Biodiversity enabling activities
GOVERNMENT OF COMOROS
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY
PROJECT BRIEF BIODIVERSITY ENABLING ACTIVITY ADD ON
Country:
Comoros
Project Title:
Capacity Needs Assessment for the implementation of the
National Biodiversity Strategy and support to the Clearing
House Mechanism
GEF Focal Area:
Biodiversity
Country Eligibility:
Ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994
GEF Financing:
$274,000
Government Contribution:
In kind
GEF Implementing Agency:
UNDP
National Executing Agency:
Ministry of
Francophonie
GEF Operational Focal Point:
Mr. Mohamed Youssouf Oumouri
Convention on Biological
Diversity Focal Point:
Mr. Ahamada Mohamed Said
Estimated Starting Date:
January 31st 2004
Duration of Project:
18 Months
External
Affairs,
Cooperation
and
1. Context
The Comoros Archipelago is widely recognized as a high priority for global biodiversity
conservation. The uniqueness of the Comoros biodiversity is shown by the high levels of
endemism. Endemism in the flora of the Comoros is estimated at 33%, and reaches 50% for
the orchid family (with 43 endemic species). Insects are little known, but endemism for
Lepidoptera (butterflies) and Coleopterans (beetles) has been estimated respectively at 34%
and 24%. Three endemic butterflies are threatened, including the swallowtail Graphium
levassori (listed by IUCN as vulnerable). The level of endemism for terrestrial reptiles has
been estimated at 44%, including 11 endemic species. In the Comoros Union, 13 bird species
have been found to be endemic, resulting in 25% endemism at the species level, and 75% at
the subspecies level.
Pressures on the biodiversity of Comoros. The pressures on such unique biodiversity are
multiple, the most important being the loss and degradation of habitats. Furthermore the
Environment Directorate – Union of the Comoros
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Biodiversity enabling activities
increasing requests for the commercial exploitation and exportation of some species is also
threatening a number of species. The Environment Directorate has yet had to adjudicate upon
a request for the exploitation of tree ferns (Cyathea sp.) and some promoters have made
requests for the exploitation of certain endemic reptile, mollusc and sea cucumber species.
Limitations of the legal tools for species protection. In the course of the last ten years,
through their accession to the CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity, Comoros
has established legal tools aiming for the protection and sustainable management of fauna and
flora species that are vulnerable to the pressure of commercial exploitation. Although species
are listed on CITES Annex I and II some species, such as marine shell species, orchids, small
reptiles such as Phelsuma spp. and chameleons, are still exported illegally. In 2001, a
ministerial decree relative to protected species was signed. This decree classifies the species
to protect into two categories. The first one lists species that must be fully protected due to
their endemism, scarcity or the imminence of their extinction. The second category lists
partially protected species, the collection of which is subject to a prior authorisation from the
Environment Directorate. However, the country does not have the required capacities to
implement these measures. Species are often classified without appropriate and rigorous
knowledge due to a lack of data and customs officers are inadequately trained to ensure the
enforcement of controls at the borders.
Inventory of biodiversity and of populations’ distribution and abundance. Comorian
biodiversity is very poorly documented and potential for sustainable use are unknown.
Numerous species are unknown to science and the incomplete inventories do not allow a
valuable estimation of specific richness of many taxonomic groups. It is estimated that only
half of the plant species have been inventoried, no inventory of coral species has been carried
out and although 2000 insect species have been identified, their total number is estimated
between 4000 and 6000. Even when species have been listed, updated knowledge on their
distribution, critical habitats, population size and condition, and biological cycle is not
available. This lack of basic data hinders appropriate conservation and sustainable
management measures and decisions regarding the issuance of collection or exportation
permits are not based on the knowledge of maximum sustainable exploitation levels, therefore
compromising the usefulness of this conservation tool.
Human resources. The lack of appropriate knowledge to support the development of
management measures is partly related to insufficient human resources with adequate training
to carry out biodiversity inventories. According to a survey undertaken in 1996 by the
Regional Environment Program of the Indian Ocean Commission, Comoros only had
approximately fifty managers working in the field of environment, with an average education
level of “Bac+4” (high school diploma plus four years of education) in branches of learning
that are not always related to environment. Skills necessary to undertake inventories and
develop appropriate management regimes for the following taxonomic groups: entomology,
ichthyology, herpetology and mammalogy, are limited. Furthermore, it is not always possible
to take advantage of the people who have the appropriate training levels due to insufficiency
of resources and the constraint imposed by the country’s structural adjustment program
related to hiring within public services. Developing and taking advantage of capacities in the
field of taxonomy and sustainable use of biological resources requires a needs assessment to
determine the gaps that hinder the design and the implementation of conservation measures.
Management of exploitation fees. The sustainable exploitation of biological diversity could
generate worthwhile economical benefits for Comoros. However no procedure is provided for
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Biodiversity enabling activities
the determination of the fees for the exploitation of natural resources and no mechanism or
measures have been defined to ensure equitable access and benefit sharing.
Raising awareness, training, information, communication. Regulations related to the
enforcement of the laws about species protection are frequently not known to the agents
charged with enforcing them nor are they appropriately trained. Agents responsible for
environmental matters on each island are relatively isolated from each other, as
communications and exchange of documents between regional services are restricted due to
materials and resources, making the implementation of protection measures a major
challenge.
Furthermore resource users and consumers are also ignorant about the laws and not
sufficiently nor adequately informed about the negative effects of their behaviour, such as
collecting specimen in their natural environment and destructing the habitats.
2. Status of the initial enabling activity
Comoros has benefited from GEF support through funding of US$131,760 for the preparation
of the National Strategy and Action Plan for biological diversity. The document was
developed on a participatory basis and submitted to the CBD in December 2000. The
objectives identified in this proposal have been developed from the National Strategy and
priorities set in the Action Plan. With GEF funding Comoros has also prepared and submitted
a First (March 1998) and Second National report (August 2001) to the CBD. GEF also
contributed US$14,000 funding for the participation of Comoros to the Clearing House
Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This funding allowed purchase of
computer equipment for two offices based on the islands of Grande Comore and Mohéli,
training twelve people on the use of the software ACCESS, and appointment of a consultant
for the creation of a WEB site on the Comoros biodiversity. No equipment was bought for the
island of Anjouan. Training was limited given the restriction in financial resources and
further training would ensure better participation of Comoros to the CHM. A WEB site was
created, providing information mostly related to the current project on biodiversity.
Additional support is now required to develop and expand this site to meet the objectives of
the CHM on biodiversity.
The «Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Comoros - UNDP/GEF
IOC/97/G32» project, carried out from 1998 to 2003, has initiated the implementation of
some measures recommended in the Strategy, namely through developing a protected area
network. However, there are still gaps to be addressed in assessing institutional and human
capacity needs for the implementation of various measures for biodiversity conservation and
sustainable use.
Capacity needs assessment is particularly relevant in the present political transition context
where the country has adopted a new constitution that imparts a large decision and
management autonomy to each of the islands. Therefore, a new environmental governance
model must be developed and established, and the identification and assessment of capacity
needs should inform the appropriate governance model for Comoros.
It is in this context that the Union of the Comoros requests an additional financing to identify
and assess capacity needs and reach a national consensus on the question.
Environment Directorate – Union of the Comoros
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Biodiversity enabling activities
3. Priorities for the assessment of capacity needs
The priority fields for capacity needs in the Union of the Comoros to be assessed under this
project are the following:

Implementation of general measures pertaining to in situ and ex situ conservation and
sustainable use, particularly national plans, strategies and legislative measures;

Methods of evaluation and mitigation of specific threats on biodiversity components;

Programs for initial assessment and monitoring, including programs in the area of
taxonomy;

Devise incentive measures and appropriate approaches for their implementation.
4. Project Objectives
The national objective aims to enable the elaboration and efficient implementation of
appropriate measures to ensure biological diversity conservation and sustainable use, which
will contribute to meeting the country's commitments in compliance with the international
conventions relative to biological diversity.
The project will identify and assess the human and institutional capacity needs to implement
and improve the efficiency of the measures for the conservation of biodiversity that the
country has adopted in the National Biodiversity Strategy and its Law on the Environment, and to
reinforce the biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) in the country.
This project will be intimately linked to the National Capacity Self-Assessment for the global
environment (NCSA) project. The objective of the NCSA project is to conduct a thorough and
systemic assessment and analysis of the country’s capacity needs and of the constraints that
the Union of the Comoros is facing in its efforts to fulfil its commitments towards the global
environment as stated in the Rio conventions and their international instruments. The scope of
the NCSA is not simply biodiversity but environmental in a sustainable development context.
The implementation of the NCSA project is scheduled for January 2004.
The Union of the Comoros, through this proposal, wishes to conduct an assessment of the
capacity needs in terms of institutions, human resources and procedures (responsibilities and
decision-making process), in order to develop a targeted and coherent capacity building
program to fill the gaps relative to the following:
1. Implementation of general measures pertaining to in situ and ex situ conservation and
sustainable use, particularly national plans, strategies and legislative measures: Capacity
needs will be identified for the following; elaboration of laws relative to biodiversity;
supervision of the implementation of laws relative to biodiversity conservation and
sustainable use including the examination of the applications for exploitation or
exportation licenses, the management of exploitation permits (fixing the amount and
collecting the fees) and exerting the required control at the borders by the customs
officers; monitoring recommendations issued by the administrative authorities in charge
of Environmental matters; creation of new protected areas co-managed with the local
populations; elaboration of natural resources sustainable management plans inside and
outside protected areas.
2. Capacity needs relating to methods of evaluation and mitigation of specific threats on
biodiversity components: determination of the vulnerability status for the elements of the
biological diversity; access to databases on biodiversity in order to be able to establish
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Biodiversity enabling activities
rules for the exploitation of natural resources on rigorous scientific bases; determination
of the terms of reference for specific environmental impact studies, evaluation of the
impact studies and conception of measures to mitigate the impacts on the elements of
biodiversity.
3. Capacity needs relating to developing programs for initial assessment and monitoring,
including programs in the area of taxonomy; including; biodiversity inventory; acquisition
and management of knowledge on populations biology and status, conception of measures
for the conservation of vulnerable species and for the sustainable management of
exploited species; setting up of a database within a Geographic Information System on the
distribution and status of the populations and their habitats.
4. Capacity needs relating to devising incentive measures and appropriate approaches for
their implementation, including: information and awareness raising for commercial
operators, general public and authorities about the potential impacts of exploitation and
collection activities on the equilibrium of natural resources, in particular for vulnerable
species; development of incentive measures to motivate people to adopt biodiversity
conservation measures and to get actively involved in their implementation.
5. To develop and expand the Comoros Clearing House Mechanism; this will built upon
activities carried out under the first enabling activity and ensure CHM activities are
expanded to benefit the whole of the Comoros.
5. Methodology
The approach suggested for the execution of the capacity needs assessment relies on the
following activities.
1. Collection and review of existing documents for the identified topics.
2. Identification and consultation of various stakeholders to confirm their interest and
availability to participate in the capacity needs assessment process. These stakeholders
could include the various public and private institutions and NGOs concerned with
environmental matters, and local communities.
3. Development of tools for conducting the capacity needs assessment to be carried out with
the support of an international consultant and validated through workshops with all the
project’s partners. These assessment tools will be compatible with those developed for the
NCSA project.
4. A team of national consultants, with the support of an international expert, will meet the
partners on each island and during workshops will use the assessment tools to identify the
required capacities and priorities for the given topic.
5. Existing capacities in the fields of biology, environment and natural resource management
will be identified through consultations with national institutions to identify the fields
where important gaps hinder the implementation of the National Strategy for the
Conservation of Biological Diversity. This activity will furthermore enable the
constitution of a pool of national experts.
6. A workshop on each island will be undertaken to reach a consensus on the capacity
development and building needs to implement the national biodiversity conservation
measures.
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Biodiversity enabling activities
6. Priorities and activities to be carried out to assess capacity needs
Specific objectives, expected results, and activities are presented in the following table.
Project outputs will assist the Comoros to effectively implement their NBSAP and to meet
their commitments under the Convention for Biological Diversity. The expected duration of
the project is 18 months.
Overall objective: Assess capacity development needs necessary to develop and implement
appropriate measures to ensure biological diversity conservation and sustainable use.
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Biodiversity enabling activities
Table of priorities and activities to be carried out to assess capacity needs
Priorities
Justification
Activities
Expected results
1. Assessment of the
capacity needs for the
implementation of
general measures
pertaining to in situ and
ex situ conservation and
sustainable use,
particularly national
plans, strategies and
legislative measures
The National Strategy for Biodiversity
Conservation stresses that several laws that
are in force are not applied because of
insufficient State capacities to enforce laws
and apply regulations.
* Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the execution of the following
tasks:
 Development of the missing legal texts that are required for the implementation
of the biodiversity-related conventions that have been ratified by the country, and
for the amendment, completion and publication of legal texts related to
biodiversity, through a participatory approach to foster their appropriation by the
populations.
 Supervision of the implementation of legislative texts relative to biodiversity
conservation and sustainable management, namely the analysis of exploitation or
exportation licence applications, exploitation licences management
(determination of the amount and perception of fees to be levied) and the exercise
of the required border control by customs officers.
 Follow-up of the recommendations issued by administrative authorities in charge
of Environment
 Creation of new protected areas co-managed with local populations
 Development of sustainable management plans of the biological diversity within
and outside protected areas
* Organization of workshops to validate capacity needs to implement general
measures for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in the Comoros.
 A report on the results of the capacity needs
assessments to implement conservation and
sustainable use measures is produced and
validated
* Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the execution of the following
tasks:
 Determination of the vulnerability status of the elements of biodiversity
 Access to biodiversity databases to be able to regulate the exploitation of natural
resources on rigorous scientific bases and to ensure their sustainable management
and conservation
 Elaboration of terms of reference for environmental impact studies, examination
of the impact studies and devising measures to mitigate the impacts on the
biodiversity components
* Organization of workshops to validate capacity needs for the assessment and
mitigation of specific threats for the Comoros biological diversity.
 A report on the results of the capacity needs
assessments to assess and mitigate specific
threats for Comoros biodiversity is produced
and validated
2. Assessment of the
capacity needs relative
to mastering methods of
evaluation and
mitigation of specific
threats on biodiversity
components
The incomplete formulation of certain
articles of the framework law on environment
prevents its application. For instance, some
texts prohibit activities that are potentially
harmful to the biodiversity, without
specifying the procedures and officers
entitled to apply such measures. Several
application
decrees
contributing
to
biodiversity conservation and sustainable
management have not yet been drawn up,
namely those related to fisheries regulation
and determination of forest protection and
exploitation systems.
The efficiency of the measures recommended
by biodiversity-related conventions and by
the national legal tools devised to implement
them, such as the decree relative to protected
species, is limited upstream by the lack of
necessary data to base the issuance of
licences on rigorous basis and, downstream,
by the lack of specific training of the customs
officers in charge of enforcing the controls
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 Capacity needs for the development of the
missing
legal
texts,
or
for
the
amendment/completion of the existing texts
are identified and approved.
 Capacity needs for the supervision of the
implementation of legislative texts related to
biodiversity conservation are identified and
approved
 Capacity
needs
to
follow
through
recommendations issued by authorities in
charge of environment are identified and
approved
 Capacity needs for the creation of new
protected areas are identified and approved
 Capacity needs for the elaboration of
biodiversity sustainable management and
development plans are identified and approved
 Capacity needs for the determination of the
vulnerability
status
of
biodiversity
components are identified and approved
 Capacity needs to access and consult Comoros
biodiversity databases are identified and
approved
 Capacity needs for the supervision of impact
studies are identified and approved.
Biodiversity enabling activities
Priorities
Justification
Activities
Expected results
3. Assessment of the
capacity
needs
to
conduct programs for
initial assessment and
monitoring, including
programs in the field of
taxonomy
The Comoros biodiversity is poorly
documented and sustainable use potentialities
are not known. The National Strategy for the
Conservation of Biological Diversity stresses
the fact that lack of scientific knowledge
hinders the devising of appropriate
conservation and sustainable management
measures. This lack of information is partly
linked to a shortage of specialists with
adequate training to undertake the inventory
of biological diversity and the monitoring of
the populations conditions.
Because of the lack of knowledge about the
natural resources, decisions regarding the
issuance of collection and exportation
licences are not based on the knowledge of
sustainable exploitation thresholds, thus
compromising the very utility of this
conservation tool.
* Creation of a directory of national specialists in the fields of biology, environment
and natural resources management, as well as international collaborators having
experience in the same fields in Comoros.
* Consultation of national specialists, customs officers, biodiversity and CITES
focal points, and of representatives of the Ministry in charge of Tourism in order to
identify priority taxonomic groups or species, i.e. those susceptible of being
exploited and for which the lack of knowledge hinders the devising of conservation
measures.
*Conduct an assessment to identify capacity needs for the execution of the
following activities:
 An inventory of the various elements of the Comoros biodiversity
 Acquisition and management of the knowledge on the biology and conditions of
the populations, necessary for devising conservation measures for vulnerable
species and sustainable management of exploited species.
 Constitution of a GIS database on distribution and condition of the populations
and their habitats.
*Organization of validation workshops on the capacity needs for the execution of
initial assessment and monitoring programs, including taxonomy programs.
 A directory of national specialists in the fields
of biology, environment and natural resources
management is drawn up, with a list of
international collaborators having an expertise
in the same fields in Comoros
4. Assessment of the
capacity needs to devise
incentive measures and
appropriate approaches
for their implementation
The National Strategy for the Conservation of
Biological Diversity stresses the fact that
vulnerable resource users and buyers are
neither sufficiently nor adequately aware of
the harmful effects of their activities, namely
the collection of species in their natural
environment and the destruction of their
habitats. Furthermore, awareness raising
programs are often of limited impact because
they do not take adequately into account the
capacities and interests of the public they are
aiming at.
The adoption of conservation measures
should be combined with the setting of
incentive measures that will encourage
populations to adopt new measures in
compensation for the loss of access to
resources and territories.
Environment Directorate – Union of the Comoros
* Conduct assessments to identify needs for the development of a national program
of environmental education and awareness raising for the various actors involved in
the conservation of Comoros biodiversity in view of enabling local populations to
play their role in biodiversity sustainable management and conservation.
* Conduct a survey to identify capacity needs for the execution of the following
activities:
 Devise efficient information and awareness raising campaigns aiming at
operators, local populations and authorities to make them understand the issues
relative to biodiversity and the potential impacts of the exploitation and collection
activities on the balance of natural resources, in particular on vulnerable species.
 Devise incentive measures to encourage the populations to adopt and actively
involve themselves in the implementation of biodiversity conservation measures
*Organization of workshops to validate capacity needs for devising and adopting
relevant approaches for the implementation of incentive measures.
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
 Capacity needs to establish an updated
georeferenced database to monitor the
conditions of the fauna and flora populations
likely to be exploited, and captures and
exportations of species requiring exploitation
authorizations are identified and approved.
 A report on the results of the capacity needs
assessments for the execution of initial
assessments and monitoring programs,
including taxonomy programs, is produced
and validated.
 Priority taxonomic groups and species are
identified
 Capacity needs to complete the biodiversity
inventories, to study and monitor it, are
identified and approved.
 A report on the results of the capacity needs
assessment to devise approaches relevant to
the implementation of incentive measures is
produced and validated
 Capacity needs for the preparation of targeted
and effective information and awareness
raising campaigns for the Comorian
population and authorities are identified and
approved
 Capacity needs for devising relevant incentive
measures are identified and approved
 Needs for the elaboration of an environmental
education program and awareness raising for
the various stakeholders concerned with
biodiversity conservation in the Union of the
Comoros are identified and validated.
Biodiversity enabling activities
7. Clearing House Mechanism
A significant challenge to the implementation of protection measures for Comoros
biodiversity lies in the isolation of agents and regional services in charge of Environment
located on each island. A CHM was established using funds from the first Biodiversity
Enabling Activity. This will be further developed to create a sustainable CHM allowing for a
two way flow of information on biodiversity between project partners and the central CHM.
This is critical since the success of the CHM relies upon data collected by local partners and
for this reason they must be fully informed of the national strategy.
Activities under the CHM will ensure that information and available data on the Comoros
biodiversity are accessible and within the reach of all actors concerned with biological
diversity conservation, on each island of the Comoros Union and internationally, with the
help of traditional and electronic means of communication. This will be achieved by
implementing the following activities:
I) Build-up and update an information system on the Comoros biodiversity in connection with
the Clearing House Mechanism (CHM):
 Collect national documents relative to biodiversity: national strategy; national reports;
Comoros legislation relative to biodiversity;
 Collect available data and information relative to Comoros biodiversity (databases and
information sheets on taxonomic groups, species and ecosystems)
 Collect available data and information (including WEB sites) relative to Comoros
national actors and partners concerned by the biodiversity in Comoros (institutions,
NGOs, projects, and national and international specialists)
 Design of the WEB site on biodiversity, proposal, and participative validation of the
design and contents
 Data formatting (processing, entry) of available information and documents for
displaying on the WEB site
II) Distribution of the national strategy for the conservation of biologic diversity, amongst
national actors concerned with biodiversity, in particular the officers in charge of
implementing the strategy.
III) Distribution of a summary of the elements of the strategy for the conservation of biologic
diversity amongst local based communities, written in Comoros language:
 Summarize the major elements of the strategy for the conservation of biologic diversity
 Elaborate a glossary explaining the unusual or specialized concepts and words presented
in the synthesis
 Translate the summary and glossary
IV) Recruitment of a national expert to update and supplement existing georeferenced
databases (GIS), to allow the monitoring of species, populations and habitat conditions, the
monitoring of protected species exploitation and exportation, integrating namely licences
issued by relevant authorities, CITES authorizations and exportation records available at the
customs.
V) Training by the national expert of the administrative officers who are assigned to update
and work with biodiversity databases.
VI) Training of the people in charge of updating the web page on biodiversity conservation in
the Comoros on the use of internet technical tools in order to meet the objectives of the
Clearing House Mechanism
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Biodiversity enabling activities
Many of the CHM activities will be one-off, such as building up the information system and
when established will require limited resources to ensure continuation. Individuals trained
under the CHM will be responsible for training their replacements should they leave their
position. Furthermore sustainability of the CHM will be ensured by the setting up of an
environmental observatory based on a permanent GIS service within the National
Environment Directorate which will then recruit the GIS expert on a permanent basis.
8. Project implementation and institutional framework
The Comoros Archipelago benefited from GEF funding for the preparation of the National
Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity. The document was prepared in a participative way
and was adopted by political authorities in May 2001. The activities that are the subject of the
present application are in compliance with the priorities identified under the National Strategy
and Action Plan for Biodiversity.
Until recently, the National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation, as well
as the National Reports to the Conference of Parties came under the authority of the National
Director of the Environment department of the Ministry of Production and Environment. In
December 2001, the Comoros adopted a new constitution, that of the Union of Comoros,
which imparts a large autonomy to each island. The draft of the organic law prepared on a
consensus basis holds that the Union will assume responsibilities related to the coordination,
and that the islands will lead policies and the programs implementation. The institutional
organic framework for the project concerning enabling activities for the Convention on
Biological Diversity will therefore be in accordance with this new framework. Accordingly,
the project will be nationally executed by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Co-operation,
and Francophonie, in charge of Comorians living abroad (MIREX) and technically
implemented by the Environment Directorate, following UNDP’s requirements for nationally
executed projects. The executing agency will remain accountable to UNDP for the delivery of
agreed outputs, and for financial management, including the cost-effectiveness of project
activities. UNDP will provide overall technical and administrative backstopping, and will
monitor project implementation as per UNDP rules and procedures including convening a
tripartite co-ordination meeting.
9. Implementation arrangements:
Implementation agency. The Development delegation/Environment Directorate will be the
lead agency for the implementation of the project and will undertake the specific activities
designated in the Project, in cooperation with other Agencies and Institutions as will be
appropriately identified in the first phase of the Project implementation. All activities will be
implemented in close collaboration with key stakeholder institutions concerned with
biodiversity issues, including other Government Ministries, the private sector, and nongovernment institutions.
Project steering committee. The project will be overseen by a national steering committee that
will be constituted upon project initiation, to supervise the project and see that the process
goes smoothly. The composition of the committee will have to assure an equitable
representation of each island and the members will be identified in the first stage of the
project. The steering committee will meet quarterly to review the progress of the project. It
will endorse the work plan and provide guidance and assistance in the resolution of any
difficulties experienced during implementation.
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Biodiversity enabling activities
Project national coordinator and working groups. A national coordinator will be appointed by
the MIREX/Environment Directorate to supervise and coordinate project activities, and will
be responsible for requesting and reporting on the disbursement of funds, based on agreed
work plans and according to UNDP rules and procedures. The UNDP-Union of the Comoros
Country Office will monitor project performance. The national coordinator will be assisted by
an administrative assistant. Working groups will be constituted of national consultants based
on each island to carry out targeted consultations with the various stakeholder groups,
surveys, and validation workshops. Each working group will be supervised by an “island
coordinator”. The national coordinator and the island working groups, under the supervision
of the steering committee, will be responsible for the organisation of project informal
meetings and national workshops including the final national workshop aiming to review and
endorse working groups final reports. The national coordinator will also be responsible for the
writing of the final report summarising capacity building needs and priorities in biodiversity and
will ensure submission of reports, documents and capacity building priorities to the Government
for endorsement. Finally, the project coordinator will ensure incorporation of the project’s
results and outcomes into the national report on biodiversity.
Provision has been made for the recruitment of national and international consultants/experts.
International consultants will be recruited for positions where national capacity is particularly
weak. The consultants will prepare and submit their reports and outputs to the Development
delegation/Environment Directorate and to the UNDP-Comoros Country Office.
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Biodiversity enabling activities
10. TABLE OF COST ESTIMATES FOR ADDITIONAL
ENABLING ACTIVITIES (in thousands US dollars)
ACTIVITY
OUTPUT
BIODIVERSITY
PROCESS
TOTAL
US$
PRIOR APPROVED SUPPORT
Original enabling activity, less cost of CHM
activities
(Detail not required)
131,760
CHM support (through a complementary module)
14,000
Total Approved Support
145,760
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Assessment of capacity-building needs for :

the implementation of general measures pertaining to
in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable use,
particularly national plans, strategies and legislative
measures
23,000
65,000
88,000

mastering methods of evaluation and mitigation of
specific threats on biodiversity components
12,000
30,000
42,000

conducting programs for initial assessment and
monitoring, including programs in the field of
taxonomy
16,000
50,000
66,000

devising incentive measures and
approaches for their implementation
6,000
20,000
26,000
52,000
52,000
appropriate
Developing an information system on the Comoros
biodiversity in connection with the Clearing House
Mechanism and putting information and documents at the
disposal of all stakeholders concerned with biological
diversity conservation
Sub Total
274,000
TOTAL
419,760
Environment Directorate – Union of the Comoros
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Biodiversity enabling activities
11. PROJECT WORK SCHEDULE
2004
2005
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Formation of a steering committee in charge of following
and seeing that the process goes smoothly, recruitment of
national consultants based on each island and identification
of national stakeholders willing to participate in
consultations and workshops
X
X
Preparation of the terms of reference for national and
international consultants
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Objectives and activities
Collection of existing documents and compilation of
information
X
X
Elaboration and reaching a consensus on the capacity needs
assessment tools
X
X
Analysis of the workshops and surveys results for the
identification of the priority fields in taxonomy, biology and
natural resources management for which skills are required
and are not available at the national level.
Validation workshops on each island
Writing of a final report on the capacity needs assessment
for the implementation of the National Strategy for the
Conservation of Biological Diversity
Objective 1. Assessment of the capacity needs for the implementation of general measures pertaining to in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable use
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the Development of the
missing legal texts that are required for the implementation of the
biodiversity-related conventions
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the supervision of the
implementation of legislative texts relative to biodiversity conservation and
sustainable management.
Environment Directorate – Union of the Comoros
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X
X
X
X
X
X
Biodiversity enabling activities
2004
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
1
2
3
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
4
5
6
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the follow-up of the
recommendations issued by administrative authorities in charge of
Environment
X
X
X
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the creation of new
protected areas co-managed with local populations
X
X
X
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the development of
sustainable management plans of the natural resources within and outside
protected areas
X
X
X
Objectives and activities
2005
Objective 2. Assessment of the capacity needs relative to mastering methods of evaluation and mitigation of specific threats on biodiversity components
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the determination of the
vulnerability status of the elements of biodiversity
X
X
X
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the access and
consultation of biodiversity databases
X
X
X
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs to supervise environmental
impact studies
X
X
X
Objective 3. Assessment of the capacity needs to conduct programs for initial assessment and monitoring, including programs in the field of taxonomy
Surveys and interviews in national institutions (Departments in charge of
Environment, Fisheries, Forests, and Agriculture, CNDRS) to update the
directory of national resource people in the fields of biology, environment
and natural resource management
X
X
Surveys and interviews in various national institutions to establish a
directory of international collaborators having experience in the fields of
biology, environment and natural resource management in Comoros.
X
X
Consultation of national specialists, customs officers, biodiversity and
CITES focal points, and of representatives of the Ministry in charge of
Tourism in order to identify priority taxonomic groups or species, i.e. those
susceptible of being exploited and for which the lack of knowledge hinders
the devising of conservation measures.
X
Conduct an assessment to identify capacity needs to carry out an inventory
of the various elements of the Comoros biodiversity
X
X
X
Conduct an assessment to identify capacity needs to acquire and manage
knowledge on species biology and conditions of the vulnerable species
populations.
X
X
X
Environment Directorate – Union of the Comoros
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Biodiversity enabling activities
2004
Objectives and activities
2005
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
X
X
X
Conduct an assessment to identify capacity needs to constitute a GIS
database on the distribution and conditions of the populations and their
habitats.
Objective 4. Assessment of the capacity needs to devise incentive measures and appropriate approaches for their implementation
Conduct a survey to identify capacity needs to devise efficient and targeted
information and awareness raising campaigns aiming at Comorian
populations and authorities
X
X
X
Conduct a survey to identify capacity needs to devise incentive measures to
encourage the populations to adopt and actively involve themselves in the
implementation of biodiversity conservation measures
X
X
X
Conduct assessments to identify capacity needs for the development of a
national program of environmental education and awareness raising for the
various actors involved in the conservation of Comoros biodiversity
X
X
X
Developing an information system on the Comoros biodiversity in connection with the Clearing House Mechanism and putting information and documents at the disposal of
all stakeholders concerned with biological diversity conservation
Build-up and update an information system on the Comoros biodiversity in
connection with the Clearing House Mechanism (CHM): Collection of
national documents relative to biodiversity, available databases and
information relative to Comoros biodiversity, and national actors and
partners concerned with biodiversity; validation of the design of the WEB
site on biodiversity; formatting of available information and documents.
X
X
Distribution of the national strategy for the conservation of biologic
diversity, amongst national actors concerned with biodiversity, in
particular the officers in charge of implementing the strategy.
X
X
Distribution amongst local base communities of a summary of the elements
of the strategy for the conservation of biologic diversity, written in
Comoros language (summary, glossary, translation)
X
X
Recruitment of a national expert to update and supplement existing
georeferenced databases (GIS), to allow the monitoring of species,
populations and habitat conditions, the monitoring of protected species
exploitation and exportation, integrating namely licences issued by relevant
authorities, CITES authorizations and exportation records available at the
customs. Training by the national expert of the administrative officers who
are assigned to update and work with biodiversity databases.
X
Training of the people in charge of updating the web page on biodiversity
conservation in the Comoros on the use of internet technical tools in order
to meet the objectives of the Clearing House Mechanism
Environment Directorate – Union of the Comoros
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X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Biodiversity enabling activities
Environment Directorate – Union of the Comoros
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