Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 7
GIS capability as the SFD currently have significant GIS capacity. It is proposed that the Project would
contract biodiversity monitoring to SFD and that the WWF would receive a two year training contract to
work with the QNBG in building their capacity. In return for provision of data an demonstrating new
monitoring technologies the QNBG will receive data support and access to Qinling Mountain data sets.
If the sharing of data is not agreed in advance GEF should not be involved in the Project.
401. Each IA and enterprise will monitor and evaluate their developments and activities with
technical assistance and oversight from the Monitoring Center. Monitoring performance, and impacts
on biodiversity and the physical environment should be integrated into the proposed Ex-situ
enterprises.
402. The project proposes to develop a strategy for the Government to introduce replication of the
models and lessons learned, including habitat restoration, endangered species management and
general management systems. Certainly much can and will be learned that will be applicable
elsewhere. Ecological conditions, socio-economic situation and threats will be determining factors in
the ability to replicate in other areas. Replication opportunities should be identified in the 4 th year of the
Project.
403. The objectives of the biodiversity monitoring system includes:
� information of changes in land use, soil conditions and ecosystem health
� accurate information on biota, population size and trends, especially threatened
species
� water quality condition and trends
� Information on air quality, not only related to human effects, but the effects of air borne
pollutants on biodiversity, including agriculture crops.
� present the results in a form readily available and understandable to scientists,
managers and the public
� data and information collected and analyzed by government institutions should be
shared without fees to recipient, except for the direct cost of providing the material.
� monitor implementation of policies and projects
404. The Project will contract SFD to provide the ecological monitoring for the GEF component
and the wider project area as a whole. The contract will include WWF costs for training QNBG staff,
monitoring equipment, data collection costs and training for all stakeholders involved in the monitoring
scheme. WWF shall be sole sourced contracted due to their unique presence and role within the
strengthening of biodiversity conservation in the Qinling Mountains. The Existing SFD and WWF data
sets can be integrated with the Project data sets to provide a time series of data that will enable trends
to be identified and increasingly understood. Data collections will include a time series of imagery for
the Project area and its interpretation.
405. The Project will also provide Technical Assistance for training and definition of monitoring
systems including data collection, data storage, data analysis and data use and interpretation. A total
of 15pm of International experts and Domestic experts in remote sensing, survey techniques, and field
conservation. Further there will be a total of 6 field survey and research contracts spanning two years
that will be used to inform the landscape planning program. The contracts will be awarded for research
into (i) vegetation monitoring and inventories, (ii) vertebrate research, (ii) Invertebrate research, (iv)
Fish and Aquatic research, (v) Amphibians inventory and population studies, (vi) Soil microorganisms
in natural forests, conservation forestry and SALT treatment areas. Monitoring performance, and
impacts on biodiversity and the physical environment should be integrated into the proposed ex-situ
projects, with supporting input by Center staff.
406. As a part of the landscape planning program the project will develop a strategy for the
Government to introduce replication of the models and lessons learned, including habitat restoration,
endangered species management and general management systems. Certainly much can and will be
learned that will be applicable elsewhere. Ecological conditions, socio-economic situation and threats
will be determining factors in the ability to replicate in other areas.
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