Program Data Sheet
596-006
USAID MISSION: Central America Regional
PROGRAM TITLE: Regional Environment (Pillar: Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE AND NUMBER: Improved Environmental Management in the Meso-American Biological Corridor (MBC), 596-006
STATUS: New
PLANNED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $5,342,000 (DA)
PRIOR YEAR UNOBLIGATED AND FUNDING SOURCE: $0
PROPOSED FY 2003 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $10,742,000 (DA)
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2001 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2007
Summary: The USAID Regional Environmental Program for Central America, known by its Spanish acronym, PROARCA (Phase II), supports sound environmental management, including disaster mitigation, working in the following areas:
- technical assistance, training and program support to improve protected area management in the Meso-American Biological Corridor (MBC);
- information dissemination and capacity building to access financial resources and expand markets for environmentally sound products and services;
- technical assistance and training to harmonize environmental standards and regulations;
- development of local capacity and promotion of private sector participation and alliances for increased use of less-polluting technologies by municipalities and the private sector; and
- TA and training activities to prevent forest fires, reinforce early warning systems and disaster preparedness, and manage key watersheds to mitigate disasters and environmental
degradation.
Inputs, Outputs and Activities: FY 2002 Program: USAID will use FY 2002 DA funds to improve environmental management in the MBC. Technical assistance and financial support will be provided for conservation policies, development and implementation of business plans, design of a small grants fund, and establishment of a biodiversity monitoring database. To widen market access for environmentally sound products and services, USAID will expand information on certification options and benefits to producer and service groups. Demand for these products will be fomented through the creation of internet databases and web linkages. USAID will help to identify credit programs and opportunities to finance certification. Sustainable tourism practices will be promoted through alliances, accreditation, and mapping of tourism operations in targeted sites. Technical assistance will help identify target markets and develop marketing strategies for "green" products and ecotourism. In conjunction with the System for Central American Integration (SICA), USAID will support the harmonization of regional environmental norms and support the implementation of international environmental agreements and conventions. To increase the use of less-polluting technologies, USAID will finance an assessment of opportunities for addressing pollution problems and potential sources of financing for pollution reduction projects.
Planned FY 2003 Program: USAID will use FY 2003 DA resources to continue the above activities. A subgrants program, complementing these activities, will move into full implementation and build capacity among Central American NGOs to promote environmentally sound practices. Expanded cooperation to advance U.S. interests will draw on resources made available in FY 2003 under the Partnership for Prosperity (PfP) initiative. In the first year of a five-year regional effort for mitigation of disasters and environmental degradation, the program will build on USAID's experience under the post-Mitch Hurricane Disaster Mitigation program and on Mexico's experience of cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). Activities under PfP will strengthen forest fire prevention, reinforce early warning systems and data management, assist consolidated vulnerability mapping and preparedness, and support continued watershed management activities to mitigate disasters and environmental degradation. In addition to upgrading the Regional Center for Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC) by developing a regional fire prevention plan and enhanced regional response capacity, work will support Central American countries' efforts to monitor and protect key watersheds, among these the Usumacinta border area watershed between Guatemala and Mexico.
Performance and Results: This program will begin in 2002, building on the achievements under PROARCA's Phase I (1997-2001). Upon completion of the strategy, this objective will have improved the management of protected areas in the Meso-American Biological Corridor and built capacity among Central American organizations and businesses to promote environmentally sound practices and products. Specific targets are being developed by partners recently awarded contracts under the program.
Over the life of this program, this activity will have an impact on improving natural resource management and reporting, pollution reduction, strengthening community management of local resources, expanding market access for environment-friendly products and services, and harmonizing norms for environmental impact assessments and wastewater. Many of these activities will also help Central America contribute to longer-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation of global climate change.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: Key partners include: a consortium formed by The Nature Conservancy (prime), the World Wildlife Foundation (sub), and Rainforest Alliance (sub), for activities to improve management of protected areas and to promote market access for environmentally sound products and services; Associates in Rural Development, Inc., for promotion of less polluting technologies to municipalities and private sector industries; and a grant to SICA and the Central American Council for Environmental Development (CCAD) to strengthen environmental management in the region. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a collaborating agency that supports work on the legal and regulatory frameworks. A planned cooperative agreement will provide subgrants to Central American organizations collaborating under PROARCA.
US Financing in Thousands of Dollars
|
596-006 Improved Environmental Management in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor | DA |
|---|
|
Through September 30, 2000
|
| Obligations | 0
|
| Expenditures | 0
|
| Unliquidated | 0
|
|
Fiscal Year 2001
|
| Obligations | 6,030
| | Expenditures | 0
|
|
Through September 30, 2001
|
| Obligations | 6,030
|
| Expenditures | 0
|
| Unliquidated | 6,030
|
|
Prior Year Unobligated Funds
|
| Obligations | 0
|
|
Planned Fiscal Year 2002 NOA
|
| Obligations | 5,342
|
|
Total Planned Fiscal Year 2002
|
| Obligations | 5,342
|
|
Proposed Fiscal Year 2003 NOA
|
| Obligations | 10,742
|
| Future Obligations | 13,086
|
| Est. Total Cost | 35,200
|
|
