The global objective of the project is to improve the quality of the water of the Baltic Sea by decreasing non-point sources of nutrient pollution from agriculture. The Baltic Sea Strategic Action Plan estimates that 30-40% of the nitrogen and 10% of the phosphorous entering the Sea come from agriculture, and the eutrophic conditions they cause represent the Baltic Sea’s top priority transboundary water problem. The project will help Polish small farmers to adopt innovative waste management techniques and land use practices to reduce pollution releases.

The objective of this project is to strengthen countries’ capacities to integrate sustainable water resources management into their national planning processes and to comply with relevant national, regional, and international agreements and conventions in the area of international waters. The project builds upon the knowledge base and institutional relationships created from the experiences of GEF-funded international waters projects.

PDF funded a joint petroleum industry/government planning seminar, and associated follow-up work to prepare a project designing national and sub-regional contingency plans for oil spill containment and treatment to respond to spills of differing size, location and degree of threat; provision of basic training and equipment to execute plans at the national and sub-regional levels; design of mechanisms to ensure financial and operational sustainability.

The project aims at the preservation of biodiversity in the Dinder National Park by encouraging species conservation and the sustainable use of resources through the integration of local communities in the utilization and management of the natural resources of the park. In addition the project aims at maintaining the park as a coherent eco-system which will act as a perpetual reservoir of gene pool and species diversity in an area where nature conservation is threatened by large scale development schemes, various sources of resource misuse, drought and land degradation.

Biodiversity conservation component comprises: (a) the restoration and preservation of the ecosystem of Aldabra Atoll by strengthening conservation management and scientific research and control of feral goats; and (b) a protection program for the Green and Hawksbill Turtles. Marine pollution component covers the analysis of the steps needed to comply with MARPOL standards for ship waste treatment and actions required to control pollution from commercial shipping, fishing and leisure craft.

The project will provide national decision-makers with access to accurate, up-to-date scientific information on the ecosystem's biotic resources, and identify priority conservation actions at the national and regional level. It will strengthen national level capacities, support human resource development, and provide a framework for cross-national collaboration and regional integration.

This project aims at conservation planning and research outreach programs for the Belovezhskaya Forest, Berezinsky and Pripiatsky Reserves. It complements the Poland Forest Biodiversity project.

GET will provide seed money for the Trust Fund for Conservation of Peru's Parks and Protected Areas (FONANPE). Annual revenue from the trust will finance mgmt. activities -- incl. training, mgmt. plans, operational costs, salaries, awareness prog. and buffer zone alternative livelihood -- for 3 protected areas: Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve, Noroeste Biosphere Reserve and Rio Abiseo National Park.

The project has initiated programs to conserve the biodiversity of key endangered forests and is providing institutional support to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Forests to undertake biodiversity conservation management activities. Innovative features include the establishment of a gene bank and arboreta to protect genetic diversity and to provide plants for reforestation in areas degraded by pollution.

The project seeks to remove barriers preventing the widespread replacement of low energy efficiency building chillers with highly energy efficient non-CFC chillers in Thailand. This will address two global problems at the same time: Global warming and stratospheric ozone layer depletion. In view of these dual benefits joint GEF - Multilateral Fund financing is proposed to address perceived risks associated with chiller replacements under tropical conditions, to cover increased initial transaction costs and to resolve access to credit problems.