Contacts In Washington : Zeria Banda +1-202-473-2907 zbanda@worldbank.org In Dar es Salaam: Ichikaeli Maro-mzobora+255-22-216-3200 imaromzobora@worldbank.org WASHINGTON , DC , September 27, 2007 - The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit* of US $3.5 million as additional financing for the Lower Kihansi Environmental Management Project (LKEMP). The resources will enable the Government of Tanzania to fill a financing gap caused by additional issues that arose with the unexpected mortality of Kihansi Spray Toads (KST) in a captive breeding program and those in the wild. The mortality of toads has been due to the prevalence of Chytrid fungus. Through the additional financing, a recovery plan for the re-introduction of the KST species into its natural habitat will be developed, including the restoration and maintenance of the KST species’ natural habitat. The Government, with support from Development Partners, had, in 2000, established a captive breeding program for the Kihansi Spray Toads as an “insurance policy” in case the species became extinct. Some 500 Kihansi Spray Toads were sent into captivity in the USA. The project will also develop monitoring protocols for the Kihansi Gorge ecosystem. The funding will also support community-based interventions for the upstream catchments management, with the aim of protecting both quantity and quality of the Kihansi river waters. “We in the World Bank are cautious of the relationship between environmental degradation and rural poverty, and we believe that the most effective way of reducing rural poverty is to invest in sustainable natural resources utilization,” says John Murray McIntire, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania. Part of the extra financing will assist in the establishment of the Final Water Rights for the Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) that will support operations of the power utility. An Updated Environmental Management Plan will also be developed. The plan will specify conditions that bind TANESCO to ensure compliance with environmental management issues. The additional financing also has a component for capacity building and institutional strengthening in environment and water resource management. The Lower Kihansi Environmental Management Project (LKEMP) in Tanzania was designed as a response to concerns raised by the Government, academia and environmental NGOs, which have been seeking more aggressive action in reducing the downstream threat of habitat loss as a result of the Kihansi Hydropower Project. With the additional funding, the project end date will be extended from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2010. *The credit is provided on standard International Development Association (IDA) terms, with a commitment charge of 0.10 percent per annum and a service charge of 0.75 percent per annum (on the disbursed credit balance) over a 40 year period of maturity which includes a 10-year grace period.
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