United Nations Development Programme

Poverty and biodiversity are intimately linked. The poor, especially in rural areas, depend on biodiversity for food, fuel, shelter, medicines and livelihoods. Biodiversity also provides the critical 'ecosystem services' on which development depends, including air and water purification, soil conservation, disease control, and reduced vulnerability to natural disasters such as floods, droughts and landslides. Biodiversity and natural resources loss exacerbate poverty, and likewise, poverty is a major threat to biodiversity.

The BTC pipeline traverses a geographical area that is rich in ecological features and exhibits a large variety. The pipeline route ( Ref: http://www.caspiandevelopmentandexport.com ) skirts Euro-Siberian region and passes through the Iranao-Turanian and Mediterranean regions and displays high endemism. This ecological wealth however is coupled with human development and economic devleopment levels that lower than national averages.

Consequently, there is an identifiable need to develop models for sustainable local development that puts at its center the needs of the poor and vulnerable and their relationship with biodiversity both for livelihoods and for development.

The Small Investment Fund Project is executed by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).

UNDP is the UN's global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is present in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and the UNDP’s wide range of partners.

UNDP has made Biodiversity for Development a prime focus of its practice in the field of envrionment. Through capacity development, knowledge management, policy advice and advocacy, UNDP helps more than 140 countries maintain and sustainably use biodiversity. Closely integrated activities, including its Biodiversity Global Programme , the Equator Initiative , the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the GEF Small Grants Programme enable UNDP to leverage change at the local, national, regional and global levels.

The project has just begun with signature by parties of a series of agreements (September 2004) and a Government of Turkey Project Document (October 2004).

The project approval process – in line with standard UNDP procedure – was participatory and broad based. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a signatory party to the project on behalf of the Government of Turkey indicating high levels of national ownership. The appraisal and approval process engaged both governmental and non-governmental partners.

To date, the project has completed the recruitment process of a technical manager. Activities to follow are:

Following this inception phase, the project will identify priority conservation areas and begin a pre-selection of project concepts and local partners.

Integrated and local practical solutions/approaches to biodiversity conservation and pro-poor development, for scaling up and investment.