Ecosystem Based Adaptation- The Only Way Forward

1. Ecosystem Based Adaptation- The Only Way Forward. People will be assisted in coping with the negative effects of climate change through an integrated, nature-based strategy that makes use of biodiversity and ecosystem services which is ecosystem based adaptation. People are becoming progressively threatened by human-caused climate change. Additionally, it is endangering the natural world and the advantages and services it provides, including nature's capacity to aid in our adaptation to climate change. In the first joint study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, changes in biodiversity have a significant impact on climate, particularly through effects on the nitrogen, carbon, and water cycles. In Asia and the Pacific, agricultural development supported by natural resources and the ecosystem services they provide is essential to many economies and ways of life. As a result, poverty has decreased and inclusive economic development has expanded and been sustained. Unfortunately, due to climate change and excessive use, natural resources are severely stressed. Households engaged in small-scale agriculture are the most susceptible to the effects of both climate change and the deterioration of ecosystem services. They also have the least access to resources for financing and resilience. Transformative change on a scale that has never been tried before is needed in order to mitigate environmental degradation and adapt to climate change while also taking into consideration their full socioeconomic implications. To address the interconnected crises of climate, nature, and pandemics, an integrated nature-based strategy is required that makes use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to assist humans in making accommodations for the negative effects of climate change. There are three ways to get concrete outcomes in this area. 1. The management and restoration of ecosystems must first be aimed at conservation in order to concurrently improve human well-being, ecosystems and biodiversity, and climate adaptability. For instance, water-sensitive urban planning is a relatively new strategy in Asian cities that are urbanising. It responds to many climate concerns by utilising the natural environment (such as land use, water management, and vegetation). An efficient ecosystem based adaptation to reduce flood risks, enhance water quality, and store groundwater involves integrating water flows into urban architecture and taking into account all parts of the water cycle. Rehabilitating their ponds, parks, and rivers allowed many towns to incorporate nature-based solutions, considerably enhancing their resilience to climate change and making their communities more livable. In many areas, agricultural development supported by natural resources and the ecosystem services they provide is essential to our economy and ways of life. 2. Develop incentive programmes to draw agribusiness companies and farmers into projects that are centred on ecosystems and climate resilience. This is perhaps the

2. most difficult task because funding projects related to adaptation and nature demands a business case. It is crucial to emphasise co-benefits in comparison to a business-as-usual scenario while developing nature-based solutions. Activities that conserve and restore land can increase water supply and quality, water flows that are more dependable, food production, biodiversity, and cultural services. To prioritise interventions based on cost-effectiveness and their ability to achieve the stated goals, these advantages must first be quantified. 3. Analyses of the economy and finances are necessary to determine their viability. The ability to completely capture all co-benefits, discounting, and time spans may all require adjustments to analytical approaches. Additionally, a framework is required in order to create specific policies, institutional coordination methods, and the capacity to guarantee successful implementation, monitoring, and feedback for changes. Green tea farming methods are encouraged by an Indian incentive system. The method uses an output-based eco-compensation system to encourage ecologically responsible and ecological farming. Farmers that reduce the amount of fertiliser and pesticide applications to enhance the condition of the soil and water receive financial grants. In order to offer rural communities alternative and more sustainable means of livelihood, the resulting organic products are certified and put on the market with the help of ngos working for the environment. 4. Only a portion of the problem can be solved by offering incentives for farming techniques that are more climate resilient. To have long-lasting outcomes, it is crucial to get rid of detrimental subsidies, like those that promote excessive fertiliser or unsustainable groundwater use. Water funding and transfer mechanisms can give upstream farmers other sources of income while lowering sediment and water pollution brought on by conventional agricultural methods. This could lower the cost of traditional water treatment later on, allowing towns to provide drinking water at a lower cost and enhancing environmental quality. 5. Financial markets constitute an underutilised but effective method for financing climate-resilient and sustainable initiatives on a broader scale. The size and impact of projects for environmental protection will expand with the accelerated influx of private funding. Due to the risk of investing in green initiatives and the internal rates of return associated with them, small and medium sized businesses in the agricultural sector sometimes lack access to commercial funding. If a business qualifies for equity financing and satisfies the requirements for green development and climate adaption goals, catalyst funds can help. Organic farming, rural demonstration projects to improve the local ecology, water resource rehabilitation, and solid waste management are some of the initiatives that may be funded. 6. De-risking techniques can be used by ngos working for environment to engage commercial banks, impact investors, and insurance companies. These techniques include project bundling, loan guarantees, first loss structuring, and more general favourable conditions. A nature-based recovery from the pandemic can help with both the biodiversity and climate challenges. Such a strategy must include realistic goals for preserving and reestablishing

3. ecological services while producing income and other sustainable forms of subsistence. In order to rebuild better and more sustainably for the future, it is essential to embrace nature.