:: 30 April 2007

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In this issue

• Message from RUPES Project Office
• PRESA: Pro-Poor Rewards for Environmental Services in Africa
• RUPES Singkarak Final Workshop
• RUPES Keeps Rolling in Kulekhani
• Featured Links
• References

Message from RUPES Project Office

In this edition we are happy to share lots of good news! First of all, the IFAD Executive Board has recently approved the PRESA project that was designed to pilot pro-poor rewards for environmental services in an African context, building on the lessons and experience of RUPES in Asia. "Congratulations to our African sister! We look forward to a fruitful cooperation and shared learning!"

The second one is from the final project workshop in Singkarak. At the workshop we learned that the Solok District may be the first to formalize responsibilities and rights in the environmental services domain. This regulation allows the local government to include the local environmental service management platform in government spending.

Finally, there is a brief piece of news from a community protest in Kulekhani showing us that the social mobilization initiatives of RUPES Kulekhani are working. 

Let's keep the spirit high!

Aunul Fauzi
RUPES Communication Specialist

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PRESA: Pro-Poor Rewards for Environmental Services in Africa

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RUPES Singkarak Final Workshop

RUPES Singkarak and the Solok and Tanah Datar district governments organized a workshop on the Environmental Service (ES) Program to Support Nagari’s Economic Development in West Sumatra in Padang on April 20th. Eighty participants attended the event marking the end of RUPES Singkarak project activities in the area.  The participants came from Nagaris (surrounding the Singkarak lake), local government units, and  Singkarak hydropower company, while the West Sumatran Governor was represented by the Sekretaris Daerah (Senior Secretary).

The Sekretaris Daerah expressed strong support for the RUPES-Singkarak efforts and achievements, but requested that the downstream and coastal zones of West Sumatra be included in all program considerations.

RUPES Singkarak team presented their work on facilitating the Peraturan Bupati (district government regulation) on ES. The Solok District may be the first to formalize responsibilities and rights in the ES domain. It allows the local government to include the local environmental service management platform in government spending.

The managing body of Agam Kuantan watershed (BPDAS Agam Kuantan) made a presentation on efforts to adjust the nationwide land and forest rehabilitation program, while the Ombilin hydropower company (PLTA) presented their community development program. The PLTA presentation, in particular, was of great interest to many of the participants. One of the key points addressed was how ongoing efforts to 'regularize' corporate social responsibility activities leads to a stronger focus on 'deliverables': "How many more m3 of water can we expect for every tree we help plant…" The answer is still a surprise to many…

Andalas University, Utrecht University and ICRAF, as the three main partners in ES, are currently developing a project proposal for funding through a Dutch economic development fund that will focus on capacity building and a large portion of the RUPES agenda for West Sumatra. [Farida & Meine v Noordwijk]

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RUPES Keeps Rolling in Kulekhani

Hydropower developers in Nepal pay a certain portion of their electricity revenue as royalty to the central government. The Local Self Governance Act requires the central government to share 12 percent of the royalties with the district government in which the hydropower plants are housed.  In 2006, RUPES Kulekhani program worked with policymakers, the central government, and the local government of the Makawanpur district to set aside 20 percent of the hydropower royalties received by the district -from Kulekhani

hydropower plants- for Kulekhani watershed, in recognition of the valuable environmental services provided by upland people. 

In February 2007, the Ministry of Local Development, the central government agency responsible for royalty distribution, decided to replicate the Kulekhani model in all other hydropower districts. The local governments still have some flexibility on whether to implement the decision, but the Ministry's decision has given them a basis for replicating the Kulekhani model, should they elect to do so. This is an encouraging development for RUPES program.

In another interesting development, the Makawanpur DDC (District Development Committee) tried to ignore its commitment to follow guidelines of the Environmental Management Special Fund (EMSF), an environmental services reward transfer mechanism, established last year. The DDC followed its usual internal procedure for selecting development projects without consulting the upland people of Kulekhani watershed. 

Upland people organized quickly and protested this decision. A group of about 60 people went to Makawanpur DDC office at the district headquarters and warned DDC officials to honor their commitments. They publicized the issue in local and national newspapers and broadcast during radio programs. They also approached political leaders to put pressure on DDC. 

The DDC bowed to the public pressure and accepted its error. The DDC officials and the representatives of upland people met in the watershed to re-select EMSF projects through participatory planning processes. This incident suggests that the social mobilization initiatives of RUPES Kulekhani program are working. [Shyam Upadhyaya]

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