Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 09/22/2010 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Report No.: AC5623 Country: Cameroon Project ID: P118018 Project Name: Cameroon:NGOYLA MINTOM PROJECT Task Team Leader: Simon A. P. Rietbergen GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity Global Supplemental ID: Estimated Appraisal Date: December 15, Estimated Board Date: February 28, 2011 2010 Managing Unit: AFTEN Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Forestry (100%) Theme: Biodiversity (100%) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 3.50 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 2.50 World Wildlife Fund 2.90 Financing Gap 0.00 5.40 B. Project Objectives [from section 2 of PCN] The proposed Project Development Objective is to conserve the forest and other natural ecosystems of the Ngoyla-Mintom area and to enhance the livelihoods of the local communities. C. Project Description [from section 3 of PCN] The Ngoyla-Mintom forest is a largely pristine rainforest block of about 988,000 ha in the southern part of Cameroon, located between the Dja Faunal Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Nki National Park in Cameroon, the Minkebe National Park in Gabon, and the Odzala National Park in Congo. Due to its location, the Ngoyla-Mintom forest forms an important part of a regional green corridor, with very diverse and rich ecosystems. It is also an important carbon sink and store, helping to mitigate the effects of global climate change. In addition, it provides the local communities with many environmental services essential to maintaining their way of life. The local population, numbering around 1000 people, consists of indigenous populations of the Baka and Bakoya pygmies, as well as a number of Bantu tribes.
The natural resources in the area face growing threats from uncontrolled logging, forest degradation, poaching for bushmeat trade, and unsustainable mineral extraction. The absence of appropriate planning and control, the increase in illegal logging and mining activities, and the resulting increase in transportation routes and volume are leading to fragmentation of wildlife habitat, as well as indirect impacts such as sedimentation and pollution of freshwater ecosystems. These changes and impacts have far-reaching consequences for the indigenous populations and their fragile society. Planned future developments, in particular the possible construction of a railway or a slurry pipeline, may further compound these environmental and social impacts. Given the economic potential of the area, it is neither desirable nor politically feasible to halt natural-resource use exploitation entirely. A pragmatic approach based on land-use planning and fostering of public-private conservation-finance partnerships will therefore be adopted. Economic, social, and environmental impacts of competing land uses in the entire Ngoyla- Mintom forest block will be considered, and the co-existence of development and conservation activities will be organized with the aim of enhancing sustainable economic development of the area#s natural resources, while safeguarding its rich biodiversity and local people#s interests. The proposed management option for the Ngoyla-Mintom forest block is based on a land-use plan developed by WWF at the request of the government of Cameroon, combining the identification of a core conservation area with the establishment of peripheral zones, in compliance with traditional and sustainable forest and wildlife resource management methods (timber harvesting, agroforestry, sport hunting, etc.), allowing the development of council forests, forest management units, hunting concessions (both for sport hunting and for conmunity hunting), and mineral extraction sites. The Government intends to use this projet to develop a partnership with the private sector, civil society and development partners in order to maintain the unique ecological riches of the Ngoyla-Mintom area. To that end, a financial mechanism will be piloted whereby commercial firms involved in natural resource exploitation operating in the area contribute funds (e.g. through a tax mechanism) to finance biodiversity conservation within and around the core protected area. This financing mechanism will serve as a pilot, which could later be expanded at the national level to capture and distribute revenues from environmental services and other related sources. Project activities will thus be articulated around four major components: (i) Promotion of sustainable resource management within the entire Ngoyla-Mintom forest block: Land uses within the Ngoyla-Mintom forest block will be identified and spatially assigned, based on an approach that combines the identification of a core conservation area with the establishment of peripheral zones, the overall objective being the development of a land-use zoning plan at meso-scale for the Ngoyla-Mintom forest block as a whole. This process will be accompanied by consultations with all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and other local communities, to ascertain their views and map their rights, which will facilitate preparation of forest management plans and gazetting decrees at a later stage. (ii) Establishment and operationalization of a Ngoyla-Mintom core Protected Area: A core Protected Area will be identified and gazetted as a Nature Reserve (IUCN Protected Area Management Category I), and an effective management plan for this protected area will be developed and implemented. Support will be provided to targeted alternative income-generating activities with low environmental and social impact within the Protected Area.
(iii) Establishment and piloting of a sustainable conservation financing mechanism for the Ngoyla-Mintom area: The main activities under this component will include a study of the various financing options applicable in the Ngoyla-Mintom case and the development of instruments to elicit support and participation from public and private sectors to biodiversity conservation. The aim is to regulate financial contribution by private enterprises that obtain direct and indirect benefits from the protected area. Contribution from the carbon market as an instrument to finance biodiversity in the context of Cameroon will also be assessed (iv) Capacity building and project management: This component will ensure implementation of management activities, including: preparation of annual work programs and reports, monitoring and evaluation, procurement, and financial management of project resources. In addition, surveillance and control systems will be developed and implemented for all forest blocks to ensure compliance with management regulations and management plans. It will also implement institutional strengthening and capacity building activities to ensure sustainability of project results. It will support training activities for central and local government staff, as well as local communities on integrated management of natural resources, and will focus on environmental and social safeguards implementation and supervision, as well as compliance monitoring and enforcement. A Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will be established to carry out these tasks. The PIU will be anchored in the existing institutional framework so as to ensure continuity and later mainstreaming of the approach, and will include a conflict resolution mechanism and a strong communications support element. The PIU#s structure will incorporates other stakeholders in the decision making structure (e.g. through an advisory board), echoing the possible structure of a future trust fund mechanism established to supervise conservation-finance and revenue-sharing in the area. Alignment between these two institutions will help facilitate enhanced ownership of project activities by stakeholders. It is important to note that the project will not finance any construction, with the possible exception of minor structures such as guard houses for implementing/enforcement staff. The current project is envisaged to be the first in a series of interventions designed to ensure sustainable development and conservation of the Ngoyla-Mintom forest block. If this first project is successful, it is expected that further resources could be mobilized for follow-up works in the area. It is important to note that several activities involving different stakeholders have already been carried out in the area, or are planned for the near future. These include, first and foremost, strong involvement of WWF, including the above-mentioned preparation of a draft zoning plan. WWF is also scheduled to receive funds from the EU for additional work in the Ngoyla-Mintom area. Additionally, CamIron extractive activities have a pending proposal to set up an Environmental and Social Fund supporting forest management in the Ngoyla-Mintom area to balance potential impacts of their mining project. MINFOF has also received a proposal from Wildlilfe Works to finance a REDD project in Ngoyla-Mintom, as well as strong interest from EcoSecurities, a leading Carbon Finance organization. The proposed GEF project intends to collaborate closely with WWF and other partners working in the Ngoyla-Mintom area. GEF resources will be strategically used to forge innovative partnerships and assist in coordinating other complementary activities in the project area. D. Project location (if known) The project is located in the southern part of Cameroon and covers about 988,000 ha.
E. Borrower s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN] Though weak capacity on the part of implementing agency staff can be expected to pose problems, the Country#s institutional capacity for implementing safeguard policies is increasing with the support of the Pipeline Chad Cameroon project and the ongoing Environmental and Social Capacity Building Project in the Energy Sector, implemented through the Ministry of Environment and Protection of Nature. F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Cheikh A. T. Sagna (AFTCS) Mr Emeran Serge M. Menang Evouna (AFTEN) II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) The project is located in a region where land-use competition is high. Competing land uses include logging, industrial mining and biodiversity conservation, as well as other forest environmental functions. The Borrower will prepare a regional ESIA to better identify the main environmental and social challenges and the means to effectively address them in a participatory manner, fostering both ownership and social accountability within local communities. The ESIA will be reviewed and cleared by both the project safeguards team and the Regional Safeguards Advisor. Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) The Ngoyla-Mintom forest is a largely pristine rainforest block of about 988,000 ha in the southern part of Cameroon, located between the Dja Faunal Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Nki National Park in Cameroon, the Minkebe National Park in Gabon, and the Odzala National Park in Congo. Due to its location, the Ngoyla-Mintom forest forms an important part of a regional green corridor, with very diverse and rich ecosystems. The Forest#s diverse ecosystem is reported to contain an important stock of biodiversity, comprising, among others, 228 species of fish in the waterways, 37 species of large and medium-sized mammals - including about 4,000 endangered gorillas, 1500 chimpanzees, elephants and mandrills - and a pristine habitat of a sort likely to contain some extremely valuable pieces of timber. These issues will be addressed in the ESIA, which will include mitigation measures. Forests (OP/BP 4.36) This project#s central objective is to bring about changes in the management, protection, and utilization of natural forest. Though the project#s main objectives are to protect the natural ecosystems and enhance the livelihoods of indigenous peoples in the area, it adopts a pragmatic approach, aiming to achieve this goal through the creation of a strong legal framework for commercial activities in the area (e.g. extraction, tourism). This could be seen as a contributing factor to the growth over time of mining and other industrial and commercial activities in the area, which would entail infrastructure development and growing immigration to the area, further threatening its natural resources and indigenous communities# way of life. Nevertheless, the existence of natural resources in the Ngoyla-Mintom forest will in itself very likely lead to commercial development, and therefore the risks of not implementing the project and allowing unrestricted, and largely illegal, exploitation of the area are perceived as much greater.
Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD The project#s location in a largely pristine rainforest area raises the biodiversity / ecosystem value at risk if the health and/or integrity of the forest ecosystem are impacted. These key issues will be addressed in the ESIA, which will include mitigation measures. Pest Management (OP 4.09) Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) Some sites in the Ngoyla-Mintom forest area might be deemed physical cultural resources by the indigenous peoples living there (e.g. holy/secret sites such as sacred groves, etc.). Though it is not anticipated that the project will have negative impacts on any such sites, the Borrower, based on the ESIA, will assess the existence of any such sites and undertake rapid mitigative action if the need arises. Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) The project site is home to around 1000 people, consisting of indigenous populations of the Baka and Bakoya pygmies, as well as a number of Bantu tribes. To ensure due diligence is exercised, the Borrower will develop an Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP) setting out basic principles and procedures for timely and effective mitigation of the indigenous communities# concerns. The IPDP will be reviewed and cleared by both the project safeguards team and the Regional Safeguards Advisor. Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) The project does not anticipate involuntary resettlement. However this safeguard policy will be triggered due to restriction of local peoples access to natural resources in the project area (upon which their livelihoods may depend) as a result of the establishment of a protected area. The Borrower will therefore prepare a comprehensive Process Framework (PF) establishing the frame of reference for sustainable use of said natural resources. The preparation of the Process Framework will be inclusive and participatory, promoting community ownership and fostering social accountability, thereby contributing to sustainable management of the area#s natural resources. The PF will be reviewed and cleared by both the project safeguards team and the Regional Safeguards Advisor. Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN A. Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS would be prepared: 11/20/2010 B. For simple projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage ISDS: N/A
C. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed. The specific studies and their timing 1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS. The project will prepare an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), an Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP), and a Process Framework (PF). All safeguard documents will be drafted and publicly disclosed prior to project appraisal (currently expected in December 2010). Disclosure will take place both at the Bank#s InfoShop and in the country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons. IV. APPROVALS Signed and submitted by: Task Team Leader: Mr Simon A. P. Rietbergen 09/12/2010 Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Ms Alexandra C. Bezeredi 09/21/2010 Comments: Sector Manager: Ms Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough 09/14/2010 Comments: 1 Reminder: The Bank s Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the InfoShop and (ii) in-country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons.