Clarissa C. Arida, Program Manager, United Nations Development Programme
Priorities on natural resource management and environment related to aquaculture and other living aquatic resources
In general, UNDP's interventions in agriculture contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) particularly on eradicating poverty and hunger and on ensuring environmental sustainability and other relevant international agreements related to agriculture and food.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) has reaffirmed the Millennium Development Goals to "encourage the application, by 2010, of the ecosystem approach for the sustainable development of oceans, among others.
The Plan of Implementation and Political Declaration give a clear mandate to UNDP in the area of capacity building and refer in many instances to the Millennium Development Goals for which UNDP has been appointed Campaign Manager and Scorekeeper. Another important new mandate to UNDP refers to the provision of technical assistance in the area of trade, environment and development, together with WTO (World Trade Organization), UNCTAD (United Nations Conference for Trade and Development) and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).
The WEHAB initiative was proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a contribution to the preparations for the WSSD. It seeks to provide focus and impetus to action in the five key thematic areas of water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity that are integral to a coherent international approach to the implementation of sustainable development and that are among the issues contained in the Plan of Implementation endorsed by the Summit. UNDP supported WEHAB initiative.
The Framework of Action on Agriculture emphasized the importance of agriculture in stimulating sustainable economic growth and rural employment and as the cornerstone for food security and poverty reduction. The framework likewise recognizes that sustainable agriculture depends on effective management of natural resources and preservation of the biodiversity base. UNDP also launched Capacity 2015 in Bali and Johannesburg to Developing Capacities for Sustainable Communities.
Capacity 2015 is a UNDP effort aimed at developing the capacities of countries to meet sustainable development goals under Agenda 21 and the Millennium Development Goals at the local level.
Among the action areas identified in the WEHAB Framework for Agriculture are:
Improve opportunities for the poor to strengthen, diversify and sustain their livelihoods by taking advantage of synergies between, fishing, farming, forestry and non-farm activities;
Promote more ecological practices in agriculture at the local level through disseminating success stories.
Promote the conservation of aquatic ecosystems and manage associated capture fisheries through co-operation between governments and fishing communities (e.g. PEMSEA [Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia]);
Enhance capacities, policies and institutions that promote sustainable agricultural practices and systems; and
Improve access to rural financial services for small-scale farmers and rural entrepreneurs; build viable and sustainable rural financing schemes and banking services (e.g. micro-financing).
As one of the implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNDP supports the implementation of the 'Regional Programme on Partnership on Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia'. PEMSEA generates multi-stakeholder involvement and commitment to sustainable development of fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, ports, harbours and other coastal activities. PEMSEA develop and implement coastal strategies, policies and action plans to reduce threats to ecosystems and overcome multiple-use conflicts concerning coastal resources. PEMSEA strengthens capacities in governance of oceans and coastal areas.
PEMSEA developed a functional framework to streamline regional, national and international environmental management efforts: Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). UNDP is using the SDS-SEA as a framework for Capacity 2015 implementation.
The SDS-SEA is seen as an instrument that cuts across all sectors, not just the environment sector. It has evolved to provide a platform for: harmonizing relationships between the economy and the environment as related to the Seas of East Asia; forging operational linkages across national and regional programmes addressing issues such as poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihood, reduction of vulnerability to natural hazards, economic growth and maintaining the health of human beings, ecosystems and the natural resource base; and promoting intersectoral, interagency, intergovernmental and interproject partnerships for overcoming constraints to sustainable development of the region.
The SDS-EAS outlines the desired changes in terms of institutional systems and outcomes. As an example, desired changes include: national coastal and marine policy and supporting legislation adopted and implemented; and area specific institutional arrangements for environmental management of large gulfs, bays, inland seas, international straits and marine ecosystems in place.
In terms of outcomes, those relevant to aquaculture and other living aquatic resources include: aquatic food production safe for human consumption; fish stocks equitably and sustainably used; marine endangered species and biodiversity effectively protected; and protected areas established and managed among others.
The Second Country Cooperation Framework for the Philippines (CCF) outlines the agreement between the Government and UNDP that poverty alleviation shall be the core business of UNDP Philippines with governance intervention as the major means to achieve this goal. The CCF reflects the priorities of the current administration.
The second GOP-UNDP country cooperation framework is founded on the broad strategies of the revised MTPDP and the overarching corporate goal to contribute to extreme poverty eradication through sustainable human development by:
creating and enabling environment: poverty reduction through governance;
empowerment of the poor;
ensuring environment sustainability; and
establishing the Foundation for Peace and Development.
We build on existing partnerships with national government agencies, LGUs, civil society, private sector, media, academe and other stakeholders to ensure that capacities are developed to effectively participate in various governance processes. Cross cutting issues on human rights and gender are integrated into the framework. There is a need to advance the promotion and protection of human rights as basis for all development initiatives geared towards improving the quality of life of the poor. There are four programmes under the Portfolio on Ensuring Environmental Sustainability.
ENR framework development and implementation
The ENR framework shall guide planning and implementation of interventions for the protection of the environment and sustainable development of natural resources. The process involves defining the policy environment and capacity building needs to implement such a framework and its corollary plans and programmes.
Mainstreaming sustainable development (MSD) and Philippine Agenda 21 into national, regional and local governance
MSD programme uses a strategic and catalytic approach to capacity building, harmonization and enhancement of planning and development systems and processes in accordance with SD principles. It aims to institutionalize such systems and enhances processes at the national and local levels of governance.
Environmental programme for industry competitiveness (EPIC)
EPIC aims to develop an internationally competitive Philippine industry sector. It promotes and institutionalizes Environmental Management Systems (EMS) related tools. EPIC uses eco-Industrial development approaches to foster environmental stewardship by industries and promotes environmental entrepreneurship and finance to encourage environmental investments and integration of environmental costs/considerations in the work of financial institutions.
Renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change
This portfolio promotes sustainable and renewable energy systems in off-grid communities in the rural areas and support energy efficiency programmes in the urban areas.
Under the ENR programme various interventions related to aquaculture and marine resources management are undertaken. In the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has embarked on the Development of a National Coastal and Marine Strategy with support from UNDP and PEMSEA. Being an archipelagic state with a coastline of 33 900 km, the Philippines has a large segment of its population concentrated in the coastal area.
The strategy aims to offer approaches to address priority cross-sectoral issues and impacts on coastal and marine areas, leading to reduced multiple-use conflicts, improved governance, resource conservation, environmental improvement, poverty alleviation and better returns on investments for society in the coastal and marine areas.
UNDP supports a number of biodiversity conservation efforts. With the WEHAB framework, biodiversity conservation now becomes a UNDP corporate priority. UNDP supports a number of biodiversity conservation programmes and projects, a large part of which cover coastal, marine, freshwater and wetland ecosystems (GEF OP2) as well as international waters programmes and (IW OP).
Since Rio, UNDP channelled over US$1.3 billion to developing countries in support of biodiversity efforts - but mostly from GEF. Biodiversity is key to poverty reduction and sustainable development: [from slide: Biodiversity as a key area in natural resources management, Then WSSD boosted global attention to biodiversity as well as water, energy etc] Biodiversity efforts of UNDP are very much linked into; (1) Food Security; (2) Health Improvements; (3) Income Generation; (4) Reduced Vulnerability; (5) Ecosystem Services.
In the Philippines for example, UNDP support biodiversity conservation efforts in critical and globally significant coastal and marine ecosystems: (1) Conservation of the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and World Heritage Site with WWF-Philippines; (2) Conservation of the Bohol Marine Triangle with Foundation for the Philippine Environment; (3) other terrestrial-based biodiversity projects in SamarIsland, Mt. Isarog, Zambales. UNDP also supports promotion of renewable energy projects for off-grid rural communities.
Useful Websites:
WSSD Plan of Implementation
www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/summit_docs/0409_plan_final.pdf
WEHAB Agriculture
www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/summit_docs/wehab_papers/wehab_agriculture.pdf
WEHAB Biodiversity
www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/summit_docs/wehab_papers/wehab_biodiversity.pdf
Equator Initiative, Biodiversity and Poverty Reduction
www.undp.org/equatorinitiative/pdf/ poverty_reduction.pdf
TTF Energy
www.undp.org/trustfunds/Energy-English-Final.pdf
TTF Environment
www.undp.org/trustfunds/Environment-English-Final.pdf
Poverty and Environment Initiative-Brochure
www.undp.org/wssd/docs/PEI-Brochure.p
Equator Initiative (ecoagriculture)
www.undp.org/equatorinitiative/pdf/ ecoagriculture.pdf
Equator Initiative
www.Equatorinitiative.org
Summary of UNDP Type II Partnerships
www.undp.org/wssd/docs/Summary-of-UNDP-Type-II-Partnerships.pdf
www.undp.org.ph
