Results in the Environment Program in East Asia and Pacific

The World Bank has a broad range of activities addressing various environmental issues in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. This page demonstrates some of the results that are being achieved. The text provided below is not comprehensive, i.e., the inclusion or exclusion of different thematic areas is not intended to indicate the scope of World Bank work in each country.

  Regional Highlights 
  Cambodia 
  China 
  Indonesia 
  Lao PDR 
  Mongolia 
  Philippines 
  Vietnam

Country Projects with Regional Coordination

Ozone Layer Protection - The World Bank's Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) program in EAP is the largest in the world. As of 2003, 89,000 tons of ODS have been phased out in the region. The program's goal is the complete phase-out of regional ODS production and consumption by 2010, which represents a phase-out of 237,000 tons of ODS - nearly 75 percent of the remaining ODS production and consumption in all developing countries. China, with one of the world's most successful phase-out programs, is on track to meet its 85 percent CFC reduction target by 2005. National phase-out plans are also being implemented in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. National CFC and halon phaseout plans are being developed in Vietnam, and now there are sector plans in China, Indonesia, and Thailand. In the Philippines, where ODS consumption fell by 55 percent between 1995 and 2000, the World Bank-executed ODS phase-out program is progressing well.

Local Language Field Guides - The World Bank’s Field Guides Program has now contributed to the production of over 30 local language field guides across the EAP region. The field guides program has proven especially valuable in encouraging and empowering young professionals to take up careers in conservation. Already some of the Bank-funded guides are being utilized at the local level by village ecotourism guides, including youth and women’s groups, as well as teachers and young environmental professionals to increase their own knowledge and strengthen the services and information they can provide to others. Local language field guides strengthen overall capacity for environmental management and impact assessment. Moreover, by providing easy access to information in local languages, the guides provide tools to environmental activists to participate better in monitoring and strengthening the impacts of government-led development programs.

Country Studies with Regional Coordination

Mekong River Basin - The World Bank is helping the four member states of the Mekong River Commission (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) in developing mechanisms for equitable sharing of the river basin’s water resources and improving of its water quality. With the Bank’s help, the Commission now has a functioning computer model of the river basin, and the member states have agreed on procedures for (a) sharing water quantity and quality data, (b) notification, consultation and agreement of proposed water use changes, and (c) water use monitoring. Next steps include preparation of (a) water quality rules and action plans; and (b) water utilization scenarios and impact assessment methods. Little progress has been made on deepening China’s involvement, but further steps have been agreed. Assistance has been provided in setting rules and procedures for water sharing and quality management and in improving management capacity in relevant agencies.

Poverty Environment Nexus - The Poverty Environment Nexus study in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam examined the relationship between poverty and environment at the national level, including correlation analysis, regressions, ranking, and mapping of poverty and environment indicators, and through case studies at local levels (provincial, district, commune, village and household). The study found important correlations between poverty and a variety of natural resource and environmental health indicators, such as access to non-timber forest products, access to clean water and sanitation, access to roads, industrial pollution, and unexploded ordinance contamination.These results confirm that the sustainability of poverty alleviation programs could depend significantly on the ways in which natural resource dimensions are addressed. Indeed, the welfare of the poor may be enhanced by closer integration of environmental considerations into poverty reduction strategies.

Faiths and the Environment - Ongoing engagement with different faith-based organizations across the region has generated extensive participation in environmental stewardship and active support in sustainable environmental management. Initiatives have been undertaken in Cambodia, Mongolia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Thailand. In Mongolia, results include the publication and dissemination of a number of books on sacred sites, ritual re-dedication of traditional sacred areas of environmental significance, training programs on conservation and land management aspects for Buddhist monks. In 2004, a major regional conference was held in Phnom Penh on Buddhism and Environment, out of which a network of concerned monasteries has emerged .

Curbing Illegal Wildlife Trade

Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Initiative - In September 2001, participating countries in the East Asia Ministerial Conference on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) signed the Bali Declaration, committing themselves to, inter alia, intensify national efforts and strengthen bilateral, regional and multilateral collaboration to address forest crime and violations of forest law. The Bali Declaration and the follow-up discussions it spawned have led to agreements on specific national and regional efforts needed to address forest threats. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the UK and Indonesia to improve FLEG and combat illegal logging and international trade in illegally logged timber, and an MOU between Japan and Indonesia, with similar objectives, are noteworthy in this context

Air Quality - The World Bank-supported Clean Air Initiative is demonstrating innovative ways to improve the air quality in Asian cities. Results are being generated through a range of activities such as capacity building with a range of training courses, pilot projects, and the implementation of city-based air quality management strategies.

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Natural Resources Management - The World Bank is helping Cambodia to effectively manage its natural resources by working to address forest concessions and help rationalize the country's Protected Areas system. With respect to the former, the Forest Concession Management Project is helping the government to rationalize its forest conservation system, including the development of social and environmental criteria, capacity building, and improved technical standards for concession planning. For the latter, the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management Project is strengthening the management of Virachey National Park. This experience is being used as a demonstration of capacity building in the Ministry of Environment. Ongoing work by the World Bank / WWF Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Use is strengthening the legal systems that govern Cambodia's protected areas. One result of this work is a  draft protected areas law. These initiatives have raised the profile of protected areas among all levels of society.

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Urban Environment - The World Bank has been financing water supply, sanitation and solid waste management projects in China for over 15 years. An example of a recently completed project is the Liaoning Environment Project, which (a) implemented measures for air pollution control, (b) strengthened pricing policies and institutional arrangements for environmental protection, and (c) addressed local water resource quality issues. This project benefited over 4 million people in terms of air quality, cleaner water, and proper wastewater removal. The results were achieved with the establishment of four wastewater treatment plants, water supply and solid waste management components, pollution management, a flexible investment fund and associated capacity building activities. The main beneficiaries were the poorer segments of the population, who benefited from the collection and treatment of sewage.

Land Management - The Loess Plateau project in the Yellow River watershed is an economically viable and environmentally sustainable integrated watershed management model, one of the largest and most successful in the world. Key to the success of this project was the conversion of slopes to level fields, which significantly reduced erosion and helped maintain moisture in the soils, allowing higher crop yields and more diversified cropping patterns. Annual sediment inflow to the Yellow River was reduced by 57 million tons. Over one million farmers directly benefited with some impressive increases in grain output, fruit production, and per capita income. Furthermore, terracing, and mechanization have significantly reduced labor inputs, and many farmers are now pursuing alternative income sources. These results appear to be highly sustainable. The government is now planning to apply the model to other national projects.

Ozone Layer Protection - Since 1993 China, with World Bank support in four implementation projects, has phased out around 112,000 tons of Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), in production and consumption. The third project, ODS III, included 96 sub-projects, 70 of which have been completed. Under the ODS IV, five sector plans are under implementation and total commitment now equals $344 million. During the last financial year (FY05), the emphasis has been on developing an accelerated phaseout plan that will help China achieve complete phaseout of Ozone Depleting Substances by 2010. Indeed, the Executive Committee of the Montreal Protocol recently approved this Accelerated Phaseout Plan, of US$10 million, with the first tranche release of US$5 million in December 2004.

Water Resource Management - The World Bank has been working on river basin and water resource management in China for many years. One recent example is the Tarim Basin Project II, which supported rehabilitation and improved irrigation and drainage systems and agricultural services in the Tarim Basin, Northwestern China. The goals of the project included increasing the incomes of poor farmers through irrigated agriculture development, improving water resource management in the basin, and preserving some of the local habitat. In order to achieve these objectives, the project established and enforced water use quotas for each of the sub-basins in order to ensure that an adequate amount of water is delivered to the middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River. The project is also supporting institutional development, including the establishment and strengthening of self-managing irrigation and drainage districts, and the establishment and strengthening of the Tarim Basin Water Resources Commission.

Forestry Management - The forestry sector in China plays a critical role in the Chinese economy and, during the past 20 years, China and the World Bank have made tremendous efforts to reverse the trend of deforestation. For example, extensive support has been provided to the plantation sub-sector, which has helped not only reverse the deforestation trend, and but also to increase levels of forest cover in recent years. One of the many China forestry programs (Forest Resource Development and Protection Project) closed in 2002 after (a) establishing 749,135 ha of intensively managed plantations, (b) 282,218 ha of multiple-use protection forests (for watershed management), (c) strengthening of biodiversity conservation in nature reserves, (d) improvement of tree stock production including the dissemination of improved genetic materials, and (e) research and capacity building activities were undertaken including the training of almost 300,000 workers and farmers and the implementation of new information systems.

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Pollution Control - The Program For Pollution Control, Evaluation and Rating (PROPER I) financed a system that rated the environmental performance of 350 firms in 27 industrial sectors nationwide; it resulted in an increase in compliance from 35 to 51percent of participating firms over a two-year period and a 43 percent drop in BOD emissions. PROPER II is now being supported to further institutionalize the system within the Ministry of Environment and expand its reach to 500 firms.

Biodiversity - Using funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Bank has been able to support three conservation NGOs to successfully design, implement and complete rather different projects. The first project concentrated on elephants by garnering public support for forested landscapes in war-torn Aceh in northern Sumatra (Fauna and Flora International). The second developed conservation action in the coastal Berbak-Sembilang National Parks in southern Sumatra (Wetlands International). The third - Indonesia Forest And Media Campaign (Conservation International-Indonesia) - covering Sumatra and Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) ran a conspicuous targeted media campaign to raise awareness about forest loss. The success of these projects has spawned several other similar projects in Sulawesi and Maluku, which are at different stages of preparation. A much larger project, executed by the government, focused on the enormous Kerinci National Park in southern Sumatra and engaged in numerous very difficult situations.

Coastal Resource Management - The Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program (COREMAP) is intended to protect, rehabilitate and achieve sustainable use of coral reefs and associated ecosystems in Indonesia, which will, in turn, enhance the welfare of coastal communities. Phase I, which was completed in 2004, achieved significant progress in a number of areas. It created an enabling legal environment for the implementation of Community Based Management (CBM), 7 drafts of legislation and 12 legal papers, and a number of district laws. Institutional capacity was improved with the establishment of a program management office and provincial and district level working groups. Progress was also made on the ground with an observed reduction in illegal and destructive fishing and coral mining of more than 50 percent. The pilot CBM systems were successfully implemented and evaluated to be workable models, whose lessons have been incorporated into Phase II. This phase also generated significant public awareness of the importance and vulnerability of coral reefs, with national television programs, pamphlets, mobile displays, production of a popular song, radio programs, teacher kits and training, a coral reef education curriculum, and a coral reef ambassador program for youth education. By December 2001, 69 percent of the public in five of Indonesia’s largest urban areas were aware of COREMAP’s Selamatkan Terumbu Karang – SeKarang! (Save the Coral Reefs – Now!) campaign.

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Natural Resource Management - The Lao Forest Management and Conservation Project developed, tested and implemented a very successful, village-based sustainble forest management model. The Village Forestry activities included intensive training of both government staff and villagers (over 26,000 person days of training). The training focused on (a) village organizing, (b) participatory forest management, (c) village development. 33 Village Forestry Associations were formed with over 5,000 members. These associations have worked with government staff to prepare forest management plans. However, the project was less successful with work on an Integrated Conservation and Development model. Other associated projects addressing NRM capacity issues and conservation implementation included the Wildlife and Protected Areas Project, and the District Upland Development and Conservation Project. 

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Indoor Air Quality - The Heating Stoves Project in Mongolia has introduced energy efficient stoves for the use of households, particularly low-income consumers, through three basic components: (a) technical improvements in existing stoves, as well as improvements in the production line of small artisans responsible for production and distribution of heating stoves; (b) introduction of both quality control procedures and best practices; (c) raising awareness among consumers in terms of efficiency options they have and among producers in terms of potential markets. The main outcome of the project so far has been raising awareness among consumers on the new market for efficient stoves, channelling funds from existing micro-credit institutions for both small producers and consumers; and affecting the distribution of over 10,000 improved stoves. To capitalize on these gains and sustain the momentum, the Government has requested an extension of the project for two additional years to consolidate the production development and the distribution capacity developed so far.

Environmental Services - The Ulaanbataar Urban Services Improvement Project (UBSIP2) is providing piped kiosk water and limited sanitation assistance (on-site facilities improvement), bath-houses, roads and footpaths, and drainage.

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Natural Resources Management (NRM) - The Philippines Environment and Natural Resources Sector Adjustment Program, which closed in 2000, was designed to preserve biodiversity, re-establish degraded natural resources, and introduce sustainable NRM practices. The program included many components that were targeted at different aspects of this issue. The sector adjustment component led to many policy reforms, including NR pricing, property rights, sustainable forest management, national land use codes, and integrated protected area systems. One of the sub-projects established Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committees (MFPC) to raise awareness of forestry and environmental concerns and generate participation in management. 297 MFPCs were formed, and, while some are more successful than others, this structure has since evolved into a mature civil society group concerned with advocacy of forest and other environmental policy issues. Interdiction and enforcement activities, including air, sea and ground surveillance operations, led to the siezure of illegal logs (20-30 thousand cu.m/yr) and equipment. Furthermore, a large number of sawmills were closed down and cases were filed against perpetrators. In 1996 alone, 541 cases were filed against illegal loggers, including powerful local leaders, and a significant proportion lead to conviction.  

Improved Monitoring of Coastal and Marine Resources - The World Bank is supporting the Beach Ecowatch Project, which is being implemented through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Environmental Management Bureaus. This environmental improvement and monitoring initiative is using public disclosure to put pressure on local governments, resort owners and communities to protect the water quality at their beaches. This project is tackling the negative effects of untreated sewage on coastal resources, which was a particular problem for the tourism industry (e.g. in Boracay).

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Water Supply and Sanitation - The Vietnam Water Supply Project was established to improve water supply services in Hanoi, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh, to ensure the sustainability of physical investments through institutional capacity building, and assist Vietnam in long term water supply planning. Improved water supply services have been achieved in a number of locations in and around the target cities. The success of capacity building activities is measured in terms of water supply company results. There have been positive results in terms of new house connections, in Hanoi the total level of connections will be 70,000 higher than the target (in 2004), in Haiphong the results are 15,000 higher than the target, and in Quang Ninh 13,000 higher. Related work in the three cities' sanitation projects sought to increase public health and economic development by reducing the incidence of flooding, undertaking urban environmental improvements, and developing improved sanitation and drainage companies. This project has resulted in improved public environmental services, such as street, beach and drain cleaning services. Septic tank management is being addressed in a number of cities.

Natural Resource Management - The World Bank's Forestry sector work in Vietnam, which took off in the mid 1990s, has evolved form a format of isolated projects to a partnership and sector-wide approach. This has led to the World Bank's current engagement in partnership with the government, other donors and NGOs to rationalize the countries' forest strategy, promote more production of timber in plantations, including those managed by communities, and assist with financing of key special use forests for biodiversity conservation.

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