Alexander Belokurov, WWF International

WWF ’ s Arguments for Protection series Reports published –Running Pure (Drinking water) –Beyond Belief (Sacred sites) –Food Stores (Agro-biodiversity) –Safety Net (Poverty reduction) –Natural Security (Disaster mitigation) –Vital sites (Health) –Natural Solutions (Climate Change) Tools –PA Benefits Assessment Tool Book –Published in Spring 2010

Why protected areas? Protected area systems are already established as efficient, successful and cost effective tools for ecosystem management They have associated laws and policies, management and governance institutions, knowledge, staff and capacity They contain the only remaining large natural habitats in many areas Opportunities exist to increase their connectivity at landscape level and their effective management, so as to enhance the resilience of ecosystems to climate change and safeguard vital ecosystem services

Protected areas and climate change Protected areas are an essential part of the global response to climate change Protected areas contribute to the two main responses to climate change:  Mitigation  Adaptation

Mitigation The potential to use protected areas in carbon storage and capture

The challenge Vegetation loss is already responsible for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions …and furthermore… Many ecosystems that are currently sinks for CO 2 could soon “flip” and become net sources due to climate change and other human impacts

Kinabatangan Nature Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia, bottom inset from Lamington NP, Australia How protected areas can deliver Protected areas are the most effective tool yet found for maintaining carbon in natural vegetation The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre estimates that 15% of terrestrial carbon is stored in protected areas The opportunity to store existing carbon and capturing additional CO2

Adaptation The role of protected areas in ecosystem- based adaptation strategies

The challenge Ecosystem-based adaptation is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of adaptation strategies to help us cope with the adverse effects of climate change but The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment estimates that 60% of global ecosystem services are degraded and so these services are rapidly being lost

The challenge Health: spread of disease vectors, heat waves, poor sanitation due to lack of clean water Food: shortages and crop failure Water: shortages impacting drinking water, irrigation and hydropower potential ‘Natural disasters’: flooding, storms, drought, wildfire, pest infestations, ocean acidification

The opportunity Protected areas provide two key functions Protect: maintain ecosystem integrity, buffer local climate, reduce risks and impacts from events such as storms and droughts and sea-level rise Provide: maintain essential ecosystem services that help people cope with changes in water supplies, fisheries, disease and agricultural productivity caused by climate change

Two sides of adaptation Adaptation for protected areas to maintain the resilience of ecosystems under new climatic conditions Adaptation by protected areas to continue to supply essential services for communities under changing climatic conditions Protected area management will need to be adapted, to address mitigation and adaptation needs, in addition to biodiversity management objectives.

Implications for protected area management Resilience: improve ecosystem resilience Restoration and connectivity: maintain and enhance ecosystem integrity Adaptive management: consider climate impacts and climate solutions in protected area planning and management Valuation: assess and manage protected area services and benefits Integrate: include protected areas into national and local adaptation strategies

Natural Solutions Natural Solutions is the first report to review the scientific literature in detail and make the case for the role of protected areas in climate change strategies For more information on the role of protected areas in coping with the full report can be downloaded at: