RP206Volume 1
MOLDOVA SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECT
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSISENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
AND SOCIAL PROCESS FRAMEWORK
September 25, 2003
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Abbreviations
BLS Baseline StudiesCDM Clean Development MechanismEA Environmental AssessmentEMP Environmental Management PlanEPL Environmental Protection LawER Emission ReductionERPA Emissions Reductions Purchase AgreementHA HectaresICAS Forest Management and Research InstituteISDS Integrated Safeguard Data SheetLMF Local Management ForaMP Monitoring PlanNPV Net Present ValuePCF Prototype Carbon FundPCN Project Concept NotePDD Project Design DocumentPF Process FrameworkPID Project Information DocumentPIN Project Idea NoteVR Validation Report
CONTENTS
1. Project Description ..... 3...................................32. Status of Afforestation Lands ........................................ 63. Forest Operations ......................................... . . . 7
3.1 Seedlings and trees protection measures . .. ........ 73.2 Maintenance works .... 73.3 Forest Roads .... 8
4. National EIA Legal Framework ..... 85. Forestry Legislation and Legal Provisions with Regard to Afforestation . 106. Monitoring and Enforcement of Environmental and Forestry Legislation .137 Environmental Analysis: Without the Project ..... 15
7.1 Biodiversity Baseline Scenario (Without-Project) . . .157.2 Soi Conservation Baseline Scenario (Without-Project) . .257.3 Other Environmental Issues in the Baseline Scenario (Without-Project) 26
8. Environmental Analysis: With the Project .28&1 Expected Project Contributions to Sustainable Development.. 288.2 Biodiversity Impacts of the Project .. 368.3 Soil Conservation Effects of the Project .. .40
8.4 Other Environmental Effects of the Project . .418.5 Outlook on Project Contributions to Sustainable Development 42
9 Project Alternatives . . .4310 World Bank Safeguard Policies . . .4411. Environmental Management Plan (EMP) .................................... 46
11.1 EMPSummary .................................. . 4611.2 Monitoring ....... 5011.3 Institutional Arrangements and Capacity Building ................................... 56
12. Record of Consultations and Information Disclosure . ....................................... 5812.1 Consultations and Information Disclosure in Moldova . . 5812.2 Consultations and Information Disclosure in the World Bank and PCF. 5912.3 AdditionalPlanned Consultations and Disclosure . ................................... 59
1. Project Description
The project has a single component, Restoration of Degraded Agricultural Lands, withtwo activities:
Afforestation of Degraded Agricultural Lands. The project would afforest 14,500hectares of degraded agricultural lands on 1,891 plots distributed throughout the countryThe plots are located in 151 primarii (mayoralties, municipalities, local communities) inall 11 judets (provinces). The lands to be afforested are largely "refused lands" - landsthat have not been privatized and primariya are unable to restore to productive uses dueto a lack of financing and technical know-how.
About 9,106 ha (63%) are property of Moldsilva or in the transfer process to becomeMoldsilva property and 5,389 ha (37%) are owned by the local communities, which havecontracted Moldsilva for a period of 5-10 years for executing the afforestation work ontheir behalf. The decisions of local councils have been taken and the contracts for theplanting and maintenance activities have been concluded with the forest agency. After thecontract period forest management activities will be continued by the primariya.
Moldsilva would apply environmentally sound forest management practices, well-developed in Moldova, to ensure the maintenance of healthy plantations and develop asustainable flow of wood and non-wood products for subsistence and commercialpurposes. Maintenance cuttings are carried out from canopy closure to mature stages, andimprove phyto-sanitary conditions through the control of forest pests and fires.
Support to Community Forest and Pasture Management. The project would buildcapacity and improve the enabling environment for community forest and pasturemanagement by providing: (i) Technical assistance for the development of communityforest management on communal lands; and (ii) Direct financial support to communitiesfor improved management and productivity of community forests and pastures. Eligibleinvestments will include forest pruning and thinning, and other costs associated withforest maintenance, costs of re-seeding and restoring degraded pastures (variousmeasures for site preparation and pasture improvement), livestock watering sites, andfencing as needed to protect new forest stands and pastures under restoration. Thespecific investments for each community will be demand-driven: the project will educateeligible communities about the program and provide assistance in proposal preparationand implementation; and (iii) Improve the level of understanding of the project activitiesand help to replicate the results in other areas in the country.
The community and state forest management activities would ensure a sustainable flowof wood (fuel wood and lumber) and non-wood products (hay, mushrooms, medicinalplants, and wildlife) for subsistence and commercial purposes, contributing broadly topoverty reduction and economic development in rural communities.
This Project fits in the general framework of global climate change mitigation, a growingarea of activity for the World Bank Group. The Bank serves as Trustee of the Prototype
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Carbon Fund (PCF), which implement the Kyoto Protocol on climate change on anexperimental basis. In establishing this Fund, the World Bank had three strategicobjectives: (a) to demonstrate how project-based Emission Reductions transactions canpromote and contribute to the sustainable development of developing countries andcountries with economies in transition; (b) to share with the Parties to the UN FrameworkConvention on Climate Change knowledge gained by the Trustee and Participants in thecourse of the Fund's operations; and (c) to demonstrate how the Bank can work inpartnership with the public and private sectors to mobilize new resources for itsborrowing member countries while addressing global environmental concerns.
From the total project afforestation area of 14,494 ha, some 9,106 ha (63%) are propertyof Moldsilva or are being transferred from local communities to Moldsilva and 5,389 ha(37%) are owned by the local communities and which have contracted Moldsilva for aperiod of 5-10 years for executing the afforestation work on their behalf. The decisions oflocal councils have been taken and the contracts for the planting and maintenanceactivities have been concluded with Moldsilva. After the contract period forestmanagement activities will be continued by the municipalities.
The project afforestation area of 14,494 ha consists of 1,891 plots distributed among 151primarii (mayoralties, municipalities, local communities) and 22 forest districts (forestenterprises), in all 11 judets (provinces)' of the country. The average and median plotsizes are 7.7 and 4.5 hectares, respectively (range, 1.1 ha tol 15.6 ha). Table 1summarizes the project sites according to area classes and Figure 1 illustrates the datagraphically. Table 2 summarizes the geographic distribution of the project sites across thecountry and indicates whether ownership is with Moldsilva or local communities.
Table 1. Size characteristics of the sites for afforestation.
Area class (ha) No. of plots Area (ha) Area (%)1-4.9 1,009 2,596 18%5-9.9 456 3,150 22%10-14.9 189 2,271 16%15-19.9 93 1,576 11%20-29.9 77 1,845 13%30-49.9 48 1,739 12%>50 19 1,317 9%Total 1,891 14,494 100%
The judets were created by merging the former 50 raions (districts) that will be recreated in 2003.
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Figure 1. Size distribution of sites selected for afforestation
Distribution of afforestation plots
3500-
3000Y U number of sectors-_ *area (ha)
2500-_
2000 -
1500!
1000-
500-
o- 0- I , , , ,
1-4,9 5-9,9 10-14,9 15-19,9 20-29,9 30-49,9 >50
Sector size class
Table 2. Distribution of Project Sites by Zone and Forest EnterpriseLands for Managers of Forests
Forest Afforestation Forest Fund State Under the TransferEnterprises (ha) Forest Agency Process to SFA Local Councils
MOLDSILVA MOLDSILVANorthern Zone
Edinet 335.2 9.6 159.2 166.4Glodeni 768.9 168.3 253.4 347.2Balti 534.2 189.6 344.6 0Soroca 562.3 78.4 277.5 206.4$olddne§ti 68.8 31.0 10.2 27.6Padurea 125.0 85.0 40.0 0DomneascaTotal 2394.4 561.9 1089.9 747.6
Central ZoneTeleneqti 176.1 30.9 0 145.2Orhei 625.3 351.3 106.1 167.9Caldra§i 177.3 13.2 53.4 110.7Ungheni 775.7 376.2 105.8 293.7Nisporeni 401.7 31.5 188.8 181.4Strdaeni 330.1 32.1 298.0 0
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Chisinau 967.0 463.0 11.8 492.2Hinceti 849.3 261.5 305.3 282.5Rezeni 111.3 60.7 0 50.6Tighina 2139.0 933.3 727.2 478.5RNS Codrii 12.0 0 0 12.0
RNS Plaiul 52.3 0 0 52.3FaguluiTotal 6617.1 2553.7 1796.4 2267.0
Southern Zone
largara 1337.3 570.3 375.7 391.7Comrat 2494.3 510.7 0 1983.6Manta-V 315.2 211.0 104.2 0Silva-Sud 1335.2 0 0 1335.2Total 5482.4 2627.2 479.9 2375.3Total general 14493.9 5742.8 3361.2 5389.9% from the 100 39.6 23.2 37.2p ro je c t__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Time Frame for Project Activities. The project planting started in October 2002 when50% of the project areas were established. Planting will continue in 2003 (18% ofplantation), 2004 (13%), and 2005 (19%). The scheduled PCF Project Crediting Periodwill be for 15 years (2002-2017).
2. Status of Afforestation Lands
According to the cadastre inventory the lands intended to be included in project(originally 14,912.7 ha) are distributed in the following land use categories:
* Pastures - 5578,0 ha;* Glades and places without vegetation - 4939 ha;* Abandoned arable lands - 195,5 ha;* Perennial plantations - 257,24 ha;* Degraded lands - 3943,0 ha.
To facilitate the project review, these categories were combined to form two largercategories, based on erosion conditions, fertility and vegetative cover:
* Pastures 10,713 ha, incl. pastures (5,578 ha), glades (4,939 ha), abandonedarable lands (195 ha)
* Degraded lands 3943 ha, incl. landslides, ravines, other degraded lands
Different forms of erosion are common on the project sites, including landslides, soilcreep, tillage erosion and particle movements (through-wash, rainsplash, rainflow,rillwash, gully erosion. 35% of the project sites show moderate to excessive, mainlysurface erosion. About 27% of the project sites are classified as degraded lands thatessentially have no productive potential due to the occurrence of ravines and landslides.
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3. Forest Operations
This section contain a short description of the proposed forest operations.
3.1 Seedlings and trees protection measures
Measures to protect seedlings against diseases comprise the following:
* Supplementary treatment of seedlings with phosphorus and potassium.* Removal of infected seedlings and fallen leaves
Tree protection measures outside those mentioned above for seedlings will include alsothe creation of multi-species stands according to the forest vegetation conditions. Thereare no plans to use pesticides.
3.2 Maintenance works
All the interventions carried out in the framework of forest plantation from the canopyclosure stage and up to the harvest are called maintenance cuttings. Through theseprocedures, forest functions and phyto-sanitary conditions are improved, and theresistance of trees to harmful environmental factors is increased.
Maintenance cuttings are programmed and carried out according to the Technicalguidelines on maintenance and management of forests in the forest fund (CACS,Chisinau, 1995). The maintenance work falls into the following categories:
* Thinning - 4,2 m3 /ha, including 4,2 m3 twigs, boughs, branches;* Thinning - 5,9 m3 /ha, including 0,2 m3 of fuelwood and 5,7 m3 twigs, boughs,
branches;* Thinning - 19,9 m 3/ha, including 2,1 m 3 timber, 15,6 m3 fuelwood and 2,2 m3
twigs, boughs, branches;* Hygienic cuttings - 16,4 m 3 /ha, including 1,5 m 3 timber, 13,8 m3 fuelwood and
1,1 m3 twigs, boughs, branches.
The periodicity of maintenance and management works is as follows:
* Thinning: with a periodicity of 2-3 years - maintenance activities for trees afterthe canopy closure, during which suppressed trees are removed;
* Thinning: with a periodicity of 3-5 years - maintenance activities that are carriedout at more advanced age than the above mentioned activity, the aim of which isthe relatively homogeneous placement of main and mixture species; and
* Thinning: with a periodicity of 5-8 (5-12) years - maintenance cuttings ofplantation stands of advanced ages to support development of the main speciesand intensify their growth.
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3.3 Forest Roads
Road access to the project sites is satisfactory. The project will not involve roadrehabilitation or construction.
4. National EIA Legal Framework
Since 1992, Moldovan authorities have developed a series laws and regulations thatstipulate in detail all aspects of the EIA. The most important of these are as follows:
* Law on Environmental Protection (LEP) (1993)* Law on State Ecological Expertise (SEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) (1996)* Guidelines on Performing State Environmental Expertise (1995)* Regulation on Joint Expert Committee of the Ministry of Environment (1998)* Regulation on Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making(2000)
The existing EIA system in Moldova is based on the old soviet system of the StateEcological Expertise (SEE). The SEE represents a process of the review of proposedactivities from the point of view of their correspondence to the national environmentallaws, regulations and standards as well as of proposed mitigation measures. The SEE is amandatory process not only for concrete development projects, but also for strategicdocuments, such as land use plans and sectoral strategies. In order to facilitate the SEEprocess, project documentation to be submitted to the expert committee should include anEIA report. This report should comprise the environmental impacts of the proposedactivities and the anticipated mitigation measures.
EIA administrative framework. The competent SEE authority in Moldova is theDivision on SEE within the State Ecological Inspection, a subdivision of the Ministry ofEcology, Construction and Territorial Development. It incorporates dual functions. Asthe main administrative body, it is responsible for organizing and coordinating the SEEprocedure (Law on SEE and EIA, Article 7(2)). As the expert body, it is responsible forreviewing project documentation for planned activities and deciding whether or not theymay be implemented. In the latter function, the ministry is represented by a group ofpermanently employed state experts of the Division on SEE. The Division on SEE is alsoresponsible for control and supervision of SEE procedures.
EIA guidelines and procedures. An annex to the Law on SEE and EIA containsregulations for conducting EIA studies. Procedures for conducting SEE are contained inGuidelines on Performing SEE (1995). The comprehensive guidelines define in detail thegoal, objectives, and principles of SEE. They stipulate the structure and function of theprocess, procedures for submitting project documentation, and review procedures. Theguidelines are accompanied by a series of annexes, on such topics as requirements forproject documentation submitted to SEE (Annex 7.1.); the subdivisions responsible forSEE of various types of projects (Annex 7.2.); requirements for every chapter, or volume,
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of project documentation (Annex 7.3); and projects that require a separate chapter on EIAat the project stage (Annex 7.4).
Screening: methods and categories. The Law on SEE and EIA identifies the screeningmethod to be applied, and which includes a mandatory list of the activities that need tohave a full EIA study, which is presented in the Annex to the EIA Regulation.
The initial stage of the SEE procedures is the preparation of project and planningdocumentation to be submitted to SEE for approval. Depending on the complexity andthe expected environmental impact of the planned activity, an EIA study may or may notbe required as a preliminary SEE procedure. The laws on SEE and EIA stipulate that allactivities that could have a significant impact on the environment require such apreliminary ELA study. The mandatory list of developments that require EIA is providedin Chapter X of the Regulation on EIA annexed to the law. It considers 32 types ofactivities. According to Chapter 1 (4) of the same regulation, the central environmentalauthority may also require an EIA for activities that are not on the list - even though theprocedure for case-by-case screening is not elaborated in Moldovan environmentalassessment legislation.. Afforestation is not included in this list.
Public participation. Public participation and consultation are recognized as valuabletools in environmental assessment for mediating differing interests, arriving at sounddecisions, and ensuring the rights of citizens to have access to environmental informationand a role in environmental decision-making. Efficient public participation andconsultation in environmental decision-making consist of the following interconnectedcomponents:
* Identifying the interested public (groups, individuals);* Providing information to the public in a timely manner;* Fostering communication/dialog between the decision-makers and interested
parties;* Incorporating the results of the dialog into decision-making; and* Informing the public of the decision and how its views influenced the decision.
All these aspects are present in Moldovan SEE legislation to one extent or another. Thus,the Regulation on Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making determines theprocedures for public participation in decision-making on new policies, programs, andplans, as well as new laws and regulations (Chapter II), project-level economic activities(Chapter III), and national-level development activities (Chapter IV).
The public should have access to environmental information and should be consultedduring the environmental decision-making process. It also has the right to carry out apublic ecological expertise, or review, of any proposed activity and to relay itsopinion/findings to the main administrative body of SEE. Requirements for publicecological reviews are stipulated in the Law on SEE and EIA - e.g., they may be carriedout by environmental nongovernmental organizations that are officially registered and
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whose by-laws provide for public ecological review or by special-interest groups that listat least 100 signatories 18 years old or older.
Public participation and consultation is ensured by the proponent. This person or entity isresponsible for informing the public in the target area about the planned development andfor organizing public debates on the proposed activity and sending the results to SEE.The proponent is also responsible for informing the local public authority and providingit with project documentation and a summary of potential impacts and mitigationmeasures. The local public authority disseminates this information and ensures that thepublic has adequate opportunities to comment (Articles 13b; 14). It also informs thepublic about the final decision that is made on the proposed activity, by means of leaflets,press releases, radio and TV programs, as well as direct communications (Article 15).Local public authorities, together with local environment authorities, review the results ofthe poll and decide how the proponent should respond. The proponent then makesappropriate adjustments in project documentation to meet the requirements of legislationand established norms and standards. If the proponent rejects the suggestions made by thepublic, he/she must present a written explanation to local public authority.
Public participation in environmental decision-making is considered terminated onlywhen the decision-maker publishes the final resolution regarding the proposed national-level development project (Article 26).
Monitorine, enforcement, and compliance. Laws related to SEE and EIA do notinclude any stipulations on monitoring of project implementation. Information on post-project analysis in Moldovan environmental assessment legislation is vague, is limited tomonitoring environmental quality and to control, if the approved project is implementedaccording to a SEE resolution. Moreover, no detailed procedures for post-projectanalysis are given - ones that would clearly define its goals, principles, andimplementation.
There is only one general provision in national legislation on enforcement andcompliance of SEE and EIA requirements and conditions The Law on Amendments ofthe Penal Code, the Code of Penal Procedure, and the Code of Administrative Violations(1993) stipulates SEE violations and penalties. For example, implementation ofdevelopment projects without a SEE, which entails a penalty of 10 times the minimummonthly wage for natural persons and 20 times for legal persons.
5. Forestry Legislation and Legal Provisions with Regard to Afforestation
The management of lands covered with forest vegetation is regulated by legal actsapproved by the Parliament, technical norms and regulations approved by theGovernment, instructions and forestry recommendations approved by central forestryauthority The main legislative acts with the attribution to the extension process of theterritories covered with forest vegetation is the Forest Code (nr. 887 from June 21, 1996with next modifications), the Land Code (nr.828 from December 25, 1991 with nextmodifications), the Law on the improvement of degraded lands through the afforestation
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(1041-XIV from June,15, 2000); Law on the environmental protection(l993); Law on thezones and forest protection belts for water basins, rivers (1994). Besides these laws, thereare in force several other by laws and regulations and specifically:
* Technical guidelines on the regeneration and afforestation of lands fromthe state forest fund of the Republic of Moldova;
* Technical guidelines on the maintenance of trees in the forest fund;* Instruction on the annual control of regenerated lands;* Technical norms on the forest protection.
Forest Code
The problems linked with the extension of the territories covered with forest vegetationare expressed in the chapters IX and X (art. 52; 54-55). According to the correspondingarticles, the central forestry authority is obliged to assure the afforestation of all territoriesfrom the forest fund subject for the regeneration (waste grounds and glades, degradedlands received for management, other territories). Composition, schemes andtechnologies for forest artificial refforestation are established according to the specialtechnical norms, taking into consideration the type of forest vegetation conditions.
Afforestation of degraded lands outside the forest fund is obligatory and is effectuated bythe landowners according to specific programs and projects, reviewed by the stateforestry and environmental authorities and are approved by public local administrationauthorities. Financing of corresponding activities is made from the state and local budget.
According to Art.9 the control under the regeneration (afforestation) of the areas fromthe forest fund, registration the rights for management and use of these lands,participation in the implementation of programs for regeneration, afforestation ofdegraded lands are the competence of the authorities of the local public administration.
Art.6 foresees that forests of the Republic of Moldova used in public interest, present theobject of public property, being transferred in management or use. Private property onforests is allowed in the case if these forests are planted in accordance with the legislationon the private lands.
Art. 84 and 85, annex 4 establish responsibility for destruction of forest plantationsindependently of the form of property. Thus, the destruction of 1 ha of forest plantationsat the age up to 5 years, the quantity of damages constitute 43-53 of minimal salaries (independence on the functional group) and administrative penalty in the amount of 5-25minimal salaries. In the case when damages caused to forest plantations in the age of 6-10 years, penalty constitute 56-65 minimal salaries. In the case of plantations of Quercus,Fagus, Fraxinus damages are doubled.
According to the Art. 38 the grazing of goats and sheep in forbidden in the forests. Thestatement on the haymaking and grazing on the lands from forest fund is approved by theGovernment. On some areas of forest fund, that are not the habitat of rare, protected and
jeopardized species of plants and animals it is permitted collection of forest fruits,berries, walnuts, mushrooms, medicinal plants etc, placement of hives apiaries,haymaking and grazing without causing any damages to forests.
Land Code
References of the Land Code to the extension of forest vegetation are placed in thechapter IV (art. 29), chapter IX (art.62), chapter IX (art.71), chapter XII (art.78-79; 81;85), chapter XV (art.100). According to the mentioned articles landowners are obliged toensure the effectuation of measures for prevention and combat erosion, landslides(including through afforestation, creation of systems of forest protection belts). Forafforestation, land can be used that is not fir for agriculture. Change in land use isapproved by judet councils (former raions). The rational use and land protection iseconomically stimulated (funds appropriation for land restoration/improvement,deliverance from the payments for the lands in the stage of improvement, profitable creditcompensation etc. ) through the financial means appropriation from the state and localbudgets, creation of various improvement funds.
Law on the improvement of degraded lands through afforestation
This law contains practically all issues related to the appropriation and afforestation ofdegraded lands. This law defines:
Categories of degraded lands (eroded lands, affected by landslides,salinated, sandy soils exposed to erosion, with stones, rocky, depositionsof torrential alluvium, etc);
* Procedures for identification of degraded lands proposed for afforestation(creation and composition of identification commissions, inventory ofthese lands, establishment of improvement funds, procedure of transferunder the management or sale of degraded lands to the central forestauthority);Financing of afforestation of degraded lands (afforestation should becarried out by landowners via special units, activities should be financedfrom the funds for improvement of degraded and polluted lands, statebudget, national ecological fund, local sponsors, external funding etc;central forest authority is nominated as technical coordinator of activitiesfor improvement of degraded lands);
Procedure for land allotment for afforestation
The appropriation of degraded lands proposed for afforestation is regulated by the LandCode, Law on the improvement of degraded lands through afforestation, Decree of theGovernment of the Republic of Moldova nr. 246 from May 3, 1996 "On the approval ofRules for lands appropriation".
Appropriation procedure begins with the establishment of commission for theidentification of degraded lands proposed for afforestation by Judet Council, Council of
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Territorial-administrative Unit Gagauzia, Municipal Council Chisinau. In thiscommission participate mayors of corresponding communities (chair of commission),representatives of the territorial forest units, environmental territorial units,representatives of various land owners etc. The results of commissions activities aresummarized in the act that contains information about the characteristics of selected lands(landowner, land category, number of cadaster contour etc.), a copy of land cadaster planis attached to the act. On the base of these documents the landowner (municipality) issuesa decision on the appropriation of land for afforestation, further regime of ownership(remains in continuation in the property of municipality or is transferred to the forestauthority, which will effect afforestation activities, etc).
In cases when degraded lands subject to afforestation (according to the landownersdecision) will remain in municipal ownership, these lands are leased to forest authority toundertake afforestation. The conditions of the lease require the forestry units to carry outthe afforestation and maintain the forests until canopy closure (5-10 years), after whichthe use of the afforested lands is returned to the municipality.
6. Monitoring and Enforcement of Environmental and Forestry Legislation
Responsibility for monitoring compliance with the forestry laws and regulations restswith the central forestry authority and Forest Inspection within the Ministry of Ecology,Constructions and Territory Development.
Moldsilva is responsible for forests management through its four divisions:
* Division on the Forest Fund and production;* Division on Forest Protection;* Forest Guard.* State Forest Enterprises, state reserves that are organized in district offices
and are responsible for afforestation works, maintenance, protection andguard of new created plantations.
In the functions of the state forest authorities among other the following responsibilitieswith regard to forest monitoring and state control in this area are included (art. 21 ofForest Code).
a) application of technical, economic, legislative and forestry norms, that assure theobservance of forestry regime;
b) observance of mode of handing of standing timber;c) observance of forest management statements;d) forest regeneration and afforestation of open places;e) observance of corresponding technologies during the carrying out of activities in
forest fund;f) observance of established mode of state register (inventory) of forest fund, state
forest cadastre and forest monitoring;g) organization of forest guard and protection;
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The Forest Code (art. 22) delegates the following responsibilities related to afforestationto state environmental authorities:
a) implementing of programs, approved by the Government concerning use,regeneration, guard and protection of forests;
b) conformity of afforestation rate to established normative;c) observance of norms of use of forest products;d) repartition of forests by groups and functional categories;e) protection and use of some rare and protected species of plants and animals from
the forest fund;f) provision of forest guard and protection;
Legislation of Moldova foresees also and the possibility of carrying out of public controlon the condition, use, regeneration, guard and protection of forest and hunting funds.Thus, according to the Art. 23 of Forest Code, citizens and public associations have theright to receive from the state forest bodies and environmental protection bodiesinformation on the condition of forest and hunting funds, planned and carried outmeasures concerning conservation and use of these, to propose and implement, accordingto the legislation, measures for guard and rational use of forest and hunting funds,biodiversity conservation in it.
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7 Environmental Analysis: Without the Project
7.1 Biodiversity Baseline Scenario (Without-Project)
Methodology
Initially, 2,338 sites distributed throughout the country were proposed for afforestation.This unwieldy number presented a challenge. On the basis of discussions with localexperts, the 8 land-use categories that were initially presented were reduced to 2 classes -pasture and degraded lands. The former subsumed the earlier categories of glades,pastures, arable land and wetlands. The latter came to include the former categories ofdegraded land, landslides, ravines and what was referred to as "other lands". Since 447 ofthe originally planned 2,338 project sites were less than 1 ha in size, on the basis ofconsultations with local expertise again, they were excluded from the project, thusmaking the total number of plots 1,891. The methodology also had to take into accountthat no quantified biodiversity baseline data exists for the individual project sites. Thisrequired the development of a tool for appraising the likelihood of occurrence ofbiodiversity values in certain locations. To accomplish this, the country's accepteddivision into three regions (Northern, Central and Southern) was adopted. These regionsexhibit some degree of internal homogeneity as exemplified by prevalent soils, rainfalland dominant vegetation cover. Using the 2 classes of pasture and degraded lands as anorganizational tool, a qualitative description emerged of the potential distribution ofcertain biodiversity values of the sites in the country's three regions. While thismethodology helped in describing the baseline, screening will be required to ensure thatany presently unknown biodiversity values of the sites are determined prior toafforestation. Finally, a scored checklist approach was used to determine and compareboth positive and negative project effects on biodiversity and other environmentalcomponents including soil, water, climate and landscape, in the short term (less than 2years) and in the longer term.
Biodiversity Stratification of foreseen Project Land Units
Moldova is located at the junction of three biogeographical zones: the broadleaf westernEuropean forests, the Mediterranean forests, and the Eurasian steppe. This accounts forits high biodiversity. The country, therefore, also encompasses range limits for someknown vertebrate and invertebrate species, a situation that makes these speciesparticularly vulnerable. For example, two rodent species of Spermophilus are found inMoldova: S. citellus is found in the eastern limits of its range and S. suslica in the westernlimits of its range. Both species are threatened by increasing anthropogenic stresses andthe former is listed in the Red Book of Moldova and Europe. Other vertebrates, includingSicista subtilis, Cricetus cricetus, Mustela eversmanni, Aquila rapax, Circus cy'aneus,Circus macrourus, Circus pygargus, Otis tarda, Tetrax tetrax, Vipera ursine, and Elaphequatuorlineata are presently in a critical state.
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The total area of the Republic of Moldova includes 76% agricultural lands, of which 66%have been subjected to intensive development. Natural ecosystems cover less than 20%of the country and are fragmented and degraded.
The biodiversity of the project sites is stratified on the basis of land classification (pasturelands and degraded lands) and geographical zones of the country (Northern Zone, CentralZone and Southern Zone). The pasture lands category includes currently used pasturelands, glades, and former arable lands that are now abandoned. The degraded landscategory includes degraded (denuded) lands, landslide areas, gullies and ravines.
Moldova's landscape and biological diversity is found in three zones. The Northern Zoneis characterized by a damp climate (550 mm annual rainfall), forest soils, and thedominance of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and cherry. The Central Zone is a morecompact forest massif and is comparable to the broadleaf forest of the central zone ofEurope. The annual rainfall varies from 250 mm to 500 mm. Soils vary from brown togray and light gray forests soils on slopes to dark gray forest soils in depressions. Thedominant tree species are Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea and Quercus robur. TheSouthern Zone is the driest, and is characterized by oak at the higher elevations, andpedunculate oak mixed with blackthorn at lower elevations. Fluffy oak forests (Quercuspubescens) are found on south and south-western slopes at lower elevations. TheSouthern Zone, however, is principally a steppe zone. The steppe community is the mostthreatened biodiversity in Moldova. There is essentially no original steppe ecosystemremaining. Rather, the original steppe is now represented by transformed fragments amidfields and on slopes unsuitable for agriculture.
Tables 3 and 4 list the number of vertebrate species and Red Book vertebrate speciesassociated with pastures in the three zones. Pastures, especially those of the southernzone, are of greatest importance for species entered into the Moldova Red Book,accounting for the presence of 86% of the species in the table and just under 10% of allfaunal species in the country's Red Book. Among potential project site vertebrates foundin the Red Book, the greatest number of species represents birds and reptiles.
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Table 3. Estimated Species Diversity of Vertebrates Potentially Utilizing Pasturesand Degraded Lands of Moldova
Northern Zone Central Zone Southern ZoneOrder Pastures Degraded lands Pastures Degraded lands Pastures Degaded
landsMammals 14 1 3 14 14 11 6Birds 17 6 18 6 19 5Reptiles 3 3 3 3 8 5Amphibians 2 1 2 1 21Totals 36 23 37 24 40 17
Source: Dr. A. Munteanu - Scientific Director, Institute of Zoology, Moldova Academy of Sciences, pers. comm.
Table 4. Estimated number of vertebrate species in the Moldova Red Bookassociated with pastures and degraded lands of Moldova.
Northern Zone Central Zone Southern ZoneOrder
Pastures Degraded Pastures Degraded lands Pastures Degraded landslands__ _ _ _ _
Mammals 2 1 1 1 1Birds 4 - 4 - 5 -
Reptiles - 1 4 2Amphibians 1 - 1 - 1Totals 7 1 7 1 11 2Source: Dr. A. Munteanu - Scientific Director, Institute of Zoology, Moldova Academy of Sciences, pers. comm.
Present and future Biodiversity Functions of defined Ecological Land Units
The project sites were selected over the last five years based on their degraded conditionand the agreement between Moldsilva and municipalities that afforestation of these landsis the most feasible method for mitigating erosion and associated environmentalproblems.
The number of species on the project sites are lower than the total numbers of speciesassociated with pasture habitats in the country (as shown in Tables 3 and 4), based on thepoor condition of the vegetative cover and human disturbance. Among potential projectsite vertebrates found in the Red Book, the greatest number of species represents birdsand reptiles.
The floral diversity of the project sites is now impoverished and transformed as a resultof overgrazing pressure that exceeds the normnby up to 400%. The vegetation of pasturelands is primarily comprised of hardy species that have become mixed with weedyspecies. In the Northern zone, the primary communities found on the degraded pasturesinclude: Stipo capillatae - Bothriochloetum herbosum; Festuceto valesiaci -Bothriochloetum herbosum; Festuceto valesiaci - Bothriochloetum ischaemii; Poaetobulbosi - Bothriochloetum ischaemii; and, Poaeto angustifolii - Festuceto valesiaci -Bothriochloetum iscaemii. Species found in the Central zone pastures include: Festuea
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sulcata; Stipeta ucraini; S. lessinae; S. pennatae; S. tirsi; S. pulcherrimae; Fistucetavalesiaci and S. herbosum. Species of the less disturbed Southern zone pasture speciesinclude: Festuea sulcata; Stipeta ucraini; S. lessinae; S. pennatae; S. tirsi; S.pulcherrimae; Fistuceta valesiaci and S. herbosum. Species of more disturbed pasturesinclude: Festucetum herbosum; Festucetum valesiaceae and Festuca valesiaca. The mostvaluable and botanically diverse areas are those situated on floodplains and other wetareas.
The project sites represent severely degraded and largely abandoned lands that,depending on the individual parcel, possess limited biodiversity value in their presentstate. While they were once productive and covered either in forest or steppe vegetation,today they are subject to water and wind erosion, landslides, and gully and ravineformation. Some low-quality grazing occurs for several months in the spring on some ofthe sites. The destruction of the original land cover throughout Moldova, and particularlyforests, has resulted in the degradation of ecosystems and their functions. Due to severeovergrazing, pastures are now severely degraded, and their vegetative cover has beentransformed to include more resistant and weedy species. These negative changes invegetation cover have resulted in a range of undesirable environmental consequences,including impacts on wildlife through the loss of habitat. The project sites representseverely degraded and largely abandoned lands that, depending on the individual parcel,possess limited to essentially no biodiversity value in their present state.
Moldovan biodiversity specialists have mapped the location of biologically importantgrassland ecosystems throughout the country, and confirmed that there is no overlapbetween the project sites and these natural habitats.
Selection of tree and shrub species for afforestation
Afforestation activities are diverse and depend on many factors, the most important ofwhich are: (a) status of the soil; (b) climatic conditions; (c) presence and concentration ofsoil carbonates; (d) species specifics; and (e) relief characteristics. Table 5 lists theindicative tree and shrub species that would be used based on specific site conditions(land use and slope).
In the project areas the species to be used are native species (Populus alba, Populusnigra., Salix alba, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior) and non-native species (Robiniapseudoacacia, Gleditschia triachantos, Sophorajaponica, Quercus rubra, Fraxinusviridis, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Pinus nigra). The success of afforestation of eroded landsrelies strongly on indigenous brush species, which improve the structure of plantations aswell as the soil condition. The native brush species to be used include Cotinus coggygria,Crataegus monogyna, and Rosa cannina.
Based on the specific afforestation plans for each of the projects sites and the normssummarized in Table 5, the total percentage of native tree and shrub species is shown in
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Figure 2. Figure 3 shows the percentages of trees and shrubs for the same three groupsidentified in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Total percentage of native tree and shrub species for the 14,493hectares of land planned for afforestation.*
12,000.00 11,206.90
10,000.00
8,000.00
6,000.00
4,000.00
2,000.00
0.00 ~~29.70 l 0.00 ooe
34% 50% 100%
* 429.7 hectares of the most degraded sites will be afforested using 34% native species; 11,206.9hectares will be afforested using 50% native species, and 2,857 hectares will be afforested using100% native species.
Figure 3. Percentage of tree and shrub species for the 14,493 hectares of landplanned for afforestation*.
90.0081.00 81.00
80.00 75.00
70.00-
60.00 -
50.00 U Tree
40.00 * Shrub
30.00 -Ill5.00 _i09.00
20.00 -
10.00 __I
0.00 430 11,207 2,857
* 3287 hectares (430 + 2857) will be afforested with 81% trees and 19% shrubs; 11,207 hectareswill be afforested with 75% trees and 25% shrubs
The selection of species was also based on the following: (a) non-native species wouldplay the role of pioneers for the soil improvements. These species would improve thedegraded soils and would create appropriate conditions for planting native species, whichwill be possible after the first productive cycle of non-native species; (b) by using non-
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native species it is possible to provide benefits (in wood and non-wood forests products)for the local population sooner; (c) in non-native forests it would be possible to permitgrazing in a relatively shorter time, thereby reducing the costs to the local population.
On the partially degraded sites, and wherever soil/site conditions allow, native specieswill be planted. On the rest of the lands, which are marginally appropriate forafforestation due to their extreme soil conditions, afforestation works would be carriedout based on the following tested method for ecological restoration: 1) establishment offorest cover using non-native species that are known to survive on degraded soils; and 2)secondary planting using native species. Plantations of non-native species are managedon short rotations and assume restoration of native forests after the first (maximumsecond or third) production cycle. After the soil conditions have improved (after one ortwo rotations of robinia) native species could be planted on improved soils.
The following non-native species were selected for afforestation works:
Robinia pseudoacatia is well-adapted for use on the highly degraded soilsfound in Moldova, with its rapid root growth and well developed rootsystem. It also has a short productive cycle (25-35 years), is an importantsource of fuel wood for household heating and cooking, and sprouts wellfollowing cutting. Some scientists consider this non-native species to be"invasive", which means that it colonizes undisturbed and/or disturbedsoils. However, the history of its introduction in Moldova during more thatone hundred years has shown that the species is a pioneer species ofdegraded lands. It was selected because it is the only species that cansurvive in extremely impoverished soils. In addition, it is fire-resistant,provides good utility to local users in the form of poles and fuelwood, andcreates good wind breaks. Based on Moldovan and other published papers(in particular Romanian), Robinia invasion is not a problem, as it naturallyhappens extremely slowly.
* Quercus rubra is adapted to extreme climatic conditions and to very poorsoils (on both sand soils and on the soils placed on the claims); is disease-resistant with strong root development; has a high productivity per ha and,with a relatively short productive cycle (70-100 years), has a wood whichhas nearly the same good quality as Quercus robur;
* Pinus nigra is resistant to dry and cold seasons/periods, with strong rootpotential, and with a good capacity to grow on and enrich poor, sandy androcky soils; it is also resistant to different diseases, with a high growthrate;
* Ulmus sp. is capable of growing on the poorest soils, even with highsalinity; it is resistant to frost and drought, with a high productivity andrelatively short productive cycle;
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Gleditschia triachantos - could grow in height up to 25 meters, it israpidly grow tree specie, resistant to drought, it is not so exacting to soil,resistant to soils with salts and carbonates that are on the surface.
Sophora sp.: is resistant to the presence of salts and carbonates in the soil,can grow on poor soils, has a high growth rate and very short productiveperiod (25-40 years), with high wood density.
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Table 5. Land categories, afforestation species and needed forest activities
Main Forest Additional Species,Species/ Share Land Use Category Soil Condition Forest ActivitiesShare1 2 3 4 5
Secondary (25-12%) * glades and waste grounds Slopes (6-120) with uneroded * Soil preparation, partially orAcer platanoides * degraded pastures soils, slight eroded or moderate completely, mechanizedAcer campestre * degraded agricultural eroded * Manual or mechanized plantation ofPyrus communis lands about 6000 seedlings/haPrunus avium * Plantation method with KolesovMalus sylvestris spade or plantation machine with
Oak (or Fraxinus excelsior seedlings of 2-4 yearsSessile oak) Tilia cordata * Tending through manual or(50-75%) Carpinus betulus mechanized weeding, by years I-7, II-Ash 6, III- 5, IV-4, V-3, VI - 2
Bushes (2513%) * Completion of plantation in 2, 3 yearsCorylus avellana through the substitution of dryCornus mas seedlingsViburnum opulus * Protection measures by using ofVibirnum lantana chemicalsSambuscus nigra
Secondary (12%), * Glades and waste places Inferior slopes up to 60, flood- * Complete soil preparation,Acer platanoides * degraded agricultural plains alluvial soils mechanizedTilia cordata lands * Plantation of seedlings, 2200 pcs/haUlmus glabra * Degraded pastures * plantation in pits 60cmx60cmx60cm
Poplar (white Alunus glutinosa * Tending through manual andor black), Fraxinus excelsior mechanized wedding by followingwillow (75%) Bushes (13%) * scheme 1-5, 11-3, III- 1
* Completion of plantation in 2, 3 yearsCorylus avellana through the substitution of dryCornus mas seedlingsVibirnum lantana
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Sambuscus nigra * Protection measures by using ofViburnum opulus chemicals
Secondary (25%) Landslides Active landslides * Soil preparation through creation ofAcer platanoides ravines landslides beds or lines (3,0 xl,5-2,0 m) or linesAcer campestre glades and waste lands * Landslides - semistabilized at a distance of 3,0-4,5 m), manually orPyrus communis and active embankments mechanizedPrunus avium * Landslides -steps * Manual plantation of about 6000Malus sylvestris semistabilized, eroded from seedlings per 1 ha
Robinia Fraxinus excelsior moderate to excessive and * Plantation method - with the help ofpseudoacacia strong excessive, carbonates Kolesov spade with 1-2 years seedlings50% Bushes (25%) appear on the depth of 50-100 3,OxO,7 -0,5
Cotinus coggygria cm * Tending through manual wedding byCrataegus monogyna * Alcalization deeper than 50 following scheme 1-5, 11-3, III- 1Ligustrum vulgare cm * Completion of plantation in 2, 3 yearsRosa canina * slopes with 6-35 degree and through the substitution of dry
more than 35 degrees seedlings
Secondary (25%) * Landslides * Appearance of carbonates on * Soil preparation through creation ofAcer campestres * ravine the surface and up to the depth beds, lines - complete, manual orMalus sylvestris * Glades and waste places of 30-50 cm mechanizedPyrus communis * Other degraded lands * Weak and moderate-strong * Plantation manual or mechanized of
Gledita .Ulmus glabra * Degraded pastures salinization on the depth 6000 seedlings/haGleditsia Bushes (25%) (>100 cm) * Plantation method - with the help oftriacantos, Cotinus coggygria Kolesov spade with 1-2 years seedlingsSophora Crataegus monogyna 3,OxO,7 -0,5japonica (50%) Rosa canina * Tending through manual wedding by
following scheme I-5, 11-3, III- 1* Completion of plantation in 2, 3 years
through the substitution of dryseedlings
Quercus rubra Secondary (25%) * Landslides * Semistabilised and stabilised * Soil preparation - partial or complete,(50%) Acer campestres * Degraded pastures landslides mechanized
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Acer platanoides * Former agricultural * Moderate eroded and weak * Plantation manual or mechanized ofMalus sylvestris degraded lands eroded 6000 seedlings/haPyrus communis * Glades and waste grounds * Texture clay * Plantation method - with the help ofUlmus spp. Kolesov spade with 1-2 years seedlingsBushes (25%) 3,OxO,7 -0,5Hippophae * Tending through manual wedding byrhamnoides following scheme I-5, 11-3, III- 1Prunus mahaleb * Completion of plantation in 2, 3 years
through the substitution of dryseedlings
Secondary (17%) * Landslides * soils eroded excessively from * Soil preparation in beds manually orPyrus communis * Ravines the surface and eroded very mechanizedAcer tataricum * Glades and waste grounds strong * Manual plantation of about 2400Acer platanoides * Other degraded lands * Mother rock at the surface seedlings/ha
* Strong and very strong * Plantation method - Kolesov spade withBushes (17%) alcanization 2-4 years seedlings
Pinus nigra Cotinus coggygria * Excessive and very strong * 600 beds per 1 ha at 4 seedlings each of(pallasiana) Crataegus monogyna gluey process main specie and at 2 secondary species64% Rosa canina and bushes
Ligustrum vulgare * Tending activities though manualPrunus spp. wedding by years 1-6, 11-5, 111-4, ID -
3, V-2, VI-1* Completion in 2,3 years through
substitution of dry seedlings
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Benefits and Risks of the Development Scenarios
Under the Without Project Scenario, the continuation of low quality grazing on the pasture lands,decreasing soil fertility and increasing erosion, will lead to continued degradation of biodiversity.Wildlife will continue to generally avoid most of the sites and any species still present will likelydisappear as the remaining vegetative cover is further reduced. Lands presently used as pasturewill continue to degrade. The risk associated with the business-as-usual scenario is that unlessrestorative measures are urgently undertaken, these lands will become depleted of nutrients andincapable of moisture retention and will thus become completely unproductive and incapable ofsupporting biodiversity in the future.
7.2 Soil Conservation Baseline Scenario (Without-Project)
Methodology
Soil conservation aspects are already reflected in the original site description data base, where 4classes of surface or sheet erosion (moderate to excessive) and 4 classes of linear or rill erosion(slight to very strong) were distinguished. Soil conservation aspects are equally present in theland-use stratification of project sites (Degraded Lands, Pasture Lands with the subclassesHumus rich and Humus poor Sites). These aspects were then also taken into account during thevisits to the plots, where types and grades of erosion were estimated and litter and humus levelswere measured. These variables plus measurements of the actual surface erosion will also beincluded in the monitoring procedures.
For elaborating a soil conservation baseline, the land-use stratification of the project areadescribed in the Baseline Study has been considered appropriate and was consequently adoptedfor the sampling procedure and baseline description.
Status of Surface Erosion and Organic Matter Content
Soil erosion is one of the main factors that have affected soil fertility in the Republic ofMoldova. The eroded surfaces constitute 1,205 thousand ha or 80 percent of the arable land, ofwhich the moderately and strongly eroded soils cover an area of 780 thousand ha, with an annualincrease of 0.86 percent. The fertility of eroded lands is 40-60% lower than that of intact sites.Humus is the basic index of soil fertility. It determines the most important physical, chemical,biologic and agrochemical properties of the soils. The Republic of Moldova has about 81,000 haof degraded lands (3%) that are unsuitable for agricultural use or request considerable financialinvestments for its improvement.
Different forms of erosion were observed on the project sites: Mass movements (landslides, soilcreep, tillage erosion) and particle movements (through-wash, rainsplash, rainflow, rillwash,gully erosion). The initially superficial erosion is caused in the beginning by raindrop impact,that effectively breaks down soil aggregates into constituent soil particles. These particles are re-deposited between aggregates on and close to the surface, forming soil crusts, which seal thesurface, and limit infiltration by filling the macropores between the aggregates. The greatestimportance of these crusts is in increasing runoff from storm rainfall, causing heavy gully
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erosion and flooding. With a very slow rate of soil formation, any soil loss of more than 1 t/ha/yrcan be considered as irreversible within a time span of 50-100 years (Grimm & Montanarella2002). About 27% of the project areas are classified as degraded lands that are practicallyexcludes from the general production circle due to the occurrence of ravines, landslides etc.Information of the database of project sites show that 35% of the area show moderate toexcessive, mainly surface erosion (Error! Reference source not found.6).
Table 6: State of Erosion in the Project SitesSurface Erosion Linear Erosion Without Total
S1* S2** S3*** S4 Al A1 A3 A4 Erosionmoderate strong very excessive slight moderate strong very
strong strongNo.ofplots 191 241 143 38 11 4 21 25 1,217 1,891Area (ha) 1,420 1,797 1,149 340 57 27 195 124 9,385 14,494
Area fraction 10 12 8 2 0.5 0.5 1 1 65 100
* include S1-S2, ** includes S2-S3, *** includes S2-S4
From the 14,494 ha of project sites, 87% are still considered as humified and moderatelyhumified soils (> 2%), but 13% are only slightly humified (< 2% humus content). On the 14inspected sites, the average amount of organic matter was fairly high with 126 t/ha in fordegraded lands and 148 t/ha in pasturelands. The protective litter layer, however, was missing invarious sites.
Likely Development of Soil Conservation and Land-use Consequences
The evolution process of the areas in the case without project implementation can be forecastedas follows: The degraded land (ravines, gullies, landslides etc) are essentially excluded fromproductive usage. Leaving these lands in their present state will lead to the extension of surfacesof ravines, landslides etc. Since over 60% of the project territories are situated on slopes with aninclination greater than 70, erosion processes are proceeding very quickly with annual losses of50 t/ha of soil and 1.5 t/ha of organic matter, equaling 0.9 t/ha of carbon loss. Soils have alsobecome drier and exhibit increasing salinization. In the absence of any stabilizing and restorativemeasures, there will be continued soil loss and decreasing soil fertility.
7.3 Other Environmental Issues in the Baseline Scenario (Without-Project)
Water - The water table has become lower in many places due to the progressive loss ofvegetation. Past application of fertilizer and herbicides in the pastures has likely also resulted inthe contamination of both ground water and surface waters. Although surface water quality hasbeen showing an improvement over the past ten years, the concentration of nitrates ingroundwater exceeds permissible norms from 1.3-3 times in the Northern zone, to 3-4.3 times inthe Southern zone. This has been caused by the leaching of nitrates through the soil that are nottaken up by any tree roots. In locations where project sites are located in the proximity of waterbodies, eroded soils likely increased siltation and chemical pollution of the water bodies andwetlands thereby decreasing water quality and possibly contributing to the loss of fish spawning
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habitat and breeding habitat in wetlands. The continuation of the baseline scenario willexacerbate these negative effects.
Climate - The continuation of the present situation will exacerbate local negative microclimaticconditions on the project sites and adjacent territories. These negative effects will be manifestedin winds carrying away soil, the shifting of surface deposits, decreased evapotranspiration, andincreased CO2 emissions. The effects of airborne transport of the chemicals to adjacent lands andcommunities cannot be discounted as well.
Landscape - In the near term of less than 5 years, there will be little appreciable impact on theappearance of the landscape. Over a longer period of time, with the continued degradation andeventual forced abandonment even of the infrequently used pastures on account of the eventualexhaustion of their productivity, even more lands will become completely degraded. Erosionprocesses will increase in spatial extent resulting in more areas subjected to gully and ravineformation and mass wastage. The negative impacts of these processes on adjacent lands, watersand communities will become even more dispersed and intensified. The lands are also toodegraded to offer any recreational opportunities. So in the medium to longer term, all landscapelevel impacts will clearly be negative and consequential.
Summary of Baseline Scenario Development Impacts
In summary, the various impacts (ecological, economic, social) from the development of thebaseline scenario are estimated to be mostly negative (Table 77).
Table 7. Checklist of potential impacts for continuation of existing land-use.ImpactEcological Economic Social
Land category _ -
and land-usecategory 0 3 E°
Landslides -3 -3 0 -2 -I 0 -3 0 0 -2 -3 0Ravines -3 -3 0 -2 -3 +1 -3 0 0 -3 -3 0
Otherdegraded 3 3 0 -1 -3 0 -2 0 0 0 -3 0lands__ _ __ _ _
Degraded arable _3 -2 0 0 0 0 -1 +1 +1 -1 0 0lands _ _ _ _ _
Degraded 1 l O O O O + 0 0 0 0pastures 1 1 00 0Glades and open -1 -1 O -1 -1 -1 +1 0 0 0 0 0places ISubtotaldegraded lands 9 9 0 -5 -7 +1 -5 0 0 -5 -9 0
Subtotal -5 -4 0 -1 -1 -1 0 +2 +1 -1 0 0pastures I IA Total without -14 -15 0 -6 -8 0 -5 +2 +1 -6 9 0project
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Likely potential impacts without any mitigation measures were evaluated on a scale from -3 to +3, where -3refers to major negative impacts, and +3 refers to major positive impacts
The only exception are employment and direct income that may arise on degraded arable orpasture lands under the constraints of accelerated degradation.
8. Environmental Analysis: With the Project
This section identifies and summarizes all anticipated significant adverse environmentalimpacts in both terms, - positive and negative and describes the process evolution for twoalternatives, - without project implementing and with the project activities.
The timeframe of the project is one rotation for Robinia i.e. 30 years. This timeframedoes allow for all forest activities over a rotation to be included in the impact assessment. Thespatial boundary is limited to the identified project sites in the Baseline Study, apart from themonitoring of social impacts which extends to the adjoining settlements. Thus the spatialboundary for the environmental impacts is the defined project sites plus surrounded themcommunities.
The project's impacts are generally positive. Several negative impacts on the soil andwater quality at the initial stage of site preparation for afforestation are local, temporary, andminor in magnitude. For the negative impacts further in the report are presented a series ofmitigation measures what should be undertaken (see section 14.1)
8.1 Expected Project Contributions to Sustainable Development
Major socio-economic benefits for the local population
Temporary employment. The project will mainly result in the creation of temporary jobs. Manyvillagers mentioned that they expect additional jobs, even if the land is transferred to Moldsilva.There is a tradition that Moldsilva employs local people as casual workers, and pays them eithercash or in kind (especially firewood). While in some locations it was stated that everybody hasthe chance to participate in afforestation activities, in others it was stated that predominantlypeople with working experience in the forest would be employed. Last year planting activitiesinvolved sometimes school pupils, as adults worked on their agricultural fields. In assessment ofemployment opportunities, it has to be considered that for the majority of rural people agriculturehas first priority and forestry is just seen as a side activity with limited financial merits. Timeconflicts with the agricultural calendar will be, so far possible, avoided in the future in order tomaximize employment benefits for local people (e.g. by planting the trees in autumn).
If the afforested area will belong to communities, one may expect that the people involved inplanting not always get paid, but contribute labor free-of-charge. The employment effect wouldbe thus limited. So far, with the exception of school pupils involved in planting, this wasapparently rarely the case. In general, if people contribute free labor for afforestation, it has to beassured that they will later be in the position to reap the benefits (environmental as well aseconomic).
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Employment opportunities may involve soil preparation, planting, weeding, tending, guarding,thinning and ultimately harvesting. For the project, the afforestation activities are by far moreimportant, most of the thinning and harvesting activities will take place after project end.
The temporary employment effect will depend on the degree of mechanization. The more manualwork, the better the employment effect for the people. It can be assumed that in the managementof communal forests more manual labor will be used than in the areas transferred to Moldsilva.Moldsilva usually uses machines for soil preparation as well as planting machines on flat terrain.For instance, in Gagauz region planting machines were employed in last year's plantationactivities and pupils compressed the soil afterwards. Amount and prices of labor and machinesused for forest establishment respective site preparation on pasture and degraded land accordingto planting modules are presented in the Baseline Study. Table 8 shows the amount of labor daysneeded for site preparation in the different afforestation modules. The current cost for unskilledlabor is Lei 37 per day (US$ 3).
In terms of gender, it seems that mainly men would benefit as they are doing most of the harderwork such as soil digging, planting and tree cutting. Women are mainly involved in nurserywork, weeding and collection of non-timber products and branches in case of sanitary harvests.
Another distinct feature of the temporary labor effect, particularly in regard to plantation work isthat, while many people can potentially receive additional off-farm income, the income is rathersmall per person. This is due to the fact that the planting season and thus the number of workingdays is limited. The calculation sheets provided by Moldsilva for the afforestations result in thefollowing amount of unskilled local labor which would be created through the project:
For 1 ha plantation about 7 people could be employed for 1 day per year (7 years for forestestablishment assumed). For the project in total, this means about 670,674 working days ofemployment that would be created by plantation activities only. Considering an averageplantation area of 50 hectares per village, 350 working days per year could be created in anaverage village.
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Table 8. Skilled and unskilled labor needed for afforestation activities under the project.
Calculation of forest establishment Modul I PastureQuercus ured Days per
L2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Labor = =LSkilled 0.94 2.53Unskilled 27.16 21.60 17 12.90 8.644.32Robinia Rectroed Days per YearLabor _ I ISkilled 0.94 2.53 | l 1 ]Unskilled 22.80 12.90 | 4 l l l
Populus Required Days pe YearLabor I ll__l_
Skilled 0.62 _ _0.97 ___
Unskilled I ___13.88 1__0.11 _ 3 = =Calculation of forest establishment Modul 2 Degraded LandQuercum Required Days pe YearILabor I 0 I 2 I ISkilled I _ _0.94 ± 2.53 1 1 _
Unskilled I 27.16 21.60 17 12.90 8.64 4.32Robinla R Weuired Days per YearILabor I ISkilled I | 0.94 | 1.90 | l l I l|Unskilled I | 22.80 | 12.90 | 4
In total, 1.1 million US$ of income through unskilled labor will be generated (Table 9).
Table 9. Amount of income by unskilled (local) project labor.Income Incomel l (Lei) | (US$3 l
Total income earned by unskilled workers during 24,814,927 8,271,642the afforestation of 14,494 haTotal income per year of unskilled labor generated 3,544,990 1,181,663through the afforestation of 14,494 haTotal income of unskilled labor in the afforestations 245 82per ha and year l l_l
Daily workers currently receive 37 Lei/day from Moldsilva. However, it is noted that thisamount on which the above calculation is based on, seems to vary, from 10-15 Lei/day (inDumbravita) to 30 Lei/day (in Chirsova) and up to 35-40 Lei per day (in Teleseu).
Permanent employment. The creation of permanent jobs will be limited as most of theprofessional work can be done by current Moldsilva staff. The management planning will bedone by 2 Moldsilva professional staff at district level. New jobs in tree nurseries are also notvery likely, as the present capacity of Moldsilva nurseries is only utilized at about 50%2. Yet,due to the additional tasks, permanent jobs can be sustained.Moldsilva normally employs 1 forest guard for 200-300 ha (monthly salary 500 Ley). Assumingthat for each 250 ha planted a forest guard would be newly employed, 36 new positions could becreated on about 9000 hectares of permanently transferred land.
2 Currently, 35 million seedlings are produced nationwide per year, the capacity would permit production ofup to 80 million seedlings.
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According to the law, communities have to employ a forester (technical college) if their forestarea (including shelterbelts) is larger than 60 ha. Assuming that for each 60 ha of communityforest a community forester is employed, 90 positions could be created. However, this is apositive scenario as not every village will reach 60 ha forest area and villages with larger forestarea would still need only one forester.
In the long-term future, a substantial number of additional jobs in the wood chain (processingand manufacturing) will be created as an effect of the project.
Availability and ownership of forest products, especially firewood. The local population willbenefit from the increased availability of firewood. It is expected that in average an amount offorest products and firewood of 4 m 3/ha/yr (oak forest) or 8 m 3/ha/yr (robinia forest) can beharvested on a sustainable level (both figures from site class III and within 30 years). As can beseen from these figures, the socio-economic benefits for the local population will be larger forshorter rotations and fast-growing trees.
About 60% of the population depend on fuelwood for heating. The average demand perhousehold is about 7 (5-10) ster (about 5 in3) per heating season. Currently, the price for one sterof good quality firewood is about 130-150 Ley. Considering the average daily wage of 37 Lei, avillager has to work almost two months in order to generate enough cash income to buy theneeded firewood. While the project will not solve the firewood problem in Moldova, it willprovide wood resources for the local market and thus contribute to more stable wood priceswhich may skyrocket without the project due to scarcity.
Aside from timber the plantation forests have moreover economic value for the local populationthrough the use of non-timber forest products. These include medicinal plants, bee-keeping(especially in Robinia forest), hunting leases, and grazing. The potential income through sellingthe fruits of Rosa canina, which is planted as shrub species on the afforestation plots isespecially high (139-417 US$/ha/yr).
In case of community forests, the mayoralty will be the owner of the forest products and willrealize income from forestry which can be partly used for community development. Besides, itwill be in the position to allocate forest products according to its priorities. The allocation couldbe based for instance on the amount of labor a person has contributed. Besides, the communitycould decide to make firewood available at low cost for the needy and vulnerable groups, e.g.pensioners and female-headed households with many children.
If the land is transferred to Moldsilva, many people consulted in the interviews said that they stillexpect a benefit as the firewood would be sold by Moldsilva for a competitive price andtransportation costs could be reduced. But for the rural poor, the price Moldsilva charges iscurrently too high, and this may not change in the future. In the long run, there will be additionalsocio-economic benefits in terms of increased availability of non-wood products such asmedicinal plants, fruits and berries (e.g. walnut), mushrooms, vines for basketry, game (rabbits,deer) and tourism.
Reduced damages due to soil erosion and landslides and improved yields on neighboring fields.As described earlier (see chapter 2.3.1.3), landslides and soil erosion result in a huge economic
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loss for Moldova. Besides, individuals suffer from damages to houses and downhill agriculturalareas. It is difficult to quantify this losses which occur randomly and may not effect everybody'slivelihood, but certainly poses an immanent risk, that the majority of rural people is well awareof. About 85% of the project area is degraded and may become irreversibly damaged if adequatemeasures are not taken by the project. Thus, in the worst case scenario, the project will save12,300 ha of land from becoming permanent wasteland. It will permit that these lands providethe basis for forest management and thus sustainable rural livelihoods.
The afforestation will also have a positive effect on neighboring agricultural fields. The yield canincrease significantly (up to 70% according to an expert opinion) since the hydrological regimewill be improved and wind erosion and drought occurrence reduced.
Possibility of rotational grazing in forests. The areas to be afforested are either permanentlydegraded or low quality pastures which will further degrade as grazing continues. Due to the soilconservation measures introduced by the project, the project area (14,500 hectares) will berehabilitated. It is a frequent expectation of the local population that hay harvesting (cut andcarry) could be allowed in the forest plantations and that after about 10 years, at least cattlegrazing could be permitted. This may not be possible on each site and may require theintroduction of rotational grazing systems, but certainly is an option which should be considered
Development of community-based forest management and increased participation. A benefit ofthe project which so far received relative little attention is the introduction of community-basedforest management which is a new concept in Moldova. Through community forestry, ruralpeople will not only have a say on the future management and conservation of communityforests, but they will also get the possibility to directly benefit from local forest resources.Furthermore, the realization of the ambitious national afforestation target will only be possiblewith the involvement of the local people who ultimately have to provide the land forafforestation. It is obvious that the willingness to provide land for afforestation will increase aspeople realize the tangible benefits from community forestry. In this regard, the project will havea pioneer role.
Potential socio-economic losses for the local population
Possible displacement of local people. The sites to be afforested have been carefully selectedinvolving democratically legitimated local councils and other stakeholders. During field visits, itwas confirmed by all stakeholders that, but a very few exceptions3 , only degraded andovergrazed land areas with very limited forage value have been made available for the project.The only potentially negatively affected groups are thus livestock owners and herders/shepherds.
No community members will give up their present profession and/or resettle due to the project.The project plots are dispersed and most are small. The total afforestation area in a village rangesfrom 3 to 27% of existing pastures (Table 10). The afforestation sites are the most degradedpastures in the villages, and therefore the importance of these lands for grazing is lower thantheir percentage of village pasture area.
3 This exceptions relate to some remote plots which are only accessible at high costs and/or marginalagricultural land which is not needed anymore, e.g. because of out-migration.
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Table 10. Afforestation area in relation to community pastures of visited villagesCommunity Pastu Affores Reduction in Number of Total Livestock Livestock(District) res tation area available animal livestock units per ha units per
(ha) (ha) for pasture heads per units 1) of pasture ha ofthrough household without pasture
afforestation project with(%) project
Ucrainca (Ti) 720 195 27 3.5 400 0.56 0.76Opaci (Ti) 930 62 7 7.1 1000 1.08 1.15Alessandro Felid 524 64 12 9.8 600 1.15 1.30(Si)Lebedenco(Si) 531 14 3 4.8 570 1.07 1.10Albota (Si) 985 214 22 9.8 580 0.59 0.75Cucuruzeni (Or) 1070 46 4 2.0 1095 1.02 1.07Chirsova (Co) 1450 349 24 3.1 650 0.45 0.59Baurci (Co) 600 70 12 4.0 915 1.53 1.73Gaidar (Co) 400 40 10 3.5 720 1.80 2.00Chiscareni (Ba) 2262 165 7 1.5 870 0.38 0.41Dumbravita (Ba) 717 39 5 2.2 415 0.58 0.61Districts: Ti = Tighina, Si = Silva Sud, Or = Orchei, Co = Comrat, Ba = Balti1) Cattle = 0,7; sheep/goats = 0,05
For at least 10 years, grazing will be controlled (but not excluded) on the afforested sites. Asgrazing takes place on communal lands, sometimes confined to certain grazing areas, butnormally with free access to the whole grazing area, herders will move the livestock to othercommunal grazing areas. In case of severe overstocking and competing land-use claims, theresponsibility to mediate conflicts and possibly identify compensatory measures lies with themayoralty which therefore has had an inherent interest not to allocate too much land forafforestation. As community decision-making will evolve with the introduction of community-based forest management, problems will be identified and jointly solved in the future.
In some cases villagers voiced concern that proposed afforestation could block access tocommunal pasture lands. Given the small size of the sites (average, 7 hectares), this is notexpected to pose a serious problem. Where needed, the right to pass through the forest area canbe given, provided adequate protection measures are in place (e.g. fence on both side ofpathway). The costs for such fencing would be borne by the village council or Moldsilva.
Possibly required livestock reduction causing negative effect on local livelihoods. The net effectof the project on local livelihoods is positive. It provides employment and income and sustainsthe natural resource base which is required for attaining sustainable livelihoods. It is currentlynot expected that the project would result in a reduction of livestock numbers, although this maybe required in the future in order to achieve sustainable management of pastures. The reductionof livestock numbers may require certain incentives or compensation for livestock holders. Thisproblem can ultimately only be solved in cooperation with other organizations and projects.However, the project may assist in initiating a discussion process about sustainable carryingcapacities and contribute to compensation mechanisms, as it starts to generate benefits for thelocal population.
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Job loss in other sectors. It is not expected that there will be any negative effects on employmentin the agricultural or livestock production sectors by the project. The lands to be afforested areeither degraded and thus unused land or low quality pastures which can be used only very limitedtime in the grazing season (frequently a period of one month was mentioned). Due to the smallparcel size, dispersed distribution and the communal grazing regime, herders/shepherds willconcentrate on the existing communal pasture land, but almost certainly will not have to abandontheir profession. It is also unlikely that the project will directly cause a reduction in livestocknumbers which could effect employment of herders. An indirect effect may be that of increasedgrazing pressure leading to further degradation of existing pasture areas which ultimately results in givingup pasture land. However, this scenario is based on unsustainable grazing practices in the first place, but notthe project.
Expected net socio-economic Effects of the Project against the Baseline
The use of land through extensive grazing leads to degradation of this land and with that adecrease of income generated through livestock (cf. chapter 3.1). The income generated throughsheep herding will reach zero in the course of continued use of pasture over 17 years if theannual loss is estimated with US$ 162 per village.
The net effect of the soil conservation and afforestation project on local livelihoods is positive. Itprovides in the initial years with employment and income (estimated with US$ 82 per year,seven years afforestation period = US$ 574). Most important, it sustains the natural resource basewhich is required for attaining sustainable livelihoods. The plantation modules will lead to apositive rate of return as and will become important sources for fuel-wood and timberproduction.
In summary, the net socio-economic benefit of the project will be certainly positive. There areclear benefits of the project, and likely losses as identified, are comparatively small and can bemitigated. Even if we assume an optimistic baseline scenario with balanced economic growth,the project would contribute to an improvement of the rural environment as well as sustainablerural development. The 1999 Poverty Assessment emphasized the importance of promoting thedevelopment of rural areas, in order to combat poverty. The project will assist in tackling theinequality of people living in rural and urban areas with its strong rural focus. Besides, it willprovide support to 151 communities and a great number of beneficiaries in the rural area. Since itwould be highly speculative to make quantitative forecasts about the net socio-economic benefitsof the project at this point in time, particular care has been taken to design a fully-fledged socialmonitoring plan (see Monitoring Study). This will enable regular checks on social developmentand corrective action, if needed.
Proposals for Enhancement of Projects Socio-economic Values
The following proposals are forwarded to enhance the project's social impact:
Compensation of stakeholders and economic incentives
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* Potential losers from project activities, e.g. shepherds whose traditional grazing groundsget afforested, should get compensations from the project developer through projectaccompanying measures financed by the approved Japanese Grant of US$ 920,0004.
* Provide sufficient economic benefit to local communities already in the short termwithout jeopardizing the positive environmental and carbon benefits. A good balancebetween economic and environmental benefits will need to be found in order that forestswill be kept by communities in perpetuity.
* Be open for permitting grazing and collection of non-timber products in community aswell as selected state forests.
* Think about and then discuss with stakeholders possibilities to increase the financial andeconomic benefit for the rural poor on lands permanently transferred to Moldsilva.
Legal issues* Provide legal incentives by designing contracts which clearly defined future benefit-
sharing mechanisms.* Scrutinize and revise forest code for allowing increased community and private sector
involvement.* Allow for joint management of afforested lands transferred to the state (Moldsilva).* In the community forestry contracts, make tangible benefits conditional to the fulfillment
of obligations such as plantation success (measured in a survival rate) and developing acommunity forestry plan and conflict resolution mechanisms.
* Define and make public sanctions in case of non-compliance with contracts, in severe andrepeated cases up to the expropriation of the community forests.
Institutional issues
* Assist in building up of long-enduring community-based institutions in charge of forest managementand conservation.
* Support community-based institutions in defining rules and by-laws for community forests.* Strengthen institutional capacities of local councils and Moldsilva for joint forest management and
social forestry.* Build larger management units for community forestry by organizing villages into larger groups.* Assist communities in setting up separate budget for forestry.
4 The Community Forestry Project, financed by a Japanese Grant under the Special Program for ClimateChange, will assist in making communal forestry and grazing more sustainable, and thus reduce encroachment onthe community forests and in particular on the new forests that would be planted within the PCF Moldova SoilConservation Project. The approach of the program would be as follows: An outreach and education activity wouldtarget eligible farms in an information campaign designed to build awareness and support for the activity andprovide instructions to farmers on how to apply to the SGP. The SGP would fund works and goods to be undertakenby the community and farmers associations to improve communal forestry and pasture management. Eligiblecommunities would be those around the sites to be afforested under the Moldova Soil Conservation project.Applicants would receive technical assistance, delivered through Moldsilva and agrarian technical institute. Farmerswill co-finance the investments through donation of farm staff services to implement the activities. The majority ofthe grant would be used for financial assistance to local communities for improved forest and pasture management.The project would finance forest pruning and thinning, and other costs associated with maintenance of communityforests, costs of re-seeding and restoring degraded pastures (various measures for site preparation and pastureimprovement), livestock watering sites, and fencing as needed to protect new forest stands and pastures underrestoration. These activities will be based on participatory approaches and would fully involve local communities inimplementing priority forest and pasture investments on the ground.
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Beneficiaries* Clearly define and possibly limit the number of beneficiaries to a particular afforestation
plot. In a subsequent step, certain user rights on a specific sub-plot could be allocated toindividuals who would also be in charge of protection.
* Require contribution in form of labor from villagers/beneficiaries. For sustainabilityreasons, do not fully pay villagers for plantation activities in community forests toincrease the sense of ownership.
Private sector and NGO involvement* Allow for lease of community forests to private companies or user groups.* Involve local NGOs in the development and implementation of community forestry.
Employment generation* Use labor-intensive methods in order to generate employment. Due to the low wages, this
can be justified also from a financial viewpoint.* Harmonize timing of afforestation activities with agricultural calendar.
Capacity building and technical assistance* Assist particularly possibly negatively effected livestock holders in improving livestock/
pasture management.* Develop and initiate integrated and participatory land-use planning in order to avoid land-
use conflicts.* Train community members and farmers in community forest management and soil
conservation.
Public awareness and information campaign* Increase environmental awareness particularly through on-the-job training and practical
involvement in project activities.* Raise the interest of school pupils for forest conservation through participation in tree
planting and environmental education activities.* Disseminate information about the project's objectives and progress in local media and in
the Internet.
8.2 Biodiversity Impacts of the Project
Biodiversity Stratification of Project Forestation Units
The project includes 1,892 sites covering a total of 14,495 ha that are distributed throughout theRepublic of Moldova. Of this total area, 5,400 ha were already afforested in 2002. The vastmajority of these sites (93%) are less than 20 ha in area, including 78% that are between 1 and 10ha. Sites that are 1 - 20 ha represent 68% of the total area of afforestation. Nevertheless, thereare 132 sites that are 20 - 120 ha, and while representing only 7 % of the total number of projectsites, they account for 32% (4,684 ha) of the total afforestation area. While site by site analysis
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of all sites should ideally be undertaken to identify those most suitable for maximizingbiodiversity benefits, it is safe to say that it is these larger sites that offer the greatest potential forenhancing biodiversity within the project's parameters. Thus, the primary focus of biodiversitymaximization efforts will be on sites greater than 20 ha. in area. Of course, smaller sites will notbe automatically excluded, particularly those encompassing wetlands and shorelines, and thosesites that may have rare or endangered species. The focus on the larger sites is dictated by thefact that there exists more opportunity for the creation of habitat diversity, connectivity andsustainable results on the larger territories, as well as more practical considerations related to theoverwhelmingly large number of sites included in the project. Focusing on the sites exceeding 20ha leaves a more manageable total of 132 sites but still encompasses 4,664 ha (32% of theproject area). Of the 132 sites that are greater than 20 ha, sites particular attention should begiven to those that are not close to settlements. This will reduce the potential impacts associatedwith potential grazing, as well as picking, trampling, firewood collection, and disturbance ofwildlife.
Potential Biodiversity Benefits and Hazards of Defined Ecological Forest Units
The afforestation of the project land units will result in a complex of biodiversity benefits.Vegetative cover will be increased using species that are appropriate for the location in question.The diversity of flora will be increased through the planting of over 20 native species of treesand shrubs. Grasses and other types of herbaceous vegetation will also reappear. This willprovide greater structural diversity and an increase in the diversity of habitats available for nativefauna. Faunal diversity will also increase correspondingly. The connectivity of habitats willpotentially also be improved which will lead to increased species dispersal, greater ecologicalfunctionality of the sites, and in the longer term, stronger regional sustainability of biodiversity.
Expected net Biodiversity Effects of the Project Against the Baseline
The net biodiversity effects of the project against the baseline will all be positive over the longerterm (i.e more than 5 years). Initial preparation of soil for planting will have a negative impacton what flora and fauna may be present on the sites. This impact will be temporary and will bereversed rather quickly as the plantings become established and come to support a greaterdiversity of flora and fauna. Initial project activities such as soil preparation may have a shortterm negative effect on soils and wildlife. These impacts will also be temporary. The planting ofnative species of trees and bushes will result in a positive impact as they become established andcome to support a greater range of native fauna. The establishment of these "oases" ofbiodiversity will also provide for increased connectivity and species dispersal potential in thelandscape and will help support ecosystem sustainability.
Measures to Enhance Biodiversity
The project includes 1,892 sites covering a total of 14,495 ha that are distributed throughout theRepublic of Moldova. Of this total area, 5,400 ha were afforested in 2002. The vast majority ofthese sites (93%) are less than 20 ha in area, including 78% that are between 1 and 10 ha. Sitesthat are 1 - 20 ha represent 68% of the total area of afforestation. Nevertheless, there are 132sites that are 20 - 120 ha, and while representing only 7 % of the total number of project sites,
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they account for 32% (4,684 ha) of the total afforestation area. The larger sites offer the greatestpotential for enhancing biodiversity within the project's parameters. Thus, the primary focus ofbiodiversity maximization efforts will be on sites greater than 20 ha. in area. Smaller sites willnot be automatically excluded from efforts to enhance bioidversity, particularly those thatprovide an opportunity to establish vegetative buffers along streamcourses and other waterbodies. The focus on the larger sites is based on the fact that there is greater opportunity for thecreation of habitat diversity, connectivity and sustainable results on the larger territories, as wellas more practical considerations related to the overwhelmingly large number of sites included inthe project. Focusing on the sites exceeding 20 ha leaves a more manageable total of 132 sitesbut still encompasses 4,664 ha (32% of the project area). Of the 132 sites that are greater than 20ha, more attention will be given to those that are not close to settlements. This will reduce thepotential impacts associated with potential grazing, as well as picking, trampling, firewoodcollection, and disturbance of wildlife.
In order to mitigate the project impact on biodiversity it is necessary to develop and implement amix of approaches through which biodiversity benefits can be maximized in the context of theproject's primary objectives. The guidelines below provide a basis for the development of a mixof approaches for the maximization of the project's biodiversity benefits both at the project siteand landscape levels.
Site level guidelines
Increase species diversity - The selection of native species will be done in a manner thatprovides for a mix of species that are appropriate for a given biotope. In selecting the species,consideration will also be given to maximization of habitat and food sources for birds, mammals,reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. In addition to tree species, the inclusion of shrubs that areappropriate for the location will result in the development of structural diversity. In turn, this willlead to the establishment of habitat for a greater number of species. Insectivorous birds, forexample, will benefit from densely planted bushes with many branches. Some undergrowthspecies that attract insects are wild carrot, fennel, coriander and caraway. The establishment ofherbaceous ground cover in clearings will be beneficial for ground nesting birds, insects, reptilesand amphibians. A mix of herbs and grasses will be planted to increase the diversity ofinvertebrates. In the interior of the sites, an accumulating organic layer will be important for soilorganisms.
Increase habitat diversity - The sites will be afforestation using a mix of tree and shrub speciesthat will contribute to establishment of more complex habitats than if trees alone would be used.On sites larger than 20 hectares, clearings will be left for the establishment of shrubs and grassesand promote habitat mosaics. Breaks between trees should be provided in places for theestablishment of a flowering herbaceous layer as it is important for attracting and supportingpollinators. If possible, depressions that may become filled with water, even ephemerally, shouldalso be created to further diversify available habitat and associated faunal diversity.
Increase connectivity to adjacent habitat - In cases where a site is in proximity to adjacentforest, a physical connection with the project site will be established using species that are the
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same as in the adjacent habitat. Reconnecting such project sites with larger adjacent habitat willprovide for greater dispersal of species and will increase the area of functional habitat.
Landscape level guidelines
Contribute to ecological network development - A central feature of the country's NationalBiodiversity Conservation Strategy is the development of a National Ecological Network. Theproposed network concepts are developed at the international level (Nistru River and Prut Rivervalleys bordering Ukraine and Romania respectively), as well as at the national, regional andlocal levels. Sites that are situated in these proposed network corridors should be afforested in amanner that makes the greatest contribution to the network's development at the given location.
Integrate with protected areas - Project sites situated in proximity to existing protected areasshould be afforested in a manner that will maximize the complementarity of objectives. Projectsites may be used to extend the protected areas' ecological functionality or as buffers. Onlynative species will be used on such sites, and the species selected will be complementary to thosein the protected areas.
Specific areas
Wetlands and shorelines. Wetlands, including sites where ground water comes to the surface,are of particular significance because of their important ecological functions and because theyare usually sites of high biodiversity value. They are also sensitive to disturbance. The plantingof dense and thorny native vegetation is also recommended for such sites. This will serve thedual purpose of providing a variety of habitats and protecting the sites from intrusion anddestruction. Shorelines are significant on account of their importance to numerous species. Onsites that possess shoreline, a mix of species should be planted to provide cover and food sourcesfor species. Any sites along the shores of the Nistru and Prut Rivers should be planted in amanner that considers their contribution to the international ecological network corridors beingplanned along them.
Ravines and gullies. Since such greatly disturbed areas will not be suitable for the planting oftrees, and since over time they may have come to provide habitat for some species of fauna, theyshould be planted with native bushes and, if possible, herbs and grasses.
Steppe meadows. As practically no undisturbed steppe remains, it would be desirable toestablish pockets of steppe vegetation where feasible. This would be particularly important in theSouthern and Central Zones. Potential sources of restoration material may be found in theprotected areas.
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8.3 Soil Conservation Effects of the Project
Stratification of Project Forestation Units
For the purpose of soil conservation effects through the project it is recommended to use thesame land-use and humus class based stratification as used to assess the soil conservationbaseline scenario described in chapter Error! Reference source not found.. At present it is notknown if the different tree and shrub species will also provide distinct soil conservation effects.If this should be detected during the project soil conservation monitoring, than a furtherstratification according to species classes should be considered. E.g. the soil conservation effectof nitrogen fixing but deciduous broadleaf species (Robinia, Gleditsia, Sophora) may bedifferent to evergreen coniferous species (Pinus, Picea).
Potential Benefits and Hazards of defined Forest Units regarding Soils
Herbaceous and wood vegetation is the most important factor of protection and conservation ofsoil cover on slopes. An anti-erosion effect of forests and forest plantations is caused by theprotection of crown foliage that effectively stops the impact of rain drops, that otherwise hit theunprotected soil, causing a break down of soil aggregates and the sealing of the soil surface.Through the forest canopy the rain drops fall with much less energy and are then stopped againby bushes or herbaceous vegetation and finally by a well formed forest litter layer. Forest litterabsorbs and keeps like a sponge a quantity of water four to five time higher than the equivalentmass of soil. Thus the infiltration capacity of water in forests are higher and water and soil lossesare smaller.
The complex root system of trees, bushes and herbaceous vegetation contribute to the formationof granulated soil structure, increasing porosity and biological activity of soils, and as a result,increasing soil fertility.
Hang parallel tillage lines is a common standard in the site preparation. This will help to stopimmediately much of the run off water that causes surface and rill or gully erosion downhill.In summary, the establishment of forest vegetation contribute to:
* conservation of soils and relief forms, diminishing the erosion processes (superficial anddepth erosion ) and landslides;
* infiltration of water in soil and maintenance of favorable hydrologic regime of soils;* through organically depositions (about 3-5 t/year/ha) will increase the humus layer, with
direct influence on soil fertility;* creation of intern climate regime (air and soil);* stop of erosion caused by winds;* regeneration of soil profiles;* bringing on the surface of new quantities of mineral substances absorbed by plant roots
and included in small biological circulation;* activation of biochemical processes;
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* contribution to increasing of soil productivity of adjoining agricultural lands (by 12-15%).
The following hazards have to be considered for soil conservation effects of the project plantedforests:
* Pure coniferous plantations without any broadleaf mixtures or shrub layer may cause aslow acidification of the soil. All plantations of larger scale of Pinus or Picea shouldtherefore contain a certain fraction of broadleaf species;
* Specially in the southern dryer parts of the country forest fires may occasionally occur.Here tree species that are able to survive and coppice after such fires (Quercus, Robinia,etc.) should be preferred and proper fire protection measures have to be included in theplantation design;
* Forest canopy may be fairly open if an important number of trees should not grow well ordie on adverse planting sites, due to calamities (insects, e.g.) or if thinning is not beendone properly. Here replanting and monitoring may have to detect possible failures thatshould be corrected immediately;
None of the cited risks is considered to be either very high or not to be manageable with a carefulproject design, good monitoring and professional project implementation.
Expected net Soil Conservation Effects of the Project against the Baseline
All of the above potential benefits can be considered to be net benefits, as the soil conservationeffects of the baseline situation are in fact negative and would lead to the steady deterioration ofthe sites, in absence of the planned forestry soil conservation project.
Proposals for Enhancement of Project Soil Conservation Benefits
For optimizing the soil conservation results of the project the following measures are proposed:* Strictly observe to draw the tillage lines along the isohyets;* Minimize the hazards through appropriate actions (refer to 0);* Give preference to silvicultural systems that create uneven aged forest structures,
avoiding clear cutting;* Bring in grass or herb seeds (native species) to cover rapidly any open grounds;* Promote the growth of a second bush or tree stratum below the main canopy.* Synergies of these proposals with other project goals (e.g. environmental effects,
profitability, carbon sequestration) should be employed as much as possible.
8.4 Other Environmental Effects of the Project
Water. The impacts on water will be positive and will be noticed in a raised water table,decreased run off and siltation of nearby water bodies, and improved drinking water quality.
Climate. Afforestation will have positive micro-climatic effects. Wind speed will decrease as aresult of the sites acting as windbreaks. The temperature differential with adjacent lands will bemoderated. The project will also result in the sequestration of some greenhouse gases,
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particularly CO2. If through alternative forestry income some families can afford to abandon theproduction of ruminants, this may result in a minor positive greenhouse gas reduction throughthe decreased release of methane.
Landscape. The new forests will add structural diversity to the landscape. The potential forincreased connectivity among forest patches and a contribution to the development of anecological network will also be positive effects. Afforestation will also result in the decrease oflandslides and gully formation.
Table 11 summarizes and compares the short term and long term impacts of project activities onbiodiversity and other environmental components. In the longer term (5 years and longer), allimpacts will be positive.
Table 11. Short (ST) and Long Term (LT) Impacts of Project.Activity Impacts on the Environment
Soils Water Climate Flora Fauna LandscaReST ST LT ST LT ST ST ST LTLT ____LT LT
1. Soil preparation -1 +2 -1 0 0 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 02. Planting +3 +3 0 +1 +2 +2 +3 +3 +1 +3 0 +3
3. Maintenance 0 00 0 O 0 0 00 00 0
4. Replanting +1 +1 0 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 0 +1 0 +15. Disease control -1 0 -1 0 0 0 -1 0 -1 0 0 0
6. Harvesting 0 00 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0
7. Woodtransport 0 00 0 0 0 0 00 00 0
With Project +2 +6 -2 +2 +3 +3 +2 +4 -1 +4 -1 +4
Without Project -14 -13 0 -8 0 -8
Likely potential project impacts without mitigation measures were evaluated on a scale from -3 to +3, where -3 refers to major negative impacts, and +3 refers to major positive impacts. No road construction is planned.
8.5 Outlook on Project Contributions to Sustainable Development
The project contributes in various aspects to the sustainable development in Moldova: Theproject enhances the forest area of Republic of Moldova with 0.04 % (14,494 ha) byafforestation of eroded soils and unproductive lands in the coming 4 years. A large number ofnational strategies and laws support the afforestation of degraded lands and support the creationof wood resources: Law on rehabilitation of degraded lands by afforestation (1041 -XIV/June, 15,2000), Land Act (no 350-XIV/July 12, 2001), Forest Act (law no. 887/June, 21, 1996), Strategyon Forest Fund Development and Strategy and Action Plan for Conservation of Biodiversity(no.1 12-XV/April 27, 2001), Strategy for sustainable development of Republic of Moldova, Lawof waters (no. 440-XIII/ April, 27, 1995). As well the activities carried out under the Projectcontribute to other international commitments of the Republic of Moldova like the UN
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Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, or theConvention to Combat Desertification.
Sustainable development of forest sector of the Republic of Moldova foresees the extension ofareas covered with forest vegetation. The forest policy goal for achieving better eco-protectivefunctions is to extend the forests on 15% of the country area. For this purpose it is necessary tocover at least 130 thousand ha with forest vegetation and to create:
* new forests and extend existing forests;* green islands of trees and bushes;* green corridors between the afforested areas;* forest protection belts along rivers, roads and around industrial objectives.
To achieve these goals, priorities will be given in the project planning process to:
* From territorial point of view - Southern judet of the Republic, that especially sufferfrom drought, soil erosion and lack of aquatic resources;
* From the structural point of view - new forest bodies and conjunctive corridors among it,created mainly along the water courses, achieving at the same time more advantages, forexample, soil protection, improvement of hydrological regime, biodiversity conservation;
* From the functional point of view - forests with rapidly growth species, that will improvethe provision of populations with fuelwood.
For this purpose it is foreseen:
* to afforest degraded lands, and those from the water protection zones, according to thelegal requirements;
* to transfer some areas from the private property in order to maintain the integrity of theforest net (the state will reimburse the losses to the landowners or will compensate themwith other land).
9 Project Alternatives
The project has two alternatives.
Maintain status quo. The status quo is the continuation of overgrazing of the degraded projectsites with minimal forage productivity for one to two months in the spring, and with continuationof the recent historical trend of degradation and erosion. The baseline rate of afforestation ofaround 400 ha per year would also continue (Table 12). The 'no project' option requires noincremental investment, which is attractive in light of the country's difficult financial condition,but would also continue to yield marginal social benefits and negative environmentalconsequences.
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Table 12. Re-afforested and afforested area in Republic of Moldova in the period (1994-2000) (ha)
Year Afforestation(on bare lands)
1994 8261995 8681996 6171997 5161998 5641999 4932000 443Total 4327
Alternative land use options. A second alternative would involve improvements in agriculturaluses of the lands including as pasture, for cultivated crops, orchards, and vineyards. However,many of the project sites have very marginal value for agriculture due to the presence of slopesand gullies, and because soil has been lost.
The preliminary financial analysis assumes a price of carbon of $3.5/tCO2 and a discount rate of10%. It was also considered costs of regeneration works for all rotations over 100 years (sitepreparations and soil cultivation, seedlings and establishments costs, maintenance till the canopyclosure of plantation and current survey and works in the forest after canopy closure) in terms ofactual prices and technology. As well, it was supposed lease for hunting, bee keeping, medicinalplants, etc
The "with project" scenario has a low Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Negative net PresentValue (NPV). The carbon selling has a significant impact both on NPV and IRR. NPV modifiesfrom some 5.650139 USD to 2.691937 USD after C selling. Meanwhile the IRR increases from 7%to 8 %.
However, before the sale of carbon, the Project would be more costly and less profitable thanalternative, especially the business-as-usual scenario. After the sale of carbon, the ranking ofoptions by NPV and IRR would be different. Accordingly the analysis has to be improved furtherin the context of the baseline study by associate value on at least some of the external benefits(ecological improvement) generated by the Project, and then re-calculating the NPV and IRR.
10 World Bank Safeguard Policies
The World Bank- operates a series of safeguard policies (Table 13). The project has beenclassified as Category B under the Environmental Assessment (OP 4.0.1) safeguard policy. Aproject is classified as Category B if its potential adverse environmental impacts on humanpopulations or environmentally important areas are less adverse than those in Category A.
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Table 13. World Bank Safeguard PoliciesEnvironmental Assessment (OP 4.01)Natural Habitats (OP 4.04Forestry (OP 4.36Pest Management (OP 4.09)Cultural Property (OPN 11.03)Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20)Involuntary Resettlement (OD 4.30Safety of Dams (OP 4.37!Projects in International Waters OP 7.50Projects in Disputed Areas (OP 7.60)
The safeguard policies that are applicable to this project are as follows:
* Environmental Assessment. The World Bank requires that Category B projects include anEnvironmental Assessment (EA) to identify likely impacts and an EnvironmentalManagement Plan (EMP) which includes mitigation actions and monitoring procedurestogether with opportunity for public consultation of the EMP and EA. This EA and EMPmeet the Bank's requirements.
* Natural Habitats. The project sites were selected for afforestation based on their degradedcondition and the need to mitigate soil erosion and loss.
* Forestry. The project is consistent with the Bank's new operational policy on forests. Theproject aims to reduce deforestation, enhance the economic contribution of forested areas,promote community participation and contribute to global public goods. The project isalso consistent with the Forestry OP through: (i) there is no conversion of naturalhabitats; and (ii) afforestation using non-native species will be designed to prevent andmitigate the potential of their spreading to natural habitats and adversely affecting nativebiodiversity.
* Involuntary Resettlement. Afforestation of the project sites would reduce grazing, andthereby alter access by local shepherds. For this reason the Bank's safeguard oninvoluntary resettlement is triggered. This will be mitigated through the US$0.92 milliongrant for local communities. The issue is addressed fully in the social assessment.
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11. Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
11.1 EMP Summary
The environmental management plan (EMP) consists of the summary of project impacts,the mitigation measures, monitoring, and institutional measures to be taken duringimplementation and operation to eliminate adverse environmental and social impacts, offsetthem, or reduce them to acceptable levels. Table 14 summarizes the project's positive andadverse impacts and Table 15 lists the mitigation measures, their implementation arrangements,and costs.
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Table 14. Summary of Baseline Conditions and Project ImpactsIssue Issue Description Mitigation
Measure Number
A. Baseline (Without Project)
Biodiversity Floristic diversity of the project sites is much reduced in comparison to the historical (natural) baseline. At Not applicablethe same time with the soil fertility decreasing, the majority of flora species are declining. Lands used is (N/A)mostly as pasture and perennial crops (about 15%) represent unbalanced ecosystems, that continue todegrade. Because of difficult conditions of life, the fauna diversity of the corresponding lands will continueto diminish, since will decrease the share of territories that could offer minimal conditions for animals,especially through decreasing of nutritive capacities of mentioned lands, lack of sites for reproduction andrefuge. Game species such as wild boar avoid such lands.
Soil conditions Currently about 85% of corresponding lands are degraded and practically excluded from general N/Aagricultural production. Leaving these lands in actual state will lead to the extension of surfaces of ravines,landslides etc. Since the project sites are mainly on slopes above 7 degrees, erosion processes areproceeding quickly with annual losses of 50 t/ha of soil and 1.5 tlha of organic matter, equaling 0.9 t/ha ofcarbon loss. Increased grazing with sheep, in the absence of proper grassland management, has thepotential to accelerate soil erosion. The net impact on the soil conditions will be further decrease in soilfertility and a loss of soil due to erosion, ravines as well as further land degradation due to the landslidesdevelopment. Soils have also will become drier and exhibit increasing the quantity of salt in soil. In theabsence of any stabilizing and restorative measures, there will be continued soil loss and decreasing soilfertility.
Water The continuation of soil erosion, ravines as well as landslides development, will have an impact on water N/Aquality in the surrounding area, contributing to further water pollution. The water table will become lowerin many places due to the progressive loss of vegetation. Eroded soils increased siltation and chemicalpollution of the water bodies and wetlands thereby decreasing water quality and possibly contributing tothe loss of fish spawning habitat and breeding habitat in wetlands.
Landscape Actual condition of lands proposed for afforestation also diminish the aesthetic aspect of rural localities,national rural aspect, present a discommodity for all life environment of the population. In the less than 5years, there will be little appreciable impact on the appearance of the landscape. Over a longer period oftime, with the continued degradation and eventual forced abandonment even of the infrequently usedpastures on account of the eventual exhaustion of their productivity, even more lands will becomedegraded.
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B. Potential Impacts (With Project)
BiodiversitY Biodiversity assessments were not carried out on all of the project's 1,891 sites during preparation. The I to 8sites were selected for afforestation based on their degraded condition, and therefore biodiversity valuesare expected to be low or very low on all of the sites. A screening process will be put in place to sampleproject sites and carry out focused biological assessments to ensure there no impacts to biodiversity. Thesewill be carried out in the season prior to afforestation is planned.
Site preparation will have a short term adverse, but not significant, impact on flora and fauna. This impactwill be reversed over time as the forest becomes established and supports an increasing and diverse floraand fauna. The diversity of flora will be increased through the planting of over 20 native species of treesand shrubs. Grasses and other types of herbaceous vegetation will also reappear. This will provide greaterstructural diversity and an increase in the diversity of habitats available for native fauna. The connectivityof habitats will also be improved which will lead to increased species dispersal, greater ecologicalfunctionality of the sites, and in the longer term, stronger regional sustainability of biodiversity.
During harvesting, there is the potential to have a temporary negative impact on flora and fauna throughthe disturbance and possible displacement of fauna. This potential impact is temporary and not significant.
The planting of non-native species, primarily Robinia pseudoacacia, Quercus rubra and Gleditsia, whileunderstandable from a socio-economic perspective, is not desirable from the native biodiversityconservation point of view. This is the reason why it is recommended planting native trees and bushes asmuch as possible. This will result in a positive impact as they become established and come to support agreater range of native fauna. The establishment of these "oases" of biodiversity will also provide forincreased connectivity and species dispersal potential in the landscape and will help support ecosystemsustainability.
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Soil conditions Site preparation (ploughing and disking) would increase soil erosion marginally in the short term. The 2-4impact would not be significant, and would be reversed as vegetation is re-established on the project sites.Herbaceous and woody vegetation plays an important role in protection and conservation of soil cover onslopes. The establishment of forest vegetation contribute to:
* conservation of relief formns, diminishing the erosion processes, the development of ravinesand landslides,
* infiltration of water in soil and maintenance of more favorable hydrologic regime of soils,* organic accumulation (about 3-5 t/year/ha) will improve soil fertility and regenerate soil
profiles,* reduction of water and wind erosion; and* mitigate declining productivity of adjoining agricultural lands
Water Site preparation would have an initial adverse impact on water quality, but this would not be significant 2-4and would be reversed to a positive impact with the restoration of vegetative cover and the resultingreduction in soil erosion and its impact on aquatic ecosystems . wind and water after , the restoration ofvegetative cover will improve water quality as a result of decreased run off and siltation.
Climate Afforestation will have positive micro-climatic effects. Wind speed will decrease as a result of the sitesacting as windbreaks. The temperature differential with adjacent lands will be moderated. The project willalso result in the sequestration of some greenhouse gases, particularly CO2. If through alternative forestryincome some families can afford to abandon the production of ruminants, this may result in a minorpositive greenhouse gas reduction through the decreased release of methane
Landscape The new forests will add structural diversity to the landscape. Increased connectivity among forest patches 5, 8and a contribution to the development of an ecological network will also be positive effects.
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Table 15. Mitigation Measures# Mitigation measures Phase Responsibility Financing1. Carry out biodiversity assessments of all sites 1-5 SFE, Moldsilva
years Moldsilva2. Observe existing regulations for all afforestation activities: 1-5 SFE, Moldsilva
(a) soil preparation; (b) planting; (c) maintenance and trees years Moldsilvaprotection; (d) thinning and harvesting
3. Where tillage is required for site preparation, use contour 1-5 SFE Moldsilva____ plowing methods to minimize soil impacts years4. Use hydro technical installations where appropriate to 1-5 Moldsilva, Moldsilva,
reduce erosion years MECTD, SFE,LA
5. Follow existing normatives to use indigenous species 1-5 SFE, Moldsilva,(trees and bushes); increase habitat diversity by providing years Moldsilva MECTDclearings for the establishment of shrubs and grasses
6 Create orchards and shrub layers using species with high 1-5 SFE Moldsilvahabitat value (e.g., Rosa canina, Prunus spinoza) for fauna years
7. Carry out forest maintenance activities (thinning and 5-15 SFE Moldsilvaharvesting) in the periods less disturbing for fauna (late yearsfall and winter) when feasible;
8. Where appropriate, use afforestation of native species to 1-5 SFE, Moldsilva,create forest linkages to enhance landscape level functions years LA MECTDof the forest fund
9. Systematically inform local authorities and communities 1-5 SFE Moldsilvaabout the project implementation, publishing and years MECTD,disseminating public awareness materials in order to get Japanesepublic support grant
SFE - State Forest EnterpriseMoldsilva - State Forest Agency Moldsilva;MECTD, - Ministry of Ecology, Construction and Territorial Development;LA, - Local Authorities.
11.2 Monitoring
According OP 4.01, an environmental monitoring plan during project implementation providesinformation about key environmental aspects of the project, including achievement of theproject's environmental objectives and monitoring the effectiveness of the EMP's mitigationmeasures. A monitoring sub-component is incorporated to monitor the soil and status of newforests. A summary of the proposed monitoring program is given below. It will be handled bythe PMU in close cooperation with the MECTD, and the Forestry Enterprises and will be basedon the baseline survey undertaken during preparation phase of the project
Monitoring will consist of recording the area that has been planted with trees and shrubs andtheir survival rate and the area of forest that has been improved through under/inter planting,encouraging regeneration better management.
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Monitoring of all sites will take place in the Autunm of Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 and thereafter in theAutumn every 3 years. In the event of the necessity to implement disease control measures,monitoring will be required in the year of spraying, prior to the commencement of spraying andin the following year.
The monitoring of project biodiversity and other environmental effects will occur on three typesof sites: "control" sites on lands adjacent to project sites so as to initially establish andsubsequently monitor the baseline over time as opposed to conducting a one time or "snapshot"appraisal of the baseline; sites that will be afforested in a conventional manner (mostly thesmaller 1-20 ha. sites); and, sites where an effort will be made to maximize biodiversity values(primarily the greater than 20 ha. sites). The actual project sites for monitoring will be selectedon the basis of their representativity of their zone (Northern, Central and Southern) and landclass (pastures and degraded lands).
24 monitoring sites will be established as follows.
For each of the 3 zones:
1 representative pasture land project site that is less than 20 ha in area;* 1 similar control site on pasture land adjacent to project site;
* 1 representative pasture land project site that is greater than 20 ha. in area;* 1 similar control site on pasture land adjacent to project site;
* 1 representative degraded land project site that is less than 20 ha in area;* 1 similar control site on degraded land adjacent to project site;
* 1 representative degraded land project site that is greater than 20 ha in area;1 similar control site on degraded land adjacent to project site.
For flora, a sampling design that is based on the systematic and permanent placement of fixedsampling plots and associated quadrates is likely the best approach to take. The corners of theplots and centers of the quadrates will be permanently identified and located by a set ofGeographic Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. Metal bars may also be buried in the soil thatcould subsequently be found with a metal detector. In either case, the plots and quadrates will notreceive differential treatment from forestry personnel, or other users of adjacent baseline plots inthe future, a situation that would likely occur if they were to be marked above ground.Permanently marked linear transects will be established for monitoring fauna. Their ends shouldalso be marked by GPS coordinates and buried metal bars. The transects should be of a lengththat traverses several habitat types, if these exist, on a given site. In such a case, they should runfrom the edge of a site into its interior in order to capture the greatest diversity of availablehabitats. In most cases, 100 m transects should suffice.
Due to the specialized nature of the monitoring expertise required, botanists, ornithologists, andother specialists will be required to assist forestry staff in conducting the monitoring fieldsurveys. A monitoring table for biodiversity and soil conservation issues is provided (Table 16).
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Table 16. Indicators and Procedures for Biodiversity and Soil Conservation Monitoring
Indicator Adjustme Methodology/ Frequency/ Dates of Responsibility (Flow of) Cost of Progress Corre Indicatornts of Data sources evaluations Documentation evaluations or achieved ctive to beindicator means to date action measured
required forbaselinedefinition
Increase in floral species Field surveys of Year 1, Year 2, Year Moldsilva forest Report to Moldsilva bearsdiversity in afforested project established 3, Year 5, and every 5 district (FD) Moldsilva; annual cost ofsites monitoring plots years thereafter heads; report from personnel time;
(spring and fall) contracted Moldsilva to PMU initial purchaseexpertise; PMU of 4 GPS units
(US$ I ,000)Increase in faunal species Field surveys of Year 1, Year 2, Year Moldsilva FD Report to Moldsilva bearsdiversity in afforested project established 3, Year 5, and every 5 heads; Moldsilva; annual cost ofsites monitoring linear years thereafter contracted report from personnel time
transects (spring and fall) expertise; PMU Moldsilva to PMUIncrease in faunal species Field surveys of Year 1, Year 2, Year Moldsilva FD Report to Moldsilva bearsrichness in afforested project established 3, Year 5, and every 5 heads; Moldsilva; annual cost ofsites monitoring linear years thereafter contracted report from personnel time
transects (spring and fall) expertise; PMU Moldsilva to PMUChange in soil density in Field surveys of Year 1, Year 2, Year Moldsilva FD Report to Moldsilva bearsafforested project sites established 3, Year 5, and every 5 heads; Moldsilva; annual cost of
monitoring plots years thereafter (fall) contracted report from personnel timeexpertise; PMU Moldsilva to PMU
Increase of organic matter Field surveys of Year 1, Year 2, Year Moldsilva FD Report to Moldsilva bearslayer and humus in afforested the carbon 3, Year 5, and every 5 heads; Moldsilva; annual cost ofproject sites monitoring years thereafter (fall) contracted report from personnel time
expertise; PMU Moldsilva to PMUDecrease in rate and amount Field surveys of Year 1, Year 2, Year Moldsilva FD Report to Moldsilva bearsof soil loss in afforested established 3, Year 5, and every 5 heads; Moldsilva; annual cost ofproject sites monitoring plots years thereafter (fall) contracted report from personnel time
expertise; PMU Moldsilva to PMU
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Monitoring of other Environmental Effects: Several indicators will be selected for themonitoring of other project environmental effects, including patch characteristics, nutrientcycling, water quality, temperature gradients, wind velocity, and others. However, for thesake of practicability and in view of the relatively high number of other monitoringindicators, including soil conservation and CO2 effects, it has been decided that these otherenvironmental effect indicators (principally climate) may be of secondary importance andshould therefore not be covered by the project monitoring system. The whole range ofmonitoring activities are presented in the Table 17.
Table 17. Proposed monitoring actions
Action and main index Responsible for Implementation periodI implementation
1.Monitoring offorest vegetationSFA "Moldsilva" 2003
1.1. Evidence and mapping of all sectorsincluded in the projects with the help of GPSand GIS.1.2. Establishment of polygons for monitoring SFA "Moldsilva" 2003effectuation1.3. Supervision of observance of project SFA "Moldsilva" October 2002-statements concerning the assortment of October-Novemberspecies, plantation scheme, number of plants 2005.per hectare, quality of soil preparation, qualityof plantation material and activities during theplantations. _
1.4. Supervision of observance of tending and SFA "Moldsilva" Starting with 2003 andgrowing technologies for forest species. up to 2016.
1.5. Check-up of technical reception and SFA "Moldsilva" Annualannual inventory of forest crops.
2. Monitoring of biological diversity.2.1. Identification of sectors representative for SFA "Moldsilva" Year 2003biodiversity monitoring.2.2. Establishment of methodologies for SFA "Moldsilva" Year 2003monitoring of fauna and flora.
2.3. Identification of humid zones, of springs, SFA "Moldsilva" Year 2003lakes, water basins and it mappings.2.4. Effectuation of floristic monitoring SFA "Moldsilva" Year I, V, X and XV* On the base of routes through the sectors
in different period of vegetation process;* Supervision of areas covered with exotic
and indigenous species, its share in orderto register the behaviour of those exoticspecies.
2.5. Effectuation of faunistic monitoring: SFA "Moldsilva" Year I, V, X and XV.. Entomofauna. Ornitofauna* Rodents
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* Mammals3. Environmental monitoring.
SFA "Moldsilva" Year 20033. 1. Establishment of polygons representativefor stabilization processes in soils.3.2. Establishment of methodologies of SFA "Moldsilva" Year 2003effectuation of monitoring of erosion andlandslides process.3.3. Monitoring of erosion processes: SFA "Moldsilva" Year V, X and XV
* Superficial erosion* Linear erosion
3.4. Monitoring of landslides process SFA "Moldsilva" Year V, X and XV
11.3 Process Framework for Mitigating Potential Adverse Livelihood Impacts
The activity under the project that is of most relevance to the Process Framework is the afforestationof pastures on communal lands. Most of the afforestation plots on communal lands are rather small(less than seven ha) and constitute a small percentage of the total village pasture area. The majority ofpastures suffer from serious degradation and are low in productivity. Because of deficient wateruptake, the thin scarce grass cover can be grazed for only one month in a year. A considerable part ofthese lands are former agricultural lands excluded from the production cycle due to their low fertility.The project sites that are classified as 'grazing lands' have an estimated biomass production of 1 tonof dry matter per year and an estimated financial yield of from US$ 8 to 16 per ha. Despite the lowproductivity of pasture lands in the project sites, some of the local farmers consulted in preparation ofthe social assessment consider these lands to be an important grazing reserve. Most of the time, thesepasture lands are used by subsistence farmers and access is regulated informally between the mayor'soffice and local communities. Afforestation activities on grazing areas in communal land may affectthe livelihoods of livestock owners at some project sites.
Policy Trigger. This Process Framework will be implemented in accordance with the World BankPolicy on Involuntary Resettlement (World Bank Operational Policy 4.12 of December 2001). Itcovers project-induced involuntary restrictions of access to communal lands triggered by afforestationactivities and resulting in adverse livelihood impacts. Although these lands are small in area andconstitute a small portion of the total village pasture area, there is a possibility that the livelihoods ofsome livestock owners will be negatively affected. Good practice has demonstrated that the objectivesof the policy can be better achieved through a participatory process similar to that outlined in thisProcess Framework and to be followed throughout the implementation of the project.
Process Framework. This Process Framework outlines the criteria and procedures that will befollowed as part of the project in cases where project-induced involuntary restriction of access tocommunal lands triggered by afforestation activities result in adverse livelihood impacts. It willensure that eligible, affected persons are assisted in their efforts to restore or improve their livelihoodsin a manner which maintains the environmental sustainability of the sites in question. Morespecifically, it describes the participatory process by which: (a) specific components of the projectwere prepared and will be implemented; (b) the criteria for eligibility of affected persons will bedetermined; (c) measures to assist the affected persons in their efforts to improve or restore, in realterms, to pre-displacement levels, their livelihoods, in particular by restoration of grazingopportunities and through access to wood and non-wood benefits of the plantations created, whilemaintaining the sustainability of the afforested sites will be identified; and (d) potential conflictsinvolving affected persons will be resolved. It also provides a description of the arrangements forimplementing and monitoring the process.
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Process Followed During Preparation. A full Social Assessment (SA) process was conducted duringcomponent preparation by a World Bank consultant with the assistance of a local research team. Fieldsurveys were conducted in Balti, Orhei, Tighina, and Gagauzia (representing the northern, central andsouthern regions of the country) using quantitative and qualitative methods. The objective of the SAwas to: (a) assess the existing social conditions; (b) determine the potential negative impacts of theproject, if any; (c) serve as a vehicle for community consultations on the project; and (d) inform theongoing project design.
The SA found that the likely overall impact of the project would be positive: it would provideemployment and income and sustain the natural resource base which is necessary for attainingsustainable livelihoods. The results of the SA were used to refine the design of the project, enhancingpositive impacts and mitigating likely adverse effects. Nonetheless, it is possible that some activitiescould inadvertently adversely affect the livelihoods of persons currently using the sites proposed forafforestation.
The project is being co-financed with a US$919,000 grant from the Japanese Special Fund forClimate Change. The Japanese grant would finance the community forest development component, toassist local affected communities to improve their livelihoods and participate in community forestmanagement. Among others, activities under this companion project directly relevant to the ProcessFramework will include: (a) mobilization of local communities for participatory forest management;and (b) direct support through the Special Project Compensation Program defined in section (c)below).
Process to be Followed During Implementation. The process to be followed during projectimplementation would consist of the following key steps:
a) Participatory Rural Assessments. Following-up on the SA conducted during preparation,additional work on social assessment through Participatory Rural Assessment (PRA) surveys wouldlead off the implementation of the component. The PRAs would focus on developing a more in-depthunderstanding of: (a) communities' suggestions and/or view on possible mitigation measures; (b)potential conflicts over the afforestation activities and methods for solving potential conflicts; (c)design of the specific assistance measures. The results of the PRA surveys will be an input to thedevelopment of the Special Compensation Program.
b) Point Person for Process Framework Within Moldsilva. A point person has been establishedwithin Moldsilva to take responsibility for the implementation of the Process Framework and thedevelopment of the operational manual for the Special Compensation Program. This official is asenior-level staff of the organization and is familiar with the requirements of the Process Framework.
c) A Special Compensation Program will be implemented by Moldsilva targeted at individualsand communities whose livelihoods have been affected by project activities and who will be assistedin their efforts to restore or improve their livelihoods in relation to pre-displacement levels.Compensation under this program may include but not be confined to: (a) provision of alternativegrazing grounds; (b) provision of livestock fodder during duration of the project; (c) priority status forreceiving benefits from the forests (temporary employment, fuelwood, grazing, etc.); (d) localcommunities will be allowed to grow vegetables between the seedling rows, at least until the treesgrow and shade these areas; and (e) direct financial support to affected individuals and communities.The Program will consist of the following components:
(1) Information Campaign. Information Campaigns have already been conducted in projectcommunities but would be expanded under the project, as recommended by the SocialAssessment. The campaign will target all members of the community and include informationabout the afforestation activities, their benefits to the community, and the proposed mechanismsfore the restoration of grazing opportunities.
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(2) Local Management Forum (LMF). A Local Management Forum consisting of the Mayor,members of the Local Council, and representatives from the community will work with Moldsilvaand Gyprozem (the Institute for Pasture Management and Monitoring) to determine the eligibilityof affected individuals and select from a menu of activities for increased benefits from improvedpasture and forest management. The community representatives should include representatives ofwomen-headed households, livestock farmers, youth and minority groups.
(3) Conflict Resolution and Grievance Procedure. The Program will put in place conflictresolution mechanisms at the Local Management Forum (LMF) level by which potential conflictsbetween resource users and Moldsilva can be resolved. The LMFs would adjudicate potentialconflicts at the village level. If resolution is not possible at the village level, the LMF can seekadvice from the Project Steering Committee who are charged with overseeing overall projectimplementation. The Program will also put in place a mechanism where grievances about theimplementation of the Process Framework can be recorded and acted upon at the national level.The Program will develop strategies for participatory monitoring of beneficial and adverseimpacts of the Project and effectiveness of compensation measures.
Monitoring and Evaluation Program. Under PCF procedures, there is provision for 3rd party M&E ofsocial, economic, and environmental outcomes of project implementation. This will be enhanced byadditional surveys under the Process Framework
As part of the monitoring of social development outcomes Moldsilva will hire consultants to carry outannual socio-economic surveys to monitor progress of the project. These surveys will be tailored tomeasure impact of the Special Compensation Program against the initial socio-economic baselinecarried out during the PRA.
Plan of Action. The operational manual for the Special Compensation Program would serve as thePlan of Action required by the Bank's policy on involuntary resettlement to be developed andsubmitted to the Bank during project implementation and prior to enforcement of new restrictions ofaccess to resources in communal lands.
11.4 Institutional Arrangements and Capacity Building
Moldsilva will be responsible for implementation for the EMP as part of its broaderimplementation responsibilities for the project. The general arrangements are as follows:
A. Project coordinator who will be responsible for coordinating project implementation andnegotiations with the PCF;
B. Project Steering Committee with the general task of coordination of activities of allinterested parties, including Ministries of Ecology, Finance, Economics, Agriculture,Environmental NGOs, local and regional authorities, academia. The Project ManagementUnit (PMU) would serve as the secretariat for the Committee. Among most important tasksof the committee would be also broad dissemination of the information about the projectimplementation, best cases and practices, coordination of the direct involvement ofMoldsilva, local authorities and Ministry of Ecology in project financing, overall supervisionof project implementation. Additionally the Committee would have the responsibility for thecoordination of the implementation of the forthcoming PHRD grant;
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C. Project Management Unit that will be responsible for day to day activities with regard toproject implementation, and most important will be responsible for the implementation andcoordination of the implementation of the project monitoring plan, including carbonsequestration and reporting.
The PM1 what is proposed to be created, will ensure the implementation of the EMP. ThePMU will annually monitor and evaluate project progress and measure the impact of projectactivities against the baseline survey undertaken during project preparation. The PMU willundertake a systematic analysis of the impact and achievements of project activities and theresults of the monitoring activities will be fed back into the implementation process asimproved forestry practices. Concretely, the PMU will be responsible for the following:
* Provision of sustainability of the project afforestation activities through themore complete information, public awareness, strengthening of forestrymanagement;
* Project co-ordination;* Inventory and mapping of every sector with the use of GPS and GIS;* Supervision of observance of projects stipulations, plantation technique and
technologies.* Establishment of polygons and methodologies concerning the necessary
measurements within the projects.* Carrying out of project monitoring at initial phase, and after that in year V, X
and XV;* Verification of reception and annual inventories of plantations;* Preparation of annual reports;* Formulation of recommendations for re-addressing and improvements of
works (reparation, maintenance, assurance of integrity etc.);* Preparation of recommendations concerning the management of new created
communal forests;* Preparing and carrying out workshops, training within the project.
Prior to the start of the project, it is essential that the NFA staff at District level withresponsibility for afforestation and monitoring are provided with training in environmentalscreening and other necessary for the project issues. The first training should be held beforethe end of year 2003 and the second before the end of January 2004. It is foreseen toorganize separate courses for the forest staff: (a) at the inferior and average level (forestersand technicians); and, (b) at the superior level (engineer, chief forest engineer ). Thefollowing topics are needed to be included in these courses:
* National strategies and programs on the extension of the forest areas.* Extension of areas covered with forest vegetation - used technologies and
techniques.* Dendrology of main forest species.* Environmental screening.* Forestry measures applied at tree growing in the conditions of the Republic of
Moldova.* Forest legislation and technical norms concerning the responsibility of guard
and protection of forest plantation.* Bio technical norms for development of hunting fauna in new created areas.
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* Work protection and safeguard techniques during the plantation activities,maintenance and combating.
* Legislative stipulations and responsibilities on the correct use of preparations.* Technical methodologies of appraisal of success and transfer in the canopy
closure phase.
All proposed activities will be financed by the Moldsilva itself and in kind contribution bythe Local authorities. Additionally the Ministry of Ecology, Construction and TerritorialDevelopment will provide some resources, in particular for the biodiversity conservationenhancing and for increasing public awareness and participation. Lastly, a special Japanesegrant that recently was approved for Community Forestry Development, would contributespecifically for strengthening forestry management at the local level and for publicparticipation and awareness. The concrete amount of needed resources will be annuallyestimated and included in the Moldsilva's expences. Additional resources provided by theMECTD and Japanese grant will be allocated upon presentation by the PIU a specialfinancial request and detailed action plan, what should be approved by the NationalEnvironmental Fund Council and in the case of the Japanese grant, - after the approval of thegrant documents and their approval by the Steering Committee.
12. Record of Consultations and Information Disclosure
12.1 Consultations and Information Disclosure in Moldova
Various stakeholders of the project have been consulted frequently. They were visitedindividually and in groups. Extensive consultative meetings were held during projectpreparation and the inputs of these groups have helped in the outcome of project design. Inthe course of the project preparation there have been organized various meetings with therepresentatives from the following state institutions, academia and NGO community:
* Division of Agriculture and Ecology within the State Chancellery of the Republic ofMoldova;
* Representatives of the Ministry of Ecology, Constructions and TerritoryDevelopment;
* Ministry of Agriculture and Food Processing Industry;* State Agency for Geodesy, Cartography and Land Resources;* Soil Science Institute, Institute of Botany and of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences
of the Republic of Moldova;* State Forest Enterprises;* Environmental NGOs;* Local communities, Mayors and Councils;* Districts administrations, including authorities responsible for environment
protection, cadastre, agriculture.
During these meetings were also discussed the tasks of different stakeholders in projectdesigning, as well as major related problems and opportunities. During May - June 2002, theState Forest Agency "Moldsilva" have organized 4 technical meetings with the participantsfrom the state forest units (Chief forest engineers, engineers for forest regeneration and forestfund, etc); 6 working meetings with the representatives of the local public authorities
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(councils and judet prefecture, mayoralties, ecological zonal agencies, various services, etc.);1 joint meeting with the representatives of the agency for Soil Relations and Cadaster.
At those meetings it were identified the role and the responsibilities of: (a) Mayoralties /landowners; (b) Forest enterprises; (c) The State Forest Agency; and (d) of the Agency forLand Relations and Cadastre in various activities dealing with the project development. Theminutes of these meetings are presented in a special attached report ( see Annex B).
Draft information about the project itself and about its environmental impacts and mitigationmeasures were disseminated in Moldova as follows:
* The PCN has been presented at the Scientific Conference "Sustainable developmentof the forest sector of the Republic of Moldova", November, 22-23, 2003, Chisinau,Moldova.
* Information concerning the project has been published in the national localnewspapers in every judet. Additionally were presented: (a) three information on theTV information program "Messager" during the period spring-fall 2002; and, (b) twoinformation on the radio program "Ecoterra" during the period of fall 2002-spring2003.
* Various presentations on the PCN, project options and on the project preparationprocess have been made to the government officials since October 2002 and inparticular to the Ministry of Environment, Construction and Territory Development(MECTD), Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Economics.
* The PCN, Term Sheet and draft Emissions Reductions Purchase Agreement havebeen discussed with government and MECTD, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry ofEconomics officials since March 2003.
* The information with regard to the project was disseminated at the meetings with thepublic local authorities, local councils and local communities during the periodSeptember 2002 -March 2003.
12.2 Consultations and Information Disclosure in the World Bank and PCF
Information disclosure at the WB.
* The PCN was presented to and approved by the PCF participants at themeeting of the UNFCCC parties in October 2002.
* The Environmental Assessment Report was posted at the World Bank's InfoShop on July 15, 2003. These documents will be publicly available and open forcomment for a period of two months, between July 15, 2003 and September 15, 2003
12.3 Additional Planned Consultations and Disclosure
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Consultations and information disclosure in Moldova. The EA report will be widelycirculated to all interested parties for comments and inputs before finalization. Additionallyit is also proposed that:
* The EA report will be translated and posted on the MECTD and RegionalEnvironmental Center websites in first decade of July, 2003 (in Romanian)
* The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) will be disclosed in the local pressand on the MECTD and Regional Environmental Center websites in theRomanian language for 60 days before the Emissions Reductions PurchaseAgreement (ERPA) can be signed ( July 15, 2003).
* A special article on the results of the project baseline study will be published inthe Ministry of Ecology magazine in September 2003 (in Romanian).
* A short summary of the project and its EA (up to three pages) will be publishedin Romanian and broadly disseminated to interested parties, - NGOs, academiaand State Institutions.
* Moldova Forestry Institute commonly with the Biodiversity Office within theMinistry of Ecology will organize in earlier July a special project presentation, forall interested parties, emphasizing its environmental impacts, as well as itsbenefits and mitigation measures.
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