Russian Experience and Lessons Russian Experience and Lessons in Biodiversity Conservation, in Biodiversity Conservation,

Kamchatka Protected Areas ProjectKamchatka Protected Areas Project

Elena Armand, UNDP RussiaBratislava, June 14-16 2004

Objectives versus Objectives versus ResultsResults

Strengthening protected areas managment

Trained personnel and purchased equipment

Improved Biodiversity Information and its Management

Biodiversity database compiled and operational

Sustainable Financing Mechanisms Trust Fund designed and registered

Strengthened Legal, Regulatory and Policy Base

Regional conservation legislation is amended

Heightened Biodiversity Awareness and Advocacy

Public agreement on conservation is signed

Alternative Livelihoods and Community-Based Conservation

SME support fund is operational

Challenges in Challenges in ImplementationImplementation

Local authorities are not quite ready to provide financial support (as agreed)

Capitalization for Trust Fund needs much more efforts than foreseen

Amendments to federal legislation are not adopted

Increased expectations of local communities postponed collaboration at local level

Adopted approach: why it was successful / failed

Involvement of local authorities into project activities

Feeling of “ownership” facilitated dialogue dramatically

Joint Trust Fund for two projects, “domestic” donors

Donors prefer to support broader initiative rather than one project

Emphasis was made on regional legislation

Regional legislation is more flexible and easier to amend

Public conservation agreement as awareness raising tool

113 organizations and 400 individuals have joint the agreement

Substantive Lessons LearnedSubstantive Lessons Learned

Trust Fund concept should take into

account international experience

and national reality (political and

legal environment, economic

situation)

SME Fund can support different

activities which are not directly

linked with conservation

purposes

Public agreement on biodiversity

conservation can become a real

force which stimulates dialogue

between opponents

Methodological Lessons LearnedMethodological Lessons Learned

Local authority is a key focus group at preparatory phase (to make it “domesticated”)

Efficiency of fund raising efforts depends on range of options offered to donors

SME Fund proved to be very positively accepted and helpful for communities

Local population/indigenous groups should see its own place and role in the project

Professionally designed and executed PR-campaign may change the whole situation with local perception

Areas for Knowledge and Capacity development Two-level Trust Fund

construction Biodiversity database

design, maintenance and use

Public council’s involvement into park management

Ecotourism development concept

Suggestions for UNDP’s future response

Biodiversity projects are to be implemented within national socio-economic context

REFERENCES www.unkam.ru