Transboundary cooperation and comanagement

Transcription

1 Transboundary cooperation and comanagement of shared ecosystems Sub-regional workshop Strengthening capacities for a sustainable future in Black- Sea and Caucasus countries: support to an establishment of biosphere reserves (BRs) as model sites for sustainable development and key tools for transboundary cooperation and the co-management of shared ecosystems May 2014 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

2 TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION AND THE CO- MANAGEMENT OF SHARED ECOSYSTEMS A transboundary cooperation has offered for UNESCO a new dimension for the development of its designate sites, both for the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and Natural World Heritage Sites. A transboundary cooperation is thus one of key catalysts for the development of TBRs which provide a tool for common management of shared ecosystems.

3 TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION AND THE CO- MANAGEMENT OF SHARED ECOSYSTEMS cont. Currently, more than 15 countries of sub-regions being under the UNESCO Venice Office coverage for environment and sustainable development activities (South-Eastern European/SEE, Mediterranean, Black-Sea and Caucasus countries) have initiated and/or undergone processes of an establishment of possible TBR(s). There is the need to facilitate these processes in particular, at a crucial moment where stakeholders require a support, and communities and authorities need a clarification about their engagement, responsibilities and benefits - and to move forward with the designation process(es).

4 TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION AND THE CO- MANAGEMENT OF SHARED ECOSYSTEMS cont. At the same time, efforts should be continued to support and facilitate transboundary nomination of biosphere reserves and management processes along river corridors/basins. This i.a. offers an increased opportunity for the cooperation between the MAB and the IHP Programmes through the implementation of joint activities and interventions related to the links between water and biodiversity as well as to landforms and hydrological systems. UNESCO believes that utilization and conservation of land and water resources should go hand in hand, and that an interdisciplinary approach and long term vision are key.

5 1. The pivotal role of the MAB Programme - Designated Sites = Laboratories/models 2. Integration with IHP Shared Waters 3. ESD as a cross-cutting theme

6 4 Potential new BRs Potential new Transboundary BRs Existing BRs In SEE: 28 In Black Sea / Caucasus: 52

7 Transboundary River Basins of interest

8 Water Resources Management (IHP) IHP (the only intergovernmental programme of the UN devoted to water research, water resources management, and education and capacity building) as a key actor in effort towards advanced sustainable development related to water resources bringing together the contributions of the natural, social and human sciences, as well as engineering in water resources management.

9 Water Resources Management (IHP) During the past decade, sustaining of Ecosystem Services for human well-being has become a main EU environmental policy objective. Such an approach called for the joint development of system understanding that applies also very well to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The UNESCO Venice Office has been since the late nineties a key player in developing first, then disseminating, the Ecohydrology (EH) concept within the frame of the IHP. The Office progressively re-oriented its activities towards providing major river basins of SEE with the necessary support in order to improve transboundary cooperation and stakeholders involvement in the management of shared water resources. Relying on the network of IHP National Committees, and in particular the so-called IHP Danube cooperation it was possible to mobilize knowledge and expertise in order to support Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) approaches. In the past both UNESCO Offices (Venice and Moscow) intensively cooperated and jointly implemented several activities focused on water and wetlands ecosystems and their sustainable management like ecohydrology-related activities, implementation of environmental policies, etc. The main results having been achieved then laid a strong basis for consequent interventions focused i.a. on transboundary cooperation and fostered joint actions for the protection and remediation of catchment processes which was further extended to another basins areas.

10 Water Resources Management (IHP) Strategic priority focused on the enhancement of cooperative management of transboundary water bodies and the related ecosystems in the geographical areas. 3 complementary lines/components of activities and implementation modalities: Facilitating interactions between policy-makers and researchers in an attempt to relate science, experience and insight to policy by further disseminating and applying Knowledge Brokering strategies and Instruments, two-way conversations between policy-makers and the research community bringing together scientists, policy-makers and stakeholders to collaboratively work on real life policy problems. Delivering politically relevant knowledge to decision makers on issues such as sediment transport and management, ecohydrology, management of PAs in river corridors, etc. Improving stakeholders involvement in IRBM by providing applicable knowledge on strategies for involving stakeholders in the building up of shared visions and strategies for the management of water bodies in the region planning, the elaboration of a new generation of River Basin Management Plans, the implementation of activities, communication/awar. raising strategies, educ. and dispute resolution efforts, working with NGOs, water users associations, local stakeholders etc.

11 Water Resources Management (IHP) EXPECTED CONCRETE RESULTS Water resources management enhanced Cooperation and dialogue on water sciences and management enhanced and, knowledge and expertise in River Basin management mobilized in the areas of interest of decision- and policymakers in the region; relevant knowledge-brokering strategies and instruments will be disseminated and applied and IHP National Committees stimulated to function as knowledgebrokers in the wide field of Integrated Water Resources and River Basins Management. Appropriate and flexible communication and cooperation modalities defined, agreed upon and made operational at various levels so that key environmental concerns and correlated policy issues could be identified/analyzed in a context of IRBM. New actions in IRBM in transboundary contexts in SEE, Caucasus and Black-Sea countries defined, with particular attention paid to the definition of strategies for better integrating scientific knowledge in river basin management plans (through cooperative projects). Networking and cooperation catalyzed in order to improve the sharing of views among a larger IHP/hydrologists network in SEE, Black Sea and Caucasus countries, as well as in communities related to major river basins in the sub-regions (stakeholders consultation and involvement processes launched and developed in transboundary river basins management planning processes).

12 Water Resources Management (International Hydrological Programme IHP) SYNERGIES AND CROSS-SECTORALITY Integrated Water Resource Management, in particular at the level of River Basins, already interdisciplinary by nature (mixing hydrology, engineering, ecology, human sciences, economy, etc.) opens also to many possible cross-sectoral activities: Water, Communication and Education for Sustainable Development Nature Protection in River Corridors Water and Culture o the exploration of an issue such as Traditional Knowledge and Water Management has a huge potential for cross-sectoral activities that could include the development of surveys on human settlements and traditional water harvesting techniques around the Mediterranean (often linked to important cultural heritage sites).

13 4 Potential new BRs Potential new Transboundary BRs Existing BRs In SEE: 28 In Black Sea / Caucasus: 52

14 ACTIVITIES 1. Strengthening the BRs network to be fully operational: focus on institutional capacity-building (focus: flagship intersectoral activity with CLT) 2. Developing the demonstration and learning potential of UNESCO Designated Sites (focus: green economy and links to ESD activities) 3. Using BRs to promote the idea of sustainability and orient policies (focus: EXPO 2015; fundable projects generation) Expected Results ER 1 - Professional and institutional capacities enhanced ER 2 - Demonstration sites for SD established and existing BRs reinforced ER 3 - Policy advice on sustainability issues developed and provided through regional cooperative projects

15 WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Our action: Knowledge Brokering in Sediment Management Our action: Knowledge Brokering in Biodiversity conservation in IRBM (link with MAB TBR) Our action: SHs involvement in IRBM Our action: Wetlands and Biodiversity conservation (link with MAB TBR) Our action: IRBM and Biodiversity conservation (link with MAB TBR)

16 ACTIVITIES 1. Knowledge brokering actions at River basin and local level 2. Transboundary capacitybuilding workshops (UNESCO Designated sites as platforms for cross-border cooperation and multi-purpose management) 3. A regional seminar to identify new actions in IRBM in transboundary contexts (strong links with MAB and network of BRs along shared water systems) Expected Results ER 1 - Cooperation and dialogue in water sciences and management enhanced (knowledge-brokering strategies with IHP NCs) ER 2 - Appropriate and flexible communication and cooperation modalities defined, agreed upon and made operational at various levels and in a context of IRBM. ER 3 - New actions defined in IRBM in transboundary contexts in SEE, Caucasus and Black-Sea countries

17 Workshop Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves: Towards More Effective Management of Shared Ecosystems and Sustainable Development of Bordering Territories Identified the key activities to be put in place, including need for more functional MAB Committees and for the development of partnerships with various economic sectors and institutional stakeholders. Recommendations focused on facilitating multi-scale dialogue, supporting national MAB Committees in capacity building, specifically regarding trans-boundary issues adoption of the trans-boundary BRs approach as a tool of environmental diplomacy to foster better international relationships.

18 Workshop Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves: Towards More Effective Management of Shared Ecosystems and Sustainable Development of Bordering Territories cont. The three case-studies presented

19 Workshop Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves: Towards More Effective Management of Shared Ecosystems and Sustainable Development of Bordering Territories cont. The main discussion outcomes: the TBR model is a very useful conceptual and operational framework for international cooperation on relevant shared resources (e.g. water basin, forests, etc.); to properly start the process, it is needed to generate a common vision; It is extremely important to clarify and foster a proper stewardship of the entire process; the TBR is expected to become an evolving system of consultation, where a special role is given to the local communities;

20 Workshop Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves: Towards More Effective Management of Shared Ecosystems and Sustainable Development of Bordering Territories cont. the existing difficulties, mainly deriving from of the different regimes on the two sides of the borders, are not to be underestimated; the best way to overcome those differences is given by the necessary attempt to harmonise the management of the shared resources, in terms of defining common objectives; ultimately, the TBR cooperation may be well functioning only if there s a common implementation scheme in place.

21 The identified priorities in accordance with the three major scales of the MaB governance system International level MaB Secretariat lobbies for a wider adoption of the TBR approach as a tool of environmental diplomacy to foster better international relationships National MaB Committees to be further supported with specific TBR capacity building and facilitation training National level Need for a more functional role of the MaB Committees in facilitating the multi-scale dialogue (relating the international level with the various T/BRs) MaB Committees to be able to activate other institutional stakeholders (be more inter-sectoral) T/BRs level Working on a common vision Identification of the key activities (no management without an action plan) Improving the partnership with the various economic sectors

22 Workshop Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves: Towards More Effective Management of Shared Ecosystems and Sustainable Development of Bordering Territories FOLLOW-UP Both the workshop discussion and the plenary presentation indicated that: the TBR conceptual and operation tool is a valid one to foster the transboundary relationships (within a larger environmental diplomacy framework) and facilitate the join management of shared ecosystems; the fact that TBRs are still a small minority out the total BRs in the world (12 out of 681) signifies that the processes leading to their designation and, later on, proper management, are more complex that the national ones; the focus on the designation process aspect has been given a growing importance within the institutional governance; in fact, the new NFs (both the national and the international ones) represent a progress when compared with the previous ones, in terms of participatory planning and governance aspects;

23 Workshop Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves: Towards More Effective Management of Shared Ecosystems and Sustainable Development of Bordering Territories FOLLOW-UP cont. the experiences emerged from the analysis of the existing TBRs tends to demonstrate that the crucial aspects for a successful and long lasting experience are related primarily to the capacity of a) identifying a common vision; b) establishing a common management framework; c) identify clear and realistic common objectives to be achieved in a given timeframe.

24 Workshop Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves: Towards More Effective Management of Shared Ecosystems and Sustainable Development of Bordering Territories FOLLOW-UP cont. Key roles of the Venice Office in its region of competence: playing a crucial role of liaison between the MaB Secretariat in Paris and the Member States initiatives in the various countries; supporting the various existing processes that are expected to lead to the establishment of other TBRs (e.g. Skadar Lake, Danube-Drava Mura, Strandja Mountain, etc.) in terms of a) proving specific guidance for key aspects of the process (e.g. fostering the institutional governance); b) supporting the creation and well functioning of the national MaB Committees; c) mobilising international experts to assist on specific issues, when needed;

25 Workshop Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves: Towards More Effective Management of Shared Ecosystems and Sustainable Development of Bordering Territories FOLLOW-UP cont. designing - in close cooperation with the National Commissions and MaB Committees - specific training and capacity building course for the various T/BRs stakeholders, on the key aspects of the complex designation process (e.g. zoning, ecosystem services assessment, institutional governance, etc.); promoting the large adoption and the use of the recently presented Manual on Education for Sustainable Development in Biosphere Reserves and other designated areas in the Mediterranean, as the most appropriate learning tool to engineer the concept of the Biosphere as learning sites for sustainable development.

26 Thank you