Marta Pérez de Madrid Livelihoods and Climate Change Officer

1. Building adaptation solutions from EbA, Integrated Water Resources Management, good water governance and livelihoods in Mesoamerica Marta Pérez de Madrid Livelihoods and Climate Change Officer IUCN – Regional Office Central America, Mexico, Caribbean

2. Mesoamerica and climatechange • Rainy and dry season • Climate threats: • Intense rains • Hurricane season • Recurrent floods • Drought periods • Vulnerability: one of the most vulnerable regions in the world • Uncertainty: models not local, not for all sectors

3. Water, ecosystems & climate change • Water is at the centre • Ecosystems provide vital services… the ‘natural infrastructure’ for adaptation • What has IWRM taught us about adaptation and the role of ecosystems? • Where does EbA fit into adaptation planning?

4. IWRM and adaptationstrategies Sustainable river basin management is implemented to strengthen equitable economic development, food security, climate resilience and protection of the environment • Hydrology: appropriate observing pattern of change • Appropriate scope for adaptation thinking • Platform of stakeholders • Adaptation is learning by doing

5. EbAbuildsadaptationsolutionsforwaterresourcesmanagement Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change*. • Assuringecosystemservices and natural infraestructure • Reduces the vulnerability of local communities to climate change. Sedimentation Rural tourism Cocoaproduction Transport * CONNECTING BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION- Report of the Second Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

6. Actionontheground in a transboundarycontext • Transboundary pilot sites • Indigenous territory

7. DATA ACTION Expectedseveredrought Expectedsevereflooding Observational data + CRiSTAL Ecosystem Based adaptation strategy Floodmodel Lessons Recommendations for policy makers

8. EbAstrategies at microbasin level Livelihoods improvement • Protection of ecosystem services • Building capacities • Strengthening local water governance

9. EbAstrategies at microbasin level • Building capacities Livelihoods improvement

10. EbAstrategies at microbasin level • Building capacities • Protection of ecosystem services

11. EbAstrategies at microbasin level • Building capacities • Strengthening local water governance

12. LessonsfromEbAactionplansimplementation in Mesoamerica • CRisTALtoolapplicationwas crucial forawareness raisingabout climate change and the need of action with local stakeholders • An integrated strategy, supporting local water governance and livelihood strengthening links • Micro basin committees are a great channel of communication and an accurate level of water management. • Supporting local livelihoods facilitates actions in ecosystem services conservation • Monitoring actions require follow up (min 5 years)

13. ThanksEcosystembasedsolutions are ourbestoptionto cope withclimatechange Marta Pérez de Madrid Livelihoods and Climate Change Officer martaclaudia.perez@iucn.org IUCN – Regional Office Central America, Mexico, Caribbean