DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMORDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR--LESTELESTEMINISTRY OFECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENTMINISTRY OFECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENTSECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT

NATIONAL DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICESNATIONAL DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Country Presentation;

Biological Diversity in Timor-Leste

Prepared by;

Augusto M. Pinto: Timor-Leste National Focal Point for UNCBD

Flaminio Xavier: Biodiversity Coordinator

TimorTimor--Leste (EastLeste (East--Timor)Timor)

•• Portugal colony for 450 years,Portugal colony for 450 years,

•• Indonesian army occupation 24 years (1975 Indonesian army occupation 24 years (1975 --1999),1999),

•• Under UN Administration; 2000Under UN Administration; 2000-- May 2002,May 2002,

•• An independent country; 20 May 2002 (newest country An independent country; 20 May 2002 (newest country

in Asia Pacific).in Asia Pacific).

Geography;Geography;

•• It occupies in It occupies in area of 14,874 km2area of 14,874 km2 in the eastern a half of in the eastern a half of

the island of Timor,the island of Timor,

•• It is also includes the enclave of It is also includes the enclave of OecussiOecussi on the North on the North

Coast, about 70 km to the west of the border, which is Coast, about 70 km to the west of the border, which is

surrounded by Indonesian Westsurrounded by Indonesian West--Timor,Timor,

•• TimorTimor--Leste has 2 tiny islands : Leste has 2 tiny islands : AtauroAtauro (114km2)(114km2) & & JacoJaco

(8km2)(8km2). Coast Line: 700 km2, Exclusive economic Zone; . Coast Line: 700 km2, Exclusive economic Zone;

75,000km2.75,000km2.

•• Rugged mountains in most of Rugged mountains in most of the country,the country, the highest the highest being being TatamailauTatamailau with 2,963 with 2,963 meters. meters.

•• The coastal plains are narrowThe coastal plains are narrow& there are no major & there are no major highland valleys & few highland valleys & few permanent rivers,permanent rivers,

•• Climate change;Climate change; Wet Season Wet Season ((MidMid November November –– MayMay) & dry ) & dry season (season (June June –– Early Early NovemberNovember),),

•• Temperature; 20 Temperature; 20 -- 3333°°c,c,

•• Annual Rainfall; 500mm Annual Rainfall; 500mm ––5000mm.5000mm.

Demography, Social & Economic;Demography, Social & Economic;

•• Country divided into 5 Regions, 13 districts, 64 Sub Country divided into 5 Regions, 13 districts, 64 Sub

districts,districts,

•• Total Population : 900, 000 (estimated 2004), divided into Total Population : 900, 000 (estimated 2004), divided into

12 ethnic groups (Eurasian, Polynesian, Melanesia and 12 ethnic groups (Eurasian, Polynesian, Melanesia and

few African),few African),

•• Language :Language :

–– Portuguese (Official), Portuguese (Official), TetumTetum (National), English and (National), English and

BahasaBahasa Indonesia (wide used), Indonesia (wide used),

–– Local language; 32Local language; 32

•• Economic income; Oil and Gas resources ranged between Economic income; Oil and Gas resources ranged between

US$ 300 US$ 300 –– 500 million per/month,500 million per/month,

•• Organic Coffee; Robust, Arabic, etc main export to Asian Organic Coffee; Robust, Arabic, etc main export to Asian

Countries, USA, Europe.Countries, USA, Europe.

•• Mining exploration such as marble, cement, etc now under Mining exploration such as marble, cement, etc now under

government planning,government planning,

•• Tourism places is considered one of the high income for the Tourism places is considered one of the high income for the

country and now under government planning.country and now under government planning.

Biodiversity Status in TimorBiodiversity Status in Timor--LesteLeste

•• Recent Wildlife;Recent Wildlife;

White CrocodileEagle

Turtle

Trimesurus Viper GreenTrimesurus Viper Yellow

•• Protected Area;Protected Area;

–– Currently EastCurrently East--Timor has 5 protected areas under plan Timor has 5 protected areas under plan

of the National Government with aims to protect and of the National Government with aims to protect and

conserve biodiversity,conserve biodiversity,

Protected Area

Issues Related to Loss of Biodiversity in Issues Related to Loss of Biodiversity in

TimorTimor--LesteLeste•• Illegal Hunting;Illegal Hunting;

–– Lack of Law enforcement,Lack of Law enforcement,

–– Lack of cooperation within related department to implement the eLack of cooperation within related department to implement the existing xisting

laws and the regulations,laws and the regulations,

–– Less information and public education to the communities due to Less information and public education to the communities due to limited of limited of

staff,staff,

–– Economic problem.Economic problem.

•• Illegal Lodging;Illegal Lodging;

–– Common issues in the country due to almost 75% is agriculture,Common issues in the country due to almost 75% is agriculture,

–– Economic problem,Economic problem,

–– Lack of Public awareness and education at the community levels,Lack of Public awareness and education at the community levels,

•• Forest Fire;Forest Fire;

–– Public education and awarenessPublic education and awareness

–– Traditional costume of wildlife huntingTraditional costume of wildlife hunting

–– Economic problem,Economic problem,

–– Lack of law enforcement,Lack of law enforcement,

•• Financial constraints;Financial constraints;

–– Limited budget provided by the government for environmental Limited budget provided by the government for environmental

protection and conservation issues,protection and conservation issues,

–– Lack of donors support,Lack of donors support,

–– Have been received some donors support from UNDP to Have been received some donors support from UNDP to stabilisestabilise

the Rio Conventions Secretariat and we are waiting for another the Rio Conventions Secretariat and we are waiting for another

support from GEF to assess the components of biodiversity in support from GEF to assess the components of biodiversity in

TimorTimor--Leste.Leste.

•• Lack of Capacity Building;Lack of Capacity Building;

–– Lack of local expert to work on environmental issues,Lack of local expert to work on environmental issues,

–– Environmental issues is not government priority Environmental issues is not government priority programmeprogramme,,

–– Limited capacity building of government staff to work on Limited capacity building of government staff to work on

environmental issues.environmental issues.

1. Develop National Biodiversity strategy Action Plan (NBSAP)1. Develop National Biodiversity strategy Action Plan (NBSAP)

GEFGEF??3 3 years years

3 3

yeayea

rsrs

MAFFMAFF

, ,

MFA, MFA,

MPW, MPW,

ME,ME,

NDENDES,S,DNCDNCF F

--Establish Establish

Team of Team of

NBSAPNBSAP

--Recruit Recruit

national and national and

international international

consultantconsultant

--Stakeholder Stakeholder

consultationconsultation

--Formulating Formulating

draftdraft

--Approval Approval

and and

publicationpublication

DevelopinDevelopin

g a g a

comprehecomprehe

nsive nsive

NBSAP NBSAP

NBSAP is NBSAP is

developedevelope

d d

To develop a To develop a

national national

Biodiversity Biodiversity

Strategy Strategy

Action Plan Action Plan

(NBSAP)(NBSAP)

1. 1.

Source of Source of funding funding

Fund Fund (US$)(US$)

TimeTime--frame frame

DurDuratioation of n of actiactivitievitiess

RespoResponsible nsible agencagenciesies

Lead Lead agenagencycy

Activities Activities ComponeComponents of nts of program program

Expected Expected outputs outputs

Objectives Objectives NNo o

Current Biodiversity Action Plan in TimorCurrent Biodiversity Action Plan in Timor--LesteLeste

2. Identification of Biodiversity Components2. Identification of Biodiversity Components

GEFGEF??3 3 yeayears rs

3 3

yearyear

ss

ME, ME,

UNTUNT

L,L,

MAFMAF

F,F,

MHMH

NDNDES,ES,NDNDCF CF

EstabliEstabli

sh sh

team team

to to

identify identify

compocompo

nent of nent of

biodivebiodive

rsity,rsity,

FormulFormul

ating ating

data data

and and

make make

reportreport

--Capacity Capacity

building for building for

national BD national BD

teamteam

--Survey and Survey and

collect collect

informationinformation

--compiling compiling

survey survey

results and results and

publicationpublication

Components Components

of of

biodiversity biodiversity

is identified is identified

To identify To identify

biodiversity biodiversity

and its and its

components ( components (

marine and marine and

coastal BD, coastal BD,

InIn--land land

water, Forest, water, Forest,

Agriculture, Agriculture,

mountainous mountainous

and Island and Island

BiodiversityBiodiversity

2. 2.

SouSource rce of of funfundinding g

FunFund d (US$(US$))

TiTimeme--fraframe me

DuraDuration tion of of activactivitiesities

RespResponsionsible ble agenagenciescies

LeaLead d ageagencyncy

ActivitiActivities es

Components Components of program of program

Expected Expected outputs outputs

Objectives Objectives No No

3. Financial Mechanism

GEFGEF??3 3 yearyears s

3 3

yearsyearsMAFFMAFF

, ,

MFA, MFA,

MF, MF,

MEDMED

NDES NDES --

Develop Develop

project project

proposaproposa

l and l and

develop develop

a a

transpatranspa

rent rent

financiafinancia

l l

managemanage

ment ment

systemsystem

Access to Access to

GEF GEF

financial financial

resources resources

by by

developing developing

project project

proposal proposal

through through

NBSAP and NBSAP and

increase increase

national national

accountabiliaccountabili

ty ty

Financial Financial

mechanism mechanism

under the under the

UNBD is UNBD is

obtainedobtained

To access To access

to to

financial financial

mechanismechanis

m under m under

GEFGEF

33..

Source Source of of funding funding

Fund Fund (US$)(US$)

TimTimee--fraframe me

DuratiDuration of on of activitiactivitieses

RespResponsiblonsible e agencagenciesies

Lead Lead agencagencyy

ActivitieActivities s

Components Components of program of program

Expected Expected outputs outputs

Objectives Objectives NNo o

4. Investigation/Research and Training4. Investigation/Research and Training

GEF?3 years

3 years

MAF, MFA, MF, MED, UNTL, ME, DNCF

NDES -establish BD research team

-training on research and development

-research in the field

-workshop and dissemination of information

-establish BD research team

-training on research and development

-research in the field

-workshop and dissemination of information

Biodiversity components and their identification are explored

To conduct investigation/research on biodiversity area, including identifying biodiversity components, and training for research team, focal point to enhance their capacity

4.

Source of funding

Fund (US$)

Time-frame

Duration of activities

Responsible agencies

Lead agency

Activities Components of program

Expected outputs

Objectives No

5. Education and public awareness5. Education and public awareness

GEF?3 years

3 years

MAFF, MFA, MF, MED, UNTL, ME, DNCF

NDES

-establish BD research team

-training on research and development

-research in the field

-workshop and dissemination of information

-establish BD research team

-training on identification of BD Components

-workshop and dissemination of information

Biodiversity components and their identification are explored

To rise up public awareness on the importance of BD and its components for livelihoods development

5.

Source of funding

Fund (US$)

Time-frame

Duration of activities

Responsible agencies

Lead agency

Activities Components of program

Expected outputs

Objectives No

Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement

•• The existing laws to protect biodiversity in TimorThe existing laws to protect biodiversity in Timor--Leste;Leste;

–– UNTAET Regulations; No 17 (Illegal lodging) and 19 UNTAET Regulations; No 17 (Illegal lodging) and 19

(Protected areas), 2000,(Protected areas), 2000,

–– Indonesian Law; No 23 1997, Environmental Protection,Indonesian Law; No 23 1997, Environmental Protection,

–– NDES Guidelines; 1 NDES Guidelines; 1 -- 88

TimorTimor--Leste Commitment to Deal with Leste Commitment to Deal with

Environmental Issues at the National, Environmental Issues at the National,

Regional and GlobalRegional and Global

•• National Directorate for Environmental Services (NDES) has been National Directorate for Environmental Services (NDES) has been

stabilisedstabilised MEAsMEAs in 2005,in 2005,

•• Three Rio Conventions has been ratified by the Government of Three Rio Conventions has been ratified by the Government of

TimorTimor--Leste (UNCCD ratified 30 August 2003, UNCBD and UNFCCC Leste (UNCCD ratified 30 August 2003, UNCBD and UNFCCC

ratified 11 April 2006),ratified 11 April 2006),

•• These convention has been submitted to the UN HQ office in 26 These convention has been submitted to the UN HQ office in 26

October 2006, and to be member of CBD from 8 January 2007.October 2006, and to be member of CBD from 8 January 2007.

•• The National Focal Point for the Conventions (UNCCD, UNCBD and The National Focal Point for the Conventions (UNCCD, UNCBD and

UNFCCC) has been appointed or nominatedUNFCCC) has been appointed or nominated

Thank You!Thank You!