2010-07-08
|
Title
|
Water Ecology Compensation Policy and Mechanism
|
|
Australian $
|
$1,560,000
|
|
Chinese $
|
In-kind
|
|
Duration
|
10months
|
|
Key Chinese Agencies
|
Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) ) and Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning (CAEP)
|
|
Australian
Contractor
|
Australian National University (ANU) Enterprise
|
|
Status
|
Running
|
Objectives
The project aims to make policy recommendations to MWR and MEP on suitable mechanisms for ‘Payment for Environmental Services’ (PES) and to explore potential follow-up activities to then develop a (PES) Framework for China at the national policy level.
Key Activities / Components
The project consists of two subprojects that will address the needs of both MEP and MWR. The two subprojects will proceed in parallel to ensure synergies are maximised. At specific points in component 2 and 3 the project will develop an integrated approach for production of guidelines for PES mechanisms. The project comprises 3 key components:
· Scoping (month 1-2): a database including relevant data, reports and other information will be established; inception of project and design of capacity building program including training needs in Australia
· Capacity Building (month 3-5): includes in-Australia training and follow-up in-China workshop series to produce inventory of Australia and China experiences in PES, discussion papers on PES principles and methods for further testing at feasibility stage
· Feasibility Analysis of PES Mechanisms in China (month 6-9): feasibility analysis of PES theories, principles, criteria, etc will be carried out in selected pilot river basins with a report submitted to the 2 ministries for consideration of broader applications in China. An integration workshop will be held at the end in which decision will be made whether there is willingness to design a follow-up project to develop guidelines for PES mechanism in China given the funding sources available.
Contribution to ACEDP Program Outcomes
It is envisaged that this intervention will influence the shaping of Chinese PES policies through targeted capacity building at individual and institutional levels.
Highlights
Pilot study in Miyun Reservoir for MEP subproject conducted between 10-23 May in China. Practices of changed land uses in the catchment, and the effects on yield of water and improved quality of water were inspected during the field trip to various sites in Hebei Province and Beijing Municipality within the watershed. Existing compensation efforts were assessed and valuable ideas emerged, such as appointment of an independent arbitrator or prices regulator to assess and recommend the level of compensation, and to assign water entitlements between upstream and downstream; and the initiative of developing an integrated water supply cooperation zone in one city-water supply watershed which integrates environmental and development needs of both downstream and upstream and considers appropriate policy suggestion,
Capacity building for MWR in Australia to be conducted from 3 – 16 July. Reports will be made available on the ACEDP Project Portal in due course.