Hunan South Dongting Lake Wetland Ecological Restoration and Sustainable Development Project
Hunan Province, People’s Republic of China, 2023 – 2024
Client: Asian Development Bank
Role: Technical Assistance Team
Project Background and Objectives
The South Dongting Lake Wetland Ecological Restoration and Sustainable Development Project is being prepared with a total proposed investment of approximately USD 300 million, including USD 150 million from the Asian Development Bank and USD 65 million from Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The project aims to strengthen integrated wetland management, restore critical wetland habitats and waterbird ecosystems, enhance climate-resilient and sustainable livelihoods, and improve institutional knowledge and capacity among regional stakeholders.
The project adopts a landscape approach, linking wetland and freshwater ecosystem restoration with sustainable agriculture and livelihood development. Climate resilience is strengthened by reducing exposure and sensitivity to climate risks and by improving restoration quality and adaptive management of wintering waterbird habitats in Dongting Lake.
SIET’s Role and Services
SIET was engaged as the technical assistance consultant to support full project preparation and implementation readiness. Key tasks include:
- Technical, economic, and financial feasibility assessment of proposed project components
- Review of environmental and social safeguard requirements and preparation of safeguard documents
- Social surveys, stakeholder consultations, and social and gender analyses, including development of mitigation measures addressing poverty, social inclusion, and gender impacts
- Review of domestic feasibility studies and provision of technical recommendations to align project design with ADB and national government requirements
- Design of innovative financing instruments, including a financial intermediary loan (FIL) and eco-compensation mechanisms, to support wetland protection and green agricultural development
- Capacity development for executing and implementing agencies on project management and implementation
- Preparation of all linked documents and supplementary documents required for the ADB Report and Recommendation of the President (RRP)
Outcomes and Value Added
The technical assistance establishes a robust financing and institutional framework that integrates ecological restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. SIET’s work ensures that the project is financially viable, safeguard-compliant, socially inclusive, and aligned with ADB’s climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development objectives.