GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY

PROPOSAL FOR PDF BLOCK-B GRANT

Project Title: 	SYRIA - BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT

GEF Focal Area:	Biodiversity crosscutting with Land Degradation

GEF Operational Programme:	Arid and Semi Arid Zone Ecosystems

Country Eligibility:	Convention ratified on 4 January 1996

Requesting Agency:	UNDP

Executing Agency (Full Project):	Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reforms (primary) and Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs (advisory) 

Executing Agency  (PDF-B):	UNDP on behalf of above agencies

Estimated Project Costs	$ 3-4 million

Co-Funding Sources:	$ 3-4 million

GEF Contribution (PDF-B):	$ 182,000 

Government Contribution (PDF-B)	$ 27,000 (in kind)

Total PDF-B budget:	$ 209,000

Block-A Grant Awarded:	No

SUMMARY OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

Objectives:

1.	The overall objective of the full project is to demonstrate a functional and replicable model of protected area management at key sites in Syria promoting conservation and sustainable use of globally significant biodiversity. The main components of the project will be to:

a.	Secure biodiversity conservation in key demonstrative protected areas through well-trained management teams implementing adaptive, integrated and participatory management and monitoring plans 
b.	Demonstrate sustainable use and resource management options compatible with biodiversity conservation in the buffer zone of key protected areas 
c.	Strengthen national and provincial capacities to protect the biodiversity in the selected protected areas and buffer zones 

2.	Syria is considered one of the most biologically diverse countries in the Mediterranean, distinguished by its rich and unique assemblages of globally significant biodiversity (Annex 1). It represents a transition zone between two regional centers of endemism, the Mediterranean and the Irano Turanian. Being a country heavily diversified in terms of climate, topography and geomorphology, Syria has remarkable habitat diversity ranging from evergreen oak forests in the northwest to sand dune deserts in the southeast. The precipitation gradient is notably varied between the high altitudes in the west and northwest (over 1200mm annually) and the southeastern plains and badia (less than 100mm) leading to various phyto-geographical regions and habitats. These habitats include the Mediterranean coastal zone, levantine uplands, Irano-Turanian steppe, badia, north Syrian plateau, inland water and wetland ecosystems, and the Al-Asi depression (the Ghota). Overall rate of biodiversity endemism in Syria is estimated at 20%, and this is considerably high by drylands standards.

3.	Syrian wetlands and semi arid steppe zones support globally significant biodiversity and grounds for breeding raptors, storks and cranes, probably involving over 2-3 million birds per year. The largest numbers are provided by the honey buzzard, black kite, the short-toed eagle and the levant sparrowhawk. In addition to this, Syria holds significant number of species whose world populations are wholly or largely restricted to the Middle East (the Serinus syriacus, Tetrax tetrax, and the Egyptian vulture). Twenty-one bird species from Syria are considered at significant risk of global and regional extinction and these species are all listed on the IUCN Red List for endangered species. 

4.	In terms of mammals, Syria has four species of mammals that are reported on the IUCN Red Data Book for Endangered Species (Canis lupis-wolf, Panthera pardus tulliana-panther, Equus hemippus-the Syrian wild ass, and the Gazella subgutturosa-Al-Reim). Out of the 125 mammals recorded in Syria, about 35 species are considered threatened or endangered (e.g. Cervus elphus, Gazella dorcas, Gazella subgutturosa, Capra hircus (Shami goat), Bovis domasceena (Syrian bovine), and five others are considered extinct (cheetah, lion, Capreolus (yahmour), dama-ayl, and castor). In addition to mammals and birds, Syria supports over 143 of reptiles and amphibians, and about 500 fish species, and these numbers are likely much higher given the paucity of data on Syria’s reptiles and amphibians, and marine biota.

5.	In terms of floristic biodiversity, Syria is considered the third most biologically diverse country in the Mediterranean Basin, surpassed in species diversity only by Morocco and Turkey. It has over 3500 plant species, of which about 700 species are considered threatened, and 300 species are endemic. The Natural forest cover and rangeland habitats account for over 10m ha (1 ha is 0.01 km2), which is almost over 60% of the total land area (a significant number by dryland standards). 

6.	Overall biodiversity in Syria and the natural ecosystems they are part of suffer from intensified anthropogenic pressures and biological degradation that are mostly associated with heavy woodcutting, overgrazing, illegal hunting and unplanned tourism. The Syrian coast is relatively clean, but under increasing threats of over exploitation coupled with garbage dumping into the sea. The Syrian wetlands in specific suffer from excessive drainage for irrigated agriculture. 

7.	At present, Syria still does not have a proper protected areas management system that responds effectively to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. It lacks good examples of sustainable alternatives supporting the livelihoods of people and communities living within or in buffer zone of protected areas. It also lacks the effective polices, proper regulatory measures, enough public awareness and participation that support biodiversity conservation and protected areas management.  

8.	The Government of Syria has increasingly recognised the importance of conserving its nationally and globally significant biodiversity. It has ratified the Biodiversity Convention, the World Heritage Convention, the Ramsar Convention, and the protocol concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas. In 1996, the Government has established a National Unit for Biodiversity within the Ministry of State for Environment primarily to follow on biodiversity conservation issues in Syria, and also to adopt responsibility for protected areas at the strategic and national level. Though not adequately equipped with staff and facilities, the Biodiversity Unit has successfully supervised the formulation of the first Country Study on Biological Diversity in Syria. The Ministry of State for Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR) also has an on site mandate for protected areas through its Forestry and Afforestation Directorate. This Directorate is represented with over 3000 permanent staff members who are posted mostly in the Governorates. Unfortunately none of these staff have had the minimum training or experience in protected area management and biodiversity conservation. 

9.	On paper, there are 22 sites designated as protected areas or proposed for protection by MAAR as part of its responsibility for conservation measures. One of these sites (the Arz/El-Shouh protected area near Slenfe) has been selected in 1998 by the World Bank as a site for a GEF/WB intervention. In all of the above sites, there are still no proper systems, structures, policies, legal status or actions that support biodiversity conservation and protected area management. Current management efforts are administered by the Forest and Afforestation Directorate and are unfortunately directed at promoting afforestation programs through plantation of Pinus halepensis, Pinus pineae, and various varieties of almonds, olives and oaks, which are incompatible with biodiversity conservation.

10.	The Government of Syria is asking for assistance to enable it and the various stakeholders to respond to the objectives of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Immediate support should be provided to build the national and provincial capacities to conserve and manage protected areas with biodiversity of global significance. This includes training, awareness raising, participation, effective regulatory measures and enforcement capabilities. A system for these protected areas is necessary in Syria, and should be established in accordance with national priorities and international standards, and based upon reliable and quality biodiversity data. 

11.	The proposed project’s focus would be on protection and management of globally threatened biodiversity through integrated, participatory and adaptive management in key sites to be selected during the implementation of the PDF-B. The project will complement and learn from the GEF/WB funded project (MSP in the amount of $750,000) in the Arz-Eshouh protected area near Slenfe to the west of Al-Ghab plain. This GEF/WB project is the first effort in Syria aiming to conserve globally significant biodiversity through sustainable protected area management. The reserve selected (Slenfe) is a remnant forest ecosystem, referred to as the Fir/Cedar Forest (Abies/Cedrus), and is currently under pressures from continued agricultural expansion, and more recently recreational activities. The GEF/WB project proposes limited strengthening of the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Environment, and the Forestry and Afforestation Directorate of MAAR through a) drafting of an enabling legislation for the environmental framework law to incorporate the legal foundation for a national network of protected areas, and b) development and implementation of a management plan for Arz-Eshouh protected area. Formulating an enabling legislation explicitly towards conserving biodiversity and developing a management plan for Arz-Eshouh (1350 ha) as suggested by the World bank is indeed necessary, but will only lead to conserving effectively a small portion of the native biological heritage leaving other important and globally significant biodiversity unprotected. 

12.	The proposed GEF/UNDP project will demonstrate how to protect globally significant biodiversity in ecosystems addressing different threats to biodiversity, so that at the end of both the UNDP and World Bank projects, Syria will have been provided a full set of situations ready for replication. Both projects are deemed necessary for Syria in view of the lack of institutional and human resource capacity for protected area management, the high level of threats to biodiversity, the poor level of coordination among various stakeholders, and the need for national and local level awareness raising and participation. Table 1 provides an overview analysis based on a literature search of the globally significant biodiversity at potential sites in Syria, with specific reference to the threats and the root causes to biodiversity loss. The PDF-B during the course of its implementation will conduct further participatory evaluations with local and national stakeholders to verify this analysis. 

13.	The following criteria will be used for final site selection during the PDF-B:

a.	national priority, mentioned in one or more of following country reports: NEAP, the Country Study on Biological Diversity, and the BSAP
b.	global significance of site’s biodiversity and in particular: 1) high relative species diversity; 2) presence of endemic species; 3) internationally important for migratory species; and 4) presence of globally threatened species
c.	complementarity with the World Bank site in Slenfe in terms of types of ecosystems, threats, and lead agencies likely to be involved in management
d.	the willingness of stakeholders to participate in the project 
e.	suitability for the development of a demonstration project, many features of which would be applicable to similar drylands in Syria and elsewhere in the region
f.	inclusion of various ecotopes/ecozones within sites, thereby maximizing global biodiversity benefits, and enabling the project to address a wide range of management objectives
g.	the baseline situation in each site in terms of governmental and non-governmental  projects, local activities, other donor interventions, etc. 
h.	donor interest in co-funding particular sites/activities

14.	At the end, the full set of sites of the WB/GEF and UNDP/GEF projects should provide demonstration of protected areas management and various threats in the most important types of natural habitats and ecosystems in Syria: Mediterranean coastal zone, levantine uplands, Irano-Turanian steppe, the badia, north Syrian plateau, inland water and wetland ecosystems, and the Al-Asi depression.

Summary of Full Project Objectives

15.	Objective 1	Secure biodiversity conservation in key demonstrative protected areas through well-trained management teams implementing adaptive, integrated and participatory management and monitoring plans 

Activities will include:

a.	Legal designation, mapping and delineation of boundaries for the finally selected protected areas 
b.	Preparation of adaptive, integrated and participatory management and monitoring plans 
c.	Surveying the biological diversity in the finally selected protected areas and determining the socio-economic influences on it 
d.	Zoning and land use planning in buffer zones of finally selected sites based on well-documented biodiversity assessments and GIS/GPS information
e.	Setting aside core conservation areas to protect habitats, ecosystems and species in as undisturbed state as possible
f.	Development of a mechanism to monitor globally significant biodiversity and ecosystems using available technologies (GIS/GPS)

16.	Objective 2	Demonstrate sustainable use and resource management options compatible with biodiversity conservation in the buffer zone of the key chosen protected areas 

Activities will include:

a.	Designation of areas in the buffer zone, where strict protection is not required, for sustainable use of the biodiversity while providing at the same time a sustainable flow of services to meet local needs
b.	Promotion, where appropriate and feasible in the buffer zone of the finally selected protected areas, sustainable alternative livelihood options (biodiversity-friendly eco-tourism, biodiversity-friendly agriculture, sustainable forms of grazing, and sustainable forms of hunting) to alleviate communities’ pressure on native biodiversity in protected areas 
c.	Establishment and management of a revolving fund for the benefit of communities in the environs of the finally selected protected areas 
17.	Objective 3	Strengthen national and provincial capacities to protect the biodiversity in the finally selected protected areas and buffer zones 

Activities will include:

a.	Training programs and workshops for park management teams, local government staff, motivated students and representatives of local vocational unions on participatory management of protected areas, methodologies of biological surveys, biodiversity monitoring, integrated natural resource management, fund raising, etc. 
b.	Participation and awareness raising (formal and informal) addressing concerned stakeholders (national and in the environs of the selected protected areas) to enhance the level of understanding of and respect for biodiversity conservation and protected area management 
c.	Reviewing the policies, regulatory measures and frameworks dealing with hunting and afforestation to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in line with traditional customary regulations
d.	Upgrading enforcement capacities within the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture to meet new regulatory requirements and challenges and to support global biodiversity conservation
e.	Enhancing the resource mobilisation capacity within the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture to meet future costs for conservation and management of finally selected protected areas

Global Benefits

18.	The project will generate substantial global benefits by contributing towards the conservation and sustainable use of globally threatened and endemic species and by protecting the habitats and ecosystems they are part of.  The project also will contribute to the exchange of biodiversity data and experiences pertinent to protected area management in similar areas of the Middle East region and other similar areas of the drylands.

Previous Support to the Country

19.	The proposed project will benefit from and build upon the experiences of the following activities and projects in the field of biodiversity: 

a.	Since December 1998, with GEF support, Syria has undertaken a Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) project in the amount of $194,000. The project, which is at a mature stage of implementation, is building upon the recommendations of the Syrian Country Study on Biological Diversity, and is giving due consideration to biodiversity conservation and protected area management. 
b.	The proposed project will complement and coordinate with the UNDP/GEF-regional project, “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Dryland Agro-biodiversity in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian Authority. This project deals with the conservation and preservation of important wild relatives and land races of 13 agricultural species. The Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform in Syria is the national executing agency for the national component of this project, and so the MAAR will take into account all necessary arrangements for the close coordination and complementarity with the proposed project.
c.	The proposed project also will benefit from and complement the GEF/WB Medium-Size Project, Conservation of Biodiversity and protected Areas Management, recently approved by the GEF in the amount of $750,000. The activities proposed by the GEF/WB project include aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Environment, and Forestry and Afforestation Directorate through 1) drafting an enabling legislation incorporating the legal foundation for the establishment of protected areas, and 2) through the legal designation, development and implementation of a management plan for Slenfe protected area. The GEF/UNDP project, operating in different sites and addressing relatively different threats to biodiversity, will be complementing the GEF/WB project by adopting certain measures and incremental activities demonstrating replicable model of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management. It also will develop where applicable biodiversity-friendly activities and strategies, the aim of which is to promote the sustainable alternative livelihoods of the people concerned thereby reducing the pressures on biodiversity, while keeping effective coordination, and exchange of ideas and lessons with the WB/GEF project. 
d.	An IFAD/AFESD project for central and coastal regions of Syria is under implementation by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reforms. The project activities include: land reclamation, including terraces and embankment establishment in order to enhance agricultural productivity and enable farmers to grow cereals, legumes and fruit trees; country roads; development of silk work industry; development of animal production; and modernization of irrigation systems.
e.	The GEF/UNDP project on the conservation of wetland and coastal ecosystems in the Mediterranean region, a regional initiative involving five countries (Albania, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia) and the Palestinian Authority, is of high relevance to the objective of this project. It aims at providing necessary management and institutional capacities to conserve threatened biodiversity in coastal and wetland ecosystems in the above countries/authority. Unfortunately, Syria was not involved in this project during the time of preparation. The proposed project will promote all possible means of synergy with the above Medwet project thereby benefit from its programs and activities including training, technology transfer, lessons learned, etc. 
f.	Several Afforestation Programs funded by the Ministry of Agriculture in the amount of approximately $500,000 are currently implemented by the Afforestation Directorate in collaboration with the Higher Committee for Afforestation in Syria. The bulk of these resources are concentrated within and around protected areas. The proposed PDF-B will therefore ensure maximum co-ordination with MAAR to direct the programs’ resources to support the sustainable development baseline of the project. 

20.	DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PDF-B ACTIVITIES BY COMPONENTS

a.	Initial informal meetings with national stakeholders: ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Planning, Education, Tourism, Fisheries and Irrigation. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss and agree with these agencies the final goals of the full project, the strategy of the PDF-B project, to establish the PDF-B team (including national and international consultants), and to form the PDF-B Steering Committee to oversee PDF-B implementation.
b.	Identification of co–funding resources: The PDF-B project will allow consultations from the beginning with all relevant stakeholders to secure co-financing and/or technical assistance commitment for the full project. At the international level, this will include the bilateral donors, and the institutions providing support at the international and regional levels such as IPGRI, ICARDA, ACSAD, EU, IUCN and others. At the national and local levels, this will include the ministries, central directorates, concerned research institutions, vocational unions, local communities, and the donor community based in Syria.

c.	Informal training and familiarisation session for national and international consultants: The purpose of this session is to familiarise consultants with the project, its objectives and to train them on GEF eligibility rules and incremental cost considerations. The roles and responsibilities of all consultants during the project will be determined and the type/level of information they will be required to collect will be agreed upon.

d.	Desk evaluation review: National consultants will undertake desk evaluation exercise applying the criteria for site selection on all protected areas/nature reserves in Syria (excluding the site of the GEF/WB project). In this exercise, consultants will focus at the biodiversity of global significance, the threats, the baseline situation and the likelihood of biodiversity conservation. Rapid field assessments to sites will be conducted only when strictly needed to verify a situation and/or answer an information gap. The main output of this exercise will be a short list of protected areas/nature reserves arranged according to priority (probably 3 priority sites plus 2 sites as a backup) for further investigation. 

e.	Field assessment missions to the short-listed sites and participatory meetings with local stakeholders: The purpose of these missions and participatory meetings is to brief local stakeholders (governmental officials, representatives of vocational associations, and representative of local communities) about the project objectives and to dialogue with them the development of project activities addressing biodiversity conservation and attaining their active involvement. During these informal meetings, the team will analyse with closer vision the biodiversity of global significance, the baseline situation, threats and root causes to biodiversity loss, management options, regulatory frameworks needed for effective management, national and global benefits, co-funding issues, win/win activities, and possible GEF increments. Special attention will be given to ensure the municipality’s support and the effective participation of local women stakeholders in the project. The social and economic needs of the concerned population groups and the likely impacts of the project on them will be discussed. The main outputs of these missions will be a set of consultation reports on the status of globally significant biodiversity within the finally selected protected areas and an assessment of the socio-economic options recommended for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. 

f.	A project formulation workshop will be organized after completing the required assessment reports, most likely during month 4 of the PDF-B. This workshop will include mainly the national and international consultants and the representatives of the two key ministries in the project (Agriculture and Environment).  The purpose of this workshop is to complete a problem analysis, logical framework, and incremental cost matrix outlining alternative and incremental activities for the full project. 
g.	A national workshop involving representatives of relevant national and local stakeholders, academic institutions, national research centers and vocational associations will be organized during month 5 of the PDF-B. The purpose of this workshop will be a) to review and approve the results of the national formulation workshop (problem analysis, logical framework and incremental costs), b) to agree on co-financing commitments and c) to agree on the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in project implementation. 

h.	A draft Project Brief and Project Document, stakeholders participation plans, and other relevant annexes will be developed by the PDF-B formulation team. A participatory review of the Project Brief will be undertaken during the national workshop by all stakeholders to incorporate feedback.

Work plan for PDF-B activities: 

21.	The PDF-B will be implemented over a period of 6 months as per the following work plan.

Activity	Month	
	1	2	3	4	5	6	
Initial informal meetings (PDF-B team and Steering Committee) 	X						
Co-financing	X	X	X	X	X	X	
Training and familiarisation session (Damascus)	X						
Desk review of sites by consultants	X						
Missions to sites and informal meetings with locals		X	X	X			
Biodiversity assessments by consultants		X	X	X	X		
Project formulation workshop				X			
1 National Workshop (Damascus)					X		
Formulation and finalization of Project Brief and Project Document					X	X	

ELIGIBILITY

22.	Syria has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity on 4 January 1996 and is therefore considered eligible under the GEF instrument.

23.	The project also is consistent with Syrian Country Study on Biological Diversity, which pointed out the urgent need for strengthening biodiversity conservation through mechanism of consolidating protected area management. It is also in line with the proposed priority options of the GEF/UNDP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Project, giving due consideration to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in protected areas. 

24.	The project falls within the strategic considerations of the GEF focal area on biodiversity and the GEF Operational Programme dealing with Arid and Semiarid Zone Ecosystems. The project relates to the Operational Programme objectives by addressing conservation and protection of biodiversity in globally significant ecosystems of Mediterranean type and threatened by increased pressure from intensified human use. It also combines biodiversity conservation and sustainable management with social, economic and sustainable development goals.  

25.	The project also is of direct relevance to the issue of land degradation. Article 3 of the GEF instrument states that the agreed incremental cost of activities concerning land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation as they relate to the four focal areas, shall be eligible for funding. It is also in coherence with the New Delhi Statement point 8, and the comments made during the last Council meeting encouraging GEF to increase support for land degradation activities.

26.	The project also is in accordance with the Fourth Conference of parties of the CBD in 1998 providing guidance on: (a) supporting capacity building for biodiversity management and monitoring at the national and local levels, and (b) promoting participation and public awareness on biodiversity.

NATIONAL LEVEL SUPPORT

27.	The Government of Syria is strongly committed to the vision and objectives of this project. This commitment has recently materialised in the Government’s letter to GEF/UNDP endorsing the proposal and requesting GEF assistance to meet its objectives (see annex 2). 

28.	The Government of Syria, through its Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Tourism, Water and Irrigation, has shown a high degree of enthusiasm to co-fund the project in the amount of $2 million-in kind and in cash, and will support its implementation in collaboration with local executives and community based associations far beyond the project period. 

29.	The Ministry of Agriculture will be the national executing agency for this project, based on its legal governmental mandate to protect and manage protected areas, and its on the ground presence in the concerned Governerate. The Ministry of State for Environment will play a national coordinating, strategic planning and advisory role, taking responsibility of monitoring and national awareness activities. The Ministry of Agriculture, through its on the ground presence in the protected areas will be responsible for on-site management and protection. 

30.	The two ministries, aware of the potential of the project in capturing national and local interest, are committed to secure efficient and effective participation of relevant stakeholders in the project from the beginning. Active stakeholders will include representatives from ministries of Tourism, Education, Higher Education, Irrigation, Development, Planning, and representatives from local villagers, vocational unions, academic and research institutions, and donor community based in Syria.

31.	A steering committee will be established on the onset of the full project comprising representatives at the decision making level from the above mentioned entities. The PDF-B through its Steering Committee, will secure the commitment and effective participation of the above stakeholders and will investigate their potential roles in the implementation of project activities, including the role of local villagers and vocational unions.  

32.	The UNDP Country Office in Damascus will provide co-financing resources to the project in the amount of $1 million from UNDP managed resources. UNDP Syria on behalf of the GEF will be co-ordinating the execution of the preparatory phase of this project. UNDP also will assist with the supervision and backstopping of the full project.

JUSTIFICATION FOR PDF GRANT

33.	The baseline activities and previous support to protected areas in Syria have left many gaps that cannot be addressed unless additional support is given for this preparatory project.  The success of the proposed project in enhancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable use by local level managers is fundamentally tied to the success of its participatory design stage, well before funds are secured for implementing the full project. The PDF block B grant will be used to finance preparation for activities of the project, which are notably expected to generate global benefits.

34.	The Government of Syria does not have sufficient human or financial capacity to link the two objectives of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in protected area management. A PDF-B grant would provide the means by which a representative proposal could be developed, addressing biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, and replicating the integrated biodiversity management model to other areas of the country and the region.

35.	OUTPUTS

a)	A Project Brief and Project Document (including all annexes) formulated with full participation of representatives from all stakeholder entities, and in accordance with latest GEF guidelines.
b)	Consultation reports on the status of globally significant biodiversity within the proposed protected areas and assessment of the economics of options and acceptable incentives recommended by the project for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management. 
c)	Assessment reports analysing the threats/root causes, the baseline situation, the global benefits, co-funding, win/win activities, quid pro quo, and impact of baseline policies and activities on biodiversity conservation and management.
d)	Identification of a preliminary set of stakeholders and contacts that would subsequently work with the proposed full project.
e)	Identification of committed sources of co-financing.

PDF-B Budget (US Dollars)

Activity	GEF	Government	Sub-Total	
1. Meetings & Workshops				
     Initial informal meetings		1,000	1,000	
    Training and familiarization (Damascus)	3,000	3,000	6,000	
    Several Local PDF Meetings	15,000	3,000	18,000	
    1 Project formulation workshop	5,000	1,000	6,000	
    1 National Workshop (Damascus)	10,000	3,000	13,000	
				
Subtotal (Meetings & Workshops) 	33,000	11,000	44,000	
				
2. Consultants 				
   Int'l Consultant on biodiversity-3 mm	36,000		36,000	
   Int'l Consultant-Natural Resource Economist-1 mm	12,000		12,000	
   Socio-Economist (National-4mm)	12,000		12,000	
   Botanist (National-4mm)	12,000		12,000	
   Zoologist (National-4mm)	12,000		12,000	
				
Subtotal (Consultants)	84,000		84,000	
				
3. Duty travel, field visits & co-funding missions	46,000	5,000	51,000	
				
Subtotal	46,000	5,000	51,000	
				
4. Reporting costs 	8,000	5,000	13,000	
5. Communication	6,000	3,000	9,000	
6. Miscellaneous	5,000	3,000	8,000	
				
Subtotal	19,000	11,000	30,000	
				
Grand Total	182,000	27,000	209,000	
 
Table 1. 	An overview of global significant biodiversity in 17/21 potential project sites in Syria with reference to threats and root causes
Biodiversity 	Site	Ecosystem 	Characteristics	Existing Threats 	Root causes	
National

Flora 3500

Mammals 125

Reptiles and Amphibians 143

Birds 360

Fish 5000

	Abdel Aziz Mountain 	BR & PA; multiple use shrub land 	Area: 80, 000 ha, north east Syria
Flora: @ 350 spp, 60 E, Birds: 3 GTS, 7 RTS, IBA; Mammals: 15, 2 E, 1 Ex., 5 T, Endemic ?	Agriculture encroachment, 
Over-grazing, and
Wood cutting
	- Lack of proper protected area management
- Lack of effective zoning and land use planning 
- Lack of awareness and participation
- Ineffective regulatory measures and polices
- Lack of alternatives for sustainable uses 	
	Al-Thawra Island	BR, rangeland ecosystem	Area: 600 ha, NE Syria Steppe and badia; Flora: 80 spp., Mammals ?, 	Overgrazing, hunting		
	Arz-El-Shoulh	BR, forest	Area: 1300 ha, 50 km east of Latakia; Flora 200  spp, 19 spp. endemic; Wildlife 61, Birds unknown, (IBA), Endemic ?	Tourism, urban dev., Wood cutting, 		
	Al-Fronlok	forest NR, with wetland inclusion	Area: 5,000 ha, 45 km north of Latakia.
Flora:330, Endemic 19 
Mammals: 25; Birds: ? 	Wood cutting, unplanned tourism, hunting, fire		
	Umm  El-Toyour	BR, coastal forest with wet land inclusion 	Area 40,000 ha, on the Latakia coast
Flora: 250-300, endemic 12-15?
Birds (2-RTS), mammals ? 	Wood cutting Fire, apple plantation, unplanned outings		
	Kalamon Mtn.	forest NP/NR	Area @ 30,000 ha, Flora 100-200 spp.
Birds and mammals?	Wood cutting		
	Al-Bala’as Mtn.	BR, shrub land	Area: 10,000 ha, N. Syria; Flora 100 spp.
Birds: 1 GTS, 3 RTS, 1 Endemic (IBA); mammals:  2 endangered 	Overgrazing, fuel wood cutting, hunting		
	Al-Arab Mtn.	NR, multiple use area, shrub and forest land 	Area: 300,000 ha, South Syria
Flora: 300 spp., endemic?
Birds and mammals ?	Overgrazing, wood cutting		
	Euphrates Valley	Nature reserve, wetland	Area: ?,  N. Syria; Flora 160?
Birds: 4 GTS, 3 RTS, 1 endemic to the ME; mammals 2 endangered	Over pumping of water, tree cutting, agric. Expansion		
	Abu-Rajmain	BR, degrading forest	Area: 400,000 ha, Flora 70-100
Birds and mammals?	Wood cutting		
	Tlyla Reserve	Reserve, badia and pasture	Area 20,000 ha	Overgrazing		
	Ras El-Ain	Proposed NR 	Area ?, NE Syria; Flora??; Birds: 2GTS, 3 RTS, 3 restricted to the Middle East, IBA, mammals, 2 E 	dryland & irrigated farming, pesticides usage, 		
	Al-Jaboul Salina	NR, degraded Wetland 	Area 250,000 ha; Flora 100?, Birds 23, 4 GTS, 2 RTS, 2 restricted to the ME, has breeding grounds 	Salt  extraction, Overgrazing, hunting 		
	Sama’an/Barakat reserve	Proposed reserve shrub land habitat	Area 40,000 ha; Flora: @ 120-150 spp., endemic/endangered 6?
Mammals: 3 endangered, birds unknown	Overgrazing, agricultural encroachment 		
	Wadi AL-Azib	Rangeland reserve badia ecosystem 	Area @ 5,000 ha, 120 km e. of Hamah
Habitat shrub land-steppe, Flora: 150 spp?, Birds:  2GTS, 2RTS, 1 restricted, Mammals 1 endangered; .	Hunting, overgrazing, shrubs gathering and soil erosion		
	Al-Laha lake	Wetland/ Coastal reserve 	Area 2,000 ha, SW Syria, near border w. Lebanon. Flora 70?, Birds IBA 1 GTS, 2 RTS, mammals ?	Drainage for cultivation, hunting		
	Al-Karm valley	NP & cultural heritage site 	Area ?, Flora 95 spp.?; Bird 3RTS, 6 restricted to the ME mammals: ?	Hunting, fishing at the reservoir, 		
GTS: Globally Threatened Species; RTS; Regionally Threatened Species, E: Endangered, Ex. Extinct, T: Threatened, BR: Biosphere Reserve, PA: Protected Area, NR: Nature Reserve, NP: National Park; IBA: Important Bird Area 

Annex 1.	

A. 	Indicative list of globally significant Plant species in Syria

Scientific Name	Endangered *	Rare *	Endemic	  Extinct	Area **	
Abies cilicica	++	+			3	
Cedrus libani	++	+			3	
Juniperus excelsa	++	+			10	
Berberis libanotica	+++	++			10	
Corylus avellana	++	++			6	
Carpinus orientalis	+	+			2 , 3	
Ostrya carpinifolia	+	+			2, 7	
Evonymus latifolia	++	++			3	
Cornus mas	+	+			2, 3 	
Frangula alnus	+++	+++			2 	
Celtis australis	++	++			6, 8	
C. tournifortii	+	+			1, 11	
Ulmus campestris	+	+			1, 5	
Fraxinus syriaca	+	+			4	
F. excelsior	++	+				
Populus euphratica	+	+			11	
Ceratonia siliqua	++	+			2, 7	
Quercus libani	+	+			3	
Qu. Aegilops	+	+			4, 5, 8	
Qu. Mattiensis	++	++	               		3	
Qu. Look	+++	++			2, 3, 12	
Qu. Cedrorum	++	+	               		3	
Castanea sativa	++	++			6	
Pistacia lentiscus	++	+			2	
P. khinjuk	+	++			1, 5	
Amygdalus arabica	++	++			9	
Mespilus germanica	+++	+++			2 	
Malus trilobata	++	++	                   		2, 3	
Sorbus aria	+++	+++			3	
Paeonia corallina	++	+			2, 7	
Ampelopsis orientalis	+	+			3, 7	
Phytolacca pruinosa	++	++			3, 6, 7	
Atropa belladona				                         	3	
Dictamnus albus	+++	+++			2	
Digitalis ferruginea	++	++			2	
Zygophyllum atriplicoides	+++	+++			9	
Acer hyrcanum	+++	+++			3	
1st.	monspessulanum	+	+			2,3,8,12	
Crithmum maritimum	+++	+++			7	
Aster amani	++	++	               		2	
Fritillaria alfredae	++	++	               		2	
Tulipa aleppensis	+++	+++	               		5	
Pancratium maritimum				                        		
Brassica cretica	+	+			7	
Cheilanthes marantae	+	+			2	
Dryopteris aculeata	+++	+++			6	
Circaea lutetiana	+	+			2, 6	
Cleome glaucescens	+	+			1, 9, 11	
Daphne libanotica	+	+			3	
Saponaria bargilliana	+++	+++	               		3	
Ferula hermonis	+++	+++	               		8	
Mercurialis perennis	+	+			3, 7	
Nuphar luteum	++	+			2	
Rhamnus cathartica	+	+			3, 7	
Rh. Libanotica	++	++			10	
Ribes orientalis	+++	+++			10	
Ruta chalepensis	+	+			7	
Asplenium bourgaei	+++	++			6	
Butamus umbellatus	+	+			6, 12	
Epipactis consimilis	++	++			2	
Hyacinthella nervosa	++	++			1, 10	
Neotinea intacta	++	++			2	
Scilla bifolia	+	+			2, 3	
Ajuga postii	++	+++			2	
Hyoscyamus nigra	+	+			12	
Prasium majus	+	+			2, 3	
Ptilostemon chamaepeuce	+	+			7	
Salvia cassia	+	+			2	
Solanum dulcamara	+	+			6	
Lavandula stoechas	+	+			2, 7	
Danaea racemosa	++	++			2, 3	
Periploca graeca	++	++			2	
Silene amana	+	+	               		2, 3	
Pteris longifolia	++	+++			3, 7	
Iris nusairiensis	+++	+++	               		3	
I. pseudoacorus	++	+			2	
I. antilibanotica	++	++			10	
I. calcarea	+++	+++			5	
I. fumosa 	+++	+++	               		4	
Cytisus cassius	+	++			2	
Vinca major	+	++			8, 10	
Staehelina lobelii	+	++			7	
Vincetoxicum canescens	++	+	               		5	
Selaginella denticulata	+++	+++			3	
Fumana oliegosperma	+	++			2	
Phylitis scolopendrium	+++	+++			3	
Symphytum anatolicum	+	+			2, 7	
Centaurea arifolia	+	++	               		2	
Glycyrrhiza flavescens	+	++	               		2	
Equisetum maximum	++	++			2, 3, 6, 7	
Anthoxanthum odoratum		+++		                         	2	
Ziziphus lotus	+++	+++			1, 5, 9	
Stachys pumila	++	+++	               		7	
Prunus prostrata	++	++			8, 10	
Pistacia atlantica	+	+			1	
P. mutica	++	++			1	
Crataegus azarolus	+	+			1	
Amygdalus orientalis	+	+			1	
Prunus ursina	+	+			1	
Artemisia herba-alba	++				1	
Noaea	++				1	
Mucronata	++				1	
Sasola vermiculata	++				1	
Artemesia herba alba	+				9	
Quercus pseudocarpus			               		2	
Pinus brutea/Quercus caliprinus	+++				2	
Iris aurantica	+++	+++			12	
* The list is intended to be indicative, not exhaustive. Pls. note in the Endangered Column: the + sign refers to species that are nearly endangered; the +++ refers to species that are extremely endangered. In the Rare Column: + means spread in few numbers, while +++ means species are very rare. 
** Key sites: 1. Abdelaziz Mountain; 2. El-Fronlok & Umm El-Toyour; 3. Slenfe; 4. Haj-Hasanly Forest; 5. Barakat & St. Simone Mt.; 6. Btaisse Forest; 7. Qora-Duran; 8. Wadi Al-Qarn & Rakhle; 9. Sabket Al-Mouh and its surrounding; 10. Al-Qalamoun Mountains; 11. Euphrates Valley; 12. Al-Arab Mountain.

B. 	Indicative List of bird species in Syria

Scientific name	Status	Scientific name	Status	
Accipiter brevipes	R	Hieraaetus pennatus	R	
Accipiter gentilis	R	Hieraaetus fasciatus	R	
Aegypius monachus	G	Irania gutturalis	E	
Ammoperdix heyi	E	Lanius nubicus	E	
Am. Grseogularis	E	Larus genei	R	
Anthya nyroca	R	Larus cachinnans		
Anthya fuligula	R	Marmaronetta angustirostris	G	
Aquila chrysaetos	R	Milvus migrans	R	
Aq.pomarina	R	Neophron percnopterus	R	
Ardea cinerea	R	Oenanthe finschii	E	
Athene noctua	R	Otis tarda	G	
Botaurus stellaris	R	Otus brucei	E	
Branta ruficollis	G	Otus scops	R	
Bubo bubo	R	Oxyura leucocephala	G	
Buteo buteo	R	Passer moabiticus	E	
Buteo rufinus	R	Pernis apivorus	R	
Carpospiza brachydacryla	E	Phalacrocorax pygmaeus	G	
Vanellus gregarius	G	Plecanus crispus	G	
Circaetus gallicus	R	Serinus syriacus	E	
Clareola nordmanni	E	Strix aluco	R	
Falco naumanni	G	Tadorna ferruginea	R	
Falco subbuteo	R	Tetrax tetrax	G	
Falco tinnunculus	R	Torgos tracheliotus	R	
Falco biarmicus	R	Trachybaptus ruficollis	R	
Falco cherrug	R	Tyto alba	R	
Francolinus francolinus	R	Ciconia ciconia	G	
Geronticus eremita	X	Ciconia nigra	R	
Gyps fulvus	R	Chlamydotis undulata	G	
Haliaaetus albicilla	X			
Hippolais languida	E			
Hippolais olivetorum	R			
G: Globally threatened; E: Endemic in the Middle East; R: Regionally threatened; X: Extinct

C.	Indicative list of Mammals in Syria

Scientific name	Status	Scientific name	Status	
Canis lupus	E 	Hystrix indica	?	
Capreolus capreolus	E	Mesocricetus auratus	?	
Caracal caracal	R	Monachus monachus	R	
Dama dama	E	Mustela nivalis	?	
Eliomys melanurus	?	Sus scrofa	?	
Gazella dorcas	E	Ursus arctos	R	
Gazella gazella	E	Vulpes vulpes	?	
Equus hemippus	E	Cervus elphus	E	
Capra hircus	E	Bovis domasceena	E	
Gazella subgutturosa	E	Panthera pardus	E	

Annex 2. 	Letter of Endorsement

Unofficial Translation of Endorsement Letter 

Syrian Arab Republic
Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs

No. 881/SB

To the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, Damascus

With reference to your letter dated 27/4/1999 concerning the project proposal on the management of protected areas in Syria, please note that the proposal serves the conservation of biodiversity in Syria especially that it will address four protected areas in different ecosystems which collectively represent the prevailing ecosystems. The project will also support the management system of protected areas we are in a desperate need for. In light of the above, we endorse the document (Proposal for PDF-B Grant) and the objectives of the project in question.

Therefore, we would like you to secure the support needed to prepare the project document taking into consideration that the Ministry of Environment will provide the support needed to ensure the success of this project from the preparation through the implementation stage. The Ministry will cooperate with UNDP Office in Damascus to secure the financial resources for the project.

	Thanking you for your cooperation.

Damascus, 12 May 1999

							Abdul Hamid El-Monajed
						Minister of State for Environmental Affairs