Biosecurity Implementation Framework for the Management of Biological Resources in Moldova The project is to strengthen institutional biosecurity frameworks in the management of invasive alien species and living modified organisms through a coordinated risk analysis measures in line with the Convention of Biological Diversity, Cartagena Protocol, its Supplementary Protocol and relevant Invasive Alien Species regulations in Moldova. Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency. The project will contribute to socioeconomic benefits at the national and local levels in supporting the achievement of global environment benefits and adaptation benefits (Table 5).  Table 5. Socioeconomic benefits to be delivered by the project at the national and local levels in supporting the achievement of global environment benefits and adaptation benefits.       Benefits    Benefits Baseline (B)    Alternative (A)    Increment (A-B)        Global benefits    Under the baseline scenario, priority actions identified in the NBSAP would likely remain unfulfilled, as gaps in institutional authority and coordination, and limited resources, would make implementation highly difficult. Institutional will, mechanisms and resources to effectively engage with productive sectors that are key IAS/LMOs pathways would remain weak, and most IAS/LMOs management would remain focused solely on protecting economic resources with little regard for biodiversity conservation. Understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on IAS/LMOs dispersion will be absent, preventing decision makers from making effective long-term decisions on IAS/LMOs prevention and control. In the islands, IAS/LMOs management would continue on a case-by-case basis, without a setting of priorities or a systematic approach, and without consistent cooperation among stakeholders or mechanisms for sharing information nationally or internationally. Protected Areas would continue to lack technical expertise or models for IAS/LMOs management. In the absence of this project, globally significant biodiversity in Moldova, including native/endemic species and natural ecosystems at vulnerable island and mainland PA sites, will continue to be threatened by the introduction, establishment and spread of IAS/LMOs.    The project, which counts on financing from the GEF, government institutions will remove key barriers for the strengthening of the management of IAS/LMOs that impact biodiversity at entry and distribution points as well as high priority conservation areas (PAs) within Moldova. The GEF project will replace the baseline piecemeal approach with a coordinated and effective IAS/LMOs management framework for the country. As a complement to national baseline investments in IAS/LMOs policy and legal development, inspection and quarantine functions, and site-level eradications, the GoM is seeking GEF support to develop improved IAS/LMOs management systems that protect Moldova’s globally significant biodiversity. In line with the GEF focal area strategy for IAS/LMOs, the project will implement a systemic approach to IAS/LMOs management while also addressing IAS/LMOs in the wild species trade, aquaculture, forest and wildlife products sectors and in targeted areas of high biodiversity value and significant IAS/LMOs threat. Project activities will be oriented towards maximizing limited national resources to address the most important elements of the threat posed by IAS/LMOs. As such, the project will place special emphasis on early detection and prevention systems, as well as the use of risk analyses to identify IAS with the most potential environmental and economic impact on Moldova, in order to establish clearly agreed priorities for IAS/LMOs management interventions. This project represents critical support at a crucial time as Moldova endeavours to implement the new National Biodiversity Strategy and its Action Plan 2030 (NBSAP) in line with the post 2020 GBF both for the resources and expertise it.   The GEF increment will strengthen IAS/LMOs management at entry and distribution points, and high priority conservation areas, throughout Moldova. This will produce benefits for globally significant species and ecosystems nationally, including: mammals (75), birds (281), reptiles (14), amphibians (14), freshwater fish species (90), invertebrates species (15000), including insects species (13000) and plants species (5 568), from which vascular plants species (2 044). Moldova also numerous crop cultivars that represent a resource of immense importance in terms of global food security. At the site level, the GEF increment will help to conserve important biodiversity at Protected Areas, including over species of flora and fauna, including Red Book endangered species. The project also will help to prevent forest degradation and allow natural reforestation to take place, thereby adding to global CO2 sequestration capacity. The project also will produce global benefits by helping Moldova to implement the NBSAP of Moldova and its action plan, thereby fulfilling its obligations as a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and by strengthening the national contribution to the global Aichi Targets, specifically Target 4 on sustainable production, Target 6 on marine and aquatic species, Target 7 on agriculture, aquaculture and forestry, Target 9 on invasive alien species, and Target 19 on threatened by the introduction, establishment and spread of IAS/LMOs and will provide and for its catalytic effect in bringing other resources and increased attention to the issue of IAS/LMOs knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity.        National and local benefits    Under the baseline scenario, efforts to guide development of targeted production sectors (aquaculture, trade, forest and wildlife products) in the prevention, inspection, quarantine and response to IAS/LMOs introduction and spread will be stymied by a lack of clear regulatory authority, insufficient technical tools and processes, poor understanding of the economic impacts of specific IAS/LMOs and the costs for different IAS/LMOs management options, and lack of partnerships between regulatory authorities and business associations and companies. As a result, the focus of governmental and private stakeholders will stay on short-term economic benefits, and import, production and distribution of IAS/LMOs in these sectors will proceed without weighing the costs and benefits of various activities. In this scenario, economic development will frequently be unsustainable and incur significant opportunity costs for Moldova by damaging/destroying natural ecosystem functions and values. Over time, this will represent a loss to both the national economy and to local stakeholders.    The project will engage a variety of stakeholders in processes to plan for and implement IAS/LMOs management. These stakeholders will include associations, companies and individual producers in the trade, aquaculture, forest and wildlife products sectors, including importers, traders, producers, and distributors, who will be engaged in developing improved prevention and control measures for IAS relevant to their productive activities. Other relevant stakeholders will be managers of operations in these sectors, as well as agriculture and livestock producers and other local residents at selected PA sites, who will be provided with training and information on strategies (biosecurity measures; replacement of exotic species with native species or transboundary movement of LMOs) for improved IAS/LMOs management in their operations and practices, as well as guidance on new regulations and restrictions relevant to their activities. Stakeholders at Island sites, including local residents as well as fishermen and tourism operators, will be integral to the development and implementation of Island Biosecurity Plans, as well as the implementation of various IAS/LMOs control, eradication and monitoring programs. In all of these national and local level activities, relevant stakeholders will have the opportunity to participate in IAS/LMOs planning, priority setting and management, so that IAS/LMOs management actions balance the needs of these groups and the biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning objectives of the project.    The project is expected to yield national and local benefits by supporting the more effective IAS/LMOs management of the trade, aquaculture, forest and wildlife products sectors, as well as strengthening IAS/LMOs management for specific productive sector operations in and around high priority conservation areas (islands and mainland PAs), all of which are responsible for various pathways and processes that contribute to the introduction and spread of IAS into Moldova. By reducing the impact of these sectors, through improved biosecurity processes, strengthened regulations, substitution of exotic species with native species, etc., the project will reduce or eliminate IAS/LMOs impacts that affect the social and economic well being of Moldova’s citizens. For example, aquatic ecosystems are highly impacted by IAS; invasive have supplanted native fish species on which local communities depend; and invasive aquatic plant species have a negative impact on water supply, contribute to premature accumulation of sediments in reservoirs and obstruction of water canals and water inlets in hydroelectric installations, etc., while also providing suitable habitat for disease vectors.  By safeguarding biological diversity and ecosystems and their services from these and other IAS/LMOs threats, the project will add considerably to local and national economic benefits.