Programme Cooperation Agreement 2012 – 2013

 Environmental impacts of large-scale land investments (only 2013) GRID-Arendal prepared a factsheet 82 together with maps and graphics on the state of large-scale land investments in Africa. The maps and graphics show countries that are affected by the large-scale land investments, as well as the investing countries, including the magnitude of their investment. From a donor perspective, as well as from research findings, these investments are a topical issue in Africa that merits awareness raising. While there is on- going research on large-scale land acquisitions, especially on the socio-economic front, there seems to be a paucity of research on their impacts, such as ‘water grabbing’ for example. Secondly, much of the research has focused on land resources while ignoring the equally important water resources. In addition, land remains an emotive and sen- sitive issue, which many countries in Africa are not keen to engage in. It is for these reasons that GRID-Arendal’s focus is shift- ing to water resources despite a project proposal having been compiled on large-scale land acquisitions. Interest has been expressed by UNEP and the African Ministerial Conference on Water to partner with GRID-Arendal and undertake detailed studies on water grabbing in Africa. Consultations with prospective funders and partners will be further pursued in 2014. 83 Through an agreement with WWF, GRID-Arendal collabo- rated with WWF-Uganda in mapping the hydropower po- tential of Uganda, including preparing interactive visual tools to demonstrate the local impact of hydropower in- vestments on the environment and society. GRID-Arendal and WWF both allocated NOK 200,000 to the project and critical data were collected through the Uganda Environ- ment Information Network. Under the project, GRID- Arendal prepared two printed maps showing the location of current and planned electricity facilities in Uganda. The maps, together with additional data layers, are also avail- able through an online interactive mapping tool using GeoIQ. 84 A team of Ugandan experts were subsequently trained on how to use and update both the print and on- line maps.  Mapping hydropower potential on the upper nile (only 2012)

While there was hope that WWF-Uganda will use the on- line interactive map to argue for or against investments in hydropower infrastructure in the country, there are also fears that the Geo-IQ platform may not be available in the long-term following its acquisition by ESRI who are keen to promote the commercial GIS software.  Environment and crime (only 2013) Transnational organized environmental crime involves five key areas: i) Illegal logging and deforestation; ii) Illegal fisheries; iii) Illegal mining and trade in minerals including conflict diamonds; iv) Illegal dumping and trade in haz- ardous and toxic waste; and v) Illegal trade and poaching of wildlife and plants. These forms of transnational crime causes financial losses estimated at USD 90-230 billion every year, potentially twice as much as global ODA. They therefore have devastating effects on developing econo- mies. In 2013, GRID-Arendal used MFA funds to support the developing environmental crime programme. Additional co-funding of over NOK 60 million was secured for the period 2013-2015 from multiple partners. 85 GRID-Arendal, together with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was granted NOK 15 million by NORAD for the three-year project ‘Organised Forest Crime (ORGFORC) – Combatting Transnational Organ- ized Forest Crime and Corruption’. The purpose of the project is to reduce corruption and organized crime as- sociated with illegal logging, thereby paving the way for REDD funds and investments to also achieve significant sustainable development impacts on poverty reduction and better governance. The Convention on Interna- tional Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is also a collaborating partner. In addition, GRID-Arendal has developed together with INTERPOL a ‘Law Enforcement Assistance to Forests (LEAF)’ project to support government agencies and INTERPOL in train- ing frontline police officers, investigators and National Central Bureaus, as well as supplying information on ille- gal logging to improve international enforcement opera- tions. 86 GRID-Arendal assists with information gathering and research to help inform INTERPOL and collaborat- ing countries. 85. Other funders include the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL, World Customs Organization (WCO), The United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN REDD), UNDP, UNEP and FAO and a range of countries including the USA. 86. http://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Environmental-crime/ Projects/Project-Leaf

82. http://www.grida.no/publications/land-acquisition/ 83. Organizations that have been contacted include Noragric, Norwegian Research Council, Swiss Development Cooperation, and the International Institute for Environment and Development. 84. http://geoiq.grida.no/maps/1072

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