QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts Programme October-December 2009QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT4/09Following the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010, UNEP was mandated by Under-Secretary-General and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes to coordinate the environmentalresponse to the disaster. Thanks to a team of senior experts on the ground, UNEP is providing technicalassistance and support on environmental matters to the Humanitarian Country Team and to the localgovernment, including through emergency environmental assessments of affected sites and activeparticipation in the humanitarian cluster system. UNEP will continue to support the people of Haiti andthe international community throughout the emergency and early recovery phases in the coming months,through targeted interventions aimed at mitigating further environmental risk, “building back better,” andensuring long-term sustainable recovery. These activities, which will strongly influence future programmedevelopment, will be fully covered in the Quarterly Progress Report for the period January-March 2010.Post-Crisis EnvironmentalAssessmentUnder the Post-Crisis Environmental Assessment pillarof the Disasters and Conflicts sub-programme, UNEPoffers technical assistance to countries where criticalecosystems or natural resources have been directly or indirectlydegraded, damaged or destroyed by conflicts and disasters.Field-based assessments using sound science and state-ofthe-arttechnology identify environmental risks to humanhealth, livelihoods and security with the aim of integratingenvironmental needs into relief and recovery programmes.Gaza post-conflict environmental assessmentFollowing the escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Stripbetween December 2008 and January 2009, UNEP’sGoverning Council, in its Decision 25/12, requested theorganization to undertake a post-conflict environmentalassessment (PCEA) to examine the natural and environmentalimpacts on the Gaza Strip caused by the hostilities. UNEPwas also requested to conduct an economic evaluation ofthe cost of environmental rehabilitation and restoration.The report, which generated a significant amount of mediaattention following its launch in September, concludes thatGaza’s underground water supplies, upon which 1.5 millionPalestinians depend for agricultural and drinking water, arein danger of collapse as a result of years of over-use andcontamination that have been exacerbated by the recentconflict. The report can be downloaded from: http://www.unep.org/PDF/dmb/UNEP_Gaza_EA.pdfThe report was formally presented to the UN countryteam in Jerusalem on 9 October, during a high-profilemeeting that included senior representatives from some20 UN agencies working in the region, the World Bank andrepresentatives from the Office of the Quartet Envoyé, Mr.Tony Blair. The presentation received a favorable responsefrom participants and garnered significant support andbuy-in from UN colleagues. UNEP was also invited topresent the report to the UN Committee on the Exerciseof the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at UNheadquarters in New York on 13 November.UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy (MTS) for 2010-2013, which was welcomed bythe Governing Council in February 2008, designates “Disasters and Conflicts”as one of the organization’s six priority areas of work. Following a transitionphase in 2009, the theme will accordingly become fully integrated across thedifferent divisional and regional offices of the organization by 2010, whenUNEP will begin implementation of a dedicated “Disasters and Conflicts” subprogrammeas part the 2010-2011 Programme of Work that was endorsedby the Governing Council in February 2009. The new UNEP Disastersand Conflicts sub-programme is comprised of four operational pillars: post-crisisenvironmental assessment, post-crisis environmental recovery, disaster risk reductionand environmental cooperation for peacebuilding. The Post-Conflict and DisasterManagement Branch (PCDMB) is tasked with coordinating the theme across UNEP. UNEPalso coordinates the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC), a partnership ofsix organizations that provides multi-stakeholder-based analyses of environment andsecurity risks, and implements projects in Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe, theSouthern Caucasus and Central Asia.ContentsPost-Crisis Environmental Assessment . . 1Post-Crisis Environmental Recovery..... 5Disaster Risk Reduction................12Environmental Cooperation forPeacebuilding.........................13The Environment and SecurityInitiative (ENVSEC) ....................15If you wish to add recepients or unsubscribeplease contact Ms. Reshmi Thakur at:reshmi.thakur@unep.org

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts ProgrammeOverall, UNEP’s PCEA report has been positively receivedby partners and the international community, and highleveldiscussions are currently ongoing with partneragencies and relevant governments with regard to theimplementation of the recommendations and furthersupport to environmental recovery in the Gaza Strip. Theseinclude discussions with UNICEF, UNRWA and WHO onconducting a detailed study on methemoglobinemia andproviding safe water to all infants in the Gaza Strip. UNEPis also finalizing a technical paper on the key groundwaterissues to address from a scientific, technical, and financialpoint of view, and an external expert has been recruitedto undertake a review of hazardous waste issues, currentmanagement strategies and to develop recommendationsfor an updated Hazardous Waste Management Strategy.In addition, IUCN is working with UNEP to undertake areview of the areas identified as potential Protected Areasto ascertain their actual status and to identify which onesshould become officially protected, as well as strategiesfor their management. Finally, two consultants have beenrecruited to undertake an institutional assessment andto provide a report on the current capacities within theoccupied Palestinian territories (oPt).Democratic Republic of Congo post-conflictenvironmental assessmentWithin the framework of the wider UNEP DR Congoenvironmental recovery programme, significant progresswas made during the reporting period on the detailed,national-scale integrated assessment covering environmentand ecosystems, natural hazards, climate change impactsand associated social linkages such as poverty, health,migration and conflict.Key milestones in Q4 included extensive field missionswith key governmental, UN and NGO partners to gatherinformation on the state of the environment in the country,including to the Equator province from 22 September to 25October, Lubumbashi and Katanga from 9 to 13 November,Kikwit from 25 September to 2 October, and North andSouth Kivu from 30 November to 16 December. Progresswas also made towards the production of audiovisualcommunications products on the fieldwork, including anumber of short films for web-based distribution and adedicated website for the UNEP programme in DR Congo.A draft of the technical report on environmental legislationand Kinshasa urban environmental issues was completed.In addition, a draft of the technical report on transboundarycooperation was reviewed by the UNEP Expert AdvisoryGroup on Environment, Conflict and Peacebuilding,and revised version is expected to be ready in Q1 2010.Technical report development also continued for themesrelating to conflict and population displacement. Finally,dialogue is ongoing with the national government, the UNREDD initiative, and UNDP and FAO as partner agenciesto combine selected components of UNEP’s fieldworkwith a new study for a UN REDD project that will examinethe drivers of deforestation in the country. UNEP’s finalassessment report is scheduled for release in 2010.technical reports were developed on transboundary cooperation and environmental legislation in DR Congo2

SUMMARY Quarterly Progress Report / october-december 2009The reporting period was marked by a high-profile re-engagement of UNEP in Ogoniland. A comprehensive training session forstaff based in port harcourt was held in october 2009Oil contamination assessment in Ogoniland,NigeriaDespite the ongoing complex political, social and securityenvironment in the Niger Delta, the fourth quarter wasmarked by a high-profile re-engagement of UNEP inOgoniland. UNEP delivered a one-week comprehensivetraining session for staff based in Port Harcourt andrepresentatives from the State Ministry of Environment andthe National Oil Spill Detection Agency (NOSDRA) in PortHarcourt from 12-16 October, which was hosted by RiversState University of Science and Technology (RSUST). Topicscovered during the training included cartography, siteinvestigation, communications, and health and safety inthe field. Project staff were also provided with an additionalthree-day intensive first-aid training course in December.The official launch of the project took place on 27 November,when UNEP was invited to participate in a major assemblyof Ogoni people in the town of Bori. In his keynote speech,the Governor of Rivers State clearly signaled his supportfor UNEP’s work in the region and strongly encouragedOgoni support. UNEP was also invited to give a keynotespeech. The reconnaissance phase of the assessmentwas initiated through a one-week mission comprisingof a multidisciplinary team of four technical experts inNovember. During the mission, initial reconnaissance visitswere undertaken to a number of selected sites in two of thefour Local Government Authorities (LGAs), namely Kai andEleme, where UNEP is conducting the assessment.UNEP also opened two additional field offices within theEleme and Tai LGAs during the quarter, and undertookextensive sensitization campaigns to help raise UNEP’sprofile amongst local communities in Ogoniland. Numerousoutreach materials were developed, including a “UNEP inNigeria” newsletter and posters. Finally, consultations withsenior representatives of national and local stakeholdergroups continued throughout Q4, including with RiversState Government, traditional rulers, Rivers State Universityof Science and Technology and Port Harcourt University,the Ogoni Contact Group and MOSOP.Strategic Environmental Assessment in Sri LankaAt the request of the Sri Lankan Government and the UNcountry team, UNEP participated in a scoping mission inOctober 2009 to facilitate the implementation of a strategicenvironmental assessment (SEA) of the northern provinceof the country. Following the cessation of hostilities inMay 2009, the national government launched a majordevelopment plan known as “Uthuru Wasanthaya (NorthernSpring)” that will involve new settlements, urban and ruralinfrastructure and livelihood development. To facilitate andstrengthen the process, an Integrated Strategic EnvironmentAssessment (SEA) is under development that takes intoaccount the environmentally sensitive and disaster proneareas in evaluating proposed development plans. Theassessment will bring together multiple stakeholders –planners, implementers and users – from the inception,thereby providing an opportunity for development plans tobe sound and sustainable. As part of the assessment, targetedstudies will be conducted to address emerging needs such asamong others: a) provision of sand and building materials;b) extraction capacity of groundwater; c) optimum useof marine and coastal resources; and d) management ofsolid and liquid waste. These studies will facilitate resourcemapping, optimum use of natural resources and improvedservice delivery. UNEP will provide technical advice withSEA framing, data integration and analyses, with disaster riskreduction considered a key element in the SEA.3

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts Programmethe JEU deployed an expert team to provide assistance to Burkina Faso in the aftermath of devastating floodsRapid assessment missions by the JointUNEP/OCHA Environment Unit (JEU)In the aftermath of heavy rainfall triggering flash floodsin Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in early September, andfollowing an initial UNDAC assessment, the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit facilitated the deployment of twointernational experts from Sweden and Switzerland to carryout further assessments of the environmental impacts ofthe floods, with a particular focus on assessing potential soiland water contamination. The environmental assessmentwas conducted from 24 September to 8 October. A reporton the major findings of this assessment indicated thepossibility of waste water contaminating the groundwater,but no major secondary environmental impacts of thefloods were identified. The mission report is available on:http://ochaonline.un.org/ochaunepOn 7 August, Typhoon Morakot made landfall on thesoutheast coast of mainland China and on Taiwan,resulting in hundreds of casualties and extensive damage tolivelihoods and infrastructure. A JEU expert was deployed aspart of the UNDAC mission to Taipei to conduct emergencyresponse and identify environmental recovery needs.Following a request for further international assistanceto assess potential future risks of unstable slopes, the JEUfacilitated further assistance by the Swiss authorities throughthe deployment of two geologists from 30 September-12October to undertake a Geohazards Risk assessment inTaiwan. Numerous geohazards were subsequently identifiedby the experts and the final assessment was shared with theauthorities, accompanied by a presentation of the mission’sresults and recommendations.An UNDAC team was deployed to the Philippines on 30September to assist the government with coordination,assessment and information management in responseto Tropical Storm Ketsana, which hit the country on 26September. During the UNDAC environmental assessmentwhich took place from 8 to 20 October, “standing water”as a result of flooding that washed out contaminants fromvarious industrial sites was identified as a major risk, with adirect impact on human health. The report of these findingsis available on: http://ochaonline.un.org/ochaunepIn the aftermath of the earthquake that hit the region ofSamoa on 30 September, the JEU was able to identifypotentially hazardous hotspots through the HazardIdentification (HIT) tool and, together with UNEP’s RegionalOffice for Asia-Pacific (ROAP) and the Post-Conflict andDisaster Management Branch (PCDMB), supported a rapidenvironmental assessment in the affected area, carriedout by UNEP, together with UNESCO and ConservationInternational. Significant environmental issues wereidentified, including coastal erosion, salinization ofcoastal areas, damage from building debris and pollutionemanating from solid waste and sewage in village areas. Thefinal report was produced and handed over to the nationalMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment.Finally, following the passage of Hurricane Ida in ElSalvador, which resulted in mudslides and flash floods on7-8 November, the JEU compiled a Hazard Identification Tool(HIT) to identify potentially hazardous hotspots. In addition,the UNDAC team was briefed on ongoing Regional Officepreparedness work following recent hurricanes to ensurecoordination of activities and provide needs assessmentwith the national civil protection.Environment, Humanitarian Action and EarlyRecoveryBuilding on environmental guidance developed in 2008 andearly 2009, as well as environmental modules produced for4

SUMMARY Quarterly Progress Report / october-december 2009post-conflict and post-disaster needs assessments conductedby the UN family, UNEP established the HumanitarianAction and Early Recovery programme in Q3 to ensure thatenvironmental considerations are mainstreamed and includedin operations conducted under the humanitarian coordinationsystem in order to adequately address environmental needsin emergency and post-emergency situations.During the reporting period, efforts were focused on scalingup UNEP’s engagement with key mechanisms includingthe Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s (IASC) ClusterWorking Group on Early Recovery (CWGER) and the IASCNeeds Assessment Task force. At the request of the EarlyRecovery Cluster, guidance entitled “Building Environmentand Natural Resources into Early Recovery Activities,” wasdeveloped by UNEP on environment as a cross-cuttingissue in the context of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment(PDNA).As part of its ongoing advocacy efforts, UNEP also participatedin several key events, including: delivering apresentation on environment as a cross-cutting issue at thefirst Steering Committee on Environmental Emergencies inGeneva, Switzerland; participating in a “Lessons Learnedfrom the Humanitarian Reform” workshop in Paris, Francewith key French NGO stakeholders; and chairing a panelevent at the Geneva Peacebuilding Annual Forum organizedaround the theme “Saving lives or building peace? Rolesand Responsibilities of Humanitarian and PeacebuildingActors in Conflict Settings.”Outreach, advocacy and training by the JointUNEP/OCHA Environment UnitPost-Crisis EnvironmentalRecoveryBased on the outcomes of environmental assessments,UNEP works to develop recovery programmes thatencompass environmental governance, clean-up andrehabilitation, and ecosystem management projects. Theseprogrammes provide an initial anchor for UNEP in crisisaffectedcountries, which can be used as a basis for widerprogramming involving other priority areas. UNEP also actsas the focal point for environmental issues within the UNcountry team and works to integrate environmental needsinto UN recovery programmes.Sudan country programmeProgramme developmentPhase II of the UNEP Sudan programme, funded by the UKDFID for USD 25 million, commenced on 1 July 2009 for aperiod of three years. In its second phase, the programmecontinues to focus on capacity-building and effectivemanagement of natural resources, primarily water andforestry, to help build community resilience, address povertyissues and support peacebuilding in the region. It is alsobeing expanded through the establishment of coordinationoffices in Southern Sudan and Darfur. During Q4, the UNEPSudan programme successfully underwent a six-monthinception review by UK DFID. In addition, recruitment wascompleted for a Darfur Programme Coordinator and SouthSudan Programme Coordinator, as well as an AdministrativeOfficer with certifying authority based in Khartoum.To help expand its environmental emergencies network inthe Asia-Pacific region, the JEU in collaboration with theSingapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF), the Swedish CivilContingencies Agency (MSB), and the Dutch Ministry ofHousing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM),conducted the second module of the EnvironmentalEmergencies Training (EET) in Singapore from 16-20November. The training, which targeted national emergencyresponders for emergency response, was well received, withparticipation from 30 experts.On 11 November the JEU, in partnership with the SwedishCivil Contingencies Agency (MSB) organized a one-dayDisaster Waste Management (DWM) workshop to: 1) bringtogether key disaster waste management stakeholders anddiscuss progress made thus far and identify existing gaps,and 2) explore ways to ensure a more coordinated approachto disaster waste management.Finally, the first Steering Committee on EnvironmentalEmergencies was held on 8 December to follow-up onrecommendations by the Advisory Group on EnvironmentalEmergencies (AGEE) in Geneva. Major outcomes included aformal expression of support by the Swedish Government forthe first year of an online Environmental Emergencies Centre.a major clean-up campaign was launched in Juba, SouthernSudan on 23 November to mark the launch of a three-yearwaste management project5

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts ProgrammeEnvironmental Sustainability projectAs part of a GBP 1 million UNEP Environmental Sustainabilityproject, UNEP – in collaboration with the office of the JubaCounty Commissioner and the Keep Juba Clean Committee– conducted a major clean-up campaign on 23 November inJuba as a launch event for a three-year waste managementproject. The waste management project is the first steptowards building a sustainable waste management system forJuba and will be replicated in nine state capitals in SouthernSudan. Salva Kiir, President of the Government of SouthernSudan (GOSS), launched the clean-up initiative in Juba,declaring a public holiday. He was accompanied in picking upthe first pieces of litter by His Excellency the Minister for theEnvironment of Southern Sudan, and the UK Ambassador, Dr.Rosalind Marsden. Over 16,000 volunteers took to the streetsto tackle the growing health hazard caused by public dumpingof waste in the town. The clean-up attracted enthusiasticsupport from all major organizations based in Juba, includingthe Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), wildlife, policeand prison services, all UN agencies and UNMIS, as well as thestudents and residents of Juba themselves. UNEP has providedongoing support ever since, and as a result the Commissionof Juba County has announced plans to ban the use of plasticbags in Juba, effective 1 January 2010.Timber and energy projectWithin the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between UNEP and FAO, further progress was madeunder the joint timber and energy project. The agreementfunded major project activities in 2009, including the roll-out of300,000 fuel-efficient stoves and the production of an additional1.8 million tree seedlings. Thanks to a second installmentof funds, work commenced towards a natural resourcesassessment with a focus on forestry, and the introduction ofagro-forestry as a land use management system in Darfur.Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) projectWithin the context of its partnership with UNICEF andgovernment authorities, UNEP started building communityawareness and management for drought preparedness infour IDP camps in Darfur. This is particularly important inDarfur, as the region has been facing a year of low rains andaquifers at select camps are under stress. With regard toIWRM infrastructure development, work continued on thedevelopment of a follow-up project for small-scale dams to beconstructed by UNOPS, which will help identify further damsfor construction in the future. In addition this project mayresult in supporting further work on issues such as leakagecontrol in Darfur major cities, which have heightened droughtvulnerability as a result of the influx of IDPs during the conflict.Environmental Governance projectUNEP made solid progress to undertake research on theimpacts of the conflict on the management and governanceof natural resources in Darfur, with a view to supportingdialogue on rebuilding sustainable and equitable naturalresource management. Progress was also made towardsdeveloping vital arrangements with key partners for workon pastoralist livelihoods, trade and markets, alternativeenergy and humanitarian environmental best practice.Aid and Environment projectWith regard to advocacy efforts, UNEP continued to providehigh-level support to the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinatorto develop an early recovery strategy for Darfur, which hasnow been framed in environment and livelihoods terms andbuilds heavily on the foundation of UNEP’s research andanalysis. In addition, UNEP was invited to join a task forcedrafting the Integrated Strategic Framework for UNAMIDand the UN country team.Afghanistan country programmePolitical context and programme developmentFollowing the presidential and provincial elections thattook place in August 2009, the political situation continuedto deteriorate at the national and international levelsduring the quarter, due to disputed elections results andallegations against the Electoral Complaints Commission.In addition, Q4 also saw the announcement of a new USstrategy in Afghanistan, including the deployment of 30,000additional US troops in 2010, and the commencement ofthe US exit in mid-2011. Following the devastating attackon a guesthouse in Kabul 28 October, in which 5 UN staffwere killed, non-critical UN staff were temporarily relocatedoutside of Afghanistan for a period of eight weeks until thesecurity situation was deemed acceptable. InternationalUNEP staff were relocated to UNEP offices in Geneva andBangkok, or seconded to support partners in UNEP projectsin various countries. Despite these significant challenges,progress was made across all pillars of the Afghanistanprogramme during the quarter.Institutional capacity-buildingAs a part of UNEP’s ongoing support to the NationalEnvironmental Protection Agency (NEPA), a proposalwas developed to conduct a practical environmental lawenforcement field training together with the regionaltraining workshop for NEPA staff in Heart and Mazar onhow to systematically undertake monitoring in the fieldand reporting procedures. In addition, progress wasmade with regard to ongoing development of work planimplementation for the technical divisions of NEPA.Environmental coordinationUNEP, together with FAO, continues to co-chair theSustainable Livelihoods Working Group of the UNDevelopment Assistance Framework (UNDAF). In Q4, UNEPcontributed to the development of a food security policypaper for the UN, and undertook a gap analysis exercise6

SUMMARY Quarterly Progress Report / october-december 2009in afghanistan, Progress was made with regard to environmental education and outreach, in particular the development ofawareness-raising strategies for NEPA and the proposed Shah Foladi protected areaof UN programmes in Afghanistan related to communitybasednatural resource management (CBNRM), and conflictand natural resource management, for which UNEP is thelead agency within the UNDAF framework. UNEP alsoworked with partners to develop a joint programminginitiative for sustainable livelihoods in the Dai Kundi, whichwas selected as the pilot province to test a proposedUNDAF province package initiative that seeks to providecomprehensive development support to Afghanistan’sunderdeveloped provinces. Finally, UNEP undertook anumber of joint activities with the SAISEM, an environmentalsustainability project jointly implemented by UNDP andFAO for which UNEP is an advisor, particularly in relation tothe preparations for the UN Climate Change conference inCopenhagen (COP 15) in December.Environmental law and policyIn October, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture,Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), UNEP delivered a half-daytraining session to members of Parliament sitting on theEnvironment and Natural Resources Commission to raiseawareness on the draft Forest Law. In regard to the RangelandLaw, a consultation forum with key officials from MAIL washeld on 15 October and progress is ongoing towards thefinal draft. Finally, UNEP assisted WCS in the finalization of thetechnical draft of its Contracted Administrator Proceduresfor protected areas developed under the EnvironmentLaw. With regard to training in Q4, UNEP’s Training Manualon Enforcement of Environmental Laws was finalized andprinted in English and Dari. In addition, the Dari translationof the Handbook on Multilateral Environmental Agreementsin Afghanistan was finalized and the twelve-month trainingprogramme to NEPA’s law and enforcement divisionwas completed. During the reporting period, UNEP alsocontinued to develop and finalize MAIL-funded follow-upprojects to implement the Strategy for Resolution of ConflictsRegarding Access to the Rangelands of the Central Highlands,which is expected to commence in early 2010. The follow-upproject will be led by the Ministry with technical inputs fromUNEP. It was noted that there has been evidence of strongnational government ownership and leadership with regardto the development of this strategy, illustrating an enhancedcapacity with regard to natural resource management issues.Finally, a training workshop to control import of ODS washeld from 31 October to 1 November; it was attended bysome 37 government officials.EIA and pollution controlRegular UNEP training of key NEPA officials was ongoingup until October, however due to the ongoing securitysituation was discontinued. Topics covered included,evaluation of EIA reports. With regard to pollution controlpolicies, environmental standards and air quality, UNEPprovided technical inputs to the following: draft NationalPollution Control, the Management Policy and NationalWaste Management Policy, the Vehicle Emission Standardsand Inspection and Maintenance System, National AmbientAir Quality Standard for Afghanistan, and a comprehensiveregional air quality management. In addition, UNEPcontinued to play a facilitatory role between the donorcommunity and NEPA in regard to EIA issues. Finally, aposter on EIA procedures was finalized and will be readyfor distribution to provincial offices, ministries and otherstakeholders in early 2010.7

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts ProgrammeEnvironmental education and outreach: In Q4, progress wasmade towards the first draft of NEPA’s strategy and actionplan for environmental education. UNEP, together withKabul University also developed the first scientific seminaron Environmental Concepts in Islam, which will be deliveredin March 2010.The UNEP Handbook on EnvironmentalReporting and IUCN publication Environmental Protection inIslam were translated into Dari and Pashto respectively. Withregard to environmental awareness-raising, drafting wasongoing with regard to NEPA’s environmental awarenessraisingaction plan and the Shah Foladi protected areaconservation education plan. UNEP also organized nationaltree plantation partners to register their initiatives, whichamounted to approximately 846,538 trees being planted onUNEP’s Billion Tree campaign website.Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM)A further four CBNRM sites, including Karnail, Sya ab andKhoskak villages in Herat province, and Syalayak village inBamyan province, became operational during the quarter,bringing the total to nine fully operational CBRNM sites.Progress to date on the already established CBNRM projectsis as follows: under the Dash Tok micro-hydro power projectin Badakhshan province, all the infrastructure and themechanical and electrical components of the power plantwere successfully completed several months ahead of theestimated project schedule. The plant is providing electricityto approximately 60 households to date. In the meantimean integrated micro-hydro power plant management planis in preparation which, among other things, will set aside35,000 ha of upland grazing lands as a protected watershedfor the power plant. The Sabz Dara project in Badakhshanprovince started work by laying out the Ambadara schoolyard work followed by construction of the surrounding stonewall, while the Larasie and Marghestan projects in Bamiyanprovince received their allocated funds and kicked off theproject by forming a village-level river council to improvethe synergy and impact of their respective CBNRM activitiesand also as a model for resolving inter-village naturalresource management use in Yakawlang. The Jawkar CBNRMcommunity in Bamiyan province mobilized their village workforce and started working to restore the riparian corridor oftheir river. All sites in Herat province, including Karnail, Say Aband Khoskak, received their funds and purchased their toolsand equipment for the project. Together they have allocatedapproximately 1,500 ha of rangelands for regenerationand have started collecting rangeland plant seeds to bepropagated in their rangeland nursery in the spring. Finally,the Sya Layak site in Bamiyan province received its fundsand the Department of Women’s Affairs set aside a room andstarted remodeling it as a training center for trainers whowill train the women beneficiaries of the project. Preliminarymissions to and discussions regarding four additional siteswere also undertaken in Q4. With regard to CBNRM researchactivities, initial drafts of two research reports entitledrespectively A study of local CBNRM traditions in two villages inBamiyan – a case for revival of traditional practices or not? andA study of the role of women in natural resource managementin the Shah Foladi protected area in Bamiyan were completed.Finally, UNEP is also working with MAIL to develop aprogramme to address deforestation across four provinces inthe eastern forest region.Protected areasIn Q4, within the context of the GEF-funded Programme ofWork on Protected Areas (POWPA) – a global action planwith 92 activities for protected areas system planning –UNEP focused on the development of a capacity-buildingplan for MAIL and NEPA. UNEP engaged with the WorldCommission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and IUCN toinclude the newly created Protected Areas Division ofMAIL into the Commission to provide long-term technicalsupport to the governmental partner. In October, a majorUNEP workshop was delivered on protected areas physicalplanning, a vital capacity-building component of parkssystem planning. With regard to the proposed Shah FoladiNature Reserve, UNEP continued to engage with local andgovernmental counterparts to build a strong frameworkfor a nationally mandated, community conservation area inCentral Afghanistan. UNEP undertook a baseline inventoryand monitoring work in Bamiyan, which combined CBNRMand PA approaches in communities within the ShahFoladi protected area, focusing on biophysical and socioeconomicbasic planning for setting aside Shah Foladi asa conservation site. Finally, a conservation education planwas drafted for the Shah Foladi protected area site.In Q4, four additional community-based natural resourcemanagement (CBNRM) projects became operational in theHerat and Bamiyan provinces, bringing the total UNEP CBNRMprojects to nine8

SUMMARY Quarterly Progress Report / october-december 2009Democratic Republic of Congo countryprogrammeCountry programme developmentIn Q4, UNEP continued the development of its countryprogramme in the Democratic Republic of Congo,covering the following nine thematic areas: assessmentand national action planning; humanitarian technicalsupport; peacekeeping and peacebuilding technicalsupport; protected area management; environmentalgovernance; environmental communications and education;climate change mitigation; local sustainable developmentprogrammes; and transboundary cooperation. Followingthe completion of the country programme framework for2009-2013, based on four of UNEP’s six thematic priorities(Disasters and Conflicts, Environmental Governance,Ecosystems Management and Climate Change), developmentof individual projects and associated fundraising continuedduring the reporting period.Project developmentFollowing a screening exercise the following three conceptswere established as priorities: 1) Eastern DR Congosustainable energy, shelter and sanitation programme;2) Transboundary cooperation on environment andnatural resource management in the Central AlbertineRift; 3) Technical assistance and capacity-building forenvironmental legislation. For each concept, a partnershipbetween UNEP, and key governmental, UN and NGOstakeholders is envisaged and joint development workis ongoing. Draft technical reports on transboundarycooperation and environmental legislation in DR Congo,by Adelphi Research Institute and IUCN respectively, werecompleted during the reporting period. In addition, afour-day scoping mission was undertaken to Kinshasa inDecember to review the environmental status of selectedsites the UN Mission in DR Congo (MONUC) had identified as“environmental hotspots,” in order to gain better knowledgeand understanding of MONUC’s needs and challengesfor addressing environmental concerns related to itspresence and operations. The mission also encompassedan environmental awareness component, whereby UNEP,the Swedish Defense Research Institute (FOI) and MONUCstaff combined to deliver a one-day workshop to help raiseawareness amongst MONUC staff on the importance ofminimizing the environmental footprint of peacekeepingoperations. The workshop, which was delivered to 45MONUC staff, was very well received.Ongoing projectsProgress was also made on the five ongoing projects thathave been developed across the four UNEP priority areas.Three of these are currently being implemented, namelythe Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment, Conflict Parks– Garamba, and Conflict Parks – Kahuzi-Biega. During thequarter, work focused on capacity-building and technicalIn Q4, UNEP continued to make solid progress towards thedevelopment of its country programme in DR Congoassistance to Garamba and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks(part of the Great Ape Survival Programme) to strengthenthe capacity of the protected area management authority.Development work was also undertaken with regardto UN REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation/Degradation). UNEP worked with UN REDD NationalCoordination team on terms of references pertainingto studies on: 1) lessons learned from conservation andnatural resource management, 2) distribution of revenuesgenerated from REDD activities, and 3) environmental andsocial assessment of the implementation of REDD in DRCongo. UNEP is providing coordination assistance, togetherwith FOA and UNDP, and managing the implementationof a range of technical studies to inform the design of theREDD project in the country.Côte d’Ivoire hazardous waste managementprojectLaboratory capacity-building programmeThe fifth and penultimate training module in the capacitybuildingprogramme targeting the Centre IvorienAntipollution (CIAPOL) was delivered in Abidjan byexperts from UNEP and the Swiss Spiez Laboratory from13-27 October. The intensive training course compriseda theoretical component that focused on report drafting,standard operating procedures (SoPs) and strengtheningof the quality assurance system, and a simulation exerciseof an incident of hazardous waste dumping, during whichparticipants were required to manage the samplingmission, safety and security in the field, laboratory analysesand quality control, and to present results. Solid progresswas also made towards the procurement of laboratory9

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts Programmea small-scale disaster recovery project was implemented by UNEP in haiti to help reduce vulnerability of local coastalcommunities, enhance coastal fisheries and create employment opportunities through mangrove rehabilitationand sampling equipment for a new laboratory section tobe established within the Ministry of Environment, Waterand Forests’ CIAPOL. The new laboratory section will beestablished to improve the capacity to analyse waste fromships in the Port of Abidjan and respond to emergencysituations. Shipment to Abidjan is scheduled for early 2010.Hazardous Waste Management PlanA multi-stakeholder workshop to validate the HazardousWaste Management Plan for the District of Abidjan tookplace from 28-29 October in Abidjan. The workshop was wellattended, with approximately 40 participants representingstakeholders from the government, NGOs and the privatesector. Following integration of comments, the plan washanded over to the Ministry of Environment, Water andForests in December.Capacity-building on transboundary movement ofhazardous wasteThis project component, which is implemented by theSecretariat for the Basel Convention (SBC) on TransboundaryMovement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, kickedoff with a government stakeholder meeting in Abidjan on 1November. SBC will use the Hazardous Waste ManagementPlan and results from the port assessment as a foundationto commence work activities in 2010 to address gaps inthe control of the transboundary movements in hazardouswaste, including technical and legal support and trainingworkshops.Haiti country programmeNOTE: Following the devastating earthquake that struckHaiti on 12 January 2010, UNEP is coordinating theenvironmental response to the disaster. Thanks to ateam of senior experts on the ground, UNEP is providingtechnical assistance and support on environmentalmatters to the Humanitarian Country Team and tothe local government, including through emergencyenvironmental assessments of affected sites and activeparticipation in the humanitarian cluster system.These activities will be fully covered in the QuarterlyProgress Report for the period January-March 2010. Theinformation below pertains to developments in the fourthquarter of 2009.UNEP country programmeFollowing a request from the national government and theUN system, UNEP established a “transformative” countryprogramme in Haiti for the period 2009-2013, startingwith the establishment of a country office in Port-au-Prince. The programme supports ongoing recovery effortsfollowing three devastating hurricanes and one majortropical storm in October 2008, which resulted in severedamage to infrastructure, livelihoods and natural resourcesin the country; and the design and development of theHaiti Regeneration Initiative (formerly known as the HaitiRestoration Initiative), a large-scale and long-term initiativeto achieve major and sustained improvement in theenvironment and well-being of the country’s population.10

SUMMARY Quarterly Progress Report / october-december 2009Haiti Regeneration Initiative (HRI)This initiative is expected to last around 20 years, with anestimated budget of over USD 1 billion (approximately20 percent of which is expected to be foreign aid) and anational geographical scope. Over 50 partners are expectedto implement the Initiative at the local, national andinternational levels. Development efforts in Q4 focused onthe following three main components: 1) developmentof a comprehensive environmental outreach campaign tosupport the HRI’s fundraising initiatives and raise awarenessof environmental issues through advocacy efforts; 2)HRI “geographic” and “thematic” projects, which aim todeliver lasting positive change through substantial longterminvestment at the national and regional levels; and3) establishment of a network and Technical AssistanceFacility (TAF) where UNEP’s project partners are providedwith free technical expertise on environmental issues toencourage and enable the design and implementationof strategies, programmes and projects that support theoverall objectives of the Initiative. In Q4, experts in the fieldsof natural resource management, watershed restoration,forestry/agroforestry and hydrology were recruited toprovide technical advice to WFP, UNDP and ILO and theGovernment of Haiti. In addition Foprobin, a Haitian marineNGO, completed baseline studies of the marine and coastalareas of the Southern Peninsula. Following extensivescreening of potential target sites and regions for earlyintervention measures, Port à Piment, a sub-watershed ofthe major basin in southwest Haiti, was selected as a pilotsite. In addition, a small-scale disaster recovery project wasimplemented to help reduce vulnerability of local coastalcommunities to natural disasters, as well as to enhancecoastal fisheries and create employment opportunitiesthrough mangrove rehabilitation activities, and promotesustainable management. Finally, planning was initiated fora major study that will provide an overview of the energysector in Haiti and an outline plan for potential interventionand investing strategies by UNEP and others in the energysector in Haiti. The overall plans for HRI will be discussedand amended in light of major reconstruction efforts thatwill start in Haiti in 2010.China earthquake early recovery andreconstruction programmeIn Q4, as part of the environmental response to theearthquake that struck the Sichuan Province of China inMay 2008, UNEP continued to provide technical assistanceto the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection(MEP) with regard to national recovery plans, and todevelop projects for environmental management, greenreconstruction, asbestos laboratories, contaminated siteassessment and national guidelines in disaster reductionand emergency response. An international UNEP consultantwas seconded to the UNEP China office to provide on-thegroundenvironmental expertise for the period Q3 2009to Q1 2010, particularly focusing on the development ofa contaminated site assessment, for which UNEP workedwith the Chinese Research Academy for EnvironmentalSciences. In addition, a two-week mission was mobilizedin November to Beichuan and Deyang to review ongoingreconstruction activities and progress on the contaminatedsite assessment respectively. Key next steps includecompiling recommendations for potential UNEP follow-upactivities in 2010.Nepal early recovery programmeFollowing the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12January, UNEP is providing technical assistance and supporton environmental issues to UN agencies and the nationalgovernmentUNEP’s environmental recovery programme in Nepal,which focuses on national parks and protected areas,continued during Q4, with the main implementationpartner WWF reporting progress on initiatives such asanti-poaching programmes, enhancement of security andmonitoring infrastructure within selected national parks,and community awareness-raising and mobilization.Progress was also reported towards the integration ofenvironmental concerns in the New National Constitution.Key outputs include the delivery of four capacity-buildingworkshops with Constitutional Assembly members, and thedevelopment of draft reports from numerous committeeswith regard to the role of the environment within theConstitution, including the draft report of the NationalInterest Preservation Committee, and the draft report ofthe Committee on the Distribution of Natural Resources,Financial Rights and Public Revenues.11

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts ProgrammeDisaster Risk ReductionThe disaster risk reduction pillar of the UNEP Disastersand Conflicts programme focuses on countries thathave been identified as vulnerable to natural hazards,and on human-made disaster events with an environmentalcomponent. As well as producing environmental riskassessments, UNEP seeks to strengthen the hand of MemberStates for environmental management through developingresponsive strategies, building capacity and implementingpilot projects to reduce identified risks, therebycontributing to long-term disaster risk reduction. UNEP alsocontributes to global policy development by producingpolicy toolkits and training modules that demonstrategood practices and lessons learned in reducing risks, andprovides environmental data and expertise on sustainablemanagement of shared natural resources.Integrating ecosystem and climate change factorsinto disaster risk assessments and associatedplanning processesIn Q4, UNEP completed pilot-testing of the Risk andVulnerability Assessment Methodology DevelopmentProject (RiVAMP), aimed at assisting decision-makers inevaluating their investment options effectively, takinginto account long-term environmental and climatechange factors. Negril, on the western coast of Jamaicawas selected as a pilot site for the project, based on itshigh level of vulnerability to climate change and naturalhazards, particularly hurricanes and tropical storms, andthe importance of nature-based tourism, agriculture andfisheries to the economy. Pilot-testing of the assessmentmethodology comprised two segments. First, several twodayconsultation workshops were held at the national, parishand community levels in October and November. Multiplegovernment, academic and civil society stakeholders,together with two selected local communities participatedin the workshops to discuss ecosystem services, witha particular focus on coral reefs, sea grass, mangroves,forests and wetlands. Major drivers of ecosystem declineas well as potential solutions to arrest degradation werealso considered. Second, spatial and statistical analyseswere carried out based on GIS mapping, satellite imageryand remote sensing as well as modelling of storm surgeand sea-level rise impacts on Negril beaches. Results fromboth the stakeholder workshops and the scientific analysesclearly demonstrated the role of ecosystems (in particularcoral and sea grass) in protecting the coastline, in additionto providing critical services to sustain local livelihoods andthe vital tourism economy. The finalization of the RiVampreport is ongoing with the Government of Jamaica andpartners, and is expected to be presented in Kingston andNegril at a validation workshop in March 2010.The Partnership of Environment and Disaster RiskReduction (PEDDR)Following the PEDRR planning retreat that took place inGeneva on 30 September, development of activities for2010 continued throughout the quarter. PEDRR is a globalpartnership comprised of UN agencies, internationaland regional NGOs, as well as specialist institutes thatcollectively aim to influence policy and to scale up andbetter coordinate environmental efforts in pursuit ofdisaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.In Q4 UNEP concluded pilot-testing of a risk and vulnerability assessment methodology in Jamaica12

SUMMARY Quarterly Progress Report / october-december 2009Environmental Cooperationfor PeacebuildingUnder the Environmental Cooperation forPeacebuilding pillar of work, UNEP aims to useenvironmental cooperation to transform the risksof conflict over resources into opportunities for peace inwar-torn societies. This includes assessing and integratingenvironment and natural resources issues within thepeacebuilding policies and strategies of the UN, as wellas using the shared management of natural resourcesas a platform for platform for dialogue, cooperation andconfidence-building within and between conflict-affectedcountries. To help address the environmental dimensions ofconflict and peacebuilding effectively, UNEP has developedpartnerships with the UN Peacebuilding Support Office(PBSO) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations(DPKO and DFS) in New York and the European Commission(RELEX) in Brussels. Similar partnerships are being developedwith DPA and UNDP BCPR. UNEP has also broadened itsexpertise and capacity by establishing, together with IISD,an Expert Advisory Group on Environment, Conflict andPeacebuilding.Launch of the report “Protecting the Environmentduring Armed Conflict: An Inventory and Analysisof International Law”On 6 November UNEP, together with the Environmental LawInstitute (ELI), launched a new report entitled “Protectingthe Environment during Armed Conflict: An Inventoryand Analysis of International Law.” The report was issuedtogether with a message from the Secretary-Generalon the occasion of the International Day for Preventingthe Exploitation of the Environment in War and ArmedConflict. Aimed at the legal community as well as policyand decision-makers, UNEP’s report identifies the currentgaps and weaknesses in the international legal frameworkfor protecting the environment during armed conflictand concludes with twelve concrete recommendationson ways to strengthen the law and its enforcement. Inparticular, the report finds that while the environment andnatural resources enjoy protection under several importantinternational legal instruments, such as Additional ProtocolI of the Geneva Conventions, the implementation andenforcement of these provisions remains very weak. Oneof the most significant gaps identified in the internationalframework is that most of legal instruments were designedfor international armed conflicts and do not apply to civilwars. Furthermore, imprecise definitions of damage suchas “widespread, long-term and severe” imply thresholdsthat are almost impossible to demonstrate. A second gapis that there are few international mechanisms to monitorinfringements or address claims for environmental damagesustained during warfare. The UNEP report calls on theInternational Law Commission to examine the existinginternational law for protecting the environment duringarmed conflict and to recommend how it can be clarified,codified and expanded. It also calls on the InternationalCommittee of the Red Cross to update the 1999 “Guidelineson the Protection of the Environment during ArmedConflict” and for States to reflect these updated guidelinesin national legislation. Finally, the report recommends thata new legal instrument granting place-based protection forcritical natural resources and areas of ecological importanceduring armed conflicts be developed based on the conceptof “demilitarized zones”. For further information please see:http://www.un.org/en/events/environmentconflictday/index.shtmlUNITAR Peacekeeping Training ProgrammeModule on Natural ResourcesProtecting the EnvironmentDuring Armed ConflictAn Inventory and Analysisof International LawUnited Nations Environment Programme“Because the environment and natural resources are crucialfor building and consolidating peace, it is urgent that theirprotection in times of armed conflict be strengthened.”Ban Ki-Moon, UNited nations Secretary-GeneralFollowing a request from UNITAR, UNEP, together withIISD, UNDP, UN DKPO/DFS, Global Witness, the SwedishDefense Research Institute and the US Army War College isproviding assistance to develop a training module on naturalresources and peacekeeping, designed specifically for premissionpeacekeeping deployment and to raise awarenessand knowledge for participants around five main issues: 1)environmental technologies and best practices applicable© UN PHOTO13

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts Programmeto UN field missions for energy, water and waste; 2) clean-upand decommissioning of peacekeeping camps; 3) monitoringby peacekeepers of illegal extraction and trade of naturalresources; 4) disarmament, demobilization and reintegrationusing natural resources for job creation and livelihoods; and5) quick impact projects and provincial reconstruction teamprojects implemented by military and civilian teams, whichinvolve water and sanitation infrastructure or the restoration ofdegraded ecosystems. The training, which will take place in Q12010, will highlight best practices, illustrated by case studies,including from Sudan, Somalia, DR Congo, Lebanon, and Haiti.Assessing natural resources, conflict risks andpeacebuilding opportunities in DR CongoUNEP, together with Adelphi Research and the International PeaceInformation Service (IPIS), conducted a targeted assessmentof conflict risks and peacebuilding opportunities from naturalresources as part of the ongoing post-conflict environmentalassessment (PCEA) in DR Congo. Using the draft ConflictAnalysis Framework (CAF) developed by UNEP, the assessmenthighlighted existing and potential conflict hotspots over naturalresources as well as opportunities to use natural resources asplatforms for dialogue, cooperation and confidence building.The results of the analysis will be included in the comprehensiveUNEP PCEA report to be released in mid 2010.Technical cooperation on decommissioningpeacekeeping camps in DR Congo with MONUCIn December, within the framework of the UNEP-DPKO/DFStechnical cooperation, which aims to provide environmentalexpertise to UNSOA (UN Support office to AMISOM), UNEPundertook a four-day technical mission to MONUC inKinshasa, DR Congo to review the environmental status ofselected peacekeeping camps and provide advice for sitedecommissioning and environmental clean-up. In particular,the mission assessed solid waste and sewage disposal sites, fuelstorage and electrical generation, and storage warehouses forchemical and hazardous materials. The mission also included aone-day environmental awareness workshop to raise awarenesson the environmental footprint of peacekeeping missions. Theworkshop, which was delivered to 45 MONUC staff, includingsenior personnel such as the Chief Engineer available to staff,was considered a success and MONUC has since requested afollow-up training in the Eastern Region of DR Congo in early2010. Finally a technical report entitled “Assessment of Energy,Water and Waste Reduction Options for the Proposed AMISOMHQ Camp in Mogadishu, Somalia and the Support Base inMombasa, Kenya” was finalized during the reporting period.meeting was to conduct technical reviews of several draft UNEPproducts and plan activities for 2010. Experts from eight differentuniversities, research institutions and NGOs from across threecontinents participated. During 2010-2011, it was agreed thatthe Expert Advisory Group would continue to provide strategicand peer review support to UNEP, as well as seek to broaden thegeographic and technical expertise of its members.Expert meeting on guidance notes for the UN-EUproject on natural resources and conflictIn early 2009, UNEP joined forces with UNDP, UN Habitat, DPA,DESA and PBSO for a project addressing the management ofnatural resources for both conflict prevention and peacebuilding,funded by the European Commission. The project aims todevelop best practice guidance notes and training materials forUN country teams, EC delegations and national governmentson addressing conflicts relating to natural resources. Fourthematic guidance documents are under development onwealth sharing; land tenure; resource scarcity, environmentaldegradation and climate risk; and capacity-building for naturalresource governance. The training programme to implementthe guidance notes is expected to commence in early 2010,following the final field testing and revision process.Ongoing activities of the EnvironmentalCooperation for Peacebuilding programmeSeveral mainline activities of the programme continuedduring the reporting period, including the finalization of theUNEP Conflict Analysis Framework (CAF), UNEP’s Environment,Conflict and Peacebuilding assessment in Sierra Leone, the jointUNEP-UNDP initiative on Disarmament, Demobilization andReintegration (DDR), as well as ongoing work on the upcomingflagship book on strengthening post-conflict peacebuildingthrough natural resource management and policy reports onenvironmental diplomacy and best practices for peacekeeping.Annual meeting of the UNEP Expert AdvisoryGroup on Environment, Conflict andPeacebuildingA two-day meeting of UNEP’s Expert Advisory Group onEnvironment, Conflict and Peacebuilding was held in Genevaon 16-17 November. Co-hosted by UNEP and the InternationalInstitute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the objective of theWithin the framework of the UNEP-DPKO/DFS technicalcooperation, a four-day technical mission was deployed tothe MONUC compound in Kinshasa, Dr Congo in december14

SUMMARY Quarterly Progress Report / october-december 2009The Environment and SecurityInitiative (ENVSEC)UNEP coordinates the Environment and SecurityInitiative (ENVSEC), a partnership of six organizationsthat provides multi-stakeholder-based analyses ofenvironment and security risks, and implements projectsaddressing the identified risks and environmental legaciesin Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe, the SouthernCaucasus and Central Asia.Central AsiaOn 16 November, a meeting of official representatives ofKyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan was organized inBishkek in relation to the “Strengthening Coordinationof Project Formulation and Mobilization of Resources forSustainable Radioactive Waste Management in CentralAsia project,” with the view to discussing plans for 2010.In addition, two new projects, namely “A comprehensivestudy on glacial melting in Central Asia” and “Promotingcooperation to adapt to climate change in the Chu-Talastransboundary basin,” were developed during Q4.South Eastern EuropeWithin the framework of the capacity-building projecton illegal logging, a fact-finding assessment on forestsand forest regimes, focusing on the extent and scopeof illegal logging activities, was initiated in Q3 in Bosniaand Herzegovina, Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republicof Macedonia, and Kosovo. The first phase of the project,during which initial research was conducted togetherwith an inventory of policy, legislative, and institutionalframeworks, was completed during the reporting period.Based on the initial research, further in-depth countrystudies will be finalized in early 2010.South CaucasusA national roundtable meeting on Forest Fire Managementwas organized on 4 September in Tbilisi, Georgia, as a followupactivity of a forest fire assessment which aims to identifyneeds and priority measures of the agencies implicated inforest fire management in Georgia. Based on the outcomesof the roundtable, a project proposal was drafted duringthe quarter to provide technical assistance to the Ministryof Environment of Georgia through the developmentof a policy paper and implementation strategy for themanagement of national forest affected by fires. Additionally,within the framework of the project “Enhancing NationalCapacity on Fire Management and Risk Reduction in theSouth Caucasus,” a seminar on Wildfires and Human Securitywas held in Kyiv and Chernobyl, Ukraine from 6-8 October2009. The seminar, which was organized by the Global FireMonitoring Center, was well received by participants fromthe national Ministries of Emergency Situations and ForestryDepartments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.The South Caucasus ENVSEC team continued to make progresstowards forest fire management project in GeorgiaEastern EuropeWithin the context of the project “Transboundarycooperation and sustainable management in the Dniesterriver basin,” a meeting was held in Kyiv, Ukraine from 15-16October, during which a new Dniester basin agreement wasdiscussed. Other key outputs delivered during the reportingperiod include the commencement of the “Flood Monitoringand Forecast in the Pripyat River Basin” with a kick-offmeeting in Kyiv on 22 December; finalization of a feasibilitystudy for the “Integrated management of the Danubedelta” project; completion of the second phase of theproject on “Obsolete pesticides in the Transnistrian regionof Moldova”; and an environmental impact assessment(EIA) under the ENVSEC project aimed at destroying stocksof rocket fuel toxic components (mélange) at selectedsites in Ukraine. Additionally, ENVSEC, together with theEuropean Environment Agency (EEA) and the Global EnergyAssessment (GEA) network, organized a series of workshopson “Sustainability of Energy Security Strategies in EasternEurope” from 12-15 October in Copenhagen, Denmarkand Lund, Sweden. Finally, following the completion ofpreliminary research with regard to illegal logging inUkraine, the findings were presented to the Ministry ofEnvironmental Protection of Ukraine and the State ForestryCommittee on 9 December 2009 in Kiev.For more information on UNEP’s Disasters and ConflictsProgramme, please contact:United Nations Environment ProgrammePost-Conflict and Disaster Management BranchInternational Environment House15 chemin des AnémonesCH-1219 Châtelaine, GenevaSwitzerlandTel.: +41 (0)22 917 8530Fax: +41 (0)22 917 8064www.unep.org/conflictsanddisasterswww.envsec.org/15