Ecosystem-based Adaptation: Enhancing Resilience and Sustainability

1. Content • Why ecosystems and EbA ? • EbA definition and concept evolution and • Making the case for EbA • Reviewing past and ongoing EbA to inform EbA implementation • Learning from current EbA implementation • Conclusions

2. Why ecosystems matter? • 1 billion people in over 100 developing countries are locked in the cycle of poverty and environmental degradation made worse by the effects of climate change; • Healthy ecosystems and their services provide opportunities for sustainable economic prosperity while at the same time providing defense against the negative effects of climate change. • 60% (15 out of 24) of the ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably….” (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. ) • Impacts of CC being felt in different ecosystems

3. Rivers running dry…drought

4. Invasive species

5. Degraded drylands

6. EbA definition and term • EbAusually is defined as: • Ecosystems Management+ Climate Riskor • Resilient ecosystem management • CBD: “the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change” • UNEP : “harnesses the natural climate resilience of ecosystems as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people and communities minimize the negative impacts and benefit from the positive effects of climate variability and change” • IUCN definition: ‘the use of the biodiversity as part of the overall adaptation strategy to help people adapt to adverse impacts of climate change” • EbA term: Ecosystem-based Adaptation/ Ecosystem based Approaches for Adaptation /Ecosystem Approaches to Adaptation / Ecosystem Based Approaches

7. Evolution of EbAconcept EbA included in CBD CoP10 Decision; UNFCCC CoP16 Enhancement of socio-economic/ecological resilience prioritised 2005 MA/MDGs 2008 2012 2009 2011 2013 UNFCCC EBA workshop in Tanzania GEF Guidelines for EbA projects SBSTA 34 requests compilation of EbA info; UNFCCC CoP17 calls for technical workshop** UNFCCC Nairobi Work Progamme + CBD Poznan, UNFCCC CoP EbA is implicitly mentioned under CBA Implicit use by CBD CBD 2nd Ad hoc technical expert group on biodiversity & Climate change (AHTEG)* 2010

8. Progress on the ground • A large range of adaptation activities using EBA approaches being implemented in various ecosystems. • Wealth of knowledge for EBA exists though dedicated ‘EBA’ projects are few. • Communities have been using ecosystems (Mangroves and wetlands) for disaster mitigation over decades. • Using past/on-going work to inform implementation of EBA • Tools, methods are being developed • Evidence is emerging • EbA has been implemented by a wide range of actors from conservation, environment, development and disaster management communities • UNEP’s work on adaptation is focused around EbA flagship programe

9. Learning from EbA implementation • EbAhas lower cost and more effective than alternatives in some cases, • especially in the long term, and local communities can do this themselves; • EbA has multiple benefits – livelihoods, aesthetics/spiritual, biodiversity; climate change mitigation benefits. • Ecosystems can adapt naturally whereas engineering constructions do not (should avoid mal-adaptation)

10. UNEP’s EbA Flagship: Decision Support Framework - An Planning Tool A: Setting the Adaptive Context What does your system look like? How is it used? Management concerns? Adaptation goals? B: Selecting Appropriate Options for Adaptation EBA approaches available? What approaches are suitable for your context? D: Adaptive implementation Monitor Reflect and adapt Contribute to evidence-base Sound decision-making C: Design for Change How will the measure be implemented? How will you know if the measures are effective?

11. Entry points for EBA to the NAP process • EBA approach can be well acomodated under the NAPs, given the long term perspective of both • Ecosystems respond slowly to the restoration efforts and therefore long term research is needed to prepare protocols of EBA interventions. • EBA and NAPs are built around many common principles • EBA can help meet the key NAP principles • Some possible entry points to the steps of the LEG guidelines: • Step B.2: Integrate ecosystems into national climate change vulnerability assessments • Step C.2.A: Undertake an ecosystem-based approach to defining a strategy for adaptation implementation • Step C.1.A: Build synergies between NAPs and other national goals related to other multilateral environmental agreements • Step B.3 Assess the environmental impacts of adaptation actions

12. Examples of UNEP-LDCF adaptation projects 12

13. Evidence has started emerging: Lami town project –cost of adaptation actions

14. 346 km long 50 years research : 178 species tested (88 grew up and 3 were selected: Calligonum/Haloxylon/Tamarix 16 years to build from 1991 to 2006 planted in rows, in belts of 72-78 meters wide on each side of the road Drip irrigated with underground water which reaches the salinity of sea water 3128 hectares of the desert have been converted into the Green Wall 20 million plants planted over 2 years Cost: ~$100,00 per hectare, with total maintenance cost of ~$4.7 million per year Cost of removing the sand manually: $15 million per year. Total investment over a 20 year period: ~$125 million Cost of removing the sand: ~$300 million China’s green wall in the heart of the Takalamakan Desert

15. Conclusions from EbA implementation • EbA provides numerous opportunities for natural solutions to manage the impacts of climate change • EbA provides social, economic, environmental co-benefits • Requires comparatively small investment relative to long term benefits • Incorporates best science and local knowledge and fosters knowledge generation and diffusion and strategic monitoring. • Is participatory, transparent, and culturally appropriate while embracing gender and equity appropriately. • Key challenges restrain implementation (lack of information, lack of financial resources institutional resistance, temporal limitations, scale ),

16. Thank you!