvironmentalAssessmenit/Analysis/Maniagement PlanDate of receipt by the Banik Date of distributing the Exec. Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors (For category A projects) Expected Actuial Resettlement Action Plan/Framework. Expected Indigenous Peoples Development Plan/Framework: Expected Actual Achtal

6 6 Pest Management Plan: Expected Actual Darn Safeto Management Plan: Expected Actual If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why. Signed and submitted bv Name Date Task Team Leader: Allan Rotman June 2, 2003 Project Safeguards Specialists 1: Stefanie Brackmann/Person/World Bank June 4, 2003 Project Safeguards Specialists 2. Mohamed Arbi Ben-Achour/Person/World Bank June 5, 2003 Project Safeguards Specialists 3. Approved by: Name Date Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Sherif Arif June 9, 2003 Sector Manager/Director Letitia A. Obeng June 10, 2003