The forest environment/ecosystem specialists will undertake environmental assessment tasks and prepare documents for cofinancing by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) or ADB's Climate Change Fund, if assessed eligible. The Project is tentatively classified as Environment Category B. The environment specialists will carry out an environmental assessment based on ADB's Environment Policy (2002) and Environmental Assessment Guidelines (2003), and the PRC's relevant laws and regulations. The environment specialists' work will include, but not be limited to, the following tasks: (i) Review the environmental examination document prepared by EA to ensure that it complies with the Government's requirements and ADB's Environment Policy and relevant requirements, and reassess and confirm the environmental categorization of the Project. (ii) Collect secondary data; assess potential environmental impacts and public benefits and economic values of the Project, especially the global environmental benefits; and undertake public consultations with stakeholders, as necessary, to improve the quality of the environmental document. (iii) Discuss with EA and prepare mitigation measures and management plan, especially a soil and water conservation scheme and the associated cost, and ensure their incorporation into the project design. (iv) Following ADB's requirements, assist JPG in preparing an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and prepare a Summary IEE based on the findings of the environmental examination. (v) Review the damages resulting from the snow storms in the project area and current rehabilitation activities. Recommend methodology and activities to improve the rehabilitation and the project plantation. Assess the rehabilitation goals and activities, estimate the costs of rehabilitation and identify funding gaps, and evaluate the eligibility of the rehabilitation work for GEF financing. (vi) Prepare a GEF Project Identification Form and Request for Project Preparation Grant for the application of GEF financing, if assessed eligible. | 