Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources

Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Project Overview March 2015

Project title: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Executing Partners: State Agency for Environment and Forest Protection Ministry of Agriculture and Melioration Financing: GEF allocation: USD 5 454 545 Co-financing: USD 19 000 150 TOTAL budget: USD 24 454 695 Implementation period: September/2014 – August/2018

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Goal: Enhanced enabling environment in the forestry and agricultural sectors and sustained flow of ecosystem services, including enhancement of carbon stocks in forests and agro-ecosystems Objective: Contribute to the sustainable management and enhanced productivity of mountainous silvo-agro-pastoral ecosystems and improved mountain livelihoods in the Kyrgyz Republic Component 1 Strengthening the enabling environment for sustainable forest and land management. Component 2 Enhancing carbon stocks in dryland forest through innovative management and rehabilitation practices. Component 3 Promoting and demonstrating climate-smart agriculture, including pastures as part of sustainable land water management in dryland. Component 4 Knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation.

2017 Cross-sectoral cooperation, SFM/SLM standards developed, proposals for legal adjustments Forestoration, plantations and sustainable forest management, fuel wood efficiency Agroforestry in place, Rehabilitation of degraded land, joint management of pastures in forests Ecological knowledge increased, ecological monitoring, database, implementation of research results 2016 Outputs achieved, results delivered – contributing to the Project Objective Strategy development for cross-sectoral cooperation, training of user groups Development of climate change mitigation standards, Restoration of forests Adaptation of Agroforestry techniques, improved pasture management Development of environmental education strategy, Field research 2015 2018 Contribute to the sustainable management and enhanced productivity of mountainous silvoagro-pastoral ecosystems and improved mountain livelihoods in the Kyrgyz Republic Assessment of forest policy, land management and participatory rights Assessment of technologies forestoration and fuel wood efficiency Assessment of Agroforestry techniques and pasture conflicts Assessment of knowledge platforms, research cooperation, baseline monitoring Enabling environment for sustainable forest + land management Forest rehabilitation and improved management Climate-smart agriculture and pasture management Knowledge management and ecological awareness

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Component 1 Strengthening the enabling environment for sustainable forest and land management. The objective of component 1 is to strengthen the enabling environment for SFM and SLM through policy and institutional reform, enforcement of existing laws and regulations, and enhanced cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration.

Component 1 Strengthening the enabling environment for sustainable forest and land management. Outcome 1. 1 Enhanced policy, legal and institutional framework in forestry and land management for integrating SFM/SLM principles and practices into national and local level land-use plans Outcome 1. 2 Increased understanding and awareness on roles of SFM/SLM and LULUCF in carbon sequestration and GHG balance Output 1. 1. 1 Proposals forestry and land policy and legislation for sustainable forest and land management developed Output 1. 2. 1 SFM/SLM based on resource user associations is effectively promoted in the project area/s and respective local resource management institutions are fully functional Output 1. 1. 2 Cross-sectoral strategies and agreements between sectoral authorities on integrated land-use management developed to foster cross-sectoral cooperation Output 1. 2. 2 Training and awareness creation tool kit on roles of SFM/SLM and LULUCF in carbon sequestration and GHG balance prepared and disseminated Output 1. 1. 3 Operational mechanism for ensuring better collaboration at national level and between national and local levels developed and implemented

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Component 2 Enhancing carbon stocks in dryland forest through innovative management and rehabilitation practices. The objective of component 2 is to enhancing carbon stocks in dryland forest through improved management of existing forests and rehabilitation and planting of degraded forest, which will lead to both avoidance of emissions and enhanced carbon sequestration on forestland.

Component 2 Enhancing carbon stocks in dryland forest through innovative management and rehabilitation practices. Outcome 2. 1 Management of existing forests and trees improved Outcome 2. 2 Dryland forest areas rehabilitated/afforested through introduction and demonstration of innovative technologies/practices and pressures on forests reduced Output 2. 1. 1 National LULUCF and REDD+ Strategy and sector assessment, national climate change mitigation standards and National Action Plan together with national partners developed. Output 2. 2. 1 8, 000 ha of degraded forest land rehabilitated/afforested through successfully demonstrated innovative technologies and practices including agroforestry trials and controlled grazing Output 2. 1. 2 Sustainable forest management planning covers at least 20, 000 ha of forest. Output 2. 2. 2 2, 650 ha of tree plantations established by local people with indigenous fast-growing forest trees in order to reduce the wood demand from natural forests (forest degradation prevented in at least 10, 000 ha forest areas) Output 2. 1. 3 Carbon monitoring system established based on field sampling of forests and various dryland use systems. Output 2. 2. 3 Efficiency of fuel wood use improved by introduction of innovative technologies and improved house insulation.

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Component 3 Promoting and demonstrating climate-smart agriculture, including pastures as part of sustainable land water management in dryland. The objective of component 3 is to implement climate-smart agriculture and pasture management through introduction of improved land management and rehabilitation practices and the reduction of user conflicts on forest and rangelands.

Component 3 Promoting and demonstrating climate-smart agriculture, including pastures as part of sustainable land water management in dryland. Outcome 3. 1 Improved agricultural management and rehabilitation practices and techniques in drylands by demonstrating and adopting agricultural and agro-forestry best practices that increase vegetative cover and soil fertility, reduce soil degradation, and avoid greenhouse gas emissions Output 3. 1. 1 200 demonstrations of innovative agricultural practices covering a total of 10, 907 ha of arable land Output 3. 1. 2 20, 000 ha of non-forest land of State Forest Fund or degraded agricultural land using innovative technologies successfully rehabilitated.

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Component 4 Knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation The objective of this outcome is the systematic data collection to effectively monitor project progress indicators, monitor risk mitigation measures and design new measures to face unexpected risks, to extract lessons learned and to increase the level of awareness and understanding through environmental education.

Component 4 Knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation. Outcome 4. 1 Monitoring and evaluation of project progress for adaptive results-based management to mitigate risks and changing conditions Outcome 4. 2 Knowledge Dissemination of information and best practices through knowledge management platforms, national and international cooperation and awareness raising. Output 4. 1. 1 M&E system operating and providing systematic information about meeting project outcome and output targets Output 4. 2. 1 Synthesis of lessons learnt and generation of best practices Output 4. 1. 2 Midterm and final evaluations Output 4. 2. 2 Application of research results and best practices of previous projects Output 4. 2. 3 Integration of the project into knowledge exchange platforms Output 4. 2. 4 Environmental education and awareness raising strategy

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Where does the project work?

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions How does the project work?

GEF Project Task Force PSC Observers FAO Reg. /HQ FAO NPIU SAEPF Mo. A SFM Expert SLM Expert NPD Mountain Partnership Programme Project Office Bishkek Field Office 1 Cooperating international Organizations Field Office 2 Research institutions Oblast Naryn Oblast Issyk-Kul Oblast Chui Oblast Osch Rayon governments Local Stakeholders and Pilot Sites Oblast Jalal-Abad

Project Office Bishkek CTA Project Manager Field Office North Field Office Coord. Carbon Monitoring Exp. Project Assistant Field Assistant SFM Demo. Exp. Field Assistant Driver SLM Demo. Exp. Agriculture/Pasture Management Exp. Forestry Exp. Policy/Institutional Exp. Agro-Forestry/ Organic Agr. Exp. Community Participation Exp. Monitoring/Assess ment Exp. Policy/Institutional Exp. Carbon Monitoring Exp. Farmer Participation Exp. (International Staff and Consultants) Field Office South Field Office Coord. Field Assistant (National staff and Consultants) Driver

Financial plan (including Co-financing) by components and outcomes

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Related projects since project preparation: • FAO-TCP project (Capacity building and awareness raising for the sustainable use and tenure governance of pastures in Kyrgyzstan) is in the middle of implementation and has gained results, which are valuable for this project. • IFAD and WB projects (Livestock and Market Development Programme) I, II and III on pasture management have started. • GIZ project on Forest reform (FLERMONECA) is in the middle of implementation and has gained results, which are valuable for this project. • UNDP project on Protected Area management has started (Improving the Coverage and Effectiveness of Protected Areas in the Central Tian Shan Mountains). • FAO-TICA project on watershed management (Capacity Building for Sustainable Management of Mountain Watersheds in Central Asia and the Caucasus). • JICA has a new project on joint forest management in preparation. • World Bank has a new project on forest management in preparation • GIZ has a regional project about climate change adaptation in preparation.

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Start-up activities during inception phase: Review of project documents and adaptation to new development since project preparation: • Project implementation logic, structure of components, outcomes and outputs, staff structure • Project results matrix including target values and baseline • Indicator matrix • Monitoring and evaluation plan • Overall work plan and detailed work plan for the first year • Overall financial plan and detailed planning for the first year Official signature of project by SAEPF on 10 th October 2014 Employment of staff according to the staff structure plan Renovation and set-up of project offices at SAEPF in Bishkek Purchase of project cars (in progress)

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Activities after inception phase: Completion of Inception Report Meeting with SAEPF, Department of Forest Inventory: • Discussion about cooperation in forest monitoring and forestoration, especially for baseline monitoring Meeting with Centre for Consulting and Innovation: • Discussion about demonstration sites and use for the project Meeting with GIPROZEM: • Agreement about cooperation on mapping and evaluation of land degradation Meeting with SAEPF, Department of Pasture Management: • Agreement on joint implementation of improved pasture management in three pilot rayons • Agreement on joint field visits to pilot rayons beginning in February and March 2015 Meeting with AUCA: • Agreement on joint Carbon monitoring with students starting in May using the EX-ANTE tool

Project: Sustainable management of mountainous forest and land resources under climate change conditions Planned Activities: March Meetings with Stakeholders in project areas, definition of pilot sites, set-up of field offices, incl. staff recruitment 23. - 28. 02. 2015 Field trip to Osch and Jalal-Abad Oblast 03. - 05. 03. 2015 Reporting, staff recruitment, meeting with Governor Chui Oblast and Department of Forest Inventory 10. - 13. 03. 2015 Field trip to Chui Oblast 16. - 20. 03. 2015 Field trip to Issyk Kul Oblast 24. - 27. 03. 2015 Field trip to Naryn Oblast April – July Cooperation contracts with AUCA, GIPROZEM and Department of Forest inventory about Monitoring, Set-up of monitoring teams, Baseline monitoring at pilot sites, Begin of reforestation

FAO Project Office Gorki street 142 Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic Project Manager: Ms. Cholpon Alibakieva Phone: 0770 040233 Mail: cholpon. alibakieva@fao. org