CEP Bulletin
http://www.caspianenvironment.org/newsite/EBult/2004/Oct.asp
October 2004
No. CEP-B-04/1
Home
Our Programme Since We Last Met:
Matched Small Grants Programme (MSGP) Training Workshop; Tehran , June 14-16
The new team of the Matched Small Grant Programme (MSGP) including five Coastal Advisors
(Matched Small Grants and Public Participation Advisor MPPA), one for each of the five Caspian
Littoral Countries, an International Public Participation Advisor, and the MSGP new management
team based in Tehran Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), was brought together in Tehran to a
training on launching and management of the MSGP including the new phase of the GEF supported
project under the CEP (CEP-SAP). The event was funded by the World Bank which had the leading
role in the training activity, with participation of the UNDP and UNOPS representatives.
MSGP - MEG is Launched
Matched Small Grants Programme (MSGP) and Micro Environment Programme (MEG) were
launched during July 2004. The MPPAs conducted several meetings in the region to brief the
stakeholders and concern groups on the objectives and planned activities of the CEP during its new
phase in general and on the available grants under the MSGP and MEG
Caspian Concern Groups (CCG)
The Caspian Concern Groups were established
in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan made up of
people representing different stakeholder groups
from the coastal areas, who will serve voluntary
with an interest in and a commitment to public
participation . CCG link
Ground Truthing Report (GT)
The Public Participation Ground Truthing Report (GT) is being prepared with the objective of
reviewing and assessing the status of the public participation in the Caspian Littoral States. This
Report encompasses national and local rules and regulations, cultural characteristics, means of
communication, level of public participation, access to information and justice on environmental
issues, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, gender participation, public awareness and
sensitivity, stakeholders' participation and long term strategies and objectives. The summary of the
GT as well as GT report of each littoral country is available on the CEP Website (GT link). The full
report will be ready soon.
CEP-SAP Project Inception Meeting; Tehran June 17
and 18
CEP-SAP Project, often called GEF II, is the short title for
the "Towards a Convention and Action Programme for the
Protection of the Caspian Sea Environment Project". This is
a $6 million initiative funded by GEF to address the
unsustainable use of bio-resources, threats to biodiversity,
pollution, and unsustainable coastal area development
issues. The Inception Meeting for the CEP-SAP was
attended by official representatives of the littoral countries
as well as representatives of the World Bank, UNEP,
UNOPS, KAREC and the Industry. The meeting reviewed
the progress and approved the CEP-SAP work plan,
agreed to a rotational system of Regional Advisory Groups.
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UNEP Regional Meeting; Tehran 19 - 20 July
The meeting attended by official representatives of the littoral countries and UNEP. They agreed
to pursue four protocols to the Caspian Framework Convention namely Emergency Response
Protocol, Land-based Sources of Pollution Protocol, EIA Protocol and Biodiversity Protocol. The
Emergency Response Protocol is already finalized thanks to the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) the collaboration with CEP during its first phase and will be presented to the
First Conference of the Parties.
Biodiversity & Invasive Species Regional Advisory Group Meeting (BIORAG Meeting); Baku ,
September 6 and 7
The first meeting of the Biodiversity & Invasive Species Caspian Regional Advisory Group
(BISRAG) was combined with a technical meeting of the international and national experts on the
issue of Invasive Species in the Caspian. The meeting recommended the countries to positively
consider introduction of Beroe as the most adequate bio-measure to mitigate the impact of
Mnemiopsis Leydyi (ML). Meeting reports are available on CEP Web-site (
www.caspianenvironment.org ).
FAO Technical Meeting; Baku , September 8 -10
Under auspices of FAO the meeting sought, and discussed, advice for the region regarding
technical assistance for FAO with the framework of a regional technical cooperation (TCP) to be
funded by FAO.
IMO --- Training in Astrakhan ; 21 24 September
IMO provided training on CPRC Level 3 for high level emergency response managers from the
region
Upcommings:
Time over - Caspian Environment Programme
Grants
30 September was the deadline to receive the
applications of the first round of Matched Small
Grants Programme (MSGP) and Micro
Environment Programme (MEG). Many MSGP
and MEG applications have been received from 5
Caspian countries. The Evaluation Committee
Meeting will be held during November to evaluate
the applications. Awards will be granted during
early December to the successful applicants .
http://www.caspianenvironment.org/MSGPII/index.htm
Religion Science and Environment (RSE)
Symposium
The first regional planning meeting of the Religion
Science and the Environment (RSE) of Caspian
Sea Symposia will be held from October 8th to
11th in Baku to plan for circumnavigate the
Caspian Sea in June 2005.
Emergency Response and Pollution Regional Advisory Groups
The first meeting of the Emergency Response and Pollution Regional Advisory Groups (E-RAG,
P-RAG) will be held in Tehran-Iran from 13 to 15 October 2004. The meeting will provide update
information on global, regional and national activities with regards to Pollution Monitoring, control
and abatement as well as Emergency Response in the Caspian Sea . This will include highlighting
the link between the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and E-RAG, P-RAG, as well as drafting an
outline/roadmap of an strategic plan for risk assessment and sensitivity mapping in the Caspian
Sea . The meeting also aims to decide on an appropriate mechanism for selection of RAGs
chairmanships, working, hosting arrangements and relevant TORs
http://www.caspianenvironment.org/rags
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Strategic Fisheries Research Workshop & Fisheries Regional Advisory Group
The first meeting of the Interim Fisheries Regional Advisory Group (FRAG) dove-tailed to a
workshop on Strategic Fisheries Research Issues & and their Impact on Management,
Conservation and Development of Caspian Fisheries will be held by EU/Tacis supported
sustainable fisheries project from 19 to 21 October 2004.
The objective of the FRAG meeting is to discuss the strategic work plan for the fisheries and
bio-resources component of
the CEP projects and to provide advice on implementation mechanism with a view to ensure a cost
effective modality while enhancing regional involvement in the project activities. The meeting will
also be requested to review the status of dialogue and inter-action between international, regional
and national bodies involved in fisheries management activities. For more information contact Mr.
Chris Mathews, team leader of EU fisheries project , e-mail: christopher@caspian.in-baku.com
Small Grants Programme (SGP) Announcement
The Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) has announced the
Autumn Call for Applications on " Sustainable Development of Caspian Coastal
Communities " . The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at
Programme's National Coordinators and on the following Internet site CAREC web
site: www.carec.kz or visit the direct link . The deadline for the submission of
applications is set for November 4 th , 2004 .
The World Bank Caspian Environment Prorgam Investment and Donors'
Forum
The World Bank is organizing a Caspian Environment Program Investment and
Donors' Forum, scheduled to take a place in Baku on November 19-20 this
year. The main aim of the Forum is to give the Caspian states a platform for
presenting to potential investors and donors the priorities identified in their
National Caspian Action Plans (NCAPs) and the regional Caspian Strategic
Action Program (SAP). The event is designed to help the states to establish
partnerships to mobilize resources for implementation of the priority projects.
These include public goods investments, commercial projects, and
public-private partnership opportunities, as well as a number of small-scale
actions appropriate for grant funding. The Forum is co-sponsored by Germany ,
and supported by the Project Preparation Committee (PPC) of the Environment
for Europe program. Information on the investment priorities and specific
projects may be downloaded from the Forum website:
www.worldbank.org/caspianenvironmentforum . The Forum registration form
and logistics information are available on the website.
CASPAS Meeting: October 26 27 in Baku :
The 9th Session of the Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology & pollution Monitoring of the
Caspian Sea Environment will be held in Baku on October 27 to 28. The session will consider a
wide range of problems related to the development of international cooperation in the field of
hydrometeorology as well as host of associated issues
1 ST Planning Meeting of the UNESCO Interdisciplinary Initiative on the Sustainable
Development of the Caspian Sea
The main objective of the meeting is to discuss, with regional experts, specific environmental issues
affecting the Caspian Sea , and, keeping in mind the mandate and competence of UNESCO, to
formulate activities of an interdisciplinary nature that could be implemented during the biennium
2004-2005.
www.unesco.ru
The CABRI-Volga project is proposed for funding to the European Commission under the
International Cooperation (INCO) Programme
CABRI Volga - Cooperation Along a Big River Institutional Coordination among stakeholder for
environmental risk management in the Volga basin is an international coordination action to
facilitate cooperation and to coordinate research in environmental risk management in large river
basins in the EU, Russia & the New Independent States (NIS). The project Consortium has already
established an extensive network of more than 130 organisations in Russia/NIS and the EU. It
intends to further expand the network within the duration of the project. For the working group
meetings, experts from Russia/NIS and EU (~70 per series) from various scientific and institutional
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backgrounds will be recruited from the network of CABRI stakeholder organisations to discuss and
exchange knowledge and expertise in the CABRI thematic areas of 1-River & Environmental
Rehabilitation, 2-Human Security and Vulnerability, 3- Natural Resources & Their Sustainable Use,
4- Connecting Goods and People, and 5-Institutional Coordination & Cooperation.
More information on: For EU: www.rupprecht-consult.de For Russia / NIS : www.unesco.ru
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