UNDP-GEF-Government of China Project on “The Biodiversity Management on Coastal Areas of China’s South Sea” TERMS OF REFERENCE for Stora Enso --- Establishing mechanism and accesses to demonstrate multi-participation in protection and restoration action 1. Background Biodiversity Management in the Coastal Area of China’s South Sea (in short SCCBD) is a national project, co-financed by GEF and the Chinese government and executed by UNDP, co-operated by State Oceanic Administration, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan provinces and NOAA. The project was approved by GEF in the year of 2002, will ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in China’s South Sea coastal area through an innovative mechanism of demonstrations and cross-learning among multiple sites. The participation and co-operation of, and effective management by, all relevant Governmental, private sector, local community and NGO stakeholders will be critical to the project’s success. The project will concentrate activities at four demonstration sites within five coastal provinces. The project document has designated 8 years for its implementation from 2005 to 2012, and phase one from 2005 to 2012. The project has three immediate objectives: (i) Strengthen conservation and sustainable use management capacities at four existing Marine Protected Areas. (ii) Develop, test and demonstrate tools, instruments and approaches for addressing the root causes of critical threats to marine biodiversity in China’s South Sea coastal areas, and (iii) Implement appropriate tools for conservation and sustainable use at the six sites and promote their broader adoption across China’s South Sea coastal area. The first component will address threats that are directly related to weak conservation capacity of existing MPAs, and which do not involve significant demonstration aspects. The set of demonstration components will address key issues and develop much needed tools for managers of these MPAs and of the broader seascape area. These demonstrations have been selected in part because of their relevance to the sites themselves but also because of their relevance to the other project MPAs and coastal locations and the larger southern coastal area. During this stage, intensive cross-site learning will also take place, involving stakeholders from relevant project sites. Government-funded threat removal activities informed by the results of the demonstration components will then continue at each project site. The project’s final stage will be to disseminate lessons to promote replication at other MPAs within the project area. As a partner of SCCBD project, Stora Enso and SCCBD reach agreement on how to implement conservation plans and develop strategies on biodiversity conservation in Guangxi. The agreement is composed of 3 parts, the contract in part 2, which will conduct scientific research on mitigating impacts from the paper pulp mill to mangrove and seagrass habitat, and restoring marine biodiversity on the result of baseline survey in phrase 1. The duration of the contract will be 24 months. The funding is 120,000 USD. 2. Objectives The objectives of this contract is to provide technical support on how reduce and mitigate impacts from the paper pulp mill to the habitat of mangrove and seagrass, restore the marine biodiversity, and raise community and citizens’ awareness of mangrove conservation. Deliverables: Guidelines of ecological monitoring and assessment in related to mangrove, coral reef, and sea grass, Planning and guideline for participatory planning for protection and restoration, Participation and education products, including brochures, DVD and other materials, 220 m2 Digital-control rapid breeding greenhouse and 0.1 hector seeding nursery, and breeding technology of more than 15 plants; Demonstration of mangrove restoration in 1 hector disused shrimp pond 3. Activities Formulation of guideline of ecological monitoring and assessment in related to mangrove, coral reef, and sea grass Produce participatory methods and mechanism for mangrove conservation and restoration; Demonstration of breeding and restoration methods of endangered and crucial nearshore plants and mangrove; Demonstration of mangrove restoration in disused shrimp pond 4. Methodology and Approach The general methods and principles of MPAs and ICM will be applied in the implementation of the subcontract. Adaptive management and knowledge management framework will be applied in the implementation of the subcontract. The general technical approach approved in Pro Doc should be followed Advanced concepts, technologies and experience of ecological restoration should be introduced to the site; The sub-contractor will work in close co-operation with the MPA Management Advisor. 5. Qualifications and Attributes of Subcontract Offerors Offerors will be an institute or organization consist of a subcontract team who will work for the duration of the subcontract, and, if required, one or more short-term members with important knowledge and expertise lacking in the team. The team leader will be an international consultant with the following qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience: Academic and/or professional background in the policy, legal and institutional aspects of natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. A minimum of 10 years relevant experience. Experience in the evaluation of major development assistance projects. Experience in the evaluation of GEF and/or UNDP-funded MPA and ICM projects an advantage. Excellent reporting and English writing and communication skills. Experience leading multi-disciplinary, multi-national technical teams. Good Knowledge of Chinese language an advantage. The other members will be Chinese nationals with qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience appropriate to the tasks of the team and to the scope of the subcontract. Each will have a minimum of 8 years relevant working experience, good written and spoken English, good reporting and communication skills, and good dugong, mangrove and sea grass investigation skills. The skills, qualifications and experience of the short-term team members will complement those of the core team in assessing progress and providing advice on project implementation. Translation and interpretation will be the responsibility of the contractor. 6. Responsibilities of Subcontract Offerors Team Leader Take overall responsibility for the completion of the activities listed in the subcontract, and for the quality and timely submission of subcontract reports Take the lead in the design of approaches and methodology to be used in the subcontract assessments and in the subcontract’s measurements of progress against indicators Lead field missions Allocate tasks within the team. Keep informed about subcontract progress between field missions Attend the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings as needed and required. 7. Liaison The offerors will consult with the officers in PCU and relevant SIUs before each mission or assignment. The offerors will maintain dialogue with all the key stakeholders. 8 Reporting The missions will be arranged so that there is always a reasonable period of time between receipt of the offerors reports and the next Project Steering Committee meeting. This will allow PCU and others to prepare initial responses before the official meetings. Reports will cover the results of the activities. The receipt and acceptance by PCU of the offerors reports will trigger payments under an agreed payment schedule. The following reports will be required: Report on design of working framework. Seasonal, and semi-annual progress reports. Reports to the Project Steering Committee (PSC) at an agreed time before each PSC meeting. Two annual reports summarizing activities and recommendations and listing all other reports submitted during the year. Final report. Reports will be submitted in English and Chinese. 9. Budget There are 120,000 USD budgeted for the operation of the subcontract, including the miscellaneous expenses related with the contract. PCU will be delegating the management of the subcontracts so all associated management costs will be the responsibility of the subcontractors.