View source for Ecosystem-based adaptation

'''Ecosystem-based adaptation''' ('''EBA''') encompasses a broad set of approaches to [[Climate change adaptation|adapt to climate change]]. They all involve the [[Ecosystem management|management of ecosystems]] and their services to reduce the vulnerability of human communities to the [[Effects of global warming|impacts of climate change]]. The [[Convention on Biological Diversity]] defines EBA as "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 on humans|effects of climate change]]".<ref name=":0">CBD (2009). Connecting Biodiversity and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Report of the Second Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change. Montreal, Technical Series No. 41, 126 pages.</ref>

EbA involves the [[Habitat conservation|conservation]], [[Ecosystem management|sustainable management]] and [[Restoration ecology|restoration of ecosystems]], such as [[forest]]s, [[grassland]]s, [[wetland]]s, [[mangrove]]s or [[coral reef]]s to reduce the harmful impacts of climate hazards including shifting patterns or levels of rainfall, changes in maximum and minimum temperatures, stronger storms, and increasingly variable climatic conditions. EbA measures can be implemented on their own or in combination with engineered approaches (such as the construction of [[Reservoir|water reservoirs]] or dykes), hybrid measures (such as [[artificial reef]]s) and approaches that [[Adaptive capacity|strengthen the capacities]] of individuals and institutions to address [[climate risk]]s (such as the introduction of [[early warning system]]s).

EbA is nested within the broader concept of [[nature-based solutions]] and complements and shares common elements with a wide variety of other approaches to building the resilience of [[Socio-ecological system|social-ecological systems]].<ref>Cohen-Shacham, E., Walters, G., Janzen, C. and Maginnis, S. (eds.) (2016). Nature-based Solutions to address global societal challenges. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xiii + 97pp.</ref> These approaches include community-based adaptation, [[ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction]], [[climate-smart agriculture]], and [[green infrastructure]], and often place emphasis on using participatory and inclusive processes and [[Stakeholder engagement|community/stakeholder engagement]]. The concept of EbA has been promoted through international fora, including the processes of the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)]] and the [[Convention on Biological Diversity|Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)]]. A number of countries make explicit references to EbA in their strategies for adaptation to climate change and their [[Intended nationally determined contributions|Nationally Determined Contributions]] (NDCs) under the [[Paris Agreement]].<ref>Seddon, N., Hou-Jones, X., Pye, T., Reid, H., Roe, D., Mountain, D. and Rizvi, A.R. (2016). Ecosystem based adaptation: a win–win formula for sustainability in a warming world? IIED Briefing. London: International Institute for Environment and Development.</ref>

While the barriers to widespread uptake of EbA by public and private sector stakeholders and decision makers are substantial, cooperation toward generating a greater understanding of the potential of EbA is well established among researchers, advocates, and practitioners from nature conservation and sustainable development groups. EbA is increasingly viewed as an effective means of addressing the linked challenges of climate change and poverty in developing countries, where many people are dependent on natural resources for their lives and livelihoods.<ref name=":1">Reid, H. et al. (2019). Is ecosystem-based adaptation effective? Results and lessons learned from 13 project sites. ''In press.''</ref>

== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Three conceptual pillars of Ecosystem-based Adaptation.jpg|thumb|right|Figure 1. The interlinkages between EbA and other related approaches - climate change adaptation, people-centered development strategies and the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. UNEP 2019<ref>UNEP (2019) Making EbA an effective part of balanced adaptation strategies: introducing the UN Environment EbA briefing notes. UN Environment Guide to Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Projects and Programmes. Nairobi: UN Environment Programme.</ref> adapted from Midgley et al. 2012<ref>Midgley, G.F., Marais, S., Barnett, M. and Wågsæther, K., 2012. Biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development–harnessing synergies and celebrating successes. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Conservation South Africa (CSA), and Indigo Development and Change.</ref>.|471x471px]] -->  Overview ==
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) describes a variety of approaches for [[Climate change adaptation|adapting to climate change]], all of which involve [[Ecosystem management|the management of ecosystems]] to reduce the vulnerability of human communities to the [[Effects of global warming|impacts of climate change]] such as storm and flood damage to physical assets, coastal erosion, salinisation of freshwater resources, and loss of agricultural productivity. EbA lies at the intersection of [[climate change adaptation]], [[Economic development|socio-economic development]], and [[Conservation biology|biodiversity conservation]] (see Figure 1).

While ecosystem services have always been used by societies, the term Ecosystem-based Adaptation was coined in 2008 by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)]] and its member institutions at the UN Climate Change Convention Conference in 2008.<ref>UNFCCC. 2008. Ideas and proposals on the elements contained in paragraph 1 of the Bali Action Plan. Submissions from intergovernmental organizations. Addendum. FCCC/AWGLCA/2008/MISC.6/Add.2 </ref> EbA was officially defined in 2009 at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Conference.<ref name=":0" />

=== Adaptation to climate change hazards ===
Healthy ecosystems provide important [[ecosystem services]] that can contribute to climate change adaptation. For example, healthy mangrove ecosystems provide protection from the impacts of climate change, often for some of the world's most vulnerable people, by absorbing wave energy and storm surges, adapting to rising sea levels, and stabilizing shorelines from [[erosion]]. EbA focuses on benefits that humans derive from [[Ecosystem services|biodiversity and ecosystem services]] and how these benefits can be used for managing risk to climate change impacts. Adaptation to climate change is particularly urgent in [[Developing country|developing countries]] and many [[Small Island Developing States]] that are already experiencing some of the most severe impacts of climate change, have economies that are highly sensitive to disruptions, and that have lower adaptive capacity.

=== Making active use of biodiversity and ecosystem services ===
EbA can involve a wide range of ecosystem management activities that aim to reduce [[Climate resilience#Vulnerability|the vulnerability of people to climate change hazards]] (such as rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and stronger storms) through using nature. For example, EbA measures include coastal habitat restoration in ecosystems such as; coral reefs, mangrove forests, and marshes to protect communities and infrastructure from [[storm surge]]s; [[agroforestry]] to increase resilience of crops to droughts or excessive rainfall; [[Integrated water resources management|integrated water resource management]] to cope with consecutive dry days and change in rainfall patterns; and sustainable forest management interventions to stabilise slopes, prevent landslides, and regulate water flow to prevent flash flooding (see Table 1 and Figure 2).

=== Co-benefits of EbA ===
By deploying EbA, proponents cite that many other benefits to people and nature are delivered simultaneously. These correlated benefits include improved human health, [[Economic development|socioeconomic development]], [[food security]] and [[water security]], [[disaster risk reduction]], [[carbon sequestration]], and [[Habitat conservation|biodiversity conservation]]. For example, [[Restoration ecology|restoration of ecosystems]] such as forests and coastal wetlands can contribute to food security and enhance livelihoods through the collection of non-timber forest products, maintain watershed functionality, and sequester carbon to mitigate global warming. Restoration of [[Mangrove|mangrove ecosystems]] can help increase food and livelihood security by supporting fisheries, and reduce disaster risk by decreasing wave height and strength during hurricanes and storms.

== Implementation and examples ==

=== Examples of EBA measures and outcomes ===
Particular ecosystems can provide a variety of specific climate change adaptation benefits (or services). The most suitable EbA measures will depend on '''''local context''''', '''''the health of the ecosystem''''' and '''''the primary climate change hazard that needs to be addressed'''.'' The below table provides an overview of these factors, common EbA measures and intended outcomes.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Table 1. '''Examples of EBA measures and outcomes'''
'''The table shows climate hazards and their potential impacts on people, as well as examples of corresponding EbA measures. Many of the same climate hazards affect different ecosystems and have similar impacts on people, as such, the table illustrates the overlap between impacts, EbA measures and adaptation outcomes. Adapted from the [http://panorama.solutions/en PANORAMA database]'''
!Climate change hazards
!Potential impacts on people
!EBA measures by ecosystem type
!Expected outcomes
|-
|Erratic rainfall
Floods

Shift of seasons

Temperature increases

Drought

Extreme heat
|Higher flood risks for people and infrastructure;
Decrease in agricultural (and livestock) production;

Food insecurities;

Economic losses and/or insecurities;

Threats to human health and well-being;

Higher risk of heat strokes

Lack of water
|'''Mountains and forests:'''
* Sustainable mountain wetland management
* Forest and pasture restoration

'''Inland waters:'''
* Conservation of wetlands and peat lands
* River basin restoration
* Trans-boundary water governance and ecosystem restoration

'''Agriculture and drylands:'''
* Ecosystem restoration and agroforestry
* Using trees to adapt to changing seasons
* Intercropping of adapted species
* Sustainable livestock management and pasture restoration
* Sustainable dryland management

'''Urban areas:'''
* Green aeration corridors for cities
* Storm water management using green spaces
* River restoration in urban areas
* Green facades for buildings
|Improved water regulation;

Erosion prevention;

Improved water storage capacity;

Flood risk reduction;

Improved water provisioning;

Improved water storage capacity;

Adaptation to higher temperatures;
Heat wave buffering
|-
|Storm surges
Cyclones

[[Sea level rise]]

Salinisation

Coastal erosion
|Higher flood risks for people and infrastructure;

Higher storm and cyclone risk for people and infrastructure;

Decrease in agricultural (and livestock) production;

Food insecurities;

Economic losses and/or insecurities;
Threats to human health and well-being;
Lack of potable water
|'''Marine and coastal:'''
* [[Mangrove restoration]] and coastal protection
* Coastal realignment
* Sustainable fishing and mangrove rehabilitation
* Coastal reef restoration
|Storm and cyclone reduction;

Flood risk reduction;

Improved water quality;
Adaptation to higher temperatures
|}

=== Principles and standards for implementing EBA ===
Since the evolution of the concept and practice of EBA, various principles and standards have been developed to guide best practices for implementation.<ref>Andrade, A., Córdoba, R., Dave, R., Girot, P., Herrera-F, B., Munroe, R., Vergar, W. (2011). Draft Principles and Guidelines for Integrating Ecosystem-Based Approaches to Adaptation in Project and Policy Design: A Discussion Document. Retrieved from IUCN- CEM, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica.</ref><ref name=":2">FEBA (Friends of Ecosystem-based Adaptation) (2017). Making Ecosystem-based Adaptation Effective: A Framework for Defining Qualification Criteria and Quality Standards (FEBA technical paper developed for UNFCCC-SBSTA 46). Bertram, M., Barrow, E., Blackwood, K., Rizvi, A.R., Reid, H., and von Scheliha-Dawid, S. (authors). GIZ, Bonn, Germany, IIED, London, UK, and IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.</ref> The guidelines adopted by the CBD build on these efforts and include a set of principles to guide planning and implementation.<ref name=":3">CBD (2018). Decision Adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity: 14/5 Biodiversity and climate change. CBD/COP/DEC/14/5.</ref> The principles are broadly clustered into four themes:

# ''Building resilience and enhancing adaptive capacity through EBA interventions;''
# ''Ensuring inclusivity and equity in planning and implementation;''
# ''Consideration of multiple spatial and temporal scales in the design of EBA interventions;''
# ''Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of EBA, for example, by incorporating adaptive management, identifying limitations and trade-offs, integrating the knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities.''

These principles are complemented by safeguards, which are social and environmental measures to avoid unintended consequences of EBA to people, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Standards have also been developed to help practitioners understand what interventions qualify as EBA, including the elements of helping people adapt to climate change, making active use of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and being part of an overall adaptation strategy.<ref name=":2" />Challenges

Although interest in Ecosystem-based Adaptation has grown, and meta-analyses of case studies are demonstrating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of EbA interventions,<ref name=":1" /> there are recognized challenges that should be addressed or considered to increase adoption of the approach. These include:

'''Potential limitations of ecosystem services under a changing climate.''' One challenge facing EbA is the identification of limits and thresholds beyond which EbA might not deliver adaptation benefits and the extent ecosystems can provide ecosystem services under a changing climate.<ref>Roberts, D., Boon, R., Diederichs, N., Douwes, E., Govender, N., Mcinnes, A., et al. (2012). Exploring ecosystem-based adaptation in Durban, South Africa: "learning-by-doing" at the local government coal face. ''Environ. Urban.'' 24 (1), 167–195.</ref><ref name=":4">Nalau, J., Becken, S., and B. Mackey (2018). "Ecosystem-based Adaptation: A review of the constraints." ''Environmental Science & Policy'' 89: 357-364.</ref>

'''Difficulty in monitoring, evaluation, and establishing the evidence base for effective EbA.''' Confusion around what Ecosystem-based Adaptation means has led to an array of different methodologies used for assessments, and the lack of consistent and comparable quantitative measures of EbA success and failure makes it difficult to argue the case for EbA in socio-economic terms.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">Doswald, N., Munroe, R., Roe, D., Giuliani, A., Castelli, I., Stephens, J., et al. (2014). Effectiveness of ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation: a review of the evidence base. ''Clim. Dev.'' 6 (2), 185–201</ref> EbA research has also relied heavily on Western scientific knowledge without due consideration of local and traditional knowledge.<ref name=":5" /> In addition, it can be difficult to implement a plan for monitoring and evaluation due to potentially long timescales required to observe the impacts of EbA.

'''Governance and institutional constraints.''' Because EbA is a multi-sectoral policy issue, the challenges of governing and planning are immense.<ref name=":4" /> This is due in part to the fact that EbA involves both the sectors that manage ecosystems and those that benefit from ecosystem services.<ref name=":4" />

'''Economic and financial constraints.''' Broad macroeconomic considerations such as economic development, poverty, and access to financial capital to implement climate adaptation options are contributing factors to constraints impeding greater uptake of EbA.<ref name=":4" /> Public and multilateral funding for EbA projects thus far has been available through the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, the European Union, the Department for International Development of the Government of the United Kingdom, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Danish International Development Agency, among other sources.

'''Social and cultural barriers.''' A clear factor constraining EbA is varying perceptions of risks and cultural preferences for particular types of management approaches such as cultural preferences for what a particular landscape should look like.<ref name=":4" /> Potential stakeholders can hold negative perceptions about particular types of EbA strategies.<ref>Doswald, N. and Osti, M. (2011). Ecosystem-based Approaches to Adaptation and Mitigation: Good Practice Examples and Lessons Learned in Europe. BfN, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation</ref>

== Policy frameworks ==
Several international policy fora have acknowledged the multiple roles that ecosystems play in delivering services and addressing global challenges, including those related to climate change, natural disasters, sustainable development, and biodiversity conservation.

=== Climate change policy ===
The [[Paris Agreement]] explicitly recognises nature's role in helping people and societies address climate change, calling on all Parties to acknowledge "the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans, and the protection of biodiversity, recognised by some cultures as Mother Earth"; its Articles include several references to ecosystems, natural resources and forests.

This notion has translated into high-level national intent, as revealed by comparative analyses of the [[Paris Agreement#Nationally determined contributions|Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)]] submitted to the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)]] by signatories of the Paris Agreement.<ref>Seddon, N, Daniels, E, Davis, R, Harris, R, Hou-Jones, X, et al. (in review). Global recognition that ecosystems are key to human resilience in a warming world. ''Nat. Clim. Chang.'' </ref><ref>Seddon N., Espinosa, M.G., Hauler, I., Herr, D., Sengupta, S. and Rizvi, A.R. (in press). ''Nature-based Solutions and the Nationally Determined Contributions: a synthesis and recommendations for enhancing ambition and action by 2020.'' A report prepared by IUCN and Oxford University.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbspolicyplatform.org|title=Nature-based Solutions Policy Platform|website=University of Oxford}}</ref> The UNFCCC also established the national adaptation plan (NAP) process as a way to facilitate adaptation planning in [[Least Developed Countries|least developed countries (LDCs)]] and other [[Developing country|developing countries]]. Because of their lower level of development, climate change risks magnify development challenges for LDCs.

=== Disaster risk reduction policy ===
Measures and interventions applied as part of EbA are often closely linked or similar to those employed under ecosystem-based [[disaster risk reduction]] (Eco-DRR). [[Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction|The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction]] acknowledges that in order to strengthen disaster risk governance and manage disaster risk and risk reduction at global and regional levels, it is important "to promote transboundary cooperation to enable policy and planning for the implementation of ecosystem-based approaches with regard to shared resources, such as within river basins and along coastlines, to build resilience and reduce disaster risk, including epidemic and displacement risk".

=== Sustainable development policy ===
The [[Sustainable Development Goals]] (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Biodiversity and ecosystems feature prominently across many of the SDGs and associated targets. They contribute directly to human well-being and development priorities. Biodiversity is at the centre of many economic activities, particularly those related to crop and livestock agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Globally, nearly half of the human population is directly dependent on natural resources for its livelihood, and many of the most vulnerable people depend directly on biodiversity to fulfil their daily subsistence needs.<ref>CBD (2016). Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Technical note. Montreal, 25 pages.</ref> Ecosystem-based Adaptation offers potential to contribute towards the implementation of numerous SDGs, including the goals related to climate adaptation ([[Sustainable Development Goal 13|SDG 13]]), eliminating poverty and hunger (SDGs 1 and 2), ensuring livelihoods and economic growth ([[Sustainable Development Goal 8|SDG 8]]) and life on land and life under water (SDGs 14 and 15), among others.

=== Biodiversity conservation policy ===
The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the [[Aichi Biodiversity Targets]], under [[Convention on Biological Diversity|the Convention on Biological Diversity]] (CBD), aim to halt the [[loss of biodiversity]] to ensure ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services. Most recently, the Conference of the Parties has adopted voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation and disaster risk reduction.<ref name=":3" />

EbA and similar approaches have been called for in other policy frameworks, including [[United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification|the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)]] and the [[Ramsar Convention]].

== References ==
<!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. -->
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.adaptationcommunity.net/ AdaptationCommunity]
* [http://web.unep.org/coastal-eba/what-is-eba Coastal EbA]
* [http://ebacommunity.com/en/ EbA Community]
* [https://www.iucn.org/feba Friends of EbA]
* [https://www.adaptationcommunity.net/ecosystem-based-adaptation/international-eba-community-of-practice/ International EbA Community of Practice]
* [https://panorama.solutions/en/portal/ecosystem-based-adaptation PANORAMA Solutions – EbA Portal]
* [https://www.weadapt.org/knowledge-base/ecosystem-based-adaptation We Adapt]

[[Category:Applied sciences]]
[[Category:Sustainability]]
[[Category:Climate change adaptation]]