THE BLUE TREASURE - FC THE FINANCIAL COOPERATION MAGAZINE - KFW ENTWICKLUNGSBANK
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FC
The Financial Cooperation magazine
Special issue
October 2017
Media partner
The Blue Treasure
International commitment to clean oceans and coasts
Protecting the world‘s oceans – “Getting people on board”
with the Blue Action Fund The oceans are under threat: climate change, solid waste and overfishing are jeopardising
the living conditions of millions of people, particularly in poorer countries. Stephan Opitz,
In coordination with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Member of the Management Committee of KfW Development Bank, explains in an interview
(BMZ), KfW Development Bank has founded a trust for international marine protection. It why KfW has become increasingly involved in marine conservation, and which strategies
bears the name “Blue Action Fund” and promotes conservation areas, sustainable fishing promise the greatest success.
and environmentally friendly tourism. The aim is for the Blue Action Fund to become an
important promotional instrument for the world‘s oceans.
included after pressure from small treasures are under the water: coral
T
island countries. Now we have a reefs, seagrass beds and fish can only
he oceans are the largest To counter these trends, KfW drafted; the actual work will start at separate objective specifically for this be seen if you dive down. This makes
habitat in the world. They established the Blue Action Fund the beginning of next year, probably with SDG 14. And the first global it more difficult to convey informa-
cover 70 percent of the with the BMZ at the end of 2016. It in the oceans by Mozambique and Stephan Opitz Ocean Conference took place recently tion about marine conservation.
Earth‘s surface, generate 50 supports non-governmental organisa- Ecuador – both of which are marine Member of the in New York. These are all indications
percent of our oxygen, store carbon tions in their coastal and marine hot spots for biodiversity. “We are Management that something is changing here. Nevertheless, something has to
dioxide, regulate the climate and protection work, and is thus a new well on the way”, said Opitz. By 2019, Committee of be done urgently.
KfW Develop-
make an important contribution to funding instrument in development more than a dozen projects are to be Why did it take so long? Overfish- Yes, that’s the main message that we
ment Bank
the world‘s food supply. Furthermore, cooperation because it brings financed from the Blue Action Fund. ing is not exactly a new topic... took from the conference in New
they are home to the greatest variety governmental and non-governmental This non-profit trust with a start-up There are many reasons for this. In York. The oceans are under severe
of species, they provide raw materials, players together. Together they can capital of EUR 24 million originating The United Nations held its first contrast to when on land, we do not threat – overfishing, solid waste,
they are used for trade routes, and achieve more, and more quickly, from BMZ funds is to attract new international conference on the immediately see what is happening economic exploitation – and we have
they are a source of inspiration and inputting their different experiences: donors in the coming years and oceans in June. Has the global in the oceans. Neither what is lost, to take urgent action against this.
recreation. Around half of the world‘s “KfW with its wide-ranging knowl- thereby gradually extend its reach. community recognised the need nor what is preserved. In conserva-
population live near a coastline, and edge of nature conservation on land, Sweden wants to invest roughly to take action? tion areas on land we can look at Can the whole thing actually still
in many respects are reliant on an among other things, and the NGOs EUR 5 million, while other countries I think so. When the Sustainable elephants, lions and pandas. We can be reversed?
intact marine ecosystem: for example, with their expertise from working are weighing up their contributions Development Goals were laid down in identify with these “key animals”; This was also asked with regard to
fish play a crucial role in developing together with local fishermen”, said too. “Our goal”, said Opitz, “is for the 2015, protecting the oceans was not this increases the pressure. It’s nature conservation areas on land.
countries as a source of protein and Stephan Opitz, Member of the Blue Action Fund to become a major even on the agenda, and was only different with the oceans. Here, the Like in Amazonia, an area that is
income. Mangrove forests and coral Management Committee of KfW player in international marine crucial for climate protection. It was
reefs provide protection from storm Development Bank, explaining one of conservation”. argued back then that the pace of
tides and flooding. In spite of their the advantages of the new trust. The deforestation could not be stopped,
significance, coasts and oceans are first project outlines have been Friederike Bauer MARINE CONSERVATION INITIATIVES and that there would be no more
under more pressure than ever before: forests there within a few decades.
their fish stocks are overused, while Rare turtles lay their eggs on the coast of Mozambique. Protecting the oceans is a question of survival for humankind. This is why Germany But it is precisely in the Amazon
pollutants and solid waste often end is pressing forward: by means of a 10-point action plan entitled “Marine conserva- rainforest that we see the deforesta-
up untreated in ocean waters. Then tion and sustainable fishing”, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and tion rate has dropped, because here
we have the economic interests, Development (BMZ) is strengthening its commitment towards the oceans. The BMZ – also thanks to development
ranging from deep sea mining and oil has provided roughly EUR 440 million to implement the action plan. Yet having the cooperation – conservation strategies
extraction to tourism. All these right partners, good ideas and ambitious objectives are just as important as were launched in many areas.
factors impact on the seas and funding. The BMZ is combining all of this into two new marine initiatives: the Blue Strategies that involved the people,
oceans, jeopardising this unique Action Fund together with KfW and the initiative to protect mangroves “Save our offering them economic prospects
ecosystem: roughly one third of all Mangroves now” with the WWF and the International Union for Conservation of without destroying the forests. These
fish stocks are now considered Nature (IUCN). Because “keeping going” is not an option. “The oceans are on the are successes achieved using ap-
overfished, two thirds of the coral brink of collapse – and without them, life as we know it is impossible”, explained proaches that can be transferred
reefs – nurseries for fish – are severely Development Minister Dr Gerd Müller. www.bmz.de/themen/meeresschutz in a very similar way to marine
under threat. conservation.
2 Financial Cooperation 3
Preserving coral reefs and
controlling the protected zones better
is an important objective I think.
Another problem is the growing
volume of plastic waste in the mangrove forests
oceans. Some hope that we will
soon be able to remove this from
The Caribbean islands are well known for their diversity of plants, fish and other animals
the water with floating treat-
ment plants or massive suction
– but these natural wonders are under threat. The increase in the oceans’ temperature
tubes. What is your take on such is damaging coral reefs, the abundance of fish is declining and hotels are sprawling
ideas? out along beaches. To support local marine conservation areas, KfW has financed the
Marine protection is also benefiting traditional fishermen, like this one in Vietnam. I don’t think these technical solutions Caribbean Biodiversity Fund since 2010 on behalf of the German Federal Government.
are very promising up to now because
C
How might this actually be apply. If these rules are adhered to, the particles are very small. And the
achieved? the yield from the seas will increase waste is widely dispersed. We believe oral reefs with a total size of Secretariat is based in the Bahamas, from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund
Swift results can be achieved in the again in the medium to long-term. we have to start before that, and try two million hectares, and one representative each from the to promote their respective national
oceans as well: where biodiversity is to stop the waste from getting into extensive mangrove forests non-governmental organisation The conservation zones, for example to
respected, protected and sustainably Many fishermen are poor. Do they the oceans in the first place by means and more than 1,400 species Nature Conservancy and from KfW buy patrol boats, revitalise habitats
managed, the seas recover surpris- not simply need the income of proper waste and recycling of fish make the Caribbean islands have been delegated to the supervi- or extend the zones. The countries
ingly fast. It is not too late yet, but today, even if this means they systems. one of the world’s five most impor- sory board. involved are Antigua and Barbuda,
we have to act consistently. earn less? tant hot spots for biodiversity. The The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund the Bahamas, the Dominican Repub-
This can create a conflict of interests. How significant is KfW’s involve- Caribbean Sea also offers protection needs at least USD 40 million to be lic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto
What do you think has to happen But often the fishermen simply no ment in coastal and marine for many migratory animals. For able to designate new and preserve Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia as
first? longer find anything because the fish protection? example, six out of the seven endan- existing conservation zones. KfW well as St. Vincent and the Gren-
Firstly, we need to make existing stocks have been depleted. There is It makes up roughly ten percent of gered species of sea turtle live here. alone provided EUR 20 million on adines, which joined the Caribbean
marine conservation areas functional. no short-term benefit for them our activities in the field of biodiver- Biologists have counted 300 bird and behalf of the BMZ, while The Nature Challenge Initiative in 2008 with the
Some of these protected areas exist in anymore, and therefore they under- sity, which we carry out on behalf of mammal species that are only found Conservancy and other donors made purpose of placing 20% of their coast-
theory only; this is why they are stand very well that protected zones and with funding from the Federal here. The Caribbean Biodiversity further contributions. al areas under protection by 2020.
called paper parks. Planning these offer them an opportunity. Ministry for Economic Cooperation Fund was established to protect this Eleven countries and territories KfW will follow the fortunes of the
parks in a way that they have an and Development (BMZ). But we biological diversity and the natural have already set up national conser- fund during the start-up phase before
effect and that fish stocks start to You talk about sustainable consider it to be an emerging topic. resources in the Caribbean. Its vation funds that receive funding retreating and handing responsibility
recover is crucial. Officially, we fishing on a small scale in a over to the trust that runs the fund. It
currently have about three percent sense. But frequently we see KfW has just set up the “Blue Tropical fish and coral reefs in the Red Sea is assumed that by then the fund will
under conservation; the international large trawlers that deploy Action Fund” for marine conser- be generating sufficient returns to
target is ten percent. This means we unsustainable catching methods vation. Why? cover the needs of the marine
have to activate existing areas and and empty the seas. What can be By means of the Fund, we can conservation areas together with
set up new ones. done to counter this? implement projects more quickly, further proceeds from the national
Modern means of communication purposefully and on a broader scale conservation funds, such as entry fees.
How can we ensure that there is now offer good opportunities here to because we are working together Last but not least, protecting
no fishing in these areas, or only make checks, using satellite technol- with large international non-govern- biological diversity benefits the local
as much as is allowed? ogy for example. This means the large mental organisations. At the moment economy too, and therefore people.
We have to get the people on board. trawlers can be located too, and we it has trust assets of EUR 24 million Throughout the Caribbean, income
Just like with land-based initiatives. can determine which ships have derived from BMZ funds; we are from fishing and tourism amounts to
We now know that as soon as fished illegally. targeting an amount of EUR 100 an annual USD 80 billion. Many
“no-take zones” are set up some- million with the involvement of people are dependent on these
where, and agreements are reached But we are still far from having a further donors. The need is there, and sources of income that are based on
with the local fishermen, everyone complete international control we are running out of time. the natural diversity of the Caribbean
profits in the end. What is important system for the world’s oceans… islands.
is that the fishermen know this is a Correct, we don’t have that yet, and it This interview was conducted
protected area and certain rules will not be a fast process either. Yet by Friederike Bauer. Charlotte Schmitz
4 Financial Cooperation 5
Anything but waste to turn the Tunisian waste disposal
system into a recycling economy,
explained Wolfgang Pfaff-Simoneit,
gas emissions can be avoided almost
completely. Given the positive
results, the Tunisian government
Tunisia: it does not make sense in
developing countries to collect and
separate waste with as few people
Technical Expert in the Water and decided at the end of 2016 to equip and as many machines as possible.
The rapidly growing megacities and urban conurbations in developing countries and Waste Management Team for MENA all landfills with mechanical Collecting and sorting waste offers
emerging economies in particular have to find solutions for their ever-increasing amounts (Middle East/North Africa) at KfW. A biological waste treatment facilities, huge opportunities for permanent
of waste. However, developing sustainable waste management systems is a huge recycling economy means that the while new plants will be fitted with jobs, even for those with low qualifi-
challenge and a laborious process. KfW Development Bank is planning to intensify its raw materials used are returned in this technology from the outset. cations. “It generally does not cost
efforts within German development cooperation, which includes working on new concepts their entirety to the production any more if many people are em-
process, and besides the recycling of ployed”, explained Pfaff-Simoneit,
to mobilise the potential of the sector. One example here is Tunisia.
products, emphasis is placed on because labour is not expensive in
I
reusing organic waste, which makes contrast to the purchase of imported
f waste is not disposed of, it is up 60% of the volume. The upheaval “Waste collection waste disposal vehicles and other
not just a nuisance, it entails
many risks. Landfills spoil the
stemming from the Tunisian
revolution that began in 2010
also provides jobs machinery. To be able to recycle
waste permanently and efficiently it
landscape and contaminate
usable space. They become breeding
radically changed the general
conditions for designing and
for people with low is very important to sort early, and to
record the recyclable parts by type as
grounds for disease carriers and a implementing disposal plants. The qualifications.” precisely as possible. Recycling is
source of food for rats and vermin. population questioned local govern- mostly carried out by informal waste
The poorer population is particularly ance, and acceptance of disposal Dr Wolfgang Pfaff-Simoneit collectors in Tunisia at the moment.
exposed to these kinds of risks. facilities fell dramatically. ANGed is Action in the waste sector should
“Uncontrolled” waste dumps now adapting to the new require- therefore always be aimed at improv-
contaminate drinking water and ments. It is accountable to the ing the working and living conditions
threaten water bodies, air, soil, flora general public for its actions and has of informal workers at the same time.
and fauna. The climate suffers too. to employ democratic forms and Another important finding on
Ten to 15% of a country’s overall procedures of civil society participa- waste management was confirmed in Sabine Balk
greenhouse gas emissions can be tion. KfW is thus supporting ANGed
prevented by good waste manage- and the Tunisian authorities in
ment and recycling. developing participatory forms of
The municipalities – generally local governance (“change manage-
responsible for waste disposal – are ment”) and conducting national DEG COMMITMENT: RECYCLING WASTEWATER
barely up to this complex task. dialogue on waste disposal.
Waste disposal “devours” a large part “Acceptance of disposal facilities Tourism and farming are key economic sectors for Egypt. Both industries use a
of their frequently scarce funds. improves if the volume of waste is lot of water, which is a scarce resource in Egypt. Hotels on the Red Sea and on
Municipalities in developing coun- reduced as much as possible,” the Sinai Peninsula rely on expensively treated water from desalination plants,
tries spend between 20 and 50% of explained Pfaff-Simoneit. Then the but for farming this is too expensive. TIA, a company from Breitenfelde in
their budgets just on collecting areas needed for disposal facilities Schleswig-Holstein, and MfT Membran from Cologne, have developed a solution
waste. Nevertheless, many residents can be scaled back and the environ- for this: a facility that processes wastewater from hotels. The treated water can
do not have access to proper disposal mental risks minimised. In Tunisia, then be used for irrigation purposes. Last year, a pilot plant was launched in a
services. Some of the waste – mainly the previous concept of regulated hotel in El Quesir. Training was organised at the same time with the aim of
For recycling
in the poorer settlements – is not landfills failed on account of the creating a service and maintenance network with local partners. The Egyptian
purposes, it is very
taken away at all, and remains in waste properties and the climate authorities and other hotel operators are also being made aware of the potential
important to sort
the residential area. waste diligently: conditions, added the KfW expert. and the advantages offered by wastewater treatment and reusing treated
One country that KfW Develop- plastic caps in “Mechanical biological treatment wastewater. Universities and research institutions are to facilitate knowledge
ment Bank has supported since the Tunisia. of waste is particularly suitable for transfer. DEG, a subsidiary of the KfW Group, co-financed the pilot plant using
end of the 1990s in setting up a Tunisia”, said Pfaff-Simoneit, as funds from the develoPPP.de programme of the BMZ. DeveloPPP.de is aimed at
proper waste management system is lished a basic disposal infrastructure regulated landfills, and fulfils the proven by a pilot project in companies which are committed to developing countries and emerging econo-
Tunisia. Since 2002 and via its own that reaches around 85% of the basic requirements for environmen- 2014/2015. The surface area mies on a long-term basis and want to shape their business commitment in a
national executing agency “ANGed”, population. It mainly consists of tally friendly waste disposal. In required for waste disposal can be sustainable way.
this country has gradually estab- waste transfer stations and properly 2008, the first concepts were drafted drastically reduced, and greenhouse
6 Financial Cooperation 7
A life for the wilderness
South African environmentalist and human rights activist Andrew Zaloumis received the
2017 Bernhard Grzimek Award by KfW Stiftung for his services related to the iSimangaliso
Wetland Park. This park, which stretches over 330,000 hectares, also has 220 kilometres of
untouched coastline. In addition to wetlands, its landscape comprises hills and savannahs.
The conservation park is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa.
A
ndrew Zaloumis is an In Frankfurt Zoo,
enthusiastic supporter of Andrew Zaloumis
Nelson Mandela, the first learned about the
offspring of wild
president of a free South
African animals.
Africa. He paved the way for the
protection of the iSimangaliso
Wetland Park (which means “wonder”
in Zulu). Zaloumis played a leading
role in elaborating the UNESCO
treaties and embedding the area’s
protected status in South African
law.
Nature has always fascinated him.
Right after he was born in Johannes- He was involved in cross-border spectacular. “The wild dogs are
burg in 1961, his family moved to a conservation in the region of Lubom- particularly dear to my heart”, said
remote region of Zambia. “I grew up bo, before taking over the manage- Zaloumis. He marvelled at how the
in the wilderness”, explained the ment of the iSimangaliso Wetland animals – of which there are now
reserved man. Later on, he studied Park in 2002. He promptly launched only 6,000 – travel many kilometres
economics in South Africa, and then the restoration of plantations and every day and hunt over massive
decided to study spatial planning to wetlands, but his work comprises territories.
avoid compulsory military service. much more than that: “We always Zaloumis lives in the middle of
“The apartheid state is responsible for focus on three things: environment, the park with his wife and two
my education”, he said ironically. supporting the local population and children. “Our nearest neighbour is
During the first democratic elections tourism.” Today, the park provides 15 kilometres away.” Zaloumis is
in South Africa in 1994 he organised jobs for thousands of local people. satisfied. The wilderness has him
a polling station in a rural region. The measures that succeeded in back.
Thereafter, Andrew Zaloumis resettling species such as giraffes,
focused solely on the environment. lions and the African wild dog were Charlotte Schmitz
Imprint Publisher KfW, a public law institution, LGc1, Palmengartenstrasse 5 –9, 60325 Frankfurt am Main
Editorial team Klaus Gihr, Samiera Toma (both KfW) Authors Sabine Balk, Friederike Bauer, Charlotte Schmitz Contact info@
kfw-entwicklungsbank.de Layout Nina Hegemann (FAZIT Communication GmbH) Photos Getty Images/Francisco Goncalves, p. 1;
ShaneMyers-Photo/thinkstock, p. 2; KfW Photo Archive/Gaby Gerster, p. 3; pcruciatti/thinkstock, p. 4; vlad61/thinkstock, p. 5;
KfW Photo Archive/photothek.net, p. 6; KfW Group/Frank Blümler, p. 8; Printing FAZIT Communication GmbH, Frankfurt am Main
Editorial deadline 22 September 2017
This publication was printed on climate-neutral FSC®-certified paper.
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