Supporting Country Early Action on Protected Areas (resubmission from Feb 2006 IWP)

In direct response to the recent CBD COP7 decision, the project is designed to establish a fast disbursing mechanism to assist eligible countries to undertake country driven early actions in line with the Programme of Work on Protected Areas. The recent Conference of the Parties (COP) of the CBD, at its 7th meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in February 2004, adopted an ambitious Programme of Work on Protected Areas (decision VII/28). In its decision VII/20, further guidance to the financial mechanism, the COP requests the GEF, respecting national targets and priorities, to support the implementation of the Programme of Work, and in particular to support country driven early action by continuing to streamline its procedures and the provision of fast disbursing resources through expedited means. In response to this request from the COP, the GEF Council, at its 23rd meeting in May 2004, requested the GEF to inform the Council at its next meeting (November 2004) of its proposals to respond to paragraph 10 c) of decision VII/20. The overall goal of the project would be to contribute to support eligible countries to develop their capacity to fully implement the Programme of Work on Protected Areas, as adopted by COP7. The project’s objective is to assist eligible countries to undertake early action through the implementation of a set of agreed key activities identified in the Programme of Work by the agreed deadline of COP8 in 2006, and through this to create the enabling conditions necessary for full implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas. 14 Sept 2005 and 5 May 2006 The project goal is to assist eligible countries meet their commitment under the Programme of Work on Protected Areas adopted by COP7. The project objective is to enable eligible countries in need of assistance to launch early action in response to the COP7 POW on PA's that compliments but will not be addressed by other national programs and projects, including those supported by the GEF, by official donors and by international NGOs. The project will take a streamlined and transparent approach to facilitate prompt and effective action by eligible national governments.