This document summarizes UNDP's work on ecosystems and natural resources in Europe and CIS regions. It discusses two of UNDP's signature programs: the Protected Areas Program and the Mainstreaming Biodiversity Program. The Protected Areas Program has established over 2.6 million hectares of new protected areas across 19 sites, improving management in over 9.7 million hectares of existing protected areas. The Mainstreaming Program is mainstreaming biodiversity into productive sectors and landscapes across 10 countries, directly impacting over 55.6 million hectares. Examples from Georgia and Belarus show positive impacts on crop diversity, carbon storage, and wetland restoration.

1. UNDP’s WORK in ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN EUROPE AND CIS Adriana Dinu, Regional Practice Leader, Environment and Energy, Europe and CIS Brussels, 7th July 2010 © 2010 UNDP. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Proprietary and Confidential. Not For Distribution Without Prior Written Permission.

2. Europe and CIS: The region

3. Europe and CIS: The Environment and Energy Team 20 UNDP COUNTRY OFFICES + 5 UNDP OFFICES REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY TEAM Bratislava Over 450 staff Managing USD 300 million from GEF, bilaterals, EC Ecosystems, Land and Natural Resources Energy, Infrastructure and Transport Climate Change Adaptation Chemicals management http://europeandcis.undp.org/environment/ Environment and Energy Group - HQ

4. Europe and CIS: The Biodiversity Programme Objective: Assist developing countries to develop their own capacity to manage biodiversity so as to sustain the delivery of the ecosystem goods and services on which human development depends Protected Areas: expansion, management effectiveness, finance Mainstreaming biodiversity into productive sectors and landscapes Ecosystem based adaptation and mitigation Over USD 120 million in implementation

5. Share of the two signature programs in the portfolio

6. Protected Areas Programme: coverage Unleashing the economic potential of protected areas so that they are providing ecosystem services, are climate resilient and sustainably financed (GEF, ICI) Terrestrial Protected Areas Marine PAs Finance 7 projects Armenia Georgia (2) Montenegro Romania Serbia Ukraine 4 projects Albania Russia Turkey Turkmenistan _____________ Under preparation: Azerbaijan Croatia System level: 6 Armenia FYR Macedonia Montenegro Moldova Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Forests: 6 Armenia Bulgaria Romania Russia - Komi Turkey Uzbekistan Wetlands: 6 Belarus Kazakhstan Latvia Lithuania Russia Slovakia Steppe: 4 Kazakhstan Romania Russia Moldova Mountains: 4 Kazakhstan Russia- Kamchatka Russia-Altai Sayan Tajikistan Tundra: 1 Russia - Taimyr Agrobiodiversity: 1 Kazakhstan

7. 19 new PAs established: 2.6 million ha Protected Area Programme: Summary of Impacts Improved management effectiveness in 126 existing PAs of 9.7 million ha 9.1 million hectares in 10 Global 200 Ecoregions 85 PAs in the process of being established: 0.81 million ha

9. Signature program “Mainstreaming”: coverage Mainstreaming biodiversity into productive sectors and landscape to ensure that production processes maintain essential ecosystem functions Sectors Landscape Agriculture: 6 Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Georgia Lithuania Slovakia Tajikistan Municipality land-use planning: 1 Bosnia u Herzegovina Oil and gas: 2 Russia Uzbekistan National land-use planning: 1 Belarus Fisheries: 1 Kyrgyzstan Banking: 1 Croatia

10. Signature Mainstreaming Programme: Summary of Impacts 10.25 million ha productive landscape within 9 Global 200 Ecoregions “Set asides”: 1 million ha Market development support for biodiversity friendly products in 5 countries Direct impact on 55.6 million ha

11. Georgia: Forgotten crop varieties and landraces make a comeback 28 land-races and varieties (52% of all for Georgia) are now being used for subsistence production and 7 (13% of all) are in commercial use 189 households cultivating land-races; over 80% of these households are reporting higher pulse diversity on-farm seed multiplication system to encourage local farmers to use and sow local landraces 6 revived native legume crops are now being sold to retailers on the local market with a 10% premium compared to the imported common beans

12. Belarus: Climate, biodiversity and community benefits from peatland restoration C release 15 t/ha/y = 8 mln t/y US$ 1.25 million for fire-fighting/year Wetland plant associations up by 58-96% 28,000 ha rewetted Reduced annual emission of CO2 by 280,000 tons Water-bird sp. numbers up by 20-48% from pre-restoration

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