In this context, the government, through its various ministries, is elaborating plans for the sustainable management of its natural resources and the environment, which include the following:

- The Law on Land (Government, National Assembly);

- Comprehensive Agrarian Policy (Ministry of Rural Development and Agriculture - MDRA);

- National Environmental Plan (Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Traditional Arts - MTAA);

- National Land Management Plan (MOPCU, SEP, CMB);

- National Health and Environment Plan (Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Traditional Arts - MTAA);

- National Forest Management Plan.

International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification

Particularly in Africa

The Convention was ratified in October 1995.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

Data from the latest inventory, carried out by Atlanta-Consult, shows that the country's forest cover amounts to approximately 2.1 million ha., or about 64% of the total land area, a 220,000 ha. reduction since 1978 when the forest cover amounted to 70% of total land area.

The country's forest resources are extremely important both for the government, as a major source of national income from export earnings, and for the population who depend on them for their livelihood. Although the country's natural resources are highly valued, they are constantly under pressure and subject to over-exploitation. Government efforts to prevent excessive logging, forest fires, and agricultural practices which cause soil erosion have not been very successful mainly due to the lack of financial resources and administrative means to address the problem.

Following a request made to the Swiss Government, a Project for Coastal Planning was established in Guinea-Bissau, after a protocol agreement was signed between the former Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to assist the Government in the elaboration of a programme for the management and rational utilization of the coast's natural resources.

In 1990, following the first phase of the Coastal Planning Project, a proposal was made to establish a network of five protected areas and as a result a decree was submitted for government approval for the creation of the Cacheu and the Orango Natural Parks. A project was also elaborated for the creation of the Cufada Lakes Natural Park in collaboration with the Portuguese Government and the European Union.

Other important plans and legislation have been drawn up in the context of the programme to combat desertification, including the following:

- The Forest Master Plan,

- The Forest Law,

- The draft proposal of the law on fauna, and

- UNESCO's acknowledgment, in April of 1996, of the Bolama-Bijagos archipelago as a biosphere reserve.

At the sub-regional level, Guinea-Bissau collaborates with the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Combating Desertification in the Sahel (CILSS) in the formulation of plans and strategies to combat desertification in the region.

A CILSS representative has been sent to the country to facilitate this collaboration.

The government also intends to promote activities, in collaboration with NGOs, aimed at combating desertification and drought, taking into account that the country is located in a sub-tropical zone and that the main priority is to implement preventive measures to avert further soil erosion and deterioration. NGOs have played an important role in this area by promoting education and awareness raising campaigns, particularly among the population in the most affected areas, the north and eastern parts of the country.

Through these activities, plans, and programmes the government aims to achieve the following objectives:

- Promote the rational management of forests, agriculture and cattle raising;

- Prevent/Control forest fires;

- Increase public participation, particularly of women.

Guinea-Bissau is a predominantly rural society, with 75% of the population depending on agriculture for its livelihood. The government has therefore invested considerably in the agricultural sector and promoted sustainable rural development, despite the fact that projects have been discontinued due to the lack of financial resources, both from domestic sources and from donor countries.

A project is now being implemented in the eastern part of the country to encourage rice production in fresh water fields all year round. Two other Rural Development Programmes (PDRI-Zone I and PIC) have been carried out to assist the rural population, by encouraging farmers to form producers associations, by providing improved seeds and introducing horticulture, and by raising awareness of the important role that both savings and credit play in development.

Often, however, these programmes have to be discontinued or do not have the desired impact due mainly to the lack of funds, skilled human resources, infrastructure, among others.

It is anticipated that during the elaboration of a Comprehensive Agrarian Policy, the country's agricultural policy will be reviewed and the multifunctional aspect of agriculture taken into consideration in integrated sector planning, with particular focus on food security and sustainable development.

Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention was ratified in 1995.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Guinea-Bissau adhered to the CITES Convention in 1990.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

The country acceded to the RAMSAR Convention, in 1991, and to the Bonne Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, by signing one of the Convention's agreements on Migratory Aquatic Birds from Africa, Europe and Asia in June 1995.

A Memorandum of Intent was also signed in 1994 with the Trilateral Committee on the Wadden See, which includes Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands with a view to promoting research on migratory species as well as coastal management.

At the national level, the government has elaborated several draft-proposals, including a draft-law on the creation of the Cacheu and Orango Natural Parks and a draft-proposal to review existing legislation on fauna dating back to 1980. The government has also promoted activities to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the country's biological diversity, including, among others, restricting hunting both as a sport and a profession. In addition, the draft-law on Natural Parks calls for the rational, sustainable, and environmentally sound development of areas adjacent to Protected Areas to ensure the protection of endangered species.

An Addendum to the Forest Law should cover a Law on Protected Areas and a Law on Community Forests, anticipating new measures concerning forest logging and reforestation.

The government of Guinea-Bissau, through the Ministry of Fisheries, set up a database, in 1990, to monitor the use of the country's halieutic resources, including their capture, and other fishing related activities. In addition, research campaigns and experimental fishing have been conducted to improve management and commercialization. One of the aims is to gradually reduce foreign exploitation of national halieutic resources, without major consequences for the national budget, and to build capacity to strengthen the national fishing industry.

An Integrated Fisheries Plan was elaborated to promote the optimal and sustainable use of fisheries. This Plan includes the following:

- Fisheries control, management, and surveillance system;

- Human resources valuation;

- Economic framework for fisheries and the business environment;

- Management of the fishing fleet and fishing technology; and

- Support infrastructure improvement.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was ratified in 1986.

A number of issues regarding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea are of particular importance to Guinea-Bissau. These include the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal areas, including exclusive economic zones; the protection of the marine environment; regional and international cooperation and coordination; the sustainable development of natural parks located in the coastal area and Islands.

The very nature of the country's coastline, flat and sedimentary, once led to the formation of a small group of Islands. The coast's productive habitats are extremely important for survival of the local population. About 65% of the total population of the country depends on coastal resources for their livelihood.

Nevertheless, despite efforts made at the sub-regional level to preserve coastal and marine resources, sustainable development plans and management approaches have not always succeeded due mostly to the lack of an appropriate surveillance system and to the lack of material and financial resources. As a result, the marine environment has deteriorated and its resources have been under great pressure from over exploitation.

Despite existing economic constraints and with the assistance of the international community, the government of Guinea-Bissau has continued promoting the integrated management and sustainable development of the coastal area and the Islands. The government, through the National Office for Coastal Planning, signed an agreement with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to carry out environmental conservation activities in a number of protected areas and to promote the sustainable use of the coast's natural resources. In addition, it established an Annual Fisheries Management Plan, in 1996, which includes measures on the management and control of foreign fishing in coastal waters and measures and incentives to promote the national fishing industry.

This Plan outlines fishing limits and permissible catch volumes by establishing a measure entitled Total Permissible Capture (TAC) and by allowing only authorized fishing boats to operate in the country's territorial waters. It also

provides administrative and fiscal incentives to promote the national fishing industry, such as preferential tax concessions in granting fishing licences, allowing for the use of logistic support vessels, and elimination of all types of fiscal barriers previously imposed on national fishing companies.

Regarding the environmental conservation and development of the Islands, a conference was held in Bubaque, in 1996, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Traditional Arts, in collaboration with the Office for Coastal Planning and the National Research Institute (INEP), to address development and conservation issues.

The biosphere reserve principles, elaborated by UNESCO, identify development models which are compatible with the current conditions of the Bijagos Archipelago, for they conciliate development plans with conservation activities as it has also been pursued in protected areas.

Several development projects, partially financed by the IUCN, are being implemented in the Islands. These include a Geographic Information Systems Project which is being carried out by the Office for Coastal Planning, in collaboration with the National Research Institute, the IUCN, and GEOSYSTEMS (CNRS - Brest/France).

Other projected activities and programmes include:

- A sustainable development programme for the Bolama-Bijagos Region aiming to establish the Biosphere Reserve

(INEP, IUCN, UNDP, UNESCO, Ministry of Fisheries, among others).

- A project for the creation of the Cacheu National Park (Ministry of Rural Development and Agriculture and IUCN).

- A project for the creation of the Orango Islands National Park (Ministry of Rural Development and Agriculture in collaboration with the National Research Institute/INEP and the IUCN).

The Draft-proposals on the creation of the above National Parks have been submitted to the government for approval.

- A development programme to explore traditional fishing in the Buba River.

- NGO support and advisory services are available for sustainable development projects (Min. Coop. Intern/IUCN).

The government, through the General Directorate of Natural Resources, has established cooperation links with several international organizations and developed countries to study the possibility of providing water coverage to the entire population by drilling cartesian wells, particularly in the north and eastern parts of the country whose populations are most affected by the water shortages during the dry season. Guinea-Bissau's climate is characterized by a rain season and a dry season.

A Water and Sanitation Master Plan and a Plan for Rural Hydraulics, to be carried out in collaboration with UNDP and United Nations Capital Development Fund, is anticipated. The Ministry of Energy, Industry and Natural Resources, through the General Directorate of Natural Resources, elaborated a Water and Sanitation Scheme aimed at improving the management of water resources, taking into account the harmful effect of drought, pollution, and salinity.

This scheme is based on a strategy which identifies all water resources available in the country, including underground and surface water, its distribution and other aspects. This strategy also identifies the water needs of the rural and urban populations, and of agriculture and cattle raising as well.

An Inter-ministerial Committee on Water and Sanitation (CIMA) and a Technical Water Committee (CTA), an operational service of CIMA, will be created in the context of the Water and Sanitation Scheme. There is also a National Water Council formed by technicians from various governmental institutions working with water issues, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Energy, Industry, and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Public Health.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

The Basel Convention has not been ratified.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS:

ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY SUBSIDIES:

No information

In Guinea-Bissau, as in many developing countries, there is a need for a more favourable access to environmentally sound technologies and technical cooperation which allows for the transfer of skills and know how to operate those technologies.

The government is aware of the fact that the availability of scientific and technological information and access to environmentally sound technologies is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development. Given the country's socio-economic conditions, it has not been possible to develop these. The lack of infrastructure and an adequate information system on environmental issues and available technologies, makes it necessary to take into consideration the two interrelated components, namely to improve access to both information on end technologies and their ecological risks, and to environmentally sound technologies.

It is also important to highlight the role of NGOs in this context. There is a joint project between the Ministry of Rural Development and an American NGO to introduce new technologies, such as solar energy, to be used in irrigation and increase agricultural productivity without negative impacts on the environment.

MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION:

No information

This issue is being addressed by the National Research Institute (INEP).

STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG TERM SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY:

In terms of informal education and in the context of public sensibilization campaigns, several local private radio stations have emerged hosting programmes in various local languages, sponsored by NGOs, aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTAA) has also carried out environmental campaigns in the National Radio station.

Regarding formal education, the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Traditional Arts (MTAA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, have been introducing the theme of environment in pre-school programmes and secondary education.

Drawing contests on themes related to the environment are held primarily in the capital for primary and secondary schools students from different parts of the country. These contests are usually sponsored by NGOs.

a) Reorientation of education towards sustainable development

See above

b) Increasing public awareness

See above

c) Promoting training

See above

ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS:

See above

FINANCING AND COST EVALUATION OF THE LABOUR ACTIVITIES:

No information

Cooperation with developed countries, particularly with Portugal, focus essentially on capacity building, training and financing for projects aimed at implementing Agenda 21 and other Rio commitments. Cooperation with international governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), USAID, the World Bank, the IMF, UNESCO, UNDP, and the African Development Bank, among others, is extremely important for it promotes the participatory development approach. All cooperation agreements are of the responsibility of the Ministry of International Cooperation and Planning.