The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT () Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet Restructuring Stage Restructuring Stage | Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: | Report No: ISDSR21794 Regional Vice President: Cyril E Muller Country Director: Linda Van Gelder Regional Director: Steven N. Schonberger Practice Manager/Manager: Kseniya Lvovsky Task Team Leader: Drite Dade The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT () Note to Task Teams: The following sections are system generated and can only be edited online in the Portal. . I. BASIC INFORMATION 1. BASIC PROJECT DATA Project ID Project Name ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT Task Team Leader(s) Country Drite Dade Albania Approval Date Environmental Category 08-Jul-2014 Partial Assessment (B) Managing Unit Is this a Repeater project? SCAEN PROJECT FINANCING DATA (US$, Millions) SUMMARY -NewFin1 Total Project Cost 55.96 Total Financing 50.19 Financing Gap 5.77 DETAILS -NewFinEnh1 World Bank Group Financing International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) 10.00 Non-World Bank Group Financing Trust Funds 10.19 Free-standing TFs for ECA SD Sector Unit 7.31 Global Environment Facility (GEF) 2.88 2. PROJECT INFORMATION The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT () Current Project Development Objective The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to support sustainable land management practices and increase communities’ monetary and non-monetary benefits in targeted Project areas which are mainly in erosion prone rural upland areas. This PDO is to be achieved through the support of alternative livelihoods and provision of environmental services and through sustainable utilization of wood andpasture products in the long term. The Project will particularly focus on enhancing the financial, economic, and institutional sustainability of land use and natural resources management, and will help build capacities of Albania farmers, community organizations and government institutions to efficiently use EU funding. . Note to Task Teams: End of system generated content, document is editable from here. 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Note to Task Teams: The following sections are system generated and can only be edited online in the Portal. . 4. PROJECT LOCATION AND SALIENT PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS RELEVANT TO THE SAFEGUARD ANALYSIS (IF KNOWN) The project is implemented throughout Albania, while farmers, FPUAs, action groups and individuals spanning 310 rural communes and 2980 villages in the country benefit either directly or indirectly from the grant funds and other project activities. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS SPECIALISTS ON THE TEAM Bekim Imeri, Social Specialist Esma Kreso Beslagic, Environmental Specialist SAFEGUARD_TABLE 6. SAFEGUARD POLICIES TRIGGERED Safeguard Policies Triggered Explanation The project has an Environmental and Social Management Framework prepared and was Environmental Assessment (OP) (BP 4.01) Yes applied all throughout implementation. The ESMF calls for environmental and social screening of all The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT () grant applications, and provides template Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) for all construction of water points and check dams. Performance Standards for Private Sector No Activities OP/BP 4.03 The ESMF contains adequate provisions for protection of habitats, since the majority of the Natural Habitats (OP) (BP 4.04) Yes project deals with interventions in forested areas and may therefore impact habitats as well. Project activities include afforestation as well as remedial forest operations (coppicing, cleaning, re- spacing, enrichment planting, selective silvicultural thinning, etc.) as well as processing and sale of the Forests (OP) (BP 4.36) Yes sustainable production of wood products, such as poles, firewood and non-wooden forest products. All of these activities are carried out in line with the ESMF and with the site specific forest plans. The ESMF for the project includes an Integrated Pest Management Plan, in the event that pest Pest Management (OP 4.09) Yes management activities would be supported, either directly or indirectly. There are no cultural resources identified within Physical Cultural Resources (OP) (BP 4.11) No the scope o fthe project, but the site specific ESMPs contain precautionary chance finds procedures. Indigenous Peoples (OP) (BP 4.10) No Involuntary Resettlement (OP) (BP 4.12) No Safety of Dams (OP) (BP 4.37) No Projects on International Waterways (OP) No (BP 7.50) Projects in Disputed Areas (OP) (BP 7.60) No KEY_POLICY_TABLE II. KEY SAFEGUARD POLICY ISSUES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT A. SUMMARY OF KEY SAFEGUARD ISSUES 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the Restructured project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts. As expected, the ESP did not have any negative environmental impacts, but rather it helped reverse land and watershed degradation through both physical interventions for forest and pasture regeneration and the empowerment of rural population and of local and central institutions. The project supported sustainable land use practices that help reduce degradation in upland areas, reduce risks to downstream lands and infrastructure, improve sustainability of dams and reservoirs, while improving water quality and improve agricultural lands. As the project The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT () activities impact directly the livelihoods of the local rural communities, there remains the potential for possible localized indirect and cumulative impacts of interventions through the grants and any other potential impacts on local economies and society. The relatively small negative environmental impacts from construction works were readily mitigated. All grants were screened using an environmental and social checklist, and all physical activities, such as construction of a check dam or a watering point were subject to an EMP for construction works. During site visits no non- compliance was noted. The PIU is staffed with an environmental specialist and the original project has an Environmental Management Framework document that remains applicable for the restructuring as well. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area. The overall project helps establish better local management of natural resources and promotes sustainable use of these resources. Carbon sequestration activities and payments for environmental services also help promote positive environmental impacts in the project area and the country overall. 3. Describe any potential alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. There are no project alternatives considered in order to minimize adverse impacts. 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. The overall project management is carried out by the Ministry of Environment. ARDA administers the grants scheme and the screening is carried out by a safeguard specialist. . In addition, the grant program is strictly guided by the Grant Operational Manual, where the detailed environmental screening procedure is laid out, in accordance with the one developed within the EMF. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanism for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. The project involves a number of institutions and works with a number of levels in country, in particular with the local communities. The consultant that has developed the EA and EMF has identified a large group of potential stakeholders that included representatives of the institutions, academia, local communities and non-governmental organizations that have been included in the two sets of public consultations workshops (on July 31, 2013 and September 26, 2013). All works and consultations during project implementation were carried out at the level of the local community. DISCLOSURE_TABLE B. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS ENV_TABLE Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other Date of receipt by the Bank Date of submission for disclosure 13-Sep-2013 24-Jan-2014 For Category ‘A’ projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT () “In country� Disclosure Country Date of Disclosure Albania 26-Sep-2013 Comments PEST_TABLE Pest Management Plan Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank Date of submission for disclosure 13-Sep-2013 24-Jan-2014 “In country� Disclosure Country Date of Disclosure Albania 26-Sep-2013 Comments COMPLIANCE_TABLE C. COMPLIANCE MONITORING INDICATORS AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL EA_TABLE OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? Yes If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Practice Manager (PM) review Yes and approve the EA report? Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? Yes NH_TABLE OP/BP 4.04 - Natural Habitats Would the project result in any significant conversion or degradation of critical No natural habitats? The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT () If the project would result in significant conversion or degradation of other (non- critical) natural habitats, does the project include mitigation measures Yes acceptable to the Bank? PM_TABLE OP 4.09 - Pest Management Does the EA adequately address the pest management issues? Yes Is a separate PMP required? No If yes, has the PMP been reviewed and approved by a safeguards specialist or PM? Are PMP requirements included in project design? If yes, does the project Yes team include a Pest Management Specialist? FO_TABLE OP/BP 4.36 - Forests Has the sector-wide analysis of policy and institutional issues and constraints Yes been carried out? Does the project design include satisfactory measures to overcome these Yes constraints? Does the project finance commercial harvesting, and if so, does it include No provisions for certification system? PDI_TABLE The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank for Yes disclosure? Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups Yes and local NGOs? ALL_TABLE All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been Yes prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project Yes cost? The World Bank RESTRUCTURING ISDS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECT () Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring Yes of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower Yes and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? III. APPROVALS Task Team Leader(s) Drite Dade Approved By Safeguards Advisor Practice Manager/Manager . Note to Task Teams: End of system generated content