Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project (Китайская Народная Республика - Тендер #71667893)

NOTICE AT-A-GLANCE

• Project ID

P177450

• Project Title

Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project

• Country

China

• Notice No

OP00435405

• Notice Type

Request for Expression of Interest

• Notice Status

Published

• Borrower Bid Reference

SXPMO-CS05

• Procurement Method

Consultant Qualification Selection

• Language of Notice

English

• Submission Deadline Date/Time

Apr 20, 2026 14:00

• Published Date

Mar 30, 2026

• CONTACT INFORMATION
• Organization/Department

Accounting Center of Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau

• Name

Xiaowen Hu

• Address

China

• City

• Province/State

China

• Postal Code

• Country

China

• Phone

+86-351-3126275

• Email

xmb1630@163.com

• Website

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Country: People"s Republic of China

Name of Project: Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project

Loan No.: 9843-CN

Assignment Title: Critical Habitat Assessment

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): SXPMO-CS05

The Chinese Government has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for Critical Habitat Assessment Consulting Services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include collecting relevant data within the assessment area, identifying important habitats within the project area, and determining the assessment targets, scope, and content, the assessment of the ecosystem quality and suitability of the habitat of the target species, the impact of human activities on the connectivity, fragmentation and threat level of the habitat of the target species, the determination of habitats of the above importance based on the spatial coupling analysis of ecological sensitivity and stress factors, and the proposal of protection, restoration or sustainable utilization measures. The assessment includes the current ecological environment quality, ecosystem function and value of important habitats, the degree of threat to habitats, and recommendations for measures to protect important habitats. The CHA should be reviewed by the World Bank. The consulting service period shall commence on the date of contract signing and continue until May 31, 2031, covering the entire project implementation period. For specific details, please refer to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest.

The Accounting Center of Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: 1. From an independent consulting agency (such as a research institute, consulting company, university or other non-governmental organization, etc.), with no affiliation or conflict of interest with the Borrower and the project implementation unit; 2. The consulting unit must have at least three ecological field experts; 3. Have technologies and equipment for biodiversity and species habitat monitoring, remote sensing, and GIS. 4. Ensure adequate staffing and ensure they are able to work on site in accordance with the project’s requirements. The number of experts conducting this critical habitat assessments task shall not be less than two. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.13, 3.15, and 3.16 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub- consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant’s Qualifications Based Selection (CQS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (office hours: 9:00-12:00,13:30-18:00).

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 14:00 (Beijing Time) of April 20, 2026 .

• In person, or by mail: 15th Floor, South Building, Jiuling Plaza, No.21, Xisanhuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China
• Or by e-mail: maohongyan@chinatendering.com.cn.

The Client:

Accounting Center of Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau （Project Management Office of Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project）

Attn: Xiaowen Hu, Engineer

Add: Room 520, 5th Floor, Building A, Lihua Building, No.1 Changfeng West Street, Wanbailin District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province

Postal Code: 030000

Tel: +86-351-3126275

E-mail: xmb1630@163.com

The Client’s Agent:

China Capital Tendering Co., Ltd.

Attn: Hongyan Mao, Project Manager

Add: 15th Floor, South Building, Jiuling Plaza, No.21, Xisanhuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China

Postal Code: 100089

Tel: +86-10-67409997

Email: maohongyan@chinatendering.com.cn

Attachment:

Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project

Terms of Reference for Critical Habitat Assessment

This document provides guidance for the critical habitat assessment during the implementation of the World Bank-financed Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”).

• Project Introduction

1.1 Project content:

The project includes three components: ecosystem restoration and management, supporting environment for biodiversity conservation, and project management, involving a total of 8 aspects and more than 80 specific sub-projects. The development goal of the project is to restore key habitats in target areas in Shanxi Province and strengthen in situ and ex situ conservation of key species.

The decomposition goals to be achieved are:

1) The habitat of the North China leopard in Shanxi Province is effectively protected and restored, and China"s first North China leopard conservation green list and OECM demonstration site is established;

2) Important wetland systems in Shanxi are effectively protected and restored, and the habitats of key protected birds are greatly improved;

3) Shanxi"s wildlife monitoring and rescue system is improved and optimized, and the scientific and standardized construction of biodiversity protection is promoted in an orderly manner;

4) The ex situ conservation of rare plants in Taihang Mountains has achieved initial results, and the biodiversity science popularization and public education system has been improved.

The construction content of this project mainly focuses on three types: ecosystem restoration and management, supporting environment for biodiversity conservation, and project management. It includes habitat restoration and habitat connectivity restoration, protection of protected species (including Taihang Mountain Botanical Garden, wildlife rescue, capacity building for the protection of North China leopard populations, and the construction of a conservation research base for North China leopards, etc.), biodiversity monitoring and supervision, public awareness and nature education (including the construction of ecological experience or study bases, biodiversity science education halls, and field education points, etc.), training and knowledge management, etc.

1.2 Project implementation scope:

The project is located in the southern and central regions of Shanxi Province, mainly in Zhongtiao Mountain at the southern end of Taihang Mountains, and also involves four counties (cities) including Heshun County of Jinzhong City, Yangcheng County of Jincheng City, Hejin City of Yuncheng City, and Wenxi County.

The subprojects implemented by Zhongtiao Forestry Bureau are distributed in the forest farms under the jurisdiction of Zhongtiao Forestry Bureau and its office and management facilities in neighboring counties and towns. The corresponding administrative divisions involve nine counties, including Xia County, Wenxi County, Yuanqu County, and Jiangxi County in Yuncheng City, Yicheng County, Fushan County, and Anze County in Linfen City, and Qinshui County and Yangcheng County in Jincheng City.

1.3 Project construction period:

The project period is planned to be 5 years, from 2026 to 2030.

2. Background and purpose

This project will apply for World Bank loan. During the preparation period, an environmental impact assessment report (EIA, including an environmental management plan and various sub-management plans) and an environmental and social commitment plan (ESCP) were prepared. In accordance with the World Bank"s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and the requirements of the environmental impact assessment report on environmental management, the project should conduct external monitoring on the implementation of the environmental management plan (EMP, refer to Attachment 1 for details) during the project implementation period to monitor the environmental performance of the project and the implementation of environmental mitigation measures.

In addition, according to the recommendations of World Bank experts, a critical habitat assessment needs to be carried out in the project area during the project implementation period. On the basis of considering natural environmental variables, attention should be paid to the impact of human activities on endangered species, the habitat distribution of endangered species should be systematically identified, and used as baseline data to guide project implementation and provide precise scientific support for conservation actions.

To this end, this TOR is specially formulated which mainly includes the objective to conduct critical habitat assessment and prepare an assessment report.

3. Work content and working methods

In order to achieve the above objectives, the consultants need to carry out the following work.

Critical Habitat Assessment (CHA) is a systematic ecological assessment method used to identify and evaluate habitats that are important for the survival, reproduction and long-term persistence of target species (especially threatened or endangered species). By collecting existing data and combining it with transect and quadrat survey data obtained from the World Bank Shanxi Province Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project, this study analyzes the current status of biodiversity and natural resources, major threats, ecosystem functions, and values ​​of important habitats. The main purposes of CHA include:

• Identify and assess critical habitats that meet the definition of ESS6 in the World Bank ESF.
• Support conservation planning, providing a scientific basis for the delineation of nature reserves, ecological restoration, and development management.
• Reduce ecological risks and avoid or minimize the impact of human activities on important habitats and biodiversity.

3.1 Work Description

The main work content of CHA includes collecting relevant data within the assessment area, identifying important habitats within the project area, and determining the assessment targets, scope, and content, the assessment of the ecosystem quality and suitability of the habitat of the target species, the impact of human activities on the connectivity, fragmentation and threat level of the habitat of the target species, the determination of habitats of the above importance based on the spatial coupling analysis of ecological sensitivity and stress factors, and the proposal of protection, restoration or sustainable utilization measures.

The assessment includes the current ecological environment quality, ecosystem function and value of important habitats, the degree of threat to habitats, and recommendations for measures to protect important habitats. The CHA should be reviewed by the World Bank.

3.2 Scope of work

The scope of work is mainly concentrated in the southern section of Taihang Mountain, the central and southern parts of Shanxi Province, with the Shanxi Zhongtiaoshan State-owned Forest Management Bureau as the key construction area, and also involves parts of four counties (cities) including Heshun County of Jinzhong City, Yangcheng County of Jincheng City, Hejin City of Yuncheng City, and Wenxi County (the project area, refer to the figure below).

• Areas of Concern: Core habitats of species, such as breeding grounds, nursery grounds, wintering grounds, migratory stopover sites, foraging areas, and important wetlands for endangered species, as well as ecologically sensitive areas, such as biodiversity hotspots and endemic ecosystems.
• Human Activities: Habitats that may be affected by human activities.
• Survey Content: Through data collection and field surveys, combined with the research findings and monitoring activities of the World Bank Shanxi Province Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project on wildlife surveys and habitat quality assessments, baseline ecological surveys of species distribution, threat factor surveys, and seasonal supplementary surveys will be conducted. Based on existing infrared cameras and fixed survey transects, enhanced surveys will be carried out in specific small areas after snowfall or rain to collect footprint data; at the end of each season, interviews will be conducted with mountain residents, shepherds, etc., to understand the species sighting information, livestock predation incidents, and other human-biological conflict dynamics.

3.3 Work reference

The CHA assessment will be carried out in accordance with the relevant requirements of the World Bank"s ESF "Environmental and Social Standard 6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources", which defines critical habitats as areas of high importance or value in terms of biodiversity, including:

(a) Habitat of significant importance to Critically Endangered or Endangered species, as listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened species or equivalent national approaches and the research results of this project;

(b) Habitat of significant importance to endemic or restricted-range species;

(c) Habitat supporting globally or nationally significant concentrations of migratory or congregatory species;

(d) Highly threatened or unique ecosystems; and

(e) Ecological functions or characteristics that are needed to maintain the viability of the biodiversity values described above in (a) to (d).

​​​​​​​3.4 Method

• Data collection: species database (GBIF, IUCN Red List, eBird), protected area planning maps, remote sensing images (Landsat, Sentinel, Gaofen series), and literature review.
• Stakeholders consulted: ecological experts, forestry bureau, protected area managers, and local residents.
• Field Survey: Based on the World Bank Shanxi Province Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Project monitoring program, and according to existing transect and quadrat layouts and locations, surveys were conducted using infrared cameras installed by resource survey departments and birdwatching associations in various counties and cities to investigate important habitats for species such as the North China leopard and birds. Supplementary surveys of some transects and quadrats were conducted as necessary.
• Baseline Data: Baseline data for important habitats was obtained by reviewing literature, acquiring historical data from forestry departments, birdwatching associations, and other relevant departments, as well as downloading remote sensing imagery, digital elevation data, water system maps, road networks, and settlement distribution GIS data.
• Research method: Using the spatial analysis method in ArcGIS software to obtain altitude, more than 20 natural habitat factors, such as slope, aspect, ruggedness, and bioclimatic variables, are combined with satellite-interpreted human activity variables to simulate the actual habitat suitability of key species using the MaxEnt model. Predict priority conservation areas for key species and derive core habitats.

3.5 Report main content

• Summary: Core conclusions, identification of critical habitats, and conservation recommendations.
• Introduction: project background, evaluation basis, evaluation objectives and scope, etc.
• Methods and Data: Data sources, survey methods, model parameters, methods for identifying important habitats, etc.
• Biodiversity baseline.
• Identification and assessment of important habitats.
• Assessment results: Ecological environment quality status map, key habitat map, species-habitat suitability score and main threat factors.
• Protection recommendations: Provide protection recommendations based on the assessment results.
• Appendix: species list, survey point coordinates, references, and consultation records.

4. Work output and key submission time points

The outputs of this consulting service (both Chinese and English versions must be submitted) mainly include the following:

Table 1 Consulting service output and submission time

5. Work schedule

The consulting service period shall commence on the date of contract signing and continue until May 31, 2031, covering the entire project implementation period.

Table 2 Consulting service work schedule

6. Consultant Qualification Requirements

The project office selects environmental consultants according to the following conditions.

Environmental consulting unit and experts for critical habitat assessments must meet the following requirements:

For consulting unit:

• From an independent consulting agency (such as a research institute, consulting company, university or other non-governmental organization, etc.), with no affiliation or conflict of interest with the Borrower and the project implementation unit;
• The consulting unit must have at least three ecological field experts;
• Have technologies and equipment for biodiversity and species habitat monitoring, remote sensing, and GIS.
• Ensure adequate staffing and ensure they are able to work on site in accordance with the project’s requirements. The number of experts conducting this critical habitat assessments task shall not be less than two.

For consulting experts:

• Priority will be given to experts with more than 20 years of experience in ecological surveys;
• Possess the ability to undertake major scientific research projects and conduct assessments of ecosystem structure and function, species diversity, and plant and animal habitats.
• Have experience in conducting research or projects related to animal, plant, and habitat surveys, ecosystem function studies, and ecological surveys on Shanxi Province;
• Have conducted at least three biodiversity or ecological surveys or research projects in Shanxi Province which involve field investigations and transect/quadrat deployment;
• Have good English communication and writing skills.

The specific responsibilities and division of tasks for the project leader and experts include:

The project leader is responsible for: 1) developing the overall working methodology and roadmap; 2) leading the team in data collection, field investigation, and report preparation; and 3) participating in relevant World Bank communication meetings.

Other experts are primarily responsible for: 1) collecting data from multiple sources and consulting with relevant parties to obtain baseline data; 2) conducting field investigations of the evaluation area, and supplementing investigations of some transects and quadrats when necessary; 3) identifying and evaluating important habitats; 4) preparing critical habitat assessment report; and 5) revising report for World Bank review.

Attachment:

1. EIA

2. ESCP

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