0164_-4_Agreement_with_USAID.pdf

PARTICIPATING AGENCY PROGRAM AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

AND

THE UNITED STATED DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Award Number: TBD Modification Number: N/A

1. Program Title:

Forest Resource Management

2. Strategic Objective Title and Number: N/A

3. Appropriation Symbol: See financial data sheet 4. Fund Code: See financial data sheet

5. A&A Request/NMS Number: TBD 6. Initial Fiscal Year: 2007

7. Start Date: 4/01/07 8. Completion Date: 4/01/12

9A. Prior Funding

$0

9B. Funding Obligated this Document

$ 2,031,610

9C. Total Obligated Funding

$ 2,031,610

10. Authority: Section 632(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA), 22 U.S.C. Sec. 2392(b);

11. Program Description: The purpose of this Interagency Agreement is to fund $ 2,031,610 to provide program support for the following tasks.

Provide technical support to USAID/Ethiopia in the areas livestock and rangeland management

Provide funding for a community forestry technical advisor for the Liberia forestry initiative and other

USAID/Liberia funded NRM activities.

Provide technical support to USAID/Jamaica in the areas of forest management, wildlife management and protected areas management.

Provide technical assistance in agro forestry, NRM, and small business development to USAID/Nicaragua and its partners.

Provide technical assistance to Jordan's NRM and agricultural agencies.

Assist USAID/Morocco in implementing NRM and small business development projects.

Support USAID/Russia in building capacity in local governments to control illegal logging.

Support USAID missions and activities related to the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)

The ceiling for this agreement is $50 million

12. Liaison Offices/Additional Representatives

12A. U.S. Department of Agriculture

Dr. Alex Moad

USDA Forest Service, International Programs

12B. United States Agency for International

Development – Cognizant Technical Officer

Erik Streed, EGAT/NRM/Forestry

13A. Signature by Authorized Representative

United States Department of

Agriculture

Name:

Valdis Mezainis

Title: Director, USFS/IP

Date: ───────────────────

13B. Signature by USAID Agreement Officer

United States Agency for International

Development

Name:

Jacqueline Schafer

Title: AA, EGAT

Date: ───────────────────

14. This Agreement consists of this face sheet and the following items (if marked):

X Schedule X Annex A – Program Description

X Annex B – Financial Plan and Budget X Annex C – Standard Provisions

X Initial Environmental Examination

Funding Sheet – by Operating Unit and Strategic Objective

BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

AND

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

PAPA 632(b)

USAID and USDA Forest Service

Clearance(s):

A. General

1. Obligation Number:

Forest and tree systems

7. USAID Project Office: USAID

EGAT/NRM

Ronald Reagan Bldg, 3.8.30

Washington, DC

20523-3800

SCHEDULE

A. PURPOSE OF AGREEMENT

This Agreement between the USDA Forest Service (USFS) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is entered into under the authority of Section

632(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. This Agreement establishes the programs, obligations, and terms applicable to the work that will be done under this new PAPA. This Agreement defines the procedures under which USAID will reimburse the USFS to fund the implementation of a program of technical assistance in international forestry.

B. PURPOSE OF PROGRAM

The work completed under this new PAPA will support Program Elements 4.8.1 Natural

Resources and Biodiversity, and 4.8.3 Program Support, under the economic growth program area of the new USAID transformational diplomacy framework. Indicators from which to measure the success of this work are:

Number of policies, laws, agreements or regulations promoting sustainable natural resource management and conservation that are implemented as a result of USG assistance.

Number of people receiving USG supported training in natural resources management and/or biodiversity conservation.

Number of information gathering or research activities conducted.

Number of hectares of natural resources showing improved biosynthetic will conditions as result of USG assistance.

Specific work carried out under this agreement is described in Annex A, Program

Description.

C. FISCAL TERMS

1. Execution of this Agreement constitutes an obligation by USAID of the funds specified in Block 9B of the face sheet of this Agreement.

2. USAID funding for the Program is limited to the amount obligated. USFS agrees to use its own appropriated funds to finance future, ongoing program activities after funding provided by USAID under this Agreement has been expended.

3. The financial plan herein sets forth the budget for implementation of the

Program. Each funding source is a separate task, and the U.S. Forest Service cannot move funding from one funding source, to another, without written permission from both the original source of the funding and the new recipient of the funding. Within the total budget amount for each task, the USFS may adjust individual line items, provided that any adjusted line item does not change by more that twenty five (25) percent of the amount shown for that line item in the financial plan without prior written approval from the USAID Project Officer. Adjustments to the budget that exceeds 25 percent for any one line item require prior written approval of USAID

D. BILLING, FINANCIAL AND OTHER REPORTS

1. The USFS shall bill USAID through the Intra-governmental Payment and

Collection system, (the USAID Agency Location Code (ALC) for billings is 72-000001) or by submitting a Standard Form 1081 (SF-1081) addressed to the USAID paying office identified below:

United States Agency for International Development

M/FM/CMP/IBU

Inter-agency Billing Unit

Ronald Reagan Building-7.07-064

Washington, D.C. 20523-0208

2. The USFS will submit a financial report to the paying office with each billing to itemize expenditures to the level of detail specified in the budget and at the interval specified in the Agreement.

3. At USAID’s discretion, USAID may deobligate, reprogram or otherwise determine the use of funds not expended before the Completion Date and funds expended for purposes or activities not authorized by the Agreement.

4. The USFS shall bill USAID as provided in the Agreement. The amount billed will be determined by the USFS and will be billed for an expenditure transfer into an account administered by the USFS and for which the USFS provides fiscal reports to

OMB and/or the Department of Treasury. This amount will be treated by USAID as an advance and will be expended based on the periodic financial reports, described below, and detailing the implementation of the Agreement.

5. The financial reports submitted for liquidation of advances or requests for reimbursement shall, as provided in the Agreement, contain current period and cumulative amounts as follows: Budget for Current Period, Cumulative, Remaining

Budget, Line Item Amount, Disbursements, and Balance

6. The financial reports shall also use the categories of obligations and expenditures set forth in the Annex B of the Agreement. The USFS shall provide this information both in summary form for the entire Interagency Agreement and separately by country, if appropriate.

7. The financial reports will be used to liquidate the advance authorized by this

PAPA. The USFS shall submit its periodic financial report within 45 days after the end of the applicable reporting period. The original report must be signed by an authorized official of the USFS billing office.

8. The USFS shall furnish the original and two (2) copies of each quarterly financial report, prepared in accordance with the above terms and Section B.2 of the

Standard Provisions (Annex C) of the Base Agreement, to the above-stated USAID paying office address. In addition, quarterly accruals reports shall be prepared, according to current USAID-guidance. The accruals report and one (1) copy of each quarterly financial report shall be submitted to:

Erik Streed

EGAT/NRM

3.8-30 RRB

United States Agency for International Development

Washington, D.C. 20523-3800

9. Quarterly activity reports for all financial information will be submitted to Erik

Streed in accordance with the requirements under Section E (2) of the Standard

Provisions. The financial reports will outline the spending that has occurred under the obligated tasks. An annual report of all financial information, and technical information related to each obligated task, will also be submitted within 60 days of the end of each fiscal year. The annual report may include, but not be limited to, the following information: status of achieving goals, objectives and benchmarks; progress or completion of components, elements or activities against planned targets; description of overall Program status; other accomplishments and major highlights of Program implementation; and major activities planned for the subsequent reporting period. The reports shall include separate sections that describe country-specific activities, as appropriate. Such reports will also indicate the level of funding expended – including an estimate of the proportion of core funding for Forest Service technical assistance to

USAID Missions and programs – disaggregated by region. Annual reports may consist of copies of reports prepared for and submitted to the Mission partners if they meet the requirements of Section E (2). The director for Technical Cooperation, International

Programs of the US Forest Service will keep the CTO/Forestry Team Leader apprised of the development of annual work plans, as related to USAID support, for the Technical

Cooperation staff.

In addition, the annual report shall include a “Task Completion Report” that summarizes the activities and results from each mission/bureau buy-in that came to a close during the reporting period. The annual report shall also identify the financial report that includes the expenditures charged to the specific Task.

10. The quarterly progress report shall identify any grants funded under this

Agreement to non-U.S., nongovernmental organizations in the amount of $300,000 or more per year. The Participating Agency must provide an audit schedule for all such grants. The schedule must conform with the requirements set forth in Section G of the

Standard Provisions of this Agreement.

11. USAID will begin to formally close out the Program after the physical completion of the Program or the Completion Date, whichever occurs first. The USFS will cooperate with USAID to expeditiously and properly document the close-out of the

Program. Except as USAID may otherwise agree in writing, the USFS must, not later than nine months following the Completion Date, submit to USAID requests for reimbursement or liquidation of outstanding advances under the Program. Funds which have not been disbursed and for which reimbursement requests, with supporting documentation, have not been received by USAID as of nine months following the

Completion Date of the Program may be unilaterally deobligated by USAID.

12. Final Progress Report: Not later than 60 days following the Completion Date of the Program, the USFS shall prepare and submit to USAID, in form and substance satisfactory to USAID, a final report of activities financed under this Agreement. The final report must provide a chronological summary of the information required generally for the periodic progress reports from the beginning of the Program to its completion; and an assessment by the USFS, to the extent feasible, of the impacts of the Program.

E. PROGRAM PLANNING AND COORDINATION

1. Consultation

The USFS and USAID will cooperate to assure that the purpose of this Agreement will be accomplished. To this end, the USFS and USAID, at the request of either, will exchange views on the progress of the Program, the performance of obligations under this

Agreement, and the performance of any consultants, contractors, or suppliers engaged in the Program, and other matters relating to the Program.

2. Coordination

The USFS shall make best efforts to coordinate its activities with those of other U.S.

Government financed programs and other donors providing assistance substantially similar to that of the USFS in the Cooperating Countries.

3. Compliance with USAID Policy Guidance.

The USAID/EGAT/NRM office is responsible for coordinating the implementation of

USAID-funded activities of the USFS under this Agreement. From time to time, the

Assistant Administrator for EGAT, his or her Deputy, or the NRM Office Director, may provide additional policy or operational guidance in writing to the USFS or its representatives in carrying out foreign assistance programs and activities in this Program.

The USFS agrees to comply with such guidance so long as it is consistent with this

Agreement and with laws governing operation of the USFS.

4. Communication

Any notice, request, document, report, or other communication submitted by either the

USFS or USAID, unless this Agreement expressly provides otherwise or the parties otherwise agree in writing, will be sent to the other party’s Authorized Representative or

Additional Representative noted in block 13 or 12 of the face sheet of this Agreement.

5. Notification

The USFS must notify USAID promptly in writing of any audits of activities financed by this Agreement initiated by or at the request of the USFS, its Inspector General, the

Office of Management and Budget, or the General Accounting Office.

6. Program Evaluation

At the option of either USAID or the USFS, the USFS will undertake or cause to be undertaken, an external evaluation of the Program. The USFS and USAID must agree in writing on the terms of reference for the evaluation and an appropriate schedule and budget for conducting it.

7. Information Requirements for Training Activities

(A) The quarterly reports discussed above and in Base Agreement

Standard Provisions, Clause F, will include a country-by-country analysis, by gender when possible, of the individuals trained to date under the Program.

(B) In addition, the Participating Agency will provide reports to USAID through USAID's required participant training database, "TraiNet,” in accordance with

USAID Automated Directives System Chapter 253. The Participating Agency must enter in the database data for each person trained under the Program. The data will include biographical, programmatic, administrative, and logistical information that will facilitate

USAID's reporting to Congress.

F. SPECIAL PROVISIONS

1. Country Eligibility

Country eligibility shall be in accordance with USAID-approved work plans.

2. Environmental Regulations.

USAID environmental regulations (22 CFR Section 216, "Regulation 16") apply to the activities to be undertaken under this Agreement. The new activities are subject to a negative determination with conditions, as described in the attached Initial Environmental

Examination (IEE) and shall be undertaken in accordance with the IEE. Unless activities other than those described in the categorical exclusion are undertaken by USFS under this

Agreement, no further action under Regulation 16 is required.

3. In the Base Agreement, (Annex C), Standard Provisions, Clause C, "Procurement," with respect to those activities in or relating to the Newly Independent

States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union references to an NIS country or countries shall be deemed to be references to the cooperating country.

4. Source and Origin of Commodities; Nationality of Suppliers of Commodities and Services. The following provisions apply to this Agreement except as USAID may otherwise agree in writing.

a. Except as this Agreement provides otherwise, the Participating Agency must comply with 22 CFR Part 228 and USAID Automated Directives System (ADS)

Chapters 310 and 311. The terms "source," "origin," "nationality," and

“Geographic Code,” as used in this Agreement, have the definitions set forth in 22

CFR 228.

b. The USAID Authorized Geographic Code for the source and origin of commodities financed under this Agreement and for the nationality of the suppliers of commodities and services financed under this Agreement will be“000,” the United States.

c. Commodities financed under this Agreement must have their source and origin in a country or area included in the USAID Authorized Geographic Code applicable to this Agreement or in the cooperating country. Suppliers of commodities or services will have a country or area included in the USAID

Authorized Geographic Code or the cooperating country as their place of nationality.

5. Participating Agency personnel will not work primarily in USAID offices or on USAID activity sites.

6. Section 487

Under Section 487 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA) (Section 487), as amended, no assistance may be provided under this Agreement to or through any individual or entity where the United States Government has reason to believe that the individual, the entity or a "key individual" of the entity is or has been involved in "drug trafficking activities" (including "money laundering") (all quoted terms in this clause having the meanings given them in Section 487 and USAID Automated Directives

System (ADS Chapter 206). If assistance under this Agreement is to be provided by the

USFS to an individual or entity in or from a "covered country," or if the USFS knows or has a reasonable suspicion that the proposed individual, entity, or "key individual" of the entity is or has been involved in "drug trafficking activities," then the USFS is responsible for ensuring that the assistance is provided in a manner consistent with the provisions of

Section 487 and ADS 206, including, as applicable:

(i) Submitting the names of each "key individual" and "covered participant" to the

Country Narcotics Coordinator at the relevant United States Embassy for clearance;

(ii) Obtaining certifications in the forms of the “Key Individual Certification – Narcotics

Offenses and Drug Trafficking” and the “Participant Certification - Narcotics

Offenses and Drug Trafficking,” as set forth ADS 206, from each "key individual" and "covered participant"; and

(iii) Including in any agreement that the USFS may enter into with a "first-tier recipient" or "covered participant" the appropriate clause(s) substantially in the form(s) attached as Attachment 1 of this Schedule.

7. Support To Terrorism

The USFS is reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. laws prohibit transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the USFS to ensure that all sub agreements, contracts, and grants issued under this Agreement comply with these

Executive Orders and laws.

G. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

Conflicts between any parts of this Agreement will be resolved by applying the following descending order of precedence:

Face Sheet

Schedule

Annex C, Standard Provisions

Annex B, Financial Plan and Budget

Annex A, Program Description

ANNEX A

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

To fund 9 new tasks at a level of $ 2,031,610 and to establish a mechanism (a PAPA) between the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and USAID for completing anticipated tasks in support of mission and bureau strategic objectives. This agreement will provide an efficient mechanism for USAID missions and bureaus to engage the technical capabilities of the Forest Service, while leveraging substantial outside financial resources from the

Forest Service and its partners.

II. GENERAL BACKGROUND

USAID Support for Forestry

Forests worldwide are being put under increasing pressure to provide goods and services for local income generation and national economic development. This pressure, combined with changing technologies that increase both the extent and intensity of forest utilization, has resulted in patterns of forest use that are unsustainable and which contribute to the rapid rate of deforestation currently observed throughout the tropics.

Although most deforestation is the immediate result of conversion to often-unsustainable forms of agriculture, poor management of forest helps to set the stage for deforestation by degrading the resource base and reducing economic incentives for forest protection.

USAID support for forest-related activities comprises an integrated program that collectively stresses sustainable forest management and conservation of ecologically critical forest ecosystems. Deforestation, narrowly speaking, is the act of cutting down trees. But more broadly speaking, deforestation is more accurately described as poor management of forest resources. And poor management of any natural resource is usually a result of deeper problems within a society. That is, deforestation is the symptom, whereas poverty, slow economic growth, poor governance and corruption are the actual illness.

USAID’s efforts to manage and conserve forests are often designed to attack the illness, not just treat the symptom. These efforts fall roughly into three distinct areas of intervention. That is, USAID works to reduce deforestation by improving commercial forestry practices, expanding community forestry, and conserving existing forests. These three aspects of forest management are often referred to as the three C’s (commercial forestry, community forestry, and forest conservation), and it reflects the acknowledgment that there is no magic bullet for conserving the world's forests, so the problem must be attacked from all fronts.

U.S. Forest Service International Activities

The U.S. Forest Service is the principal domestic technical agency for forestry and natural resources management in the United States. Its 30,000-person workforce possesses a wide range of natural resource management skills, including expertise in forest policy, natural forest management, logging systems, protected area management, forestry research, information management and technology, training and education. In addition to directly managing over 75 million hectares of national forests and grasslands, the Forest

Service provides support to an additional 150,000,000 ha of state and private land in the

United States. In doing so the forest service partners, and provides outreach and extension services to state forest agencies, communities, private landowners, non-governmental organizations and forest industry to promote sound forest management throughout the United States.

The Forest Service has a long history of cooperation with international partners. It is one of the few domestic agencies possessing independent authorities to work internationally.

The International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990, as well as other legislation, specifically authorizes the Forest Service to work with domestic and international partners to advance forest management and conservation worldwide, to apply its own funds to these efforts, and to accept funds from other federal agencies for international activities. The Chief of the Forest Service has delegated authority to the Office of

International Programs to sign agreements for joint programs with other agencies, and in particular USAID, thus providing an opportunity for both agencies to leverage resources and promote sustainable natural resource management worldwide.

Past USAID and USFS Cooperation

For the past eight years, the USAID’s Forestry Team (Office of Natural Resources

Management, Bureau of Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade) has managed a 632

(b) Interagency Agreement (IAA) with the International Programs Office of the USFS, a part of the United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.). This phase of the IAA began in 1997 and follows two earlier IAAs initiated originally in 1981. The IAA has been the major mechanism from which EGAT/NRM provides technical support to missions and bureaus in the areas of forest management and conservation. Since the initiation of the

IAA, approximate 35 missions and bureaus have funded over 48 million dollars of work through this mechanism. A 2006 evaluation of the agreement showed that EGAT leveraged approximately seven dollars of mission funds for every one dollar from EGAT, and approximately three dollars of USFS funds for every dollar of EGAT funds. In addition, the evaluation found strong, unanimous support within the USAID missions polled for the continuation of a partnership with the Forest Service through an umbrella agreement with EGAT/NRM.

Future USAID and USFS Cooperation

This Agreement between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) secures the services of the USFS so that USAID missions and bureaus can continue to acquire expertise to assist in the design and implementation of projects and programs related to forest conservation and forest management. In addition to coordinating USFS assistance to USAID, the PAPA will provide an opportunity for both agencies to leverage external resources and form mutually-beneficial partnerships with outside organizations. Such organizations include host-country government agencies, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector entities that share USAID and USFS goals of improving natural resources management and forest conservation. This partnership will help USAID address regional and cross-sectoral issues that cannot appropriately be addressed bilaterally. It will also provide a platform from which USAID can support presidential initiatives and participate in multilateral forums.

III. STATEMENT OF WORK

This PAPA will enlist USFS expertise in forest management, information management, protected areas management, and forest policy to support USAID in the implementation of its forestry programs worldwide. It will serve as a mechanism under which specific

USAID missions, including those in Kenya, Ethiopia, Liberia, Tanzania, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Russia, Jordan, Morocco, US State Department, and USAID/LAC will fund projects in 2007. In addition, it will serve as a mechanism for future forestry activities funded by USAID missions and bureaus worldwide.

a. Technical Focus Areas

The PAPA will enable USAID and the USFS to collaborate in the development and implementation of projects addressing a wide array of natural resource management issues worldwide, and will enlist USFS expertise to support USAID forestry programs.

Areas of technical assistance provided by the USFS to USAID include, but are not limited to:

sustainable forest management policies and practices protected area management and biodiversity conservation fire ecology, prevention, response and impact mitigation forest monitoring, remote sensing and geographic information systems global climate change analysis and mitigation, including carbon sequestration tree-based biofuels production community forestry agro-forestry smallholder wood production systems regional forest planning invasive species and forest pest/disease management disaster planning and mitigation governance of natural resources.

Additional areas of collaboration can be identified by mutual agreement between USAID and the USFS. Assistance provided by the USFS can take a variety of forms, including field-based technical assistance, formal and informal training programs, policy and economic analysis, study tours, and applied research to promote individual and institutional capacity building to USAID and USFS international partners.

b. Tasks Funded Under Initial Agreement

Specific tasks funded under this new PAPA are described below:

TASK 1: USAID/ETHIOPIA

1.1. Background

USAID-Ethiopia is implementing a two year activity entitled Pastoralist Livelihoods

Initiative (PLI) in response to the increasing food insecurity and population vulnerability that have been witnessed in the pastoralist areas of Ethiopia since the late 1990’s. This initiative is focused on mitigating the effects of disasters and improving livelihoods of pastoralists in three regions in Ethiopia. The overall objective of the USFS technical assistance to the PLI program is to build capacity for rangeland management so that rangelands become more productive and can provide fodder for more or healthier livestock. To achieve this objective, the USFS will work through partnerships with

USAID, PLI implementing partners, and the GoE to implement a series of activities that will address specific aspects of rangeland management at the field-level and will feedback information and ideas into rangeland-related policy harmonization and protocol development. USFS will seek to develop a strong partnership with relevant GoE agencies to ensure sustainability and institutionalization of these activities. USFS will also seek to

“fast-track” its technical support activities, taking into account the short duration of the

PLI program.

1.2. Activities

Anticipated activities include:

develop tools and provide training and/or technical assistance to limit or contain the spread of invasive species on rangelands return fire to fire-dependent ecosystems to improve quality of rangeland and forage production curriculum development in Rangeland Ecology and Management for Improved

Rangeland Health and Forage Productivity initiate a landscape-level rangelands use planning process support the development of policy protocols to scale-up and formalize improved rangeland management practices provide General Technical Assistance to USAID Missions on Natural Resources

Management Issues in the Africa Region

Activities described above provide a general outline of the work that will be done. A more detailed description of the activities, deliverables, schedules and budgets will be incorporated in the work plan to be developed and approved by the USFS and

USAID/Ethiopia before the work begins.

1.3. Budget: $190,000

Travel/per diem $100,000

Salary $42,000

Workshop/training costs $0

Equipment/supplies $17,664

Program administration $30,336

TOTAL $190,000

TASK 2: USAID/LIBERIA

2.1. Background

The Liberia Forest Initiative (LFI) originated in early-2004 as an initiative led by the US

State Department to reform the Liberian forestry sector. It engaged a number of US government agencies, including the US Forest Service, US Agency for International

Development and the US Treasury Department, as well as non-governmental organizations and multilateral organizations, including the World Bank, giving the LFI partnership a strong multinational character. The purpose of the LFI is to promote and assist reforms in the Liberian forestry sector that will allow for transparent and sustainable management of forest resources and to ensure that these resources are used for the benefit of the Liberian people. The LFI works to establish an institutional and financial framework that will create a balanced and multiple-use approach to forest management in Liberia. To this end, the LFI is designed to address issues related to commercial forestry, community forestry, and forest conservation (often referred to as the

“three Cs”). The Community Forestry Technical Advisor (CFTA) position will address all three Cs but be principally concentrated on promoting community forestry in Liberia, which could include conservation or resource use activities.

2.2. Duties/Activities

The CFTA will have the following two principal responsibilities:

Serve as a technical program manager for USAID Liberia on community forestry and conservation, supporting program design and management (60% effort increasing after the first six months), with a specific focus on the following activities.

Serve as a technical advisor on community forestry activities to the Liberian

Forest Development Authority (FDA) and the Liberia Forest Initiative (40% and mostly in the first six months of the position)

USAID/Liberia before the work begins.

2.3. Budget: $225,000

Travel/per diem $16,000

Salary $140,952

Workshop/training costs $20,000

Equipment/supplies $12,124

Program administration $35,924

TOTAL $225,000

TASK 3: USAID/TANZANIA

3.1. Background

The USDA Forest Service will continue to provide technical assistance to USAID, its implementing partners, and Tanzanian natural resource management agencies.

Assistance will focus on watershed assessment, management and restoration activities, as well as land use planning processes on any of the four targeted landscapes, as needed.

Building on successful watershed assessments and working in collaboration with the

African Wildlife Foundation in the Tarangire-Manyara landscape, the USFS will now expand its assistance to include other landscapes in the country, while continuing to build on past successes.

3.2. Activities

Specific activities funded under this Task include:

Ugalla Landscape: Conduct an assessment mission to the landscape, in collaboration with Africare, to identify important threats and intervention opportunities in the watershed. This assessment will be followed up with technical assistance aimed at implementing recommendations for watershed management provided in the assessment mission.

Coastal Landscape: Work with the Tanzania Coastal Management Partnership

(TCMP) on an assessment of the Wami River watershed, focusing on how conditions in the watershed are impacting key ecological functions in the estuarine environment.

Tarangire-Manyara Landscape: Continued implementation assistance on watershed and resource management in this region.

Gombe Landscape: Working with the Jane Goodall Institute, perform an assessment of the watershed conditions in and around Gombe National Park and provide resource management recommendations.

USAID/Tanzania before the work begins.

3.3. Budget: $100,000

Travel/per diem $64,400

Salary $16,000

Workshop/training costs $0

Equipment/supplies $3,634

Program administration $15,966

TOTAL $100,000

TASK 4: JAMAICA

4.1. Background

The USDA Forest Service (USFS) will continue to conduct a multi-stakeholder program of work focused on enhancing protection of biological diversity through economic enterprises. The program includes three major components: recreation and tourism opportunities mostly on the South Coast (focused on sustainable natural resource use);

addressing threats to biological diversity including fire, natural disasters and invasive species; and agro-forestry and diversity in agro-ecosystems. USFS has recently been requested by USAID to continue this work and amplify it to include new efforts on endangered species conservation and further support on fire and protected area management.

4.2. Activities

In support of the USAID/Jamaica program priorities, and in collaboration with relevant entities including the Jamaican Forestry Department, the National Environment and

Planning Agency (NEPA), the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency

Management (ODPEM), and the USAID Rural Enterprise, Agriculture and Community

Tourism (REACT) project, the USFS will undertake activities which support improved conservation and management in and around conservation sites, sustainable livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, and partnerships and alliances which support conservation financing, all with an emphasis on improving livelihoods through economic opportunities and enhancing high-value biodiversity conservation. Interventions around these focal areas will include, but are not limited to, technical assistance for capacity building and institutional strengthening of community and Government of Jamaica partners, support for the enabling framework for biodiversity conservation, and public awareness and education programs.

Illustrative activities include:

implementation of the recreation opportunity conceptual plans elaborated during the first part of 2007 example implementation of place by-way interpretation and infrastructure community capacity building on enhancing visitor experience and visitor impact management and guiding training on disaster mitigation and management in recreation and tourism sites, and possible microenterprise development based on tourism infrastructure needs

(e.g., trail maintenance) continuation of conceptual plan development in other key areas in the zones of influence further work on invasive species management in the BJCMNP capacity building on fire prevention and management, including field testing of prevention messages in communities around protected areas development of a fire danger warning system in conjunction with the Drought

Subcommittee forestry and agro-forestry work in conjunction with the Forestry Department.

In this performance period, specific activities will be elaborated in a work plan to be finalized by USAID/J-Car and USFS International Programs Office by May 2007. The period of performance for the activities is June 2007 to March 2008.

4.3. Budget: $400,000

Travel/per diem $126,100

Salary $75,000

Workshop/training costs $134,034

Equipment/supplies $1,000

Program administration $63,866

TOTAL $400,000

TASK 5: USAID/Nicaragua

5.1. Background

The continued growth of the agricultural sector in Nicaragua along with the increased use of pesticides and herbicides, poor farming practices, and unsustainable forest management practices, continues to threaten the country’s rich natural environment and biodiversity. USAID has a long history of collaboration with the USFS to address these issues and provide technical assistance to the government, local communities and NGOs in Nicaragua.

5.2. Activities:

a) Working in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, USAID will provide capacity building on the technical identification and the legal controls governing the species Atlantic Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), including the development of a taxonomical identification manual for Mahogany with real wood samples to be made available to environmental and law enforcement officials.

b) In collaboration with MARENA, USAID/USFS will work with the local community within the protected area of Miraflor-Moropotente, which includes five municipalities, to improve agricultural land use practices and promote the development of agro-forestry to generate new economic opportunities while improving conservation.

Agro-forestry can provide a wide range of benefits and services to local communities including improved soil fertility, micro climate and the control of pests. Agro-forestry can also help improve or protect water and vegetation and provide for natural habitat for fauna. This project will work with small and medium sized companies to develop new businesses and open up new markets. It will also help support and strengthen local government conservation and economic development programs, by providing training in best practices.

USAID/Nicaragua before the work begins.

5.3 Budget: $250,000

Travel/per diem $68,000

Salary $35,000

Workshop/training costs $82,584

Equipment/supplies $24,500

Program administration $39,916

TOTAL $250,000

TASK 6: Jordan

6.1. Background

The US Forest Service (USFS) and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently conducted an assessment of technical cooperation opportunities with

USAID/Jordan related to watershed management in the Kingdom of Jordan. USAID is currently working with Camp, Dresser and McKee International, Inc. (CDM) and relevant

Jordanian entities (including but not limited to: the Water Authority of Jordan; the

Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Forestry; the Ministry of Environment; and the

Environment Police) to improve the quality and quantity of water resources in Jordan.

Jordan has one of the lowest levels of freshwater in the world. The USFS and USDA's

Agriculture Research Service were asked by USAID/Jordan to find ways to improve

NRM practices in Jordan in order to mitigate the extreme lack of potable water.

6.2. Activities

The USFS developed a three-pronged program to assist USAID. It includes developing pollution prevention workshops through improved planning processes in a pilot watershed near the northern city of Jerash. Additionally, the USFS will develop environmental law enforcement training protocols for the newly established

Environmental Police. Finally, the USFS will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and related NGOs to improving forest conservation efforts in the Kingdom. These activities include training activities for forest managers and technicians.

The USFS will also facilitate the involvement of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at USDA, by passing funds on behalf of USAID for two programs. ARS will conduct an assessment of the fruit crop production in the Jerash watershed in an effort to improve farming practices that are appropriate for the climate and conditions in the watershed.

ARS will also work with chicken farmers in the designated watershed to compost chicken waste and reduce pollution from those farms into the municipal water supply.

USAID/Jordan before the work begins.

6.3. Budget: $216,610

Travel/per diem $124,226

Salary $17,300

Workshop/training costs $34,500

Equipment/supplies $6,000

Program administration $34,584

TOTAL $216,610

TASK 7: USAID/MOROCCO

7.1 Background.

Moroccan forests, spread over approximately 1,910,495 ha, have always been a source of economic and social stability for the rural population (40% of the total population). Forests in Morocco offer 100 million days of work for the local population, 28,000 jobs in forest enterprises, 14,000 jobs in processing sectors, 26,000 jobs in wood harvesting and 4544 jobs in (rangeland) livestock. The sector also generates more than 5 billion MDH for the rural economy.

However, intensive economic and social activities (livestock, illegal wood smuggling, rural poverty and other socio-political factors) severally affected the Moroccan forest. Every year, about 31,000 ha of forests are cut while only 8% is replanted.

To face these growing challenges, the Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte contre la Désertification (HCEFLCD), the public institution in charge of Forest management and development, has requested USG assistance and collaboration mainly in institutional reform and strengthening.

7.2. Activities

At present, the most pressing issue for HCEFLCD is institutional capacity building and decentralization of forest management. Moroccan partners also expressed their interest for new approaches and strategies that will have a positive impact on resource production, local populations, and resource health. Their overall goal is to develop and implement visions, plans, structures and networks in each of the 10 forest regions by taking onto consideration the characteristics and idiosyncrasies of each region. To this effect, this project will help the

Moroccan partners learn from other perspectives and other approaches in order to incorporate different interests and address new challenges in their management structures.

To this effect, a USFS team will travel to Morocco for an initial scoping mission and create a draft joint work plan in collaboration with USAID implementing partners mainly HCEFLCD, the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice. The plan will define a future collaboration approach, objectives, activities, intended results, timing, and costs. This initial planning mission will lay out a concise plan that details how USFS technical assistance will be integrated into the existing USAID/Morocco strategy (2004-2008). Activities will include workshops with ministries and NGOs to identify priorities and impacted stakeholders.

USAID/Morocco before the work begins.

7.3. Budget $100,000

Travel/per diem $41,334

Salary $9,200

Workshop/training costs $27,600

Equipment/supplies $5,900

Program administration $15,966

TOTAL $100,000

TASK 8: RUSSIA

8.1. Background

This task is part of a three-year project that will be implemented within the umbrella partnership program jointly developed by USAID/Russia and Krasnoyarsk Kray

Government (a global development alliance (GDA) with a regional government). Co-funding is a unique aspect of this project, USAID and the Krasnoyarsk government will match funding to current partners to implement a range of community development activities. A key request from the regional government is for help in the forestry sector.

This project will help sustain an important and successful bilateral partnership (now 50 years old) with the Ministry of Natural Resources and USFS.

USFS specialists visited Krasnoyarsk in August 2006 to meet with Kray Administration officials, NGOs, forestry specialists and scientific institutions to discuss possible ways of cooperation. Based on the collaboration agreement reached by the USFS, the Natural

Resource and Timber Industry Complex Department under the Krai Government, and

USAID, the following areas have been identified for joint activities:

8.2. Activities

Organize the monitoring of the origin of legal logs in Krasnoyarsk Kray. The goal is to introduce a pilot system of log marking and counting, which will promote control of legal trade at the Chunoyar Train Station log terminal in Krasnoyarskii

Krai.

Conduct workshops with government officials, NGOs, private industry, to identify barriers to log tracking, and options for reducing these barriers.

USAID/Russia before the work begins.

8.3. Budget: $50,000

Travel/per diem $29,800

Salary $3,700

Workshop/training costs $4,900

Equipment/supplies $4,800

Program administration $6,800

TOTAL $50,000

TASK 9: DR-CAFTA/LAC

9.1. Background

The CAFTA-DR Parties signed the Environmental Cooperation Agreement (“ECA”) on February 18, 2005. The ECA’s main objective is to “cooperate to protect, improve, and conserve the environment, including natural resources.” The tort for this cooperation is outlined in a Work Plan which seeks to establish an initial framework for such cooperation among the Parties for the period 2006-2008. To support the ECA work plan, USDA Forest Service is undertaking activities under the following four work areas:

capacity building for trade in sustainably produced wood products advancing capacity for implementation of CITES promotion of trade, diversification and biological diversity in cacao landscapes sustainable tourism workshops

10.2. Activities/Work Areas

a) Capacity Building for Trade in Sustainably Produced Wood Products

USFS will provide relevant organizations (including forestry departments and local business enterprises) with technical assistance that may include the following:

development of strategies/ business plans development of market linkages development of technical capacity in:

- use of lesser used species

- improved wood drying techniques

- improved sawmill efficiency

- decreasing waste through better use of small diameter timber

- other wood processing

Methods include technical assistance through field visits by USFS experts and consultants, and targeted training. Funding may also be used to provide exchange/study tour for individual experts and/or visit by potential purchasers to DR-

CAFTA countries. Activities will be focused in Honduras, Nicaragua and possibly

Guatemala. Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua are currently facing different challenges, and further definition of the exact activity depends on further consultation in the region and local needs.

Results of this project may include development of business plan(s) for the local collaborator(s); increased skills in improved wood processing, including through drying, use of lesser used species and other skills. It will provide improved institutional capacity of organizations that could enhance linkages between sustainable producers and markets. It is hoped the project will expand the strength and number of organizations committed to practicing sustainable forest management;

link producers and buyers for sustainably produced wood; identify business opportunities for lesser known species; and strengthen the forest sector’s ability to comply with environmental legislation.

b) Advancing Capacity for Implementation of CITES

Several recurrent themes arose out of various CITES-related workshops over the last several years. These included the need for improved coordination between CITES authorities and forestry agencies/authorities, and the need for technical assistance on

(1) development of better identification keys for timber species and transformed wood, (2) more intensive training in identification at the national level, (3) support for improved inventory techniques in areas with higher populations of big leaf mahogany, and (4) support for development of a strategy to improve management specifically of endangered plant species.

Methods include USFS collaboration with local stakeholders through short field visits/courses and/or workshops in each of the countries (Honduras, Nicaragua and possibly Guatemala). Depending on the context and needs in each country, the technical assistance may address methodologies so that CITES authorities and forest management authorities can more easily communicate the requirements for Non

Detriment Findings (NDF). USFS may facilitate development of identification guides for use by forest and customs officers; improvement and use of forest management plans, including inventory methods, with emphasis on high-value species; capacity-building on decision-making in the absence of having all information on hand and in adaptive management; and application of information from forest management plans to determine NDF for mahogany; or others, as appropriate.

Results may include increased capacity to effectively use an easy-to-use guide for identification of timber species and wood samples, increased coordination and institutional capacity within and among the CITES authorities (scientific and administrative/management) and the forest management authorities (INAFOR-

Nicaragua, INAB-Guatemala, AFE-COHDEFOR-Honduras) and increased technical capacity in adaptive management and decision-making with respect to forest management and CITES.

c) Promotion of Trade, Diversification and Biological Diversity in Cacao

Landscapes

In Central American countries, cacao is cultivated in remote regions, around protected areas of national and international importance for biological conservation. Cocoa production in the DR-CAFTA region covers 500 hectares (ha) in Costa Rica (1000 households), 6000 ha in Nicaragua (6500 households), 2500 ha (1000 households) in

Guatemala, 4000 ha (3000 households) in Honduras and 120,000 ha (>20000 households) in the Dominican Republic.