“Ecosystem-based adaptation 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.” CBD 2009
Institutional Background
People worldwide depend on functioning ecosystems and the services they provide, such as soil fertility, clean water and food. This is especially true for poor people in developing countries, whose livelihoods are closely linked to natural resources. Climate change is one of the major causes of changes and deterioration in ecosystem services and its impact will most likely increase in the future (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). At the same time, functioning ecosystems help people to mitigate and more importantly to adapt to climate change – this is referred to as “ecosystem-based adaptation” (EbA). For instance, moors act as natural water storages, buffering increasing amounts of sudden rainfalls and mangroves act as natural barriers against storms and floods in coastal regions. In the UK, for example, more than 3.000 ha of farmland were converted back into moors and wetlands as a means of reducing flooding events.[1]
History of EbA
While humans have always benefited from nature and used ecosystem services to adapt to changing conditions, the concept of EbA is fairly new. The related “ecosystem based management” rose in relevance and gained support after the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). The idea of ecosystem-based adaptation originally arose in NGO and intergovernmental organization circles as “natural solutions to climate change”.
Rio
EbA has evolved into an important link between the three Rio Conventions: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Of the three Rio conventions, the CBD concerns itself the most with EbA. Parties to the CBD first committed to adaptation activities during COP 5 held in 2000. In particular, decision V/3 on marine and coastal biodiversity included adaptation to climate change within the framework of ‘priority areas for action on coral bleaching’. Another important milestone is the agreement on the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in 2010, which include the commitment to minimize “the multiple
anthropogenic pressures on vulnerable ecosystems” (target 10) and enhance “ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to climate change mitigation and adaptation” (target 15). The concept of EbA was first introduced into the UNFCCC in 2008 at the COP 14, with the issue being pushed by NGOs such as IUCN, TNC and others.
Cancun
Under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010) parties are encouraged to build the resilience of ecological systems, and slow onsetting events such as biodiversity loss, forest degradation and desertification are addressed. In this context, UNCCD has been engaged in enhancing the adaptive capacities of dryland populations to highly variable environmental conditions.</font> After several years of discussion on definitions and content, current efforts strive to provide information on the implementation and financing of EbA measures and to fill knowledge gaps on the links between climate change and biodiversity (see recent decisions at CBD COP 10). A database on EbA approaches was mandated in the context of the UNFCCC Nairobi work programme in 2011. Under the same programme a workshop on ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation is to be held in 2013 in cooperation with the CBD and UNCCD, which will consider the synergies and lessons learned through the implementation of the three Rio Conventions.
EbA in international environmental negotiations
| 2000
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First commitment of CBD parties to adaptation activities during COP 5
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| 2005
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Millennium Ecosystem Assessment highlights importance of ecosystem based management
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| 2008/9
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Concept of EbA introduced to UNFCCC COP 14
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| 2009
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CBD COP 9, Bonn Germany: decision on integrating climate-change activities within the programmes of work of the Convention
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| 2010
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Agreement on Aichi Biodiversity Targets under CBD Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020
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EbA in GIZ
The most important donors for EbA-related activities in Germany are the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Adaptation to climate change is part of the BMZ portfolio on "climate policy and climate financing" and of growing interest due to its strong interlinkage with poverty alleviation. Funding is mostly provided by the Energy and Climate Fund (EKF) and the International Climate Change Initiative (IKI). Within IKI the BMU has focused on the "green sector" since 2008 and EbA was consequently introduced to the funding portfolios as a priority area in 2010 and 2011 (see selection procedure).</font> In GIZ the implementation of EbA varies from EbA as a cross-sectoral issue in mainstreaming adaptation to climate change into development to single EbA components, measures or specific EbA projects. Already several ongoing GIZ projects practice EbA measures in the context of natural resource management without labelling them as such (see section "Must haves and nice to haves").
In general, the EbA approach under the BMZ is usually part of a broader adaptation strategy, visible in EbA components in mainstreaming or pilot projects. For example in the project "Capacity Building for Collaborative Management of Coastal Wetlands in Soc Trang" in Vietnam, EbA is mainstreamed within cross-sectoral cooperation while further local measures for wetlands conservation have been piloted. EbA projects commissioned by the BMU-IKI are generally projects with a specific focus on EbA measures for climate change adaptation. Examples include projects such as "Coastal and marine biodiversity and capacity development for adaptation to climate change" in Costa Rica, "Biodiversity and climate change in the Atlantic Forest Biome in Brazil" and the currently planned "Flood and drought prevention through ecosystem-based adaptation in watersheds" project in Thailand.
Overview of EbA Promoting Institutions at International Level
A large number of actors have taken up EbA in their measures and approaches and their numbers are steadily growing as awareness for EbA is increasing. These range from donors, international, national and regional NGOs, to implementing agencies, research institutions and global networks. Some actors have integrated EbA as a core activity. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Conservation International (CI), the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the Nature Conservancy (TNC), for example, support various projects, research studies and mainstreaming of EbA. In response to the 2010 UNFCCC Cancun Agreements, a €10 million EbA flagship program in mountain ecosystems is being funded by the BMU (see above). The program was initiated as a joint effort with IUCN, UNEP, UNDP looking at the impacts of climate change on Mountain Ecosystems in Nepal, Peru and Uganda and reducing their vulnerability by promoting EbA options.
The Ecosystems and Livelihoods Adaptation Network (ELAN) partnership (IUCN, WWF, CARE, IIED) is active in different areas:
informing policy (guidelines) good practices capacity building (training materials and workshops) strengthening science and knowledge developing networks (see Social Networking Analysis Report 2011)
Furthermore, a new ‘EBA Decision Support Framework’ is under development by UNEP and partners to assist national planners and decision makers select, design, implement and track EbA approaches as part of a wider adaptation strategy (Ecosystem based Adaptation Guidance). Universities and research institutes like CIFOR, the International Centre for Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education (CATIE) and UN World Conservation Monitoring Centre UNEP-WCMC) play an important role in the collection of evidence for EbA and filling knowledge gaps. Together with GIZ, for example, the Centre for Economics and Ecosystem Management at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development has developed the MARISCO methodology, which aims to assess the vulnerability of conservation sites. In coordination with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), GIZ published the study "Enhancing Adaptation of Forests and People in Africa GIZ is also implementing EbA measures in cooperation with other international institutions such as "Strategies to Climate Change in Ecuador and Colombia" which is currently planned together with GIZ and IUCN. This is particularly applicable in the context of BMU-IKI projects.
Concept and Methodology
Conceptual Background
Ecosystem-based adaptation was defined as reducing the vulnerability to climate change of people through the sustainable use and conservation of ecosystems. In contrast to common natural resources and biodiversity management approaches, EbA purposefully assesses and selects measures in the context of an overall adaptation strategy. Although EbA measures use ecosystems to adapt to climate change, EbA still is an anthropogenic approach which particularly utilizes the ability of ecosystems to provide so called ecosystem services. They are also referred to as "Green Infrastructure" and can be seen as complementary to or substitutes of hard ("grey") infrastructural measures. For example, ecosystems are able to generate direct services such as food and building material, as well as indirect services like water purification or pollination. An overview of ecosystem services has been described by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, TEEB[2]
Apart from the intended outcomes, EbA measures tend to
generate additional co-benefits such as carbon sequestration
or biodiversity conservation, improved livelihood conditions
and are generally considered no-regret options.
To determine the specific requirements of maintaining or
restoring an ecosystem and its services, EbA ideally draws
on studies of climate change impacts or integrated climate
analyses, which make use of climate scenarios and models.
Worldwide surveys have shown that restoration and conservation
of ecosystems are generally very cost effective and
highly profitable for maintaining ecosystem services. In
comparison to the economic loss caused by loss of ecosystem
services, the cost-benefit ratio of return of investment of
appropriate restoration of ecosystems may be as high as 3 to
75, depending on the ecosystem context and the measures
taken (UNEP 2010, 6). For example, a study in Vietnam
shows that planting or maintaining mangrove forests to act
as breakwaters for coastal protection is significantly cheaper
(costing 1.1 million USD for 12,000 hectares) than mechanical
repair of wave-induced dike erosion (costing 3.7 million
USD annually) (IFRC: World Disasters Report 2002, 95).
Climate change manifests itself in many different ways, such
as changed patterns in temperature, precipitation or seasons.
Adaptation approaches therefore have to regard the interdependencies
between the climatic, ecological, social and
economic dimensions. The proposed EbA approach, being
based on elaborate cause-and-effect chains, as explained in
the following section, enables the integration of adaptation
benefits right from the planning phase. Thus it is drawing
adaptive capacity from ecosystem and ecosystem services
as well as strengthening their resilience against climate
change.
It is important to differentiate between utilizing ecosystem
services for an adaptation purpose (EbA) and adapting ecosystems
and ecosystem management to climate change in
order to maintain their services (adaptation of ecosystems).
The latter can be neccessary to sustain ecosystem services
under the pressure of a changing climate.
Analytical Framework
EbA measures need to be founded on a sound analysis of
the complex interdependencies between ecosystems, the
flow of ecosystem services and dependent communities. In
order to distinguish the cause-and-effect relationships of
driving forces, pressures, states, impacts and responses within
these spheres, the DPSIR conceptual framework is being
applied.
In the following, this framework will be explained and illustrated
with the aid of two GIZ projects from Vietnam.
The example is simplified for better understanding.
The projects “Sustainable Management of Coastal Forest
Ecosystems in Bac Lieu Province” (2009-2011) and “Management
of Natural Resources in the Coastal Zone of Soc
Trang Province”4 (ongoing since 2007) contain exemplary
EbA measures and have already shown positive results. Both
projects support the protection of coastal zones through the
restoration and management of coastal mangrove forests.
The pressure of climate change threatens the coastal regions
of Vietnam with a sea level rise of up to 0.6 m by
2100, increased temperatures, changed seasonal patterns,
and more intense and more frequent tropical cyclones. Additional
anthropogenic pressures are economical (intensive
rice farming, rapid expansion of lucrative shrimp farms
directly bordering on mangrove sanctuaries), political (overlapping
responsibilities and lack of administrational capacities
of authorities) and social (poverty, lack of cooperation
of different actors) causes.
In a healthy state, coastal mangrove forests provide nurseries
and habitats for fish, molluscs, crustaceans, birds,
insects, mammals and reptiles, protection of the landward
zone, flood mitigation and stabilization of the groundwater
level. The special root system of mangrove trees slows
the water flow, traps sediment, thus stabilizing the soil and
alleviating storm and wave damage. Further, they shelter
bacteria which break down ammonium and nitrate, allowing
for a higher stocking density of shrimps without the
use of chemical additives and consequently reduce the total
default risk. Their shade also helps to moderate heat spells
in shrimp ponds. However, due to anthropogenic and climate-
related pressures, the mangrove ecosystem is partially
degraded and increasingly vulnerable, subsequently causing
the ecosystem services to decline.
The impact is present in the decreased protection of settlements
and agriculture, the receding shoreline, the advance
of salty sea water further inland, causing groundwater and
soil to become saline and eventually leading to hypersaline
flats. In turn, the production of biomass as well as growth
and seedling recruitment are declining, likely leading to a change in species composition. The continuous decline of
mangrove forests and resulting salination of agricultural
land pushes land use changes from rice to shrimp farming.
The already little diversified local economy is even more at
risk of income losses through shrimp epidemics.
As a response, in Vietnam the EbA measures focus on rehabilitation
and conservation activities as well as the promotion
of sustainable management practices. The rehabilitation
of degraded coastal forests through afforestation and seedling
protection restores declined ecosystem services. The indication
of protected zones where logging and shrimp farming
is not allowed, contributes to conserves the ecosystems.
Further, management schemes for mangrove forests and
shrimp farms have been introduced. They include fishing
regulations and promote alternative income opportunities
for local communities. These measures strengthen the resilience
of local communities by reducing the drivers of ecosystem
degradation and maintaining the ecosystem services.
== Helpful Documents on EbA
BfN (2011): Ecosystem–based approaches to
adaptation and mitigation — good practice examples
and lessons learned in Europe.
IUCN (2009): Ecosystem–based Adaptation:
A natural response to climate change.
Jones, Hole and Zavaleta (2012): Harnessing nature
to help people to adapt to climate change, in
Perspective. Nature climate change, 504-509.
Proact Network (2008): The Role of Environmental
Management and eco-engineering in Disaster Risk
Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.
UNEP, SREP (2012): A comparative analysis of
ecosystem–based adaptation and engineering options
for Lami Town, Fiji.
UNEP (2012): Ecosystem-Based Adaptation
Guidance, Moving from Principles to Practice.
UNEP, UNDP, IUCN, BMU (2012): Making the case for
ecosystem-based adaptation. Building resilience to
climate change.
Worldbank (2009): Convenient Solutions to an
Inconvenient Truth: Ecosystem–based Approaches to
Climate Change.
Mainstreaming of EbA
Guidebooks and manuals for EbA measures
AAK Net (2013): Using Ecosystem-based Adaptation to tackle Food insecurity
Envirocare (2008): Training Manual on Good Forest Governance at Community Level
IUCN (2006): Coral Reef Resilience and Resistance to Bleaching.
USAID (2009): Adapting to coastal climate change – a guidebook for development planners.
Schuhmann, M., Joosten, H. (2008): Global Peatland Restoration Manual.
Trees for the Future (2008): Agroforestry Training Program.
GIZ (2012): Integrating Adaptation Measures into Forest Management (internal working document)
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