2013年-世界发展银行全球_Social_Accountability_Review___Forestry_Sector_in_Moldova_41页_1mb

Social Accountability Review: Forestry Sector in Moldova

Core Content

This report, titled Social Accountability Review: Forestry Sector in Moldova, evaluates the current state of social accountability (SA) mechanisms in Moldova's forestry sector and provides recommendations for improvement. It was prepared by the World Bank team in collaboration with ECSSO consultants and local experts, based on desk reviews and interviews conducted during a mission in April 2013.

Key Findings

• Forest Coverage and Challenges: Moldova has only 13% of its territory covered by forests, significantly lower than the EU average of 36%. This lack of forest cover leads to environmental degradation, soil erosion, and reduced economic opportunities for rural communities.

• Illegal Activities: Illegal logging and grazing are major contributors to forest loss. These activities are often facilitated by local authorities and involve fraudulent practices. Citizens have limited ability to monitor these activities due to lack of resources and expertise.

• Public Demand for Accountability: There is a low level of public demand for accountability in the forestry sector, which hinders the effectiveness of SA mechanisms. Citizens are not well-informed about forest management processes and have limited channels to voice concerns or provide feedback.

• Government Commitments: The Government of Moldova (GoM) has committed to improving forest sustainability through afforestation programs and combating illegal activities. It has also joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and adopted a National Plan for Extension of Forestry Vegetation Land for 2013–2018.

• Sector Structure: Forests are mainly owned by the state or local public authorities (LPAs). The state manages about 80% of forestland through Moldsilva, while LPAs manage the remaining 20%. A small number of private forests have emerged in recent years.

Main Pillars of Social Accountability

• Transparency: The availability and accessibility of information about government actions and decisions.
• Accountability: The ability of citizens to hold government and service providers responsible for their performance.
• Participation: The involvement of citizens in decision-making and monitoring processes.

Existing SA Mechanisms and Challenges

• Information Provision: While some information is available online, details on performance, budget, and spending are lacking. The GoM has launched an Open Data Initiative, but implementation remains weak.
• Citizen Feedback: Mechanisms for registering and responding to citizen complaints are present but not transparent. Hotlines for reporting illegal activities have been introduced, but their usage is limited.
• Citizen Participation: Legal provisions support public participation in decision-making, but in practice, it is weak. Local authorities have limited commitment to engage citizens in forest governance.

Key Stakeholder Capacities

• Citizens: Limited knowledge of forestry issues and low demand for accountability.
• Government Authorities: Moldsilva is the main forestry service provider, but its performance is often unsatisfactory. LPAs face resource and capacity constraints, which affect their ability to manage forests effectively.
• Intermediaries: Civil society organizations (CSOs), think tanks, and universities could play a supportive role in facilitating communication between citizens and authorities, but their involvement is not widespread.

Role of ICT in Forestry Governance

• The use of ICT, particularly in the context of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), is seen as a potential tool to improve transparency and citizen engagement. However, its current implementation in the forestry sector is limited.

Gender Aspects

• The report highlights the importance of gender inclusivity in forestry management and suggests that women should be more involved in decision-making processes and community projects.

Development Projects

• ENPI-FLEG: A regional program aimed at improving forest law enforcement and governance. It has been implemented in Moldova and is considered a model for addressing accountability issues.
• World Bank Supported Projects: The Moldsilva afforestation projects, supported by the World Bank and Japan, have contributed to forest restoration and carbon sequestration. These projects have involved local communities and used participatory approaches.

Recommendations

For the Government of Moldova (GoM)

• Launch public awareness campaigns to improve citizen knowledge about forestry issues.
• Strengthen transparency and citizen participation in local councils (LCs) through capacity building.
• Engage CSOs and think tanks to act as intermediaries between Moldsilva, SEI, and citizens.
• Publish information on sector performance and support awareness about the SEI hotline.
• Release open data on dedicated online platforms.

For Forestry Authorities

• Conduct citizen feedback surveys on the performance of forestry authorities and local administrations.
• Reinforce grievance redress mechanisms (GRMs) using traditional and ICT-enabled tools.
• Strengthen the SEI hotline and support analysis and publication of complaints received.

For the Forestry Sector

• Promote participatory decision-making mechanisms to increase local ownership.
• Support third-party monitoring to enhance accountability and performance.

Conclusion

The forestry sector in Moldova is in a critical state, with significant governance and sustainability challenges. Social accountability mechanisms are essential to address these issues, but their implementation is still in its early stages. Strengthening transparency, improving citizen feedback, and encouraging active participation are key to enhancing the effectiveness of forestry governance. The report emphasizes the importance of the World Bank's ENPI-FLEG project in this context and suggests that future engagement should focus on these SA aspects.

Key Information

• Currency: Moldovan Leu (MDL), 1 US$ = 12.7 MDL.
• Key Acronyms:
  • BIZTAR: Business Regulatory and Tax Administration Reform Project
  • CDD: Community Driven Development
  • CPAs: Central Public Authorities
  • CSOs: Civil Society Organizations
  • CPS: Country Partnership Strategy
  • EMM: Ecologic Movement of Moldova
  • ENPI FLEG: Regional Program "Improving Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in the European Neighbourhood Policy East Countries and Russia"
  • FIRSM: Forest Institutional Reform Strategy
  • FMP: Forest Management Plans
  • GoM: Government of Moldova
  • GRM: Grievance Redress Mechanisms
  • ha: Hectares
  • ICAS: Forest Research and Management Institute
  • IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature
  • LAs: Local Administrations
  • LCs: Local Councils
  • LPAs: Local Public Authorities
  • MCFDP: Moldova Community Forestry Development Program
  • MoE: Ministry of Environment
  • MSCP: Moldova Soil Conservation Project
  • NPAC: National Program Advisory Committees
  • NCP: National Council for Participation
  • OGP: Open Government Partnership
  • POI: Point of Interest mapper
  • SCP: Soil Conservation Project
  • SEI: State Ecologic Inspectorate
  • SESA: Strategic Environment and Social Assessment Impact
  • UNDP: United Nations Development Program
  • USAID: US Agency for International Development
  • WB: World Bank
  • WWF: World Wide Fund

Summary of Recommendations

These recommendations aim to improve the effectiveness of social accountability in the forestry sector, thereby enhancing transparency, accountability, and public engagement.