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Protecting the marine environment of developing nations: At what cost?
Marine Polhltion Bulletin, V~llumc 22. No. II), p. 479, 1991. Printed in Great Britain.
O025 326X/ql S3.00+I1.00 © le/91 Pergamon Press pie
welfare of the country? That it will be good for the environment division of the bank, and of the bank as a whole is obvious. That it will lead to the real protection of the marine environment is questionable. That it will further exacerbate the economic plight of the country is certain. The last two points might be corroborated by examining an existing fishery loan in the order of When the World Bank decided to establish an Environ- USS150 million. Apparently the appetizer for the loan ment Department several years ago, there was much was a technical assistance grant of a few million dollars, skepticism among environmentalists. Various groups, which grant has been spent in large part paying for the including an international group of ecologists, services of a foreign consulting firm with its largely expressed concern that the inceptive department was expatriate consultants. It is obvious that the bank being staffed by economists without a single ecologist to succeeded in convincing the decision makers that the give the scientific basis for environmental protection. development loan was needed, among others to address An account of a brief interview with the Director of the coastal zone management in a dozen bays throughout Environment Department of the bank is provided in the country. However, a sampling of opinions among The Siren No. 39 (Dec. 1988). The situation may have the technical personnel of the agencies involved in the since improved and while the worst fears may not (yet) implementation invariably indicates a perception that have come to pass, the question of the cost of marine the amount involved is too large and that the country is environmental protection remains a major stumbling ill-prepared to handle such a large package. Enough block for developing countries. It should be noted that expertise can be mobilized from the various national the requirement of EIAs for development projects has institutions, whether governmental or non-governbecome almost universal and the cooperation of the mental, to handle a small programme. However, at the financial institutions has been welcome. Similarly, bi- level envisaged by this loan package, there can be little lateral assistance in the form of grants for (marine) quality assurance of the results given the short time environment enhancement projects is on the rise and frame of the programme. The question may also be while arguments about cost-effectiveness are not raised whether the bank intended to have expatriates uncommon, development aid is generally appreciated. involved in the implementation of the programme. However, the financing of separate environmental Whether by design or not, this would be one way that projects by development banks needs to be carefully the developed countries would give employment to studied. The gnawing question is whether these and their own nationals at the expense of the less developed other financial institutions (including some govern- countries. However, the given explanation by developments) are jumping on to the environmental bandwagon ment bureaux is that they would prefer to handle large to further enrich themselves at the expense of the poor loan packages rather than a myriad of smaller ones simply because of the administrative processing nations. In an earlier editorial (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 21,262-263) involved and their relatively small staffs. But is this a I pointed out the problem of lack of funds in Southeast valid reason? For a nation that is already in the red by billions of Asia as the major constraint to a concerted pursuit of a regional action plan to protect the marine environment. dollars, another loan of this magnitude can hardly be The question may be posed as to whether any help may justified. As individual citizens and taxpayers those be expected from the development banks and other interviewed are concerned that they will be paying for financial institutions. The answer should be straight- the loan for the next generation or two. It may also be forward: 'Yes, if the countries want to get deeper in that these technical people are concerned with the debt'. One example should suffice to illustrate. entropy in large projects. The losses due to mismanageIt is no secret that the Philippines is in real economic ment (if not outright graft) are directly proportional to straits and the situation does not seem to be improving the size of the budget. Given all these concerns, how much. An aide-memoire from an international organiz- viable are these megaprojects in developing countries? ation concerned with the marine environment indicated To return to the question that was raised earlier, are that indeed a financial institution was interested in the financial institutions riding on the environmental funding projects on marine environmental protection bandwagon and wittingly or unwittingly exercising a that will involve "huge financial investments". If such a new imperialism? suggestion were pursued, would it lead to the general EDGARDO D. GOMEZ
Protecting the Marine Environment of Developing Nations: At What Cost 9.
479
O025 326X/ql S3.00+I1.00 © le/91 Pergamon Press pie
welfare of the country? That it will be good for the environment division of the bank, and of the bank as a whole is obvious. That it will lead to the real protection of the marine environment is questionable. That it will further exacerbate the economic plight of the country is certain. The last two points might be corroborated by examining an existing fishery loan in the order of When the World Bank decided to establish an Environ- USS150 million. Apparently the appetizer for the loan ment Department several years ago, there was much was a technical assistance grant of a few million dollars, skepticism among environmentalists. Various groups, which grant has been spent in large part paying for the including an international group of ecologists, services of a foreign consulting firm with its largely expressed concern that the inceptive department was expatriate consultants. It is obvious that the bank being staffed by economists without a single ecologist to succeeded in convincing the decision makers that the give the scientific basis for environmental protection. development loan was needed, among others to address An account of a brief interview with the Director of the coastal zone management in a dozen bays throughout Environment Department of the bank is provided in the country. However, a sampling of opinions among The Siren No. 39 (Dec. 1988). The situation may have the technical personnel of the agencies involved in the since improved and while the worst fears may not (yet) implementation invariably indicates a perception that have come to pass, the question of the cost of marine the amount involved is too large and that the country is environmental protection remains a major stumbling ill-prepared to handle such a large package. Enough block for developing countries. It should be noted that expertise can be mobilized from the various national the requirement of EIAs for development projects has institutions, whether governmental or non-governbecome almost universal and the cooperation of the mental, to handle a small programme. However, at the financial institutions has been welcome. Similarly, bi- level envisaged by this loan package, there can be little lateral assistance in the form of grants for (marine) quality assurance of the results given the short time environment enhancement projects is on the rise and frame of the programme. The question may also be while arguments about cost-effectiveness are not raised whether the bank intended to have expatriates uncommon, development aid is generally appreciated. involved in the implementation of the programme. However, the financing of separate environmental Whether by design or not, this would be one way that projects by development banks needs to be carefully the developed countries would give employment to studied. The gnawing question is whether these and their own nationals at the expense of the less developed other financial institutions (including some govern- countries. However, the given explanation by developments) are jumping on to the environmental bandwagon ment bureaux is that they would prefer to handle large to further enrich themselves at the expense of the poor loan packages rather than a myriad of smaller ones simply because of the administrative processing nations. In an earlier editorial (Mar. Pollut. Bull. 21,262-263) involved and their relatively small staffs. But is this a I pointed out the problem of lack of funds in Southeast valid reason? For a nation that is already in the red by billions of Asia as the major constraint to a concerted pursuit of a regional action plan to protect the marine environment. dollars, another loan of this magnitude can hardly be The question may be posed as to whether any help may justified. As individual citizens and taxpayers those be expected from the development banks and other interviewed are concerned that they will be paying for financial institutions. The answer should be straight- the loan for the next generation or two. It may also be forward: 'Yes, if the countries want to get deeper in that these technical people are concerned with the debt'. One example should suffice to illustrate. entropy in large projects. The losses due to mismanageIt is no secret that the Philippines is in real economic ment (if not outright graft) are directly proportional to straits and the situation does not seem to be improving the size of the budget. Given all these concerns, how much. An aide-memoire from an international organiz- viable are these megaprojects in developing countries? ation concerned with the marine environment indicated To return to the question that was raised earlier, are that indeed a financial institution was interested in the financial institutions riding on the environmental funding projects on marine environmental protection bandwagon and wittingly or unwittingly exercising a that will involve "huge financial investments". If such a new imperialism? suggestion were pursued, would it lead to the general EDGARDO D. GOMEZ
Protecting the Marine Environment of Developing Nations: At What Cost 9.
479