ERIP 6 - Task 11

Selection and Implementation of Restoration Interventions

Task 11: Understanding and applying ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)

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Defining Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)

Ecosystem-based adaptations (EbA) are a category of nature-based solutions specifically seeking to adapt to the effects of climate change. EbAs involve the conservation, sustainable management, and restoration of ecosystems.iEbA interventions are likely to be more cost-effective than engineered solutions, but in some cases the impacts of climate change may be so large that only engineered solutions will work. For this reason, EbA approaches may be adopted in combination with hard engineered infrastructure (e.g. sea walls).ii

Examples of EbA interventionsiii

Key Characteristics of EbA

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References

Key Characteristics of EbA

An intervention can be considered an ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change if it meets all three criteria.i

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EbA Goals

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EbA Goals

EbAs aim to:

• Enhance resilience and reduce social and environmental vulnerabilities to current and future climate change impacts and disaster risk.i

• Generate societal benefits, contribute to sustainable and resilient development using equitable, transparent, and participatory approaches.i

• Make active use of biodiversity and ecosystem services through sustainably managing, conserving, and restoring ecosystems.i

• Be part of an overall strategy for restoration and adaptation that is supported by policies at multiple levels, and encourages equitable governance while enhancing capacity.i

Integrating EbAs into Restoration programs

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Integrating EbAs into Restoration programs

Consider five steps to integrating ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation into your restoration program.i

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Reflection

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Click on each step to learn more.

References

Reflection

• What climate threats (e.g., drought, floods, sea-level rise) are affecting your region?

• Could ecosystem-based interventions help communities adapt while supporting restoration goals?

• What co-benefits could EbA bring for biodiversity, livelihoods, and ecosystem health?

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• Addresses one or more specific climate change threats or impacts.

• Includes conservation, restoration, and/or improved management of ecosystems and/or biodiversity, or the implementation of agricultural practices that are based on those.

• Aims to improve livelihoods and/or increase resilience of vulnerable populations to climate change.

Section overview

Defining Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)

Key Characteristics of EbA

EbA Goals

Integrating EbAs into Restoration programs

Reflection

1. Define the main climate threats facing the region and the target populations. You will need to identify and understand the climate risks that your target population is facing in order to select an appropriate EbA intervention. In order to identify the current and expected changes in weather and climate in the region, and how those changes have impacted or may impact people’s lives or livelihoods, you should adopt an inclusive and participatory approach to stakeholder engagement. When reviewing EbA approaches to restoration, take the capacity, priorities, and needs of the local community into consideration.i

iDonatti, C.I., Martinez-Rodriguez, M.R., Fedele, G., Harvey, C.A., Scorgie, S., Andrade, A., Rose, C. & Alam, M. 2018. Guidelines for Designing, Implementing and Monitoring Ecosystem Based Adaptation Interventions. Conservation International. Available here.

2. Assess the vulnerability of the target population(s) to climate change. Assess the vulnerability of the target population(s) to yield a deeper understanding of how climate change and extreme weather events impact them. Assess vulnerability either through the impacts on the systems, or through the impacts on ecosystems and their services and processes. Take into consideration the capacity of local communities to adapt to climate change.i

The components of a vulnerability analysis includei

iIUCN. 2017. Issues Brief: Ecosystem Adaptation. Available here. iiRizvi, A.R., Baig, S., Verdone, M. 2015. Ecosystems Based Adaptation: Knowledge Gaps in Making an Economic Case for Investing in Nature Based Solutions for Climate Change. Available here. iiiDonatti, C.I., Martinez-Rodriguez, M.R., Fedele, G., Harvey, C.A., Scorgie, S., Andrade, A., Rose, C. & Alam, M.. 2018. Guidelines for Designing, Implementing and Monitoring Ecosystem Based Adaptation Interventions. Conservation International. Available here.

Section overview

Defining Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)

Key Characteristics of EbA

EbA Goals

Integrating EbAs into Restoration programs

Reflection

5. Monitor and evaluate the EbA.Identify the metrics and indicators that should be used to monitor and evaluate the success of the EbA implementation (i.e. what has worked and what has not) and the adaptation outcomes achieved.i

Section overview

Defining Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)

Key Characteristics of EbA

EbA Goals

Integrating EbAs into Restoration programs

Reflection

iSecretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 2019. Voluntary Guidelines for the Design and Effective Implementation of Ecosystem-based Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction and Supplementary Information. Technical Series No. 93. Available here.

iDonatti, C.I., Martinez-Rodriguez, M.R., Fedele, G., Harvey, C.A., Scorgie, S., Andrade, A., Rose, C. & Alam, M. 2018. Guidelines for Designing, Implementing and Monitoring Ecosystem Based Adaptation Interventions. Conservation International. Available here.

4. Select the most appropriate EbA intervention.Sometimes, several EbA interventions can achieve the same adaptation outcome. Therefore, the selection of EbA interventions needs to be based on factors such as the magnitude of the intervention, benefits, trade-offs, costs, buy-in, and capacities. Map the relationship between a long-term goal of a program, and the intermediate and early changes that are required to make it happen.i

3. Identify a set of possible EbA interventions. To identify the EbA interventions that could help the most vulnerable communities adapt to climate change, you will need to understand and locate the ecosystem services and biodiversity that can moderate the climate threats on the target population(s). Complementary interventions such as infrastructure, technical assistance, policies, and regulations may be necessary, and considerations will depend on your context. Identify the potential number of beneficiaries, co-benefits, and tradeoffs that the EbA interventions to restoration can bring.i

iDonatti, C.I., Martinez-Rodriguez, M.R., Fedele, G., Harvey, C.A., Scorgie, S., Andrade, A., Rose, C. & Alam, M.. 2018. Guidelines for Designing, Implementing and Monitoring Ecosystem Based Adaptation Interventions. Conservation International. Available here.

Section overview

Defining Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)

Key Characteristics of EbA

EbA Goals

Integrating EbAs into Restoration programs

Reflection

Section overview

Defining Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)

Key Characteristics of EbA

EbA Goals

Integrating EbAs into Restoration programs

Reflection