1. State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
Session 3 – International experience on ecosystem based approaches to address climate change
Robert Munroe
UNEP-WCMC

2. Terminology – CBD and UNFCCC both use: ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
“the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change” (CBD 2nd AHTEG Biodiversity and climate change) + This includes: “sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems, as part of an overall adaptation strategy that takes into account the multiple social, economic and cultural co-benefits for local communities” (CBD COP10, decision X/33)
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

3. What are ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation?
Mangrove maintenance/restoration to reduce coastal flooding/erosion from extreme events and sea-level rise
Forest conservation/restoration to stabilize land slopes and regulate water flows, preventing flash flooding and landslides as rainfall levels and intensity vary
Sustainable management of upland wetlands and floodplains for maintenance of water flow and quality
Diverse agroforestry systems providing flexible livelihood options to cope with increased risk from changed climatic conditions
Agro-biodiversity conservation to provide specific gene pools for crop and livestock adaptation, and to maintain soil moisture and nutrients.
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

4. Figure 1: Ecosystem-based Adaptation conceptualised in the Driving Forces-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) framework, p.4, Making the case for Ecosystem-based Adaptation: Building Resilience to Climate Change, UNEP-UNDP-IUCN
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

5. What are ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation?
Examples of EbA-relevant interventions covered in the peer-reviewed and grey literature
Intervention
Impact/hazard addressed
Sustainable forest management
Reductions in productivity
Reforestation
Flooding/erosion/water regulation
Tree shelterbelts
Drought
Agroforestry/silvopastoralism
Drought/ reductions in productivity
Livelihood diversification/alternative strategies
Integrated watershed management
Managed realignment
Sea-level rise/storm wave induced erosion
Integrated coastal zone management
Mangrove restoration
Coastal vegetation buffer sustainable management
Sea-level rise/storm wave induced erosion/storm surges
Wetlands restoration
Surface water shortage and flooding
Floodplain management
Flooding
Rangeland management
Loss of husbandry water source/grazing
Conservation agriculture
Soil conservation
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

6. State of the evidence-base
Need
Lots of anecdotal case studies – few reviews
Consolidate broad range of literature that makes up evidence-base
Enable decision-making between alternatives
Method
Systematic review methodology to describe extent of available evidence
Studies that assessed the effectiveness of using biodiversity/ecosystem services to help people adapt to climatic variability, climatic change and/or natural hazards linked to climate (i.e. EbA relevant interventions)
Peer-reviewed published literature (~7700  132) and sample of grey literature (32)
Assessment framework (to ask questions of the evidence and identify knowledge gaps)
Munroe et al. (2012) ‘Review of the evidence base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation to climate change’, Environmental Evidence, 1: 13
CambridgeConservationInitiative
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

7. State of the evidence-base
CambridgeConservationInitiative
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

8. CambridgeConservationInitiative
Gaps in knowledge
Comparisons needed between EbA and alternatives – 10% peer- reviewed literature
Costs - economic (including operational, opportunity), social, environmental
Whether EbA is supported by policies
Temporal and spatial aspects of effectiveness
Munroe et al. (2011) Does EbA Work? A review of the evidence on the effectiveness of ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation; Policy Brief; UNEP-WCMC, BirdLife, IIED, University of Cambridge, ELAN; Cambridge
Doswald et al. (in press) ‘Effectiveness of ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation: review of the evidence-base’, Climate and Development
CambridgeConservationInitiative
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

9. FCCC/SBSTA/2013/2 Report on the technical workshop on ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation to climate change
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

10. EbA knowledge and activity gaps
How to do climate change vulnerability assessments that incorporate ecosystem considerations?
Short, medium and long-term benefits and costs
Conditions/limits for ecosystems to provide adaptation benefits
Monitoring and evaluation frameworks for EbA (including example indicators)
Cost-benefit analysis methodologies
Economic effectiveness for EbA (micro/macro)
More comparative studies between EbA and alternatives
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

11. EbA knowledge and activity gaps
How can EbA learn from
Community-based adaptation?
Insight into grey-green
/hybrid approaches
Links to REDD+? 
Jaffe et al Earth-Science Review
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

12. EbA knowledge and activity gaps
Where are country EbA ‘champions’?
Global mapping of EbA activities
What are the barriers to EbA?
Who have divergent interests?
Who are the winners and losers?
Guidelines/guidance translated into different languages and for different types of decision makers/sectors 
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

13.  Without addressing these, mainstreaming will be a challenge  but need ‘learning by doing’ (and research)
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

14. Addressing the gaps
Travers et al Ecosystem-based Adaptation Guidance: Moving from Principles to Practice / UNEP-led Decision Support Framework Organises wide-ranging information and advice to support planners and programme designers compare, select, design and track context-specific EbA versus other adaptation measures
Guidance for integrating
ecosystem considerations into
climate change vulnerability assessments – part of the project ‘EbA – Adapting to climate change in mountain ecosystems’ UNEP,
UNDP, IUCN, supported by BMU, in Nepal, Peru and Uganda
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013

15. Addressing the gaps
An economic analysis of ecosystem-based adaptation and engineering options for climate change adaptation in Lami Town, Republic of the Fiji Islands – collaboration of UNEP, SPREP, Conservation International, UN-Habitat, Lami Town Council, and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
Figure 6, Total cost to implement adaptation options for all identified sites throughout Lami Town, p.18, Rao et al An economic analysis of ecosystem-based adaptation and engineering options for climate change adaptation in Lami Town, Republic of the Fiji Islands. A technical report by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
State of the evidence-base for ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation
16 October 2013