Mid term evaluation workshop for Forest Certification for Ecosystem Services (ForCES)
ANSAB organized a “Stakeholder Workshop on Mid Term Review (MTR) of Forest Certification for Ecosystem Services (ForCES)” on June 7, 2014 to improve project implementation and performance during its second half based on a review of progress and achievements. Altogether there were 30 representatives from the partner organizations, FSC network partners, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ministries, other high ranking governmental bodies, local NGO’s, INGO’s, private companies and enterprises, pilot site management committee, project staffs and consultants.
Dr. Bhishma P. Subedi, Executive Director of ANSAB and Project focal person, welcomed the participants and expressed his gratitude to Global Environment Facility (GEF) and FSC for facilitating to build the national capacity for identifying and certifying the local ecosystem services. Dr. Kalyan Gauli, Manager-Biodiversity, Ecosystem Service and Climate Change (BESCC) of ANSAB and Project Manager, gave a detailed presentation on ForCES Mid Term Review-Self Assessment and discussed about the project components, project organizations and project locations. The activity progress status was presented that included discussion on FSC Ecosystem Services (ES) standards; market analysis of ES based FSC certification at national and pilot site; piloting of national standards; awareness raising for forest certification for ES through workshops, trainings, brochures, leaflets, etc; and monitoring and evaluation of the work done so far. Dr. Udaya Raj Sharma, National Mid Term Reviewer, highlighted on ForCES MTR-Independent Assessment. The aims and objectives, major components, and the structure and partners involved in this project were presented. The presentation on achievement vs. expected output of the project was made and a short discussion on importance and need for the steering committee was done. The achievement for the each component of the ForCES project was discussed along with the procurement process and fund flow from UNEP. Also, few of the outstanding issues regarding the project were discussed with the participants.
The finding was reviewed by the participants and a significant way to improve the MTR report for enhanced accomplishment in future was proposed.