Matrix of Projects Funded by the Corridor Freshwater and Ecosystem Services Learning Initiative (as of April 08)
As part of CI’s institution wide strategies for ecosystem services (ES) and freshwater, the Corridors Unit is working to integrate hydrological processes and
water services into the corridor planning process, and for implementing conservation action at the landscape scale. The purpose of this program is to
integrate ecological processes, socio-economic dynamics and development criteria into our corridor planning approach as part of CI’s work in
understanding, adapting and mitigating threats to biodiversity. Under this new initiative, various ongoing projects are being funded and as described in the
matrix below.
Region/ Corridor
1) Andes / AbiseoCondor Kutuku
Project Objectives
Title: Defining Priorities for Conservation Action in the Abiseo
Condor Kutuku Conservation Corridor: Integration of
biodiversity, hydrology, environmental services, socioeconomic variables into corridor scale decision-making tools
Lead:
Jordi Surkin
j.surkin@conservatio
n.org
Background:
The Abiseo-Cóndor-Kutukú Conservation Corridor (ACKCC) is one
of the last remaining intact areas of lower humid montane forest in
the Tropical Andes Hotspot and has extremely high biodiversity.
The Kutuku (Ecuador) and Condor (Ecuador/Peru) mountain ranges
are endemism hotspots, especially for birds. The ACKCC has 530
globally threatened species, which represent 16.2 percent of all
threatened species in the Andes region. Between 1990 and 2000,
the ACKCC experienced a loss of 11% of its forest cover with
major threats to its biodiversity due to include road development,
pollution from gold mining, and potential copper extraction among
others. In addition, the ACKCC includes critical water catchment
areas, so provinces that have experienced chronic drought
(especially Loja and Zamora) are seeking to conserve watersheds
through land use planning thus, the urgency to define priorities for
efficient conservation actions in the ACKCC.
Project Objective:
To develop, test and apply decision making tools that integrate
biodiversity, hydrology and environmental services with
socioeconomic and financial information. In particular, the project
will focus on tools that help to identify priority areas for conservation
action at the corridor scale, through an analysis that combines
areas of conservation priority (key biodiversity areas) and important
sites for ecosystems services, economic opportunities linked to
biodiversity conservation such as carbon and PES and the
opportunity costs of the primary development trends in the corridor.
2) Cambodia/
Cardamom
Mountains
Title: Evaluating the Impacts of Proposed Hydroelectric Dams
on Local Communities and Biodiversity in the Cardamom
Mountains Landscape and Quantifying the Economic Value of
Watershed Protection
Expected Deliverable
1) An interim report that will include:
i. Maps of: a. land use change updated to 2007 in
areas of high pressure, b. areas of opportunity for
payment for ecosystem services, and c. key
biodiversity areas and conservation priorities.
ii. Analysis and map of opportunity costs of main
development trends in the Corridor.
iii. Summary reports from two workshops to analyze
conservation priorities, development trends,
economic opportunities and threats in the corridor
(one in Peru and another in Ecuador).
Dates &
Outputs
NOV 07
To
DC Team
G.Wong –
Corridor
Economics and
Planning
JUN 08
Update:
D. Juhn –
Regional
Analysis/ CABS
Ongoing
project
2) A final report with:
i. Map of priority areas for conservation investment
in the ACKCC, including areas with high
conservation value and low cost (conflict).
ii. Documentation and analysis of lessons learned on
key components of the broad-scale conservation
planning process;
iii. A critical analysis of results and specific
recommendations for its implementation;
iv. A strategic sustainable financing plan for the
corridor
v. A detailed write-up of the analytical process,
critical assessment of its relevance and usefulness,
and recommended guidelines for future applications
of the technical approach.
1) the summary document presented to JICA at the
dam evaluation workshop in November 07 which
includes:
i. a short description on the biological impacts of the
dam;
ii. a short description on the probable effects of
OCT 07
To
JUN 08
G.Wong –
Corridor
Economics and
Planning
Team:
David Emmett (lead)
d.emmett@conserva
tion.org
Seng Bunra
Background:
Central to CI-Cambodia’s freshwater conservation strategy in the
Cardamom and Elephant Mountains Corridor is the Areng River,
which contains the world’s largest wild populations of several
threatened species, including the critically endangered Siamese
Crocodile and the endangered Asian Arowana. The catchment of
this river is the most biologically rich evergreen rainforest in
southwest Cambodia. The river system provides essential breeding
and feeding grounds for local fisheries as well as providing a vital
habitat for at least seven species of globally threatened freshwater
turtle. Over the last few years, the Ministry of Ministry of Industry,
Mines, and Energy (MIME) has received major funding from the
Chinese government for the building of dams in various locations,
and including the Areng river.
Project Objectives:
To evaluate the impacts of proposed hydroelectric dams on local
communities and biodiversity in the Cardamom Mountains
landscape and quantifying the economic value of watershed
protection by:

Conducting environmental and social impact assessments to
inform government decision makers on the ecological
consequences of dam development.

Assessing the economic value of the catchment landscape of
the proposed Areng Valley dam as a means to argue for
compensation to conservation of critical upland catchments
and mitigation of biodiversity impacts.
changes to flow regime on downstream sites of
conservation importance; and
iii. a short report on the social impacts of the Areng
Valley dam with quantitative comparisons with the
social impacts of each of the other proposed
hydroelectric dams, with brief biological
comparisons.
Update :
Ongoing
project
Summary
report to
JICA availa
ble
2) A final report which includes:
i. an ecological-economic cost-benefit analysis of the
Areng dam
ii. the predicted impacts of changes in flow regime to
downstream agricultural production, local fisheries
industry and other socio-economic impacts
iii. discussion of analytical tools for predicting the
economic benefits of conserving key upland
catchments to electricity generation, and ;
iv. A fundraising strategy and next steps to
leveraging the study towards policy change in
Cambodia.
3.
3) China/ Pingwu
County
Title: Pilot Project of Payments for Ecological & Environmental
Services (PES) in China – A Case of Yujiashan
Team :
Background:
Yujiashan Nature Reserve is the first privately managed nature
reserve in China and an important panda habitat. The Reserve is
also a protectorate of the only source of drinking water for Pingwu
county town, which represents a high value for protection. Pingwu
County has been tapping on the flow of water from Yujiashan since
2002. Without any investment in conservation, the overuse of water
and the decrease in water quality (due to soil erosion, agriculture,
etc.) will lead to the ecological degeneration in Yujiashan and
shortage of water resource.
He Yi (lead)
heyi@conservation.o
rg.cn
He Xin
Li Shengzhi
Project Objectives:
To analyze the feasibility of creating a new business model (PES)
for the Yujiashan NR. The implementation of a PES scheme in the
Yujiashan region would provide income for the Reserve along with
potentially:

create income for upstream Yujiashan villagers;

rehabilitate local flora and preserve watershed services;

retain biodiversity, and improve the water source quality
and security for downstream Pingwu water users.
A technical report that will include:
i. a description of methodology for data collection
and socio-economic analyses
OCT 07
To
G.Wong –
Corridor
Economics and
Planning
JAN 08
ii. a map of the hydrological flows for the region
iii. a map of land use for the region
Update:
iv. the preliminary assessment of Hydrological
feasibility for water PES
Draft of
Report
available
v. a fundraising strategy and next steps to
implementing a PES mechanism in Pingwu county.
K.Lawrence –
Corridor
Economics and
Planning
4) India/ Manipur –
Chindwin Corridor
Lead:
Wetlands
International-South
Asia
Ritesh Kumar
ritesh.kumar@wisa.org
Title: Biodiversity conservation of Manipur - Chindwin
corridor integrating hydrological processes and ecosystem
services
Background :
The Manipur – Chindwin Corridor connects the Manipur River with
Irrawady River Basin constituting a critical link to the biodiversity
hotspots within Indo – Burma region. Wetlands associated with the
river system constitute important habitats for breeding and
spawning of several critical species along with some of ecological
and economic importance. Loktak, the largest wetland associated
with Manipur River, is the only habitat in the world supporting viable
population of ungulate species, Cervus eldi eldi in nature. Besides
being a high biodiversity area, the Loktak and associated wetlands
support livelihoods of more than 0.2 million fishers, which depend
on its resources for sustenance.
Construction of barrages and hydraulic structures have fragmented
the landscape and riverscape of the corridor leading to decline in
species diversity, extermination of key stone species and enhanced
vulnerability of existing population patches.
Project Objectives:
is to develop effective strategies for conservation of critically
endangered species within the Manipur - Chindwin conservation
landscape through integration of hydrological processes. The
project would lead to enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem
services for the benefit of stakeholders.
The specific objectives of the project are:






§
Identification of conservation goals and target species
within Manipur River Basin linked with Irrawady river
system
Evaluation of critical linkages between hydrology,
biodiversity and socioeconomic aspects for landscape
management
Economic evaluation of ecosystem services of
conservation landscape based on hydrological,
biodiversity and socioeconomic linkages and conservation
outcomes
Balancing water for human for human needs and
maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services
Develop conservation plan for landscape management
based on critical linkages of the corridor conservation at
regional level
Developing resource conservation policies for ecosystem
conservation at the landscape level and providing
sustained economic benefits to the stakeholders
1) A biodiversity profile of the Manipur - Chindwin
corridor
JAN 08
To
2) Strategies for enhancing biodiversity and
maintaining viable population of highly endangered
species within the corridors
3) Strategies to achieve socioeconomic development
while maintaining ecological integrity
4) Recommended guidelines for future applications
of the technical approach.
JUN 08
Update:
Ongoing
project
G.Wong –
Corridor
Economics and
Planning
NOV 07
5) Indonesia/
Gedepahala
Team:
Iwan Wijayanto
(lead)
i.wijayanto@conserv
ation.org
Anton Ario
Title: Promoting Ecosystem Services Value from Hydrological
Processes In The Gedepahala Biodiversity Corridor
Background:
The GedePahala biodiversity corridor forms an important last refuge
area for many globally threatened plant and animal species in Java.
The corridor also includes two protected areas the Gunung Gede
Pangrango National Park and Gunung Halimun Salak National Park
and serves as a critical watershed for more than 30 million people and
including the major cities of Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi
providing drinking water, agricultural and industrial water needs
along with its critical role to geothermal power plants which, provide
electricity for the Java-Bali power network. By the same token, the
watershed is being heavily impacted and degraded by all these
activities along with illegal logging, increasing populations, etc.
Project Objectives:
In order to save this important area this project aims to design an
integrated spatial environment management system to help restore
the watershed and its catchments.
More specifically, the project aims to:

Provide systematic assessment at the corridor level, of the
hydrological value of forests with biodiversity significance in
promoting environmental protection.

Assess the nature, geographical scope, and relation to
biodiversity conservation of these hydrological processes and
values.
6) Melanesia/ Wet
Tropics, Australia &
Mullins Harbour,
PNG
CSIRO:
James Butler (Team
Leader)
james.butler@csiro.a
u
Caroline Bruce
Frederieke Kroon
Pertina Pert
Martijn van Grieken
Title: Developing a catchment-based approach to identifying,
evaluating and mapping ecosystem services for conservation
and development planning
Background:
The completion of effective corridor-scale conservation actions is
dependent on an understanding and evaluation of landscape-scale
ecological processes and their condition. The ability to identify,
evaluate and map these processes, and the ecosystem services
that they provide, would deliver a potentially powerful method for
prioritizing conservation activities and economic development
among different parts of regional landscapes or corridors. Such is
the case for hydrological processes which deliver ecosystem
services that are simultaneously fundamental to both human
wellbeing and the maintenance of biodiversity. Markets for
ecosystem services, such as payments from marine reef tourism
industries to landholders to mitigate water pollution is one example
of a policy tool which can be developed via this conceptual
approach. Another is the development of indicators which can track
the condition of ecosystems, ecosystem services and biodiversity
within monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
1) A progress report with:
i. a carbon biomass baseline analysis
ii. a summary of data compiled, preliminary maps of
biodiversity priorities and areas of critical
hydrological and ecosystem functions within the
Gedepahala corridor
iii. a hydrological map at corridor scale (based on
watershed maps and DEM)
iv. a summary report of discussions from experts
and participatory workshops
v. documentation and analysis of the spatial
distribution of hydrological and ecosystem functions,
and threat
To
JUN 08
K.Lawrence Corridor
Economics and
Planning
Update:
Ongoing
project
2) Final Report that includes:
i. a synthesis of knowledge on hydrological
processes in the Gedepahala corridor with indication
of their economic value, knowledge gaps, research
implications, and spatial priorities for conservation
actions with various stakeholders (including National
Park authorities and local governments)
ii. a fundraising strategy developed.
The expected deliverables are as follows:
1) a report on outcomes of February workshop and
next steps activities
JAN 08
To
M. Honzak Human
Dimensions/CAB
S
JUN 08
2) a technical report on method developed, and
results for each case study as feasible
Update:
3) a draft scientific manuscript describing method for
submission to appropriate journal.
Ongoing
project
G.Wong –
Corridor
Economics and
Planning
CBC Melanesia:
David Mitchell
Project Objectives:
This 6 month project aims to develop principles for applying a
modeling approach to valuing ecosystem services and
understanding trade-offs with other development priorities. While
the analytical methods/tools are likely to vary in different socioeconomic or geographical contexts, these principles should still hold
true. We would like to develop principles that could guide analysis
of trade-offs in two diverse landscapes: Mullins Harbour, Papua
New Guinea (PNG) and the Wet Tropics, Australia. If a standard
methodology can be developed, this tool will then be tested in other
case study areas in partnership with CI, CSIRO and Wetlands
International as part of parallel and future projects.
7) Philippines/
Agusan Marsh,
Eastern Mindanao
Title: Underscoring the Critical Relevance of Hydrological
Processes in Defining the Bounds of Management in a
Biodiversity Corridor Nourishing a Major Freshwater
Ecosystem – the case of Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity
Corridor (EMBC), Philippines
Team:
Grace R. Ambal
r.ambal@conservati
on.org
Oliver Coroza
o.coroza@conservati
on.org
Rocky Peteros
Background:
The Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Conservation Corridor (EMBC)
is the third biodiversity corridor established in the country, facilitated
by Conservation International Philippines, to ensure the
conservation and long-term persistence of at least 69 threatened
and over a hundred restricted range species of plants and animals.
The EMBC covers a land area of approximately 1,819,348.38
hectares bounded by the Agusan Marsh KBA on its west side. The
Agusan Marsh is considered one of the most ecologically significant
wetland areas in the Philippines holding nearly 15 percent of the
nation's fresh water resources. The Marsh is found in the middle of
the Agusan River Basin, the largest river basin in the country that
spans more than half of the EMBC, and acts as a filter for the
freshwater coming from the surrounding watersheds that feeds into
the river basin
Project Objectives:
The purpose of the project is to ensure the long-term survival of the
globally threatened and restricted range species that depends on
the hydrological processes within the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity
Corridor of which the Agusan Marsh Biodiversity Area plays an
important role.
The specific objectives of the project are:

Refinement of the management boundary of the EMBC, taking
into consideration the hydrological processes that impacts on
globally-threatened and restricted-range species, focusing on
the species that occurs within the Agusan Marsh KBA;

Define the threats and human variables that impacts on the
biodiversity of the Agusan Marsh KBA; and

Identify areas or sites around the refined management
boundary of the corridor, which are critical to affecting the
A Final report which includes:
i) the following maps for the Agusan Marsh KBA:
NOV 07
To
(a) updated land cover map,
JUN 08
(b) deforestation probability map,
Update:
(c) risk/hazard (erosion, landslides, flooding or
water regimes) map, and
(d) EOO and AOO maps of target species based
on observation records and potential areas from
habitat suitability analysis.
ii) refinement of the boundaries of the Eastern
Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor Mindanao using the
overlays of the maps produced
iii) a fundraising strategy for implementing priority
conservation actions as identified by this analytical
study.
Ongoing
project
G.Wong –
Corridor
Economics and
Planning
physical parameters such as sedimentation and flooding
downstream in the Agusan River Basin;
8) Southern Africa
Wilderness/
Kavango-Zambezi
Title: Large-scale conservation planning for resilience to
Climate Change, threats to Wetlands and Freshwater supplies,
and Ecosystem Services: A potential model in the KavangoZambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA)
Lead:
Background:
The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA
TFCA) is a five-nation conservation and development initiative
committed to by Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and
Zimbabwe, The Kaza TFCA currently embraces 278,000km 2 and
contains 36 current protected areas of various IUCN categories,
including the intervening pieces of other land uses and important
rivers and catchment areas. It also embraces habitat for multiple
species included in the IUCN Red Lists, such as black and white
rhino, wild dog, several birds, amphibian and fish species which
have distributions limited to the KAZA TFCA region. All these
species have been impacted to varying degrees by the estimated 2
million rural people the vast majority of whom practice subsistence
livelihoods within the KAZA TFCA, and which compete with wildlife
for space and resources.
New, larger scale approaches are therefore required to promote
resilience in wildlife populations & communities facing the uncertain
consequences of Climate Change. The easiest and most immediate
opportunities reside in current large scale Wilderness Areas, where
viable habitat still exists for identifying and establishing a network of
key areas linked by corridors, thus creating refuges and pathways
for species survival and re-colonization in extreme cases.
Leo Braack
l.braack@conservati
on.org
Project Objectives:
The Objective of the study will be to provide national and other
authorities with a scientifically-based guide to the key areas and
corridors which require priority allocation of resources and
management effort. More specifically the project aims:

To determine the relative importance of the existing protected
areas in KAZA TFCA and to identify shortfalls in the existing
network of protected areas,

To define key corridors that will be essential to provide
resilience and viability of populations and communities in the
face of changing and often unpredictable pressures,

To enable connections and linkages that will enable species to
seek alternative rangelands and foraging areas in times of
need, and in which nuclei of populations can persist to recolonize other areas again in the event of catastrophic events.
1) An interim report that outlines the analytical
approach that will illustrates key biodiversity
attributes and freshwater and other ecosystem
products and services for each of the protected
areas in KAZA TFCA
2) A final case study document that includes the
following components (in addition to others):
i. the identification of shortfalls in the protected area
network and prioritization of protected areas in terms
of economic value and ecological importance;
ii. the identification of key corridors for long-term
persistence of biodiversity and ecosystem functions;
and
iii. recommendations on the allocation of scarce
resources towards ensuring adequate protection of
key priority habitats, natural resources and
ecosystem services.
3) A fundraising strategy for the continuation of the
project.
OCT 07
To
JUN 08
Update:
Ongoing
project
K.Lawrence –
Corridor
Economics and
Planning