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Paraguay
>> Regional Overview >> Paraguay Overview Activity Data Sheet
PROGRAM: Paraguay
TITLE AND NUMBER: Sustainable Management of Globally Important Ecoregions Improved, 526-005
PLANNED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND ACCOUNT: $1,000,000 DA
PROPOSED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND ACCOUNT: $750,000 DA
STATUS: New
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2001 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2005Summary: Increased integration with the efforts of neighboring countries has become more important with Paraguay's participation in the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) and growing regional integration. Under this objective, programming will be: 1) directed at globally significant ecoregions (Pantanal wetlands, interior Atlantic rainforest and the Chaco dry forest); 2) integrated with efforts in Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; and 3) led by Paraguayan non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and municipal and departmental governments possessing the skills required for competent participation in these efforts. Coordination with other donors, and with neighboring USAID programs in Bolivia and Brazil, is essential for program success.
Key Results: Two key results will be achieved: 1) Paraguayan leaders will be trained and targeted NGOs will be strengthened; and 2) the necessary policy, legal, and financial tools will be developed by Paraguayan NGOs, CSOs, and municipal, central and departmental authorities. This will improve the overall sustainable management and protection of globally important ecoregions shared with neighboring countries. Democracy will also be strengthened in Paraguay through the further development of an active civil society, improved local government capacity, and greater stability through environmental protection.
Performance and Prospects: Paraguay, with one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, continues to lose 10% of its remaining forest cover every year, threatening the future of unique regional ecosystems. Development of ecoregional conservation plans will include a series of stakeholder analyses, biodiversity and socio-economic assessments, cross-border planning workshops, and inter-governmental review of ecoregional conservation plans. Three ecoregional conservation plans were developed jointly with the Secretariat of the Environment, and implementation has begun.
Many Paraguayan NGOs and CSOs have the potential and interest in participating in this regional effort and effectively influencing how the conservation of these key ecoregions will be implemented. Technical assistance and training, advocacy skills, and management improvement are still needed to better coordinate with regional and local efforts to achieve a greater impact under this objective.
Local governments often lack the requisite technical abilities and environmental awareness to effectively contribute to environmental management. Given other donor support to the national government, and the growing trend toward the decentralization of power, USAID will assist in developing environmental leaders at departmental and municipal levels. NGOs and civil society strengthening are a current focus of USAID programming and will continue to be emphasized across our objectives.
Conservation effectiveness in Paraguay is currently limited by policy, legal, and financial constraints. In order for ecoregional conservation plans to be completed and implemented, it is imperative that Paraguay develop the necessary mechanisms to support them. This directly complements planned USAID activities in democracy directed at implementing and sustaining a policy dialogue on key national issues. Legal, regulatory and policy changes will be targeted in Paraguay, based on ecoregional conservation plans, bilateral treaties, and Mercosur agreements. These policy changes will include improving legislation for private land reserves, ensuring public participation in the environmental impact assessment process, and promoting legislative changes.
During FY 2001, $500,000 will be used to strengthen the ecoregional management capacity of local NGOs and $500,000 for the development of policy, legal and financial tools for improved ecoregional management.
During FY 2002 $750,000 DA will be used to continue activities with local NGOs and international organizations to protect the Chaco and Pantanal ecoregions.
Possible Adjustments to Plans: No changes are expected at this time.
Other Donor Programs: USAID has taken the initiative to convene several meetings of a donor roundtable. USAID has also facilitated policy dialogue at the regional level (Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay), such as the presentation of the biological vision for the interior Atlantic rainforest that involved GOP officials and the ambassadors from the United States, Argentina, and Brazil. The Inter-American Development Bank recently signed an agreement to financially support the Secretariat of the Environment to develop a national environmental management system, strengthen environmental entities, and create a fund for environmental investments. The Global Environmental Fund is providing a grant to a local NGO to continue the private reserve program previously financed by USAID. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency is continuing a reforestation program that may help expand the interior Atlantic rainforest in Paraguay. The German Technical Cooperation Agency is working with the GOP and USAID to develop a national strategy for the protection of natural resources. The European Union is funding a project focused on the sustainable use of the Chaco region, which includes an improved park management component.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: U.S. organizations involved in the implementation of this objective are The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Foundation. Two local NGOs, Desdel Chaco and Institute for Environmental Law, are also involved.
Paraguay: 526-005
Performance Measures:
Indicator FY97
(Actual)FY98
(Actual)FY99
(Actual)FY00
(Actual)FY00
(Plan)FY01
(Plan)FY02
(Plan)Indicator 1: National environmental policy, legal and regulatory framework, and compliance with international and bilateral treaties improved. N/A N/A N/A 0 N/A 1 2 Indicator 2: Number of ecoregional conservation plans developed, approved, and implemented with adequate Paraguayan participation N/A N/A N/A 0 N/A 1 2 Indicator 3: Number of targeted NGOs and CSOs strengthened. N/A 0 N/A N/A N/A 2 4 Indicator Information:
Indicator Level (S)or(IR) Unit of Measure Source Indicator Description Indicator 1: IR Number Program Evaluations. Technical assistance will be provided to develop and promote the adoption of a national environmental policy; to analyze the current environmental legislation, identifying its strengths and weaknesses in order to propose improvements through an optimization plan; and, to improve the compliance with international and bilateral treaties. Indicator 2: SO Number Program evaluations. Number of ecoregional conservation plans developed, approved, and implemented with adequate Paraguayan participation. Indicator 3: IR Number Surveys. Number of targeted NGOs and CSOs strengthened in the following: legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, public image, and provision of services. U.S. Financing
(In thousands of dollars)
Obligations Expenditures Unliquidated Through September 30, 1999 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Fiscal Year 2000 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA Through September 30, 2000 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Prior Year Unobligated Funds 0 DA 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Planned Fiscal Year 2001 NOA 1,000 DA 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Total Planned Fiscal Year 2001 1,000 DA 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Future Obligations Est. Total Cost Proposed Fiscal Year 2002 NOA 750 DA 4,000 DA 5,750 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
