Call for proposals: Biodiversity and Ecosystems Protection through community-based conservation and the application of environment legislation

In 2018 the cost of environmental degradation (COED) averaged 4.4% of GDP equivalent to about US$ 2.35 billion as compared to a mean estimate of 3.4% of GDP in 2006 equivalent to US$ 0.56 billion; ambient air pollution and water-borne diseases being the main contributors[1]. Lebanon's biodiversity is facing various threats, inter alia habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, pollution, invasive species, introduction of new improved varieties (agro-biodiversity), and climate change[2]. Forests are heavily impacted by deep-rooted unsustainable anthropogenic practices, which are radically challenging the survival of the species and the resilience of the stands. Forest fires and overgrazing are the key issues of concern followed by abusive wood logging and uncontrolled urban sprawl.

Environment is fundamentally a public policy in which citizens, both men and women, engage periodically. These mechanisms are clearly insufficient compared to the social accountability previous and current popular uprisings are calling for. Ever since the 2015-2016 garbage protests, there were visible signs of growing mistrust between Lebanese citizens and their elite, a mistrust that goes beyond Lebanon's classical confessional divides. In the recent popular uprising of October 2019, this distrust reached an apex. The unclear environmental policy orientations, the weak public enforcement capacity of environmental regulation, the poor environmental sector governance and a disregard for the environment-related public service delivery are reasons as important as others for citizen to express their need of a drastic change.

In December 2020, the European Union approved the programme EU contribution to Lebanon's reform, recovery and reconstruction following the Beirut explosions. Its second component aims at increasing the contributions of local authorities (LAs), non-state actors (NSAs) and micro/small/medium enterprises to the Green Agenda. This call for proposals focusses on LAs and NSAs:

• Local Authorities (LA), as accountable local decision makers and duty bearers, have an effective and accountable management of environmental actions and duly promote local green public investment and the green economy.
• Non-State Actors (NSAs) engage in credible and legitimate dialogue and advocacy processes on green economy and environmental issues and are included in the table of decision-makers, targeting NSAs to enable them to voice right-holders' perspectives in a structured and evidence-based demand for environmentally sound policies and actions.

The global objective of this call for proposals is to contribute to protect biodiversity and ecosystems in Lebanon through a two pronged-approach:

1. A geographic pillar aiming at tackling the root causes of threats to diversity and forest ecosystems in regions classified as natural sites of national interest (Lot 1 and Lot 2)
2. A national pillar aiming at strengthening the capacities of Lebanese Non State Actors to enhance the use of evidence and science in environmental policy-making and regulation (Lot 3).

Programme: Neighbourhood

Geographical Zone: Lebanon

Type: Action Grants

Published: 02/04/2021

Status: Open » 18/06/2021

Budget: 6,500,000 (EUR)

Reference: EuropeAid/171337/DD/ACT/LB

More information can be found here:

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?ADSSChc...

[1] UNDP.

[2] Ministry of Environment.

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