“Linkages and Synergies with other environmental conventions and, as appropriate, with national development strategies”

1. “Linkages and Synergies with other environmental conventions and, as appropriate, with national development strategies” Vladimir SavchenkoFocal Point of the UNCCD in BelarusMinistry of Natural Resources andEnvironmental Protection CRIC,Rome, Italy,11-22 November 2002

2. Current state of UNCCD implementation • The Republic of Belarus is a Party of the UNCCD since 27 November 2001. • Interagency Task Force for implementation of the UNCCD consisting 21 members was established in December 2001 • Plan of activities on the UNCCD implementation in Belarus includes 44 paragraphs that are organized in 5 sections: Institutional measures Scientific support Sectoral measures Information resources & monitoring Public awareness & education • The first point of the Plan of Activities: “Elaboration of National Action Program to Combat Land Degradation”

3. Efficient management of treaties implementation Management of treaties implementation • Belarus is a Party to 11 international environmental treaties (e.g. UNCBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC, Ramsar Convention, Vienna Convention on ozone layer protection, Montreal Protocol, ect.) • Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus is a National Coordinating Body for all environmental international treaties.

4. National Strategy on Sustainable Development • First National Strategy on Sustainable Development has been adopted by the Government in 1997 (up to the year 2010). • National Progress Report on Sustainable Development has been submitted in 2002 and presented at the WSSD in Johannesburg. • As the result second National Strategy on Sustainable Development is currently being developed for the period up to the year 2020.

5. N 50 km Chernobyl’s consequences • 23 % of Belarussian territory was contaminated (1.3 mln.ha of agricultural land and 1.6 mln.ha of forest) • 1/3 of the country’s population was exposed to the radioactive pollution

6. Issue: Drainage land - 16,4 % of the country area more than 3,4 million ha (including 1,2 mln. ha peatland) Solution: National Program for Conservation and Use of Drained Areas for 2000-2005 The core of the Program is restoration but not construction Issue: Arable land – 30 % of country area (0,58 ha per capita) Solution: 372 thousands ha. of arable land have been converted to forest and pasture in 2001-2002 and 700 thousands ha. of arable land to be converted by 2003-2004 Practical steps

7. Three UN environmental conventions

8. Capacity building GEF initiative:National Capacity Self Assessment for Global Environment Management Project title:Self-assessment of the capacity building needs for global environmental management through implementation of Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Combating Desertification Objective:National Report, Strategy and Action Plan will constitute the final National Capacity Self-Assessment Report based on the assessments within the three thematic areas of biodiversity, climate change and combating desertification National Executing Agency:Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus

9. Peatlands worldwide and in Belarus

10. Impact of drainage in Belarus Degradation of peat layer Declined groundwater table

11. As a result: Disappearance of vegetation associations, flora and fauna species Drying out of smaller rivers and streams Increased runoff of nutrients and subsequent eutrophication of water bodies Shrinking area of fens Increased soil erosion Decreased amount of precipitation and general worsening of microclimate Huge net CO2 emissions Fires

12. Which means: ON-GOING LAND DEGRADATION CLIMATE CHANGE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY CONTINUED RADIOACTIVE CONTAMI-NATION Accompanied by “... Operational Program 12 is aimed at brining synergy between three of the GEF focal areas and land degradation to optimize multiple benefits…” OP 12

13. UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY Renaturalization and Sustainable Management of Degraded Peatlands in Belarus PDF A Concept, GEF Operational Program 12

14. Project benefits • Cessation of soil erosion at the 14,000 ha of peatlands; • Renaturalization of 14,000 ha of carefully pre-selected fens, creating corridors with the existing natural fens will increase their area by 30 % and raise probability of extending populations of the globally threatened species (Aquatic Warbler, Great Snipe, Greater Spotted Eagle, Concrake); • Assuming each of the 14,000 ha of renaturalized fens ceases to emit CO2 by at least 7 tons per year, a total of 100,000 tons reduction in emission will be achieved annually; • Diminished risk of fires, especially critical for the Chernobyl-affected areas.

15. Public awareness raising Title:Global Environmental Conventions: lessons from joint implementation in Belarus Content: • 6 chapters with comments submitted by leading national experts: • UNCCD • UNFCCC • Kyoto Protocol • UNCBD • Cartagena Protocol • Ramsar convention on wetlands • Texts of the conventions and protocols

16. To sum up: • Institutional capacity • Planning (National Plans & Strategies) • Concrete practical steps/sectoral measures • Pilot projects development & implementation • Information and awareness raising

17. Thank you !