Chishui River Basin Ecological Protection and Green Development Project

proposed

The project will introduce innovative planning, design, and implementation methods for eco-system based Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) in CRB by providing direct benefits to inclusive development, environmental conservation, and ecological preservation, while targeting global and public goods, and inclusive growth. The project will have four outputs:Output 1: Knowledge on Integrated River Basin Management generated and disseminated. This output will include: (i) pilot research and development activities in soil and water conservation including (a) trial soil and water conservation measures in pilot watersheds, (b) monitoring and evaluation of soil and water conservation, (c) research and development in conservation practice, and (d) publication of research articles; (ii) demonstrate and scale up valuation tools for natural capital accounting to inform policy making on eco-compensation and green finance; (iii) demonstrate innovative technologies to monitor water and environmental quality standards through remote sensing and spatial data; and (iv) improve knowledge sharing through (a) ADB-wide regional and thematic platforms, such as regional initiatives, the regional natural capital lab, and the ADBPRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative, among others, (b) international conferences, and (c) publications derived from the lessons learned.Output 2: Institutional capacity of local governments developed. This output will include: (i) institutional capacity building including (a) review of master plan and draft priority ecological preservation plans, (b) identify and engage stakeholder including the river basin authority, (c) river basin modelling and decision support system, and (d) development of eco-compensation fund and mechanism; (ii) asset management at provincial and local levels including (a) institutional set-up, (b) digital asset inventory, (c) monitoring and evaluation of river basin by using advance technologies such as remote sensing, and (d) decision support system for asset acquisition and disposal; (iii) institutional capacity development for flood risk mitigation including (a) expansion of hydro-meteorological stations, (b) localized early warning system, and (c) disaster response capacity; and (iv) community-based environment management in pilot areas including (a) awareness raising, (b) non-degradable waste management, (c) training programs on sustainable farming, and (d) eco-tourism facilities.Output 3: Soil and water conservation practices improved. This output will implement (i) soil erosion mitigation measures including (a) farmland terracing, (b) construction of bio-shield around the edge of hill slope, and (c) construction of sediment traps and check dams; (ii) river training and flood protection including (a) river bank protection, (b) increase the conveyance capacity of river sections by sediment removal, (c) replacement of small concrete dams into small gated structures, (d) discontinuous flood dikes in critical sections, and (e) landscaping along the lower reach of the river; and (iii) rehabilitation of ecologically degraded areas including (a) reforestation on the hill slopes and gardening of river corridor, (b) restoration of mining areas, (c) restoration of wetlands, and (d) promotion of ecological agriculture.Output 4: Public water services improved. This output will implement (i) rural wastewater management including (a) installation of modern toilets in poor households, (b) construction of sewer network with household connections, and (c) wastewater treatment facilities; (ii) solid waste management including (a) construction of collection centers and digitize associated facilities, (b) pilot solid waste recycling facility, and (c) farm waste management including composting facilities; and (iii) storm water management including (a) construction of storm water drainage, and (b) construction and rehabilitation of village ponds.