The World Bank Report No: ISR986 Implementation Status & Results Public Disclosure Copy Romania Afforestation of Degraded Agricultural Land Proto-Carbon Project (P075959) Operation Name: Afforestation of Degraded Agricultural Land Seq.No: 4 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 23-Jun-2014 Proto-Carbon Project (P075959) Project Stage: Implementation Country: Romania Approval FY: 2004 Product Line: Carbon Offset Region: EUROPE AND Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan CENTRAL ASIA Implementing Agency: Key Dates Board Approval 26-Sep-2003 Original Closing 31-Dec-2013 Planned Mid Term Review Last Archived ISR Date Date Date Date Effectiveness 02-Oct-2003 Revised Closing 31-Dec-2020 Actual Mid Term Review Date Date Date Overall Ratings Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Moderately Satisfactory Overall Risk Rating Implementation Status Overview Public Disclosure Copy The project was registered as Joint Implementation Track 1 project with UNFCCC in October 2009. The project area suitable for afforestation was fully planted/replanted by the end of 2009 year. However, due to the flood in 2006 year and lower than expected tree growth rate, the amount of emission reductions (carbon sequestration) generated by the project is lower than originally estimated. The project activity consists of afforestation (manual and mechanized) of degraded agricultural lands in the southwest and southeast of the Romanian Plains and the ecological reconstruction of part of the Lower Danube floodplain (Braila and Olt Counties) through the planting of native species. Species selection was based on local site conditions and management objectives (fertility, soil stabilization, ecological reconstruction). The project area comprised initially 6,496 hectares (ha) of mostly state-owned degraded agricultural lowlands. The seven counties that make up the project location are: Dolj, Page 1 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR986 Mehedinti, Olt, Braila, Galati, Tulcea, and Vaslui. The areas selected for the Project were those with a low percentage of forests subject to Public Disclosure Copy desertification. The Project Entity (PE), the Romania National Forest Administration (NFA) – Romsilva, owns and manages the land under the Project. By 2011 it was understood that the Emission Reductions (ER) estimates at the appraisal stage were overly optimistic, assuming higher tree growth rates than actual (based on the prediction based methodology developed at the appraisal stage) and not taking into account the impacts of natural disasters. Accordingly, the Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) was amended on November 9, 2011, reducing the ER delivery by about 52% (estimated 411,758 tCO2e generated until end 2017). By the end of 2012 about 5,766 ha of the Project area, which is suitable for afforestation, was planted. From the commissioning of the Project in 2002 through 2012 the NFA planted and/or replanted almost all of the Project area that was suitable for afforestation. Afforestation of the lands has involved a range of energy and time intensive field activities, including site and soil preparation, manual seedling plantation, and maintenance and tending operations until the stage of canopy closure (up to 3-7 years after planting), which have been successfully undertaken by the NFA. The Project is currently in the verification process for emission reductions generated between 2008 and 2012, pending an issue concerning the restitution of a small portion of the Project area (about 450 ha) to private landowners during the second monitoring period. Currently, the Project Entity - ROMSILVA - is in process to clarify the legal ownership of Contracted ERs and to ensure that the new private land owners are properly informed and compensated for the carbon emission reductions generated on their land. Locations Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Romania Not Entered Comuna Zorleni Romania Not Entered Comuna Voinesti Romania Not Entered Comuna Vetrisoaia Romania Not Entered Judetul Vaslui Romania Not Entered Judetul Tulcea Public Disclosure Copy Romania Not Entered Comuna Tichilesti Romania Not Entered Comuna Tecuci Romania Not Entered Comuna Stancuta Romania Not Entered Comuna Puesti Romania Not Entered Comuna Pogana Page 2 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR986 Country First Administrative Division Location Planned Actual Public Disclosure Copy Romania Not Entered Comuna Ostrov Romania Not Entered Comuna Orlea Romania Not Entered Judetul Olt Romania Not Entered Judetul Mehedinti Romania Not Entered Comuna Macesu de Jos Romania Not Entered Comuna Izvoru Birzei Romania Not Entered Comuna Insuratei Romania Not Entered Comuna Ianca Romania Not Entered Comuna Hinova Romania Not Entered Comuna Gogosu Romania Not Entered Judetul Galati Romania Not Entered Comuna Falciu Romania Not Entered Judetul Dolj Romania Not Entered Comuna Daeni Romania Not Entered Comuna Dabuleni Romania Not Entered Judetul Braila Romania Not Entered Comuna Baneasa Public Disclosure Copy Romania Not Entered Comuna Banca Romania Not Entered Comuna Bacani Key Decisions Regarding Implementation No decisions have been entered. Page 3 of 4 The World Bank Report No: ISR986 Related Projects Public Disclosure Copy There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Page 4 of 4