1. Water Security and Climate Change Conference
Session 10 – “Nature Based Solutions for Water
Resources Management”
Cologne, Germany, Sept. 2017
Nature-based solutions to reduce the risks linked to climatic extreme events Where do we stand with Frameworks, Principles and Indicators?
Dr. Fabrice Renaud
United Nations University
Institute for Environment and Human Security

2. Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystem-based DRR/CCA1/2
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Nature-based Solutions are (…) actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits
Cohen-Shacham, E., Walters, G., Janzen, C. and Maginnis, S. (eds.) (2016). Nature-based Solutions to address global societal challenges. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

3. Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystem-based DRR/CCA2/2
Eco-DRR/CCA Ecosystem-based DRR/CCA is the sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems to reduce disaster risk and adapt to the consequences of climate change, with the aim of achieving sustainable and resilient development
Chapter 1 of Renaud et al (2016): Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation in Practice, Springer. DOI / _1

4. Links between NbS, SDGs, DRR and CCA
Source: Faivre, N. et al (2017). Nature-Based Solutions in the EU: Innovating with nature to address social, economic and environmental challenges. Environmental Research 159:509–518

5. Being “on the map”: Eco-DRR/CCA and major international agreements
The role of ecosystems will need to be taken into account in disaster risk
assessments (Priority Action 1), strengthening risk governance (Priority Action 2) and investments
in disaster resilience (Priority Action 3)
The Paris Agreement recognises protecting the integrity of ecosystems and biodiversity for both climate change mitigation and adaptation
actions
By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
CBD Decision XII/20 on Biodiversity and Climate Change and DRR recognises that the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and restoration of ecosystems can play a significant role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, combating
desertification and disaster risk reduction
Resolution 13 of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands and disaster risk reduction strongly encourages countries to mainstream disaster risk reduction measures in wetland management plans
Source: Adapted from Chapters 1 and 24 of Renaud et al (2016): Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation in Practice, Springer. DOI / _1

6. What do we need to do it well?
After 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 1,000-1,200 ha of mangroves were replanted….but current total surviving mangrove area is ha.
Source: Kodikara et al (2017): Have mangrove restoration projects worked? An in-depth study in Sri Lanka. Restoration Ecology, doi: /rec.12492

7. Qualification criteria, quality standards and indicators for EbA
Reduces social and environmental vulnerabilities
Generates societal benefits in the context of CCA adaptation
Restores, maintains or improves ecosystem health
Is supported by policies at multiple levels
Supports equitable governance and enhances capacities
Source: Bertram, M et al (2017): Making Ecosystem-based Adaptation Effective: A Framework for Defining Qualification Criteria and Quality Standards (FEBA technical paper developed for UNFCCC-SBSTA 46).

8. Principles for Eco-DRR
Recognize the multiple functions and services provided by ecosystems, including natural hazard protection or mitigation
Link ecosystems-based risk reduction with sustainable livelihoods and development
Combine investments in ecosystems with other effective DRR strategies, including hard engineering options
Address risks associated with climate change and extreme events and reduce their impact on ecosystem services
Enhance governance capacities for ecosystem-based DRR through multi-sector, multi-disciplinary platforms
Involve local stakeholders in decision-making
Utilize existing instruments and tools in ecosystems management and enhance their DRR value
Source: PEDRR (2010). Demonstrating the Role of Ecosystem-based Management for Disaster Risk Reduction. Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction

9. Next steps for broader adoption of Eco-DRR on the ground

10. Suggestions for Way Forward
Articulating “Golden Rules” on ecological engineering for Eco-DRR, or principles that can be used for policy advocacy
Accelerating the process of establishing ecological engineering standards
Identify gaps in existing standards,
Gather information on standards,
Organize expert workshop to develop a research roadmap as well as priorities for action
Source: PEDRR (2016): Workshop report - Innovating Engineering and Ecosystem-based Approaches for Disaster Risk Reduction

11. Initiatives on development of guidelines
The focused on producing guidelines for the effective implementation of green and hybrid solutions to reduce flood risk in urban, riverine, and coastal settings (soon to be released)
Upcoming (end 2017): IJDRR Special Issue Innovating Engineering and Ecosystem-based Approaches for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
Editors: Whelchel (TNC), Renaud (UNU), Sudmieier-Rieux (UNEP), Sebesvari (UNU)
15 papers planned (technical, economic, policy aspects)
Case studies from the Bangladesh, Brazil, EU, India, Japan, Nepal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, USA

12. Ongoing initiatives
Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (in development, CBD)
Group set up at IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management to develop further standards and guidelines for implementing NbS

13. Conclusions Ecosystem-based approaches are not trivial to implement:
Where technical guidance exist – follow it!
Too many concepts?
Need to align principles of various approaches
Two levels: very general principles
More specific principles linked to ecosystem approach
For specific concepts:
Develop qualification criteria, parameters and indicators to avoid “business as usual”
Develop technical guidance

14. THANK YOU!
UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1
53113 Bonn, Germany