CBD - Tech.Series93 EbA+Eco-DRR 2019

93
Secretariat of the CBD Technical Series No. 93

Convention on
Biological Diversity
VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND

EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ECOSYSTEM-
BASED APPROACHES TO CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
CBD Technical Series No. 93
Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of

ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster
risk reduction and supplementary information
April 2019
With support from the European Union, the Government of Sweden and the Government of Germany
Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of EbA & Eco-DRR and supplementary information
Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
ISBN: 9789292256661 (Print version)
ISBN: 9789292256678 (Web version)
Copyright © 2019, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any
opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the legal
status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or
boundaries.
The views reported in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the
copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat of the Convention would
appreciate receiving a copy of any publications that use this document as a source.
Citation
Secretariat 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. Montreal, 156 pages.
For further information, please contact:
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9
Phone: 1(514) 288 2220
Fax: 1(514) 288 6588
E-mail: secretariat@cbd.int
Website: http://www.cbd.int
Photo credits
Cover photos courtesy of (top to bottom):  © PANORAMA TMI solution  © PANORAMA Pacja solution
 © Michael Sale  © PANORAMA Nature Conservancy Caribbean Programme
Pg. 6: Cristiana Paşca Palmer. © CBD; Pg. 7: Vera Scholz. ©GIZ/Dirk Ostermeier; Pg. 12/13: Umbria landscape
2. © Flickr*, Franco Bianco, www.flickr.com/photos/franxblank/8677097579; Pg. 14/15: Wattenmeer,
Cuxhafen. Flickr*, Sarahhoa, www.flickr.com/photos/picktoframe/45448047041; Pg. 19, 40: Fall tundra
landscape. Flickr*, Andrea Pokrzywinski, www.flickr.com/photos/andreagp/2891717078; Pg. 22/23: Wetlands,
Philippines. © GIZ/Mathias Bertram; Pg. 36/37: Mountain pastures, Peru. © GIZ/Mathias Bertram; Pg. 38/39:
Wetlands, Philippines. © GIZ/Mathias Bertram; Pg. 42, top to bottom:  Haleakala crater, Haleakala National
Park, Maui, Hawaii. © Flickr*, Andrea, www.flickr.com/photos/spettacolopuro/5025412899  Mountain
landscape, Peru. © GIZ/Mathias Bertram  Farmer in field. © PANORAMA Pacja solution  City park in Poznan.
© Flickr*, Dan Vel, www.flickr.com/photos/dan_vel/42908834302 Coral reef ecosystem at Palmyra
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. © Flickr*, Jim Maragos/USFWS – Pacific Region, www.flickr.com/photos/
usfwspacific/5565696408; Pg. 54/55: Global Panorama, Arctic Ice. © Flickr*, U.S. Geological Survey, www.
flickr.com/photos/121483302@N02/14986274382; Pg. 71: Hoh Rain Forest 2012. © Flickr*, Chris Vreeland
www.flickr.com/photos/cvreeland/8036408821; Pg. 74/75: Livestock, Mongolia. © GIZ/Dirk Ostermeier.
* All Flickr photos are creative commons and licensed under CC BY 2.0
4
CBD foreword
Around the world, people, ecosys- Most recently, the Conference of the Parties, at its
tems and species are suffering thirteenth meeting, requested the preparation of
from the effects of climate voluntary guidelines for the design and effective
change, from hurricanes, implementation of ecosystem-based approaches
severe droughts, to re- to climate change adaptation and disaster risk re-
cord-breaking tempera- duction. These voluntary guidelines were adopted
tures. by the Conference of the Parties at its fourteenth
meeting. Although nature-based solutions to cli-
Biodiversity is facing its mate change have gained significant attention in
own crisis, declining glob- recent years, and are increasingly being integrated
ally at rates unprecedented into national plans and strategies, there remain a
in human history, at a time we number of gaps and challenges.
need it most to help mitigate and
adapt to climate change. Ecosystems The present report provides information on prin-
and their biodiversity - which underpin econom- ciples, safeguards, tools, and a flexible framework
ic growth, sustainable development and human for planning and implementing ecosystem-based
well-being - are exposed simultaneously to several approaches, to support countries in integrating
stressors such as climate change, land-use chang- ecosystem-based approaches into their national bi-
es and pollution, increasing the vulnerability of odiversity strategies and action plans, but also into
communities to the impacts of climate change. other sectoral policies. The voluntary guidelines
can also be used by relevant organizations, indig-
Nature-based solutions, such as ecosystem-based enous peoples and local communities, the private
approaches to climate change adaptation and sector and civil society.
disaster risk reduction, have the potential to in-
crease the resilience of ecosystems and human I am grateful to the numerous experts and organ-
livelihoods to the impacts of climate change. Such izations who contributed to the development of
approaches can also make significant contribu- the present report, and to the European Union, the
tions to climate change mitigation by reducing Governments Sweden and Germany, and to the
emissions from deforestation and other land-use Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusam-
changes, and by enhancing carbon sinks. It doesn’t menarbeit (GIZ), for their generous support.
stop there, ecosystem-based approaches can be
cost-effective, and provide employment and in- I believe that this report makes an important
come generating opportunities, while also con- contribution to enhancing implementation and
tributing to food security. It is those social, eco- showcasing the effectiveness of ecosystem-based
nomic and environmental co-benefits that make approaches to climate change adaptation and dis-
nature-based solutions so attractive. aster risk reduction, and I hope that it will be used
by a wide range of actors and stakeholders
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
have long recognized the importance of ecosys-
tem-based approaches for climate change and in
multiple decisions have encouraged Parties to im- Cristiana Paşca Palmer, PhD
plement them. A number of reports were prepared Executive Secretary
by the Secretariat to support Parties in this effort. Convention on Biological Diversity
6
GIZ foreword
GIZ foreword
Few concepts have acquired as much prominence reduction; furthermore,
in such a short time span in the conservation and they provide guidance on
development sectors as Ecosystem-based Adapta- how to reach out to key
tion (EbA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR). sectors such as planning,
This is due to that fact that the adverse effects of finance, agriculture, infra-
climate change are becoming more and more per- structure, water and forestry.
ceptible. Extreme weather events such as storms, By combining key policy elements
droughts and floods capture the news headlines and tools applied under the United Na-
more and more frequently and are causing consid- tions Framework Convention on Climate Change
erable human and economic losses. These events (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Di-
are of natural origin, but landscape degradation versity (CBD), they make a significant contribution
contributes significantly to increased disaster risk. towards the achievement of multiple targets under
Extreme climatic events that triggered past dis- UN conventions, in particular on biodiversity con-
asters are predicted to increase in frequency and servation, climate change, disaster risk reduction
intensity in the future. and combatting land degradation.
Responding to one of the biggest challenges that The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
nations, especially the least developed countries Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) was delighted to support
and small island developing states, are currently the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
facing, the approaches must be cross-sectoral, Diversity in the development of these guidelines
interdepartmental and in cooperation between via the Global Project Mainstreaming Ecosys-
different actors of the society namely science, tem-based Adaptation funded by the International
policymakers at different levels and practitioners. Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry
The approaches of Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nucle-
and Disaster Risk Reduction aim at the sustain- ar Safety. The project facilitates the International
able management, conservation, and restoration EbA Community of Practice as a key knowledge
of ecosystems to cope with the adverse effects of network of policymakers and practitioners work-
climate change and reduce the impacts of natural ing with ecosystem-based approaches. Their valu-
hazards. They provide multiple benefits from risk able experience from policy advice to project im-
reduction to the provision of food and water, pre- plementation forms part of these guidelines. They
vention of soil erosion, carbon sequestration and provide guidance for our daily work to overcome
biodiversity conservation. They constitute a key the challenge of adverse effects of climate change.
element of a comprehensive climate change adap-
tation and risk reduction strategy next to political,
social financial and technical solutions such as
hard infrastructure and early warning systems.
Vera Scholz
These guidelines offer concise information for Head of Division Climate Change,
policymakers on why integrating ecosystem-based Environment & Infrastructure
approaches into policy frameworks matters; they Department Sector and Global Programmes (GloBE)
provide practical steps for planners and practition- Deutsche Gesellschaft für
ers to design and implement effective strategies Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH,
for ecosystem-based adaptation and disaster risk Germany
7
8
Table of contents
Table of contents
CBD foreword ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
GIZ foreword ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 13
Preface ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14
Mandate ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Process ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Audience ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Framework of the report ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Part 1 Primer for policymakers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Part 2 Guidelines for practitioners .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Part 3 Outreach into sectors ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
1 Primer for policymakers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19

1.1 Key messages ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20
1.2 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20
1.3 T he role of biodiversity and ecosystems in adaptation to climate change
and reduction of disaster risk ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
1.4 EbA and Eco-DRR: integral components of adaptation and risk reduction strategies ...................................................................... 24
1.5 The policy context for EbA and Eco-DRR ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
1.6 Multiple benefits from EbA and Eco-DRR implementation .................................................................................................................................... 28
1.7 Planning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR ......................................................................................................................................................................... 35
1.8 Governance opportunities for EbA and Eco-DRR .................................................................................................................................................................... 36
2 Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of

ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction ........................................ 40
2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 41
2.1.1 Overview of the voluntary guidelines ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 42
2.1.2 What are ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation
and disaster risk reduction? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
2.2 Principles and safeguards .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 43
2.2.1 Principles ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44
2.2.2 Safeguards .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 45
2.3 Overarching considerations for EbA and Eco-DRR design and implementation ............................................................... 46
2.3.1 Integrating knowledge, technologies, practices and efforts
of indigenous peoples and local communities ............................................................................................................................................................. 46
9
2.3.2 Mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47

2.3.3 Raising awareness and building capacity ............................................................................................................................................................................. 53
2.4 Stepwise approach to design and implementation of effective EbA and Eco-DRR .......................................................... 55
Step A Understanding the social-ecological system ............................................................................................................................................................. 58
Step B Assessing vulnerabilities and risks ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 61
Step C Identifying EbA and Eco-DRR options ................................................................................................................................................................................ 66
Step D Prioritizing, appraising and selecting EbA and Eco-DRR options ........................................................................................ 68
Step E Project design and implementation .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 73
Step F Monitoring and Evaluation of EbA and Eco-DRR .............................................................................................................................................. 78
References ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 80
Annexes .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 82
Annex I Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
Annex II Policy instruments and frameworks related to EbA and Eco-DRR ................................................................................... 89
Annex III Existing guidelines and principles considered for the development of the report ................................. 92
3 Outreach into Sectors. Integrating ecosystem-based approaches

to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction ............................................................................................................................................... 95
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 96
Development planning and public finance ............................................................................................................................ 97
Spatial planning in land- and seascapes ................................................................................................................................... 105
The agriculture sector ........................................................................................................................................................................ 113
The humanitarian sector .................................................................................................................................................................. 121
The infrastructure sector ................................................................................................................................................................. 129
The forestry sector ............................................................................................................................................................................... 137
The water sector .................................................................................................................................................................................... 145
List of figures, tables and boxes
Figures
Figure 1 Framework for the report on voluntary guidelines for the design and effective
implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation
and disaster risk reduction and supplementary information .......................................................................................... 18
Figure 2 Linkages between policies, management, ecosystems and human well-being
within a social-ecological system in the context of EbA and Eco-DRR ........................................................... 23
Figure 3 Conceptual diagram of EbA and Eco-DRR ........................................................................................................................................................ 25
Figure 4 Examples of EbA and Eco-DRR in a landscape/seascape that help achieve adaptation
and risk reduction goals under the CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets and SDGs ................................... 30
Figure5 Interactions between the state, civil society and the private sector in governance
for effective adaptation and risk reduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 38
10
Table of contents
Figure 6 Example framework for mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR in development planning ..... 49
Figure 7 Entry points for mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR within key development
and sectoral strategies .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52
Figure 8 Iterative process for planning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR ................................................................ 57
Figure 9 Illustration of the core concepts of the contribution of Working Group II
to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ........... 61
Tables
Table 1 Framework for planning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR ................................................................................ 35
Table 2 Examples of EbA and Eco-DRR interventions and outcomes .......................................................................................... 42
Table 3 Toolbox for integrating knowledge, technologies, practices and efforts
of indigenous peoples and local communities ........................................................................................................................................... 47
Table 4 Toolbox for mainstreaming adaptation and DRR and raising awareness ................................................... 54
Table 5 Main frameworks considered for the development of the EbA and
Eco-DRR Guidelines ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 56
Table 6 Step A Toolbox: Understanding the social-ecological system/landscape
and stakeholder analysis and engagement ....................................................................................................................................................... 60
Table 7 Step B Toolbox: Assessing vulnerabilities and risks .......................................................................................................................... 64
Table 8 Step C Toolbox: Identifying EbA and Eco-DRR Strategies ..................................................................................................... 66
Table 9 Methods for appraising the value of EbA and Eco-DRR activities ............................................................................. 70
Table 10 Step D Toolbox: Prioritizing appraising and selecting adaptation and DRR options
and identifying trade-offs ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 72
Table 11 Step E Toolbox: Project design and implementation ....................................................................................................................... 76
Table 12 Step F Toolbox: Monitoring and Evaluation ................................................................................................................................................... 79
Boxes
Box 1 Key terms related to biodiversity ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Box 2 What are EbA and Eco-DRR? ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Box 3 EbA and Eco-DRR: achieving synergies in implementing the Rio Conventions .............................. 27
Box 4 The role of EbA and Eco-DRR in creating green jobs ....................................................................................................................... 34
Box 5 How do EbA & Eco-DRR fit into the UNFCCC (I)NDCs and NAPs? ......................................................................... 50
Box 6 Opportunities for mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR into funding priorities ................................... 51
Box 7 Stakeholder and rights-holder analysis and establishment of participatory mechanisms 59
Box 8 Identifying the most vulnerable groups, communities & ecosystems .............................................................. 63
Box 9 Evaluating trade-offs and limitations ...................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Box 10 Increasing scientific and technical knowledge of EbA and Eco-DRR approaches ........................ 71
Box 11 Transboundary and cross-sectoral cooperation, coordination and policies ........................................... 74
Box 12 Applying resilience thinking in EbA and Eco-DRR design ................................................................................................... 75
11
Abbreviations
CBD ..................................................................... Convention on Biological Diversity
CCA ..................................................................... Climate change adaptation
COP ..................................................................... Conference of the Parties
CSA ...................................................................... Climate-smart agriculture
CSO ...................................................................... Civil society organization
DRR ..................................................................... Disaster risk reduction
EbA ....................................................................... Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change
EC ........................................................................... European Commission
Eco-DRR ...................................................... Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction
EIA ........................................................................ Environmental impact assessment
ES ............................................................................ Ecosystem services
EURAC ........................................................... EURAC Research, European Academy of Bozen-Bolzano
FAO ...................................................................... Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
FEBA .................................................................. Friends of EbA
GIZ ........................................................................ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
IIED ..................................................................... International Institute for Environment and Development
IKI .......................................................................... International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry
for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
ILO ........................................................................ International Labour Organization
(I)NDC ............................................................. (Intended) Nationally determined contributions
IPBES ................................................................ Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
IPCC ................................................................... Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPLCs ................................................................. Indigenous peoples and local communities
IUCN ................................................................. International Union for Conservation of Nature
IWRM .............................................................. Integrated Water Resources Management
LDC ...................................................................... Least developed countries
M&E .................................................................... Monitoring and evaluation
NAP ..................................................................... National Adaptation Plan
NbS ...................................................................... Nature-based solutions
NBSAP ............................................................ National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
NGO .................................................................... Non-governmental organization
NOAA .............................................................. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(U.S. Department of Commerce)
PEDRR ............................................................ Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction
REDD ................................................................ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Land Degradation
SDG ...................................................................... Sustainable Development Goals
SEA ....................................................................... Strategic environmental assessment
SREX .................................................................. IPCC Special Report on Extreme Events (IPCC 2012)
UN ......................................................................... United Nations
UNCCD ......................................................... United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
UNDP ............................................................... United Nations Development Programme
UN Environment/UNEP ... United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP-WCMC ..................................... UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
UNFCCC ...................................................... United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNGA .............................................................. United Nations General Assembly
UNISDR ........................................................ United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
WWF ................................................................ World Wide Fund For Nature
12
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Union, Germany, India, Japan, Madagascar, Mex-
Diversity would like to acknowledge the financial ico, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Togo, United
assistance from the European Union and the Gov- Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
ernment of Sweden towards the preparation of the UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring
voluntary guidelines for the design and effective Centre, United Nations University, International
implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to Labour Organization, Global Forest Coalition,
climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduc- Northern Cape Provincial Government–South
tion and supplementary information. Africa, International Union for Conservation of
Nature, World Wide Fund for Nature, Internation-
The Secretariat acknowledges the guidance and al Institute for Environment and Development,
feedback provided by experts at an informal Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable
meeting convened in collaboration with BirdLife Development, GIZ, SwedBio at the Stockholm
International and UN Environment World Con- Resilience Centre, Wetlands International, Inter-
servation Monitoring Centre for developing a national Petroleum Industry Environmental Con-
framework for the guidelines, held in July 2017 in servation Association, BirdLife International, Con-
Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and servation International, Mediterranean Marine
Northern Ireland. Protected Areas Network, University of Nairobi,
and Colorado State University.
The Secretariat gratefully acknowledges the sup-
port from the Government of Germany, the Gov- The present report was prepared by Veronica Lo
ernment of Sweden, the European Commission (consultant for the Secretariat) under the guidance
and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale of the Secretariat and with the support of GIZ as
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH for the “technical well as experts and reviewers mentioned above.
workshop for review of the draft voluntary guide- The report was reviewed and edited by David
lines for the design and effective implementation Cooper, Sakhile Koketso, Lisa Janishevski and An-
of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change nie Cung of the CBD Secretariat. The Secretariat
adaptation and disaster risk reduction”, held in coordinated the preparation of the sectoral briefs
Bonn, Germany, from 20 – 22 November 2017, and in Part 3, and gratefully acknowledges the organ-
thanks all its participants for their substantive izations that led their preparation: the Food and
contributions. Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
the International Labour Organization, GIZ, the
The Secretariat also wishes to thank the follow- International Union for Conservation of Nature,
ing countries, organizations and universities that and the World Wide Fund for Nature. The Secre-
kindly provided comments on an initial draft of tariat acknowledges the kind support from GIZ for
this report: Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, European the design and publication of this report.
13
Preface
People and nature are facing unprecedented cli- participation and the use of traditional and local
mate change, altering the ecosystems that provide knowledge systems. 4 Due to their participatory
life-sustaining services and contribute to human nature and cross-sectoral approaches to adapta-
well-being. Extreme weather and climatic events tion and disaster risk reduction, EbA and Eco-DRR
such as floods, droughts, and heat waves are also can achieve multiple policy objectives, including
changing in frequency, intensity and timing, caus- local, regional and national strategies for climate
ing mortality, damage to infrastructure and settle- change, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable
ments. 1 Responding to these changes are some of development, among others.
the greatest challenges that nations, especially the
least developed countries and small island devel- EbA and Eco-DRR are cross-cutting approaches for
oping states, are currently facing. achieving numerous agreements and have strong
policy support in the international policy arena.
Biodiversity underpins the ecosystem processes In implementing EbA and Eco-DRR, countries can
and functions that provide critical services. 2 The work towards the achievement of several of the
loss of biodiversity, due to many drivers includ- Aichi Biodiversity Targets and implementing the
ing climate change, alters ecosystem functioning Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 – 2020 adopted
across temporal and spatial scales, reducing eco- under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Oth-
logical integrity and the corresponding capacity er major agreements such as the Paris Agreement,
to provide ecosystem services. 3 In recent years, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sen-
“ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change” dai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction have
(EbA) and “ecosystem-based disaster risk reduc- called for enhancing the resilience of ecosystems
tion” (Eco-DRR) have gained increasing attention. and societies to the impacts of climate change and
These approaches emphasize the importance of reducing disaster risks. Increasingly, countries are
biodiversity and ecosystems in effective overall integrating ecosystem-based approaches into na-
climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk tional plans and strategies to reduce the risk of im-
reduction (DRR) measures. pacts and hazards (climate and non-climate relat-
ed). Examples of mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR
EbA and Eco-DRR build on other practices such have been synthesized in CBD Technical Series No.
as ecosystem conservation and restoration which 85. 5 However, there remains a gap between policy
seek to increase the resilience of ecosystems for the development and implementation. The objective
benefit of people. EbA and Eco-DRR have gained of the present report is to support and enable the
traction because they provide multiple benefits design and implementation of EbA and Eco-DRR
for people, ecosystems and biodiversity, enable strategies as part of an overall CCA or DRR strat-
planning for CCA and DRR on longer time scales, egy, on multiple scales - short, medium and long-
can be cost-effective compared to standard engi- term, and local, sub-national and national.
neered infrastructure, and emphasize community
1 IPCC 2012; IPCC 2014

2 Cardinale et al. 2012 4 Hale et al. 2009, Jones et al. 2012, Munang et al. 2013
3 Perrings et al. 2010, Isbell et al. 2017 5 Lo 2016
14
Preface
Mandate and a technical workshop was conducted with

representatives of CBD Parties and other experts
in order to review a draft version of the guidelines
The CBD Conference of the Parties (COP), in deci- (November 2017, Bonn). 7
sion XIII/4, requested the Executive Secretary to
prepare, subject to the availability of resources, in The draft report, containing the voluntary guide-
collaboration with relevant organizations, in par- lines as well as supplementary information, was
ticular the United Nations Framework Convention submitted for peer review and revised in the light
on Climate Change and the United Nations Office of the comments received. The draft voluntary
for Disaster Risk Reduction, voluntary guidelines guidelines were considered by the Subsidiary
for the design and effective implementation of Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological
ecosystem-based approaches to climate change ad- Advice of the CBD at its twenty-second meeting
aptation and disaster risk reduction, for considera- (Montreal, Canada, 2 – 7 July 2018) 8 , and subse-
tion by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical quently were adopted by the Conference of the
and Technological Advice prior to the fourteenth Parties to the CBD at its fourteenth meeting
meeting of the Conference of the Parties. (Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 17 – 29 November 2018) 9.
The present report contains the version of the
Pursuant to this request, the Secretariat prepared guidelines as adopted by the Conference of the
the present report, which contains the voluntary Parties at its fourteenth meeting as well as updated
guidelines and supplementary information. The supplementary information. The supplementary
present report builds on progressive work on EbA information consists of a primer for policymakers
and Eco-DRR in recent years, including a synthe- as well as briefs on integrating EbA and Eco-DRR
sis report on experiences with ecosystem-based into a number of sectors.
approaches to climate change adaptation and
disaster risk reduction (CBD Technical Series No. In CBD Decision 14/5 10 , the Conference of the Par-
85) 6 developed pursuant to decision XII/20, which ties requested the Executive Secretary to update
identifies lessons learned as well as gaps and the guidance, tools and information on initiatives
challenges with the implementation of ecosys- available in the voluntary guidelines as necessary,
tem-based approaches to climate change adapta- and based on information provided by Parties on
tion and disaster risk reduction. activities carried out to implement the voluntary
guidelines. Pursuant to this request, the Secretar-
iat is compiling and presenting such information
as it becomes available on its Adaptation Planning
Process Database 11 .
7 Technical workshop for review of the voluntary guidelines for
The voluntary guidelines were developed in con- the design and effective implementation of ecosystem-based ap-
proaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
sultation with experts from governments, aca- Convened by CBD with support from the Governments of Germany
and Sweden, and the European Commission, 20-22 November 2017,
demia, indigenous peoples and local communities, Bonn, Germany. www.cbd.int/meetings/CCBWS-2017-01
8 The voluntary guidelines were presented in the annex of document
NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations. An
CBD/SBSTTA/22/8 and supplementary information including a
informal meeting with experts was convened in primer for policymakers, a list of relevant tools, and sectoral briefs
collaboration with BirdLife International and UN on the use of EbA and Eco-DRR, was presented in an information
document (CBD/SBSTTA/22/INF/1).
Environment World Conservation Monitoring 9 The voluntary guidelines as adopted by the Conference of the Par-
Centre (UNEP-WCMC) for developing a frame- ties at its fourteenth meeting are available in the annex of Decision
14/5.
work for the guidelines (July 2017, Cambridge), 10 Decision 14/5, available at: www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/
cop-14-dec-05-en.pdf
11 The Adaptation Planning Database of the CBD is available at:
6 Lo 2016 https://adaptation.cbd.int
15
Audience Framework of the report
The main audience for this report is policymakers The present report is organized into three parts
(particularly Parts 1 and 3) and implementers in- (figure 1):
cluding subnational governments (regions, prov-
inces, cities and municipalities), indigenous peo-
ples and local communities (IPLCs), NGOs, private Part 1 Primer for policymakers
sectors, research institutions and funding agen-
cies. The voluntary guidelines can also be consult-
ed when implementing related practices, such as
community-based adaptation and public works
programmes with an ecosystem focus. These
guidelines may also be useful for different sectors
in planning and implementing ecosystem-based
approaches such as into the development, humani-
tarian aid, disaster relief, water management, con-
struction, health and other fields (Part 3).
Part 1 provides high-level policy guidance for
focal points to the CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD and
UNISDR, policymakers within governments at
all levels, and other relevant agencies and organ-
izations, including the private sector, researchers,
donors, and advocates of EbA and Eco-DRR (such
as within NGOs, CSOs, governments, etc.). Part 1
highlights the advantages of EbA and Eco-DRR,
including how they promote multiple benefits,
and demonstrates how they can be integrated into
adaptation and DRR strategies and development
frameworks. This information can be used to en-
courage decision-makers to implement EbA and
Eco-DRR across different sectors and in policies
and strategies addressing climate change, disaster
risk reduction and sustainable development. Pol-
icymakers are also encouraged to make use of the
mainstreaming section in Part 2 (guidelines for
practitioners) and Part 3 (outreach into sectors).
16
Preface
Part 2 Guidelines for practitioners yy Annex III provides an overview of existing

guidelines and principles for EbA and Eco-DRR
and related practices that were considered for
the development of the principles and safe-
guards presented in this report.
Part 3 Outreach into sectors
Part 2 provides guidelines for practitioners and

implementers for operationalising EbA and Eco-
DRR at the programme and project level. Part 2
outlines:
yy Principles of EbA and Eco-DRR, which are key

considerations throughout the process of de-
signing and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR; 12 Part 3 contains briefs to support advocacy by EbA
yy Safeguards to prevent maladaptation, ensure and Eco-DRR practitioners for the integration of
that rights are respected, and prevent harm to, or EbA and Eco-DRR into sectoral policies and plans.
enhance, biodiversity and ecosystem services; Opportunities for integration of EbA and Eco-DRR
yy A flexible and iterative framework outlining key in the following sectors are presented:
stages in planning and implementing adaptation
and DRR; and 1. development planning and public finance;
yy Toolboxes which provide examples of existing 2. spatial planning in land- and seascapes;
tools and guidance for each stage. These lists of 3. agriculture;
tools are not exhaustive; users of these guide- 4. humanitarian;
lines are encouraged to consult more compre- 5. infrastructure;
hensive databases of tools. 13 6. forestry;
7. water.
Annexes for Parts 1 and 2
yy Annex 1 is a glossary with definitions of key

terms used in this report.
yy Annex II presents the various policy instru-
ments and frameworks related to EbA and Eco-
DRR.
These sectoral briefs are self-contained with their

12 These principles are in alignment with the Ecosystem Approach own list of references and figures, as well as indi-
developed under the CBD www.cbd.int/ecosystem vidual citations, to facilitate their separate use as
13 A draft inventory currently containing more than 200 tools related
to EbA planning and implementation is available at www.iied.org/
outreach papers into specific sectors.
call-for-feedback-inventory-tools-support-ecosystem-based-ad-
aptation, developed as part of the International Climate Initiative
(IKI) funded global projects: Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA):
strengthening the evidence and informing policy implemented
by IIED, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC with support from the project
Mainstreaming EbA - Strengthening Ecosystem-based Adaptation
in Planning and Decision Making Processes implemented by GIZ.
17
Figure 1 Framework for the report on voluntary guidelines for the design and effective
implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster
risk reduction and supplementary information
Part 1
Climate Change Adaptation & Primer for Policymakers Sustainable Development
Disaster Risk Management Agenda
Role of EbA/Eco-DRR in achieving Role of EbA/Eco-DRR in

adaptation and risk reduction achieving development goals
Understanding the
A Social-Ecological System
Assessing Vulnerabilities
Principles
Part 2 B & Risks
Voluntary Guidelines for Planning & Identifying EbA & Eco-DRR
Safeguards Implementing EbA & Eco-DRR C Options
Prioritizing, Appraising &
Overarching D Selecting Options
considerations Project Design &
E Implementation
Monitoring &
F Evaluation
Part 3
Outreach into Sectors
18
1 Primer for policymakers
1
Primer for
policymakers
19
1.1 Key messages 1.2 Introduction
1. Ecosystem-based approaches to climate All over the world, across

change adaptation (EbA) and disaster risk continents and oceans, Economic cost
reduction (Eco-DRR) use biodiversity and eco- changes in climate of weather & climate
system services to help people to adapt to the have been im- disasters in USA, 2017
impacts of climate change and reduce disaster pacting natural
risk through the sustainable management,
conservation and restoration of ecosystems.
and human
systems.
US$
2. In the face of current and future climate
These changes
are unprec-
306
billion
change impacts and disaster risks, govern- edented –
ments urgently need to implement adaptation they include
and risk reduction measures, including EbA warming of the
and Eco-DRR, as part of overall adaptation atmosphere and
and risk reduction strategies. ocean, diminishing
snow and ice, altered
3. EbA and Eco-DRR: hydrological cycles, sea lev-
a. Promote inclusive, participatory, and re- el rise, and ocean acidification. 14
silient approaches to risk reduction across Extreme weather and climatic events such as
scales; floods, droughts, and heat waves are also changing
b. Generate multiple benefits for people, na- in frequency, intensity and timing, causing mor-
ture and economies; tality, damage to infrastructure and settlements 15
c. Are cross-cutting approaches that deliver These events have devastating costs. For example,
on numerous agreements and have strong the economic cost of weather and climate disas-
policy support, including within the ters in the United States in 2017 was an estimated
framework of the Sustainable Development US$ 306 billion. 16 Water-related disasters account-
Goals, the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity ed for an estimated 90 per cent of the most disas-
2011 – 2020 under the CBD, and the Paris trous events since 1990, affecting 4.2 billion people
Agreement under the UNFCCC; and causing US$ 1.3 trillion in damage. 17
d. Can be flexible, cost-effective and broadly
applicable approaches for reducing the im- At the same time, direct and indirect drivers of
pacts of climate change and disasters. change are placing further pressure on life-sus-
taining ecosystems and their capacity to provide a
4. EbA and Eco-DRR should be integrated into buffer from climate change impacts and disasters.
relevant social, economic and environmental These drivers include not only climate change, but
policies and actions, contributing to resilient also habitat change, overexploitation of natural
and sustainable development. resources, and invasive alien species. 18 Projected
... accounted for an estimated 90 %

of the most disastrous events since 1990
population increases and urbanization are increas-
ing vulnerability and disaster risk by placing addi-
Since 1990,
Water- ... have affected 14 IPCC 2013
related 4.2 billion people 15 IPCC 2012

16 NOAA 2018
17 United Nations 2015
disasters ... ... have caused 18 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005
US$ 1.3 trillion
in damage 20
Small island 1 Primer for policymakers
developing states
are most sensitive to climate
change impacts. Responding to
these changes are some of the
greatest challenges they face tional de- 1.3 The role of biodiversity
velopment
and ecosystems in adap-
pressures
in zones tation to climate change
that are most and reduction of disaster
sensitive to
climate change
risk
impacts, including
coastal systems and Ecosystems provide crucial services to society,
low-lying areas. 19 Responding particularly regulating and supporting services
to these changes are some of the greatest chal- that help people adapt to the adverse effects of cli-
lenges that nations, especially the least developed mate change and reduce disaster risk. For example,
countries and small island developing states, are coral reefs and coastal vegetation can dissipate
currently facing. wave action and protect shorelines from erosion;
peatland, marshes and floodplains provide a buff-
Policymakers can choose from a wide range of er from floods and water scarcity; and forested
interventions to adapt to climate change and re- mountains and slopes can stabilize sediments,
duce disaster risk. Such interventions can include protecting from landslides. 21 Ecosystems can also
‘soft’ options such as policy frameworks, or ‘hard’ prolong the sustainability and lifetime of built
options such as built infrastructure. Within this infrastructure, thus protecting investments in en-
spectrum, ‘green’ options include those based on gineered defenses – such as restoring salt marshes
conserving, managing or restoring ecosystems adjacent to sea walls. 22
that provide services critical to reducing risks
and impacts, and ‘hybrid’ options include those Biodiversity underpins the ecosystem processes
that integrate ecosystem-based options with oth- and functions that provide such critical services 23
er approaches. Hybrid approaches could include (see box 1 for key terms related to biodiversity).
ecological engineering, green infrastructure, grey- The loss of biodiversity, due to many drivers in-
green options, and building with nature solutions, cluding climate change, alters ecosystem function-
among others. ing across temporal and spatial scales, reducing
ecological integrity and the corresponding capaci-
‘Hard’ or engineered approaches have been by ty to provide ecosystem services 24 . Thus, investing
far the most common way to reduce the risk of in actions to sustainably manage, conserve and
climate impacts and disasters. However, these restore biodiversity and ecosystems is essential
approaches tend to address single hazards, risk- for maintaining the ecosystem services critical
ing increasing vulnerability in the long-term by for climate change adaptation and disaster risk
not considering future climate hazards or the reduction, reducing vulnerabilities and increasing
interaction of multiple hazards. Due to their per- resilience (figure 2). 25
manent and inflexible characteristics, engineered
structures can also become obsolete in the face of
unpredictable climate conditions. 20 Thus, there is
increasing support in the policy forum for imple-
menting ecosystem-based or hybrid approaches as
evidence of their effectiveness and their potential 21 Hale et al. 2009, Ferrario et al. 2014, Renaud et al. 2016
for generating multiple benefits is increasing. 22 Temmerman et al. 2013

23 Cardinale et al. 2012
19 IPCC 2014 24 Perrings et al. 2010, Isbell et al. 2017
20 Royal Society Science Policy Centre 2014 25 Sumaila et al. 2017
21
According to the latest assessment report of the

IPCC (AR5), ‘successful adaptation will depend on
our ability to allow and facilitate natural systems
to adjust to a changing climate, thus maintaining
the ecosystem services on which all life depends.’ 26
Box 1 Key terms related to biodiversity
Biodiversity: the variability among living organisms from all sources in-
cluding, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within
species, between species and of ecosystems (CBD Article 2).
Ecosystem: the dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism com-
munities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit
(CBD Article 2).
Ecosystem services: the benefits people obtain from ecosystems, which have been classi-
fied by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment as: Provisioning services, such as supply of food, fibre,
timber and water; regulating services, such as carbon sequestration, climate regulation, water regu-
lation and filtration, and pest control; cultural services, such as recreational experiences, education
and spiritual enrichment and supporting services, such as seed dispersal and soil formation (Millen-
nium Ecosystem Assessment 2005).
Ecosystem approach: Strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources
that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way (CBD).
26 IPCC 2014
22
Figure 2 Linkages between policies, management, ecosystems and human well-being within a social-
ecological system in the context of EbA and Eco-DRR
EbA & Eco-DRR implementation enhances

ecosystem functions
Ecosystems & Biodiversity
Properties
e.g. biomass Society is more resilient towards
structure Service Provision
climate and disaster risks
Function
e.g. slow Human Well-being
water passage Ecosystem Service
e.g. flood protection Benefit(s)
e.g. increased Value
safety e.g. saved
Ecosystem Management
lives
Other driving forces Policy & Decision Making Value

Perception
Driving Forces Societal Response
Improved policies reduce driving EbA&Eco-DRR is mainstreamed

forces for ecosystem degradation at policy and decision-making level
Ecosystems provide key services for human well-being which have a high value. Societal response, especially policy and
decision-making shapes the way ecosystems are managed and the degree to which they can provide their services in a
sustainable manner. Climate change is an important driving force that shapes current and future ecosystems and their
services.
Source: GIZ, adapted from van Oudenhoven et al. 2013
23
1.4 EbA and Eco-DRR: integral level rise, which has not been a traditional focus
components of adaptation of DRR. In contrast, Eco-DRR addresses hazard

events that are not necessarily linked to climate
and risk reduction strategies change or climate variability. 27 Including both
non-climate (e.g. earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.), and
The concepts and practice of ecosystem-based climate-related (e.g. hurricanes, heat waves, etc.)
adaptation (EbA) and ecosystem-based disaster hazards. In practice, EbA and Eco-DRR are difficult
risk reduction (Eco-DRR) have been developed and to distinguish, 28 and therefore such approaches
refined in recent years as integrative approaches to are referred to together in this report as EbA and
reduce the risk of climate-related and other types Eco-DRR.
of hazards (box 2). These approaches emphasize
the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems in EbA, Eco-DRR and related practices span a spec-
reducing risk, and build on other practices such trum of naturalness, from natural to semi-natural
as conservation and ecosystem restoration which or hybrid, covering a wide range of natural to ar-
seek to increase the resilience of ecosystems for the tificial ecosystems. For example, protected areas
benefit of people. designed to reduce socio-economic vulnerability
to climate change and disaster risk through en-
Box 2 What are EbA and Eco-DRR? hancing the resilience of ecosystems are on the
natural end of the spectrum, while green spaces,
Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is the green roofs and walls in cities reduce the risk of
use of biodiversity and ecosystem services heat shocks, or rainwater storage to alleviate water
as part of an overall adaptation strategy to
shortages can be considered hybrid or semi-natu-
help people to adapt to the adverse effects
of climate change. EbA aims to maintain ral options. EbA and Eco-DRR activities encapsu-
and increase the resilience and reduce the late the following characteristics: 29
vulnerability of ecosystems and people in
the face of the adverse effects of climate
a. Enhance resilience and reduce social and envi-
change.” (SCBD 2009)
ronmental vulnerabilities to current and future
Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction
climate change impacts and disaster risk, con-
(Eco-DRR) is “sustainable management,
conservation and restoration of ecosystems tributing to incremental and transformative
to reduce disaster risk, with the aim of adaptation and disaster risk reduction;
achieving sustainable and resilient devel-
opment.” (Estrella and Saalismaa 2013) b. Generate societal benefits, contributing to sus-
tainable and resilient development using equi-
table, transparent and participatory approaches;
EbA and Eco-DRR are conceptually similar, shar-
ing common underlying principles of sustainable c. Make active use of biodiversity and ecosystem
management, conservation and restoration of services through sustainably managing, con-
ecosystems to increase the resilience of social-eco- serving and restoring ecosystems;
logical systems, and both emphasize participatory
approaches (figure 3). However, EbA largely ad- d. Be part of overall strategies for adaptation and
dresses climate-related hazards, although there are risk reduction that are supported by policies at
examples of EbA interventions such as implement- multiple levels, and encourage equitable gov-
ing protection forests that stabilize the soil to pre- ernance while enhancing capacity.
vent landslides (which can be climate and non-cli-
mate-related). EbA also aims to address slow-onset 27 Renaud et al., 2016
climate change impacts, such as changing precipi- 28 Doswald and Estrella 2015
tation patterns, rising mean temperatures, and sea 29 FEBA 2017, DEA and SANBI 2017
24
Figure 3 Conceptual diagram of EbA and Eco-DRR
Are part of overall strategies: Generates societal benefits,

supported by policies at multiple Sustainable contributing to sustainable
levels, supports equitable Development development using equitable,
governance and enhances transparent and participatory
capacities approaches
Socio-
Climate
economic
Change
Development
Adaptation
Planning
EbA
and
Eco-DRR
Disaster
Ecosystem
Risk
Management
Management
Make active use of biodiversity
Enhance resilience and reduce
and ecosystem services through
social and environmental
sustainably managing, conserving
vulnerabilities
and restoring ecosystems
Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation and disaster risk reduction (EbA and Eco-DRR) use ecosystems and
biodiversity to integrate climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, ecosystem management and socio-
economic development planning. The main elements of EbA and Eco-DRR are shown in the grey boxes.
(Adapted from Midgley et al. 2012, DEA and SANBI 2017, and Sudmeier et al. 2013).
Case studies and literature indicate that ecosys- EbA and Eco-DRR draw from, and share similar-
tem-based approaches can be flexible, cost-ef- ities with, other fields of practice that promote
fective and broadly applicable approaches for the sustainable management, conservation and
reducing the impacts of climate change. 30 Exam- restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems to adapt
ples of EbA and Eco-DRR include restoration of to change. 31 For example, conservation practices,
floodplains for flood protection and water storage; such as protected areas or ecological restoration,
greening of cities to counter the heat island effect; aim to maintain or enhance biodiversity and
crop diversification with indigenous varieties that ecosystem functioning. EbA and Eco-DRR specif-
are resistant to climate variability; the creation of ically aim to reduce current and future impacts
protected areas to enhance ecosystem resilience of climate change and disaster risk based on the
and provisioning of essential ecosystem services ongoing identification or assessment of risks and
such as erosion control, beach stabilization and vulnerabilities of a social-ecological system that
water retention; sustainable management of includes both people and ecosystems. Although
grasslands and rangelands to enhance pastoral traditional conservation practices have a different
livelihoods and increase resilience to climate-in- main objective from EbA and Eco-DRR, they are
duced drought and flooding; or training activities an important complement to, and an important
to enhance knowledge on the use of ecosystems for means to achieve, adaptation and disaster risk re-
climate change adaptation. duction efforts.
30 Munang et al. 2013 31 Kabisch et al. 2016
25
Other approaches related to EbA and Eco-DRR in- are highlighted below, and summarized in more
clude community-based adaptation, climate-smart detail in Annex II.
agriculture, natural water retention measures, and
building with nature solutions. EbA and Eco-DRR yy Several of the Sustainable Development Goals
can also be considered under the wider umbrella (SDGs) adopted by the UN General Assembly
concept of nature-based solutions as ecosystem explicitly address sustainable ecosystem man-
approaches which specifically address the issues agement, including SDG 13 on urgent action to
of climate change adaptation and disaster risk combat climate change and its impacts and SDG
reduction 32, 33 . In practice, EbA and Eco-DRR have 11 to make cities and human settlement inclu-
included many approaches that are considered sive, safe, resilient and sustainable, in addition
nature-based solutions, including ecological res- to SDGs 1 (end poverty), 2 (end hunger), 3 (ensure
toration, integrated coastal zone management, healthy lives and well-being), 6 (access to water
integrated water resources management, green and sanitation), 14 (conserve oceans), and 15
infrastructure, and protected areas management. (sustainably manage forests and halt biodiversity
The above-mentioned approaches are complemen- loss) (see figure 4 and Annex II for other relevant
tary and focus on developing holistic, integrated SDGs). The SDGs also promote sustained, inclu-
ways to enhance the resilience of social-ecological sive and sustainable economic growth through
systems, reduce disaster risk, and/or help people full and productive employment.
adapt to change through the use of ecosystems
and biodiversity in a sustainable manner. They yy The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Re-
often place emphasis on participatory processes duction 2015-2030, building on the Hyogo
and community engagement, which are crucial Framework for Action 2005-2015, outlines seven
to improving community resilience, enhancing global targets to be achieved over the next 15
adaptive capacity, and ensuring local benefits are years, prioritizing “ecosystem-based approach-
realized. es…to build resilience and reduce disaster risk”.
The role of ecosystems will need to be taken
into account in disaster risk assessments (Pri-
ority Action 1), strengthening risk governance
1.5 The policy context (Priority Action 2) and investments in disaster
for EbA and Eco-DRR resilience (Priority Action 3). The Sendai Frame-
work also calls for greater collaboration between
institutions and stakeholders from other sectors,
EbA and Eco-DRR are recognized as instruments and calls for ecosystem-based approaches to be
for promoting synergistic implementation of the implemented in transboundary cooperation for
Rio Conventions – the Convention on Biological shared resources, such as within river basins and
Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat shared coastlines.
Desertification (UNCCD), and the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (box 3). yy One of the Ten Essentials for Making Cities
Resilient, building on the Sendai Framework,
Support for EbA and Eco-DRR has been embedded is to safeguard natural buffers to enhance the
in other major agreements and promoted in the in- protective functions offered by natural ecosys-
ternational policy arena. Other major agreements tems. It is encouraged to consider natural buffers
in the rural hinterland of the city and the wider
32 Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, sustainably region, and to build regional resilience through
manage and restore natural or modifed ecosystems, which address trans-boundary cooperation with other munici-
societal challenges (e.g. climate change, food and water security or
natural disasters) effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously palities (Essential #5).
providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits (IUCN)
33 Cohen-Shacham et al. 2017
26
Box 3 EbA and Eco-DRR: achieving synergies in implementing the Rio Conventions
EbA and Eco-DRR are cross-cutting approaches to achieving implementation of the Rio Conventions.
yy The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, under the Con-
vention on Biological Diversity (CBD), aim to halt the loss of biodiversity to ensure ecosystems
are resilient and continue to provide essential services, thereby securing the planet’s variety
of life and contributing to human wellbeing and poverty eradication. EbA and Eco-DRR are
particularly relevant to Target 15, which aims, by 2020, to enhance ecosystem resilience and
the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks, through conservation and restoration, includ-
ing restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate
change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification. EbA is encouraged in deci-
sions X/33, XII/20, XIII/4 and 14/5 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biolog-
ical Diversity. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) are important entry
points for prioritizing EbA and Eco-DRR.
yy The 10-year Strategic Plan and Framework (2008-2018) of the United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD) seeks to reverse and prevent land degradation and desertifi-
cation, and specifically recognizes the important services provided by ecosystems, especially in
dryland ecosystems, for drought mitigation and the prevention of desertification. By adopting
the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) target, Parties have agreed that the amount of healthy
and productive land should stay stable starting in 2030, enhancing land resilience to climate
change and halting biodiversity loss linked to ecosystem degradation.
yy The Cancun Adaptation Framework under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), aims to enhance action on adaptation, reducing vulnerability and building resilience
in developing country Parties. National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) aim to reduce vulnerability to
the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience; and integrate climate
change adaptation into policies, programmes and activities within all relevant sectors and at dif-
ferent levels. (Intended) Nationally Determined Contributions ((I)NDCs) set out high-level ob-
jectives and a vision for addressing adaptation goals. The NAP process is a key tool for coherent
implementation of an (I)NDC adaptation component (see more information in box 5).
yy The Paris Agreement recognises the protection of the integrity of ecosystems and biodiversity
for both climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. It specifically lays out principles of
adaptation that takes ecosystems into consideration. It also calls for integrating adaptation into
relevant environmental policies and actions, where appropriate, as well as for building resilience
of ecosystems through sustainable management of natural resources, taking into account the
imperatives of a just transition of the workforce.
yy The IPCC Special Report on Extreme Events on our ability to allow and facilitate natural
(SREX) recommends investing in ecosystems, systems to adjust to a changing climate, thus
sustainable land management and ecosystem maintaining the ecosystem services on which all
restoration and management. life depends.”
yy UN General Assembly resolutions (RES/70/195, yy The Ramsar Convention Resolution XII.13 on

RES/71/219, and RES/72/220) highlight the Wetlands and Disaster Risk Reduction encour-
importance of sustainable land management ages Parties to integrate wetland-based disaster
for sand and dust storms which are among the risk management and climate change adaptation
emerging concerns of the global community. into development policies and planning at all
levels of government, including integration in
yy The Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC (AR5) vulnerability analysis, poverty reduction strat-
notes that “successful adaptation will depend egies and natural resource management plans
27
and sectors, and in multi-sector policies and yy Local investments for climate change adapta-
plans. tion highlights the importance of using employ-
ment intensive approaches, focusing on inclusive
yy Eco-DRR has also been endorsed in the out- local practices for environmental sustainability
comes of regional DRR platforms of Asia, Africa, and the impact that altering the quality and pro-
Latin America and Arab states, and of the Euro- ductivity of natural resources and ecosystems
pean Ministerial meeting on DRR. will have on biological diversity and environ-
mental degradation.
yy The World Humanitarian Summit commits the
UN Member countries to core responsibilities of
humanitarian aid and disaster risk preparedness,
including building community resilience. 1.6 Multiple benefits from
EbA and Eco-DRR
yy The New Urban Agenda adopted at the UN
Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban implementation
Development (Habitat III) contains three trans-
formative commitments: leaving no one behind EbA, Eco-DRR and related approaches generate
and fighting against poverty; urban prosperity additional environmental, economic, and social
and opportunities for all; and ecological and re- benefits beyond adaptation and disaster risk re-
silient cities and human settlements. duction. They are often referred to as low-regrets
or no-regrets options as they can generate benefits
yy The Cancun High-Level Communiqué adopt- regardless of uncertainties in climate projections.
ed at the fifth session of the Global Platform For example, mangrove restoration can stabilize
for Disaster Risk Reduction 2017 emphasizes sediments and protect coastlines, and through in-
the close nexus between climate change and creasing habitat for fish and other species, support
water-related hazards and disasters and high- livelihoods through employment creation pro-
lights Integrated Water Resources Management grammes, and contribute to carbon storage. EbA
(IWRM) as an effective instrument for enhanc- and Eco-DRR also enhances biodiversity conser-
ing resilience and serving both DRR and CCA vation, among other multiple benefits. In disaster
goals, in addition to investments in resilient risk management, the post-disaster reconstruction
infrastructure, including green infrastructure period offers an opportunity to “build back better.”
and housing. All countries, provinces and cities In other words, such occasions provide new op-
are urged to make integrated flood and drought portunities to conserve and restore biodiversity to
management central to their planning and man- strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and people
agement processes. as well as decrease vulnerability to disasters. As
biodiversity underpins the services provided by
yy The guidelines for a just transition towards ecosystems, investing in approaches that enhance
environmentally sustainable economies and biodiversity is like broadening a risk reduction
societies for all recommends supporting public investment portfolio to provide long-term returns
works and employment programmes, including for the future. Assessing multiple benefits of na-
initiatives linking poverty eradication and eco- ture-based solutions can be challenging due to the
system protection, as well as those for workers considerations of benefits/costs across socio-cul-
affected by the transitioning to environmen- tural, socio-economic, environment, biodiversity,
tally sustainable economies, including climate ecosystem, and climate elements, but is an area of
change, who have been laid off due to structural active research. 35
or technological change. 34
34 ILO 2015 35 Raymond et al. 2017
28
Several examples of how EbA and Eco-DRR in yy Early investment in climate resilience has been
landscapes and seascapes can address the Aichi found to be more cost-effective than post-disas-
Biodiversity Targets under the Convention for Bio- ter relief. For example, a case study found that
logical Diversity and the Sustainable Development Barbados could cost-effectively avoid more than
Goals are shown in figure 4. 30 per cent of expected losses by implementing
risk mitigation initiatives such as beach nourish-
In economic terms, the benefits of EbA and Eco- ment.
DRR have been demonstrated in several case stud-
ies: 36 yy In hybrid solutions, EbA and Eco-DRR can com-
plement more expensive infrastructure invest-
yy In comparison to the economic loss caused by ments and prolong the lifetime of engineered
loss of ecosystem services, the cost-benefit ratio flood protection measures. 40
of return on investment of appropriate resto-
ration of ecosystems may be as high as 3 to 75,
depending on the ecosystem context and the
measures taken. 37
yy Mangrove rehabilitation at the village level is

generating significantly higher wealth benefits Wealth benefits generated
from risk reduction and natural resource utiliza- from risk reduction and natural
tion (US$ 2.3 million over 20 years) compared to
resource utilisation at the village
level over 20 years in Vietnam
dyke construction (only US$ 0.5 million), accord-
ing to a case study in Vietnam. 38
yy A cost-benefit analysis indicates a signifi-

Mangrove
cantly higher revenue (a net present value
rehabilitation
of US$ 841,902 over 20 years) under an EbA
scenario, including the low impact grassland
vs.
management in a community with wild llamas, Dyke
compared to a business as usual scenario (a net construction
present value of US$ 486,571 over 20 years) with US$ 2.3
million
intensive domestic cattle management (UN-
EP-IUCN-UNDP Mountain EbA Programme in
Peru). 39
US$ 0.5
million
36 Examples from www.AdaptationCommunity.net and

http://panorama.solutions
37 United Nations 2015 40 Munang et al. 2013, Temmerman et al. 2013
38 Köhler and Michaelowa 2013
39 Rossing et al. 2015
29
Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of EbA to
& Eco-DRR
climate change
and supplementary
adaptation and
information
disaster risk reduction and supplementary information
Figure 4 Examples of EbA and Eco-DRR in a landscape/seascape that help achieve adaptation and
risk reduction goals under the CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets and SDGs
MOUNTAIN AND FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

a. Sustainable mountain wetland management  Peru
b. Forest & pasture restoration  Azerbaijan
c. Restoration of pastures with deep-rooting native species  Peru
c MOUNTAIN AND FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

a. Sustainable mountain wetland management  Peru
INLAND WATER ECOSYSTEMS
b. Forest & pasture restoration  Azerbaijan
a. Conservation
c. Restoration of pastures with deep-rooting of wetlands
native species  Peru & peatlands  Ecuador 
b. Flood and drought management via river basin restorati
b c. Transboundary water governance & ecosystem restorat
a
c c c
a INLAND WATER ECOSYSTEMS
a. Conservation of wetlands & peatlands  Ecuador
e AGRICULTUR
b. Flood and drought management via river basin restor
a. Ecosystem
b c. Transboundary water governance & ecosystem resto
b. Intercroppi
b ab c. Using tree
d. Sustainabl
c e. Drought re
a c
a d
e AGRICULT
a. Ecosyst
b. Intercrop
b b c. Using tre
c d. Sustaina
e. Drought
a
d
d a
a,b c b
d a
a,b b d
Aichi icons (icons with numbers below, right): © BIP/SCBD

SDG icons (icons above, left): © UN
d
Linked country examples under http://panorama.solutions
Aichi icons (icons with numbers below, right): © BIP/SCBD

SDG icons (icons above, left): © UN 30
Linked country examples under http://panorama.solutions
 UK
ration  Thailand
oration  Guatemala & Mexico
TURAL AND DRYLAND ECOSYSTEMS

tem restoration and agroforestry  India  Burundi
pping of adapted species  Sweden
ees to adapt to changing dry seasons  Pakistan
able livestock management & pasture restoration  S. Africa
t resilience by sustainable dryland management  Sudan
URBAN ECOSYSTEMS
a. Green aeration corridors for heat wave buffering  Germany
b. Storm water management by green spaces  Sweden
c. Improving flood protection by river restoration  Germany
d. Green facades for heat wave buffering  Austria
MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS

a. Mangrove restoration and coastal protection
 Indonesia  Grenada  Ecuador  Colombia
b. Coastal realignment  UK
c. Sustainable Fishing & mangrove rehabilitation  Mexico
d. Coral reef restoration  Vanuatu
c
31
Ecosystem SDG Aichi Hazards Measures
The Aichi goals 4, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15 and SDG 13 apply to all ecosystems
Mountain yyDrought yySustainable mountain wetland

and forest yySoil erosion management
yyErratic rainfall
yyForest & pasture restoration
yyRestoration of pastures with deep-

rooting native species (Peru
Inland water yyErratic rainfall yyConservation of wetlands &

yyFlood peatlands
yyDrought
yyRiver basin restoration
yyTransboundary water governance &

ecosystem restoration
Agricultural yyErratic rainfall yyEcosystem restoration and

and dryland yyTemperature increase agroforestry
yyShift of
seasons yyIntercropping of adapted species
yyDrought yyUsing trees to adapt to changing
dry seasons
yySustainable livestock management

& pasture restoration
yyDrought resilience by sustainable

dryland management
Urban yyExtreme heat yyGreen aereation corridors for cities

yyTemperature increase
yyFloods yyStorm water management by green
spaces
yyErratic rainfall
yyRiver restoration in urban areas
yyGreen facades for buildings
Marine and yyStorm surges yyMangrove restoration and coastal

coasts yyCyclones protection
yySea level rise
yyCoastal realignment
yySalinisation
yyTemperature increase yySustainable fishing & mangrove
rehabilitation
yyCoral reef restoration
32
Country examples Impacts
yyPeru yyImproved water regulation

yyErosion prevention
yyImproved water storage capacity
yyAzerbaijan
yyPeru
yyEcuador / UK yyImproved water storage capacity

yyFlood risk reduction
yyImproved water provision
yyThailand
yyGuatemala & Mexico
yyIndia / Burundi yyImproved water storage capacity

yyAdaptation to higher temperatures
yyAdaptation to shifting seasons
yySweden
yyImproved water provision
yyPakistan
yySouth Africa
yy Sudan
yyGermany yyHeat wave buffering

yySweden yyFlood risk reduction
yyImproved water regulation
yyGermany
yyAustria
yyIndonesia / Grenada / Ecuador / yyStorm & cyclone risk reduction

Colombia yyFlood risk reduction
yyImproved water quality
yyUK
yyMexico
yyVanuatu
33
Box 4 The role of EbA and Eco-DRR in creating green jobs
As adaptation is inherently local, much depends on the capacity of communities to respond to cli-
mate change, which has far-reaching consequences in terms of participation, planning, information
flow and fund allocation. Infrastructure investments and public employment programmes can be
a catalyst for creating additional jobs, providing income security and building very much needed
public assets and services (ILO 2015). Catalysing this opportunity, EbA and Eco-DRR provide several
entry points to support local job creation:
yy The involvement of local communities can support and contribute to the development of practical
measures to protect, maintain and strengthen existing local infrastructure or building new infra-
structure that can withstand the effects of climate change.
yy Building climate resilience is also a way of contributing to a just transition by using public works
and employment programmes as a vehicle to link poverty eradication to ecosystem protection.
yy Infrastructure will need to be built to higher standards and improved designs will be needed to
better withstand the local impacts of climate change, thus providing opportunities for job creation
in the infrastructure sector.
Through greening infrastructure and natural resource management, in addition to the sustainable
management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems, the public works sector can be sensitized
to the risks of environmental degradation and disaster risk, and use employment schemes to build
capacity for adaptation and risk reduction.
Beyond direct economic benefits, there are broader yy Contributing to employment and income secu-
benefits of effective EbA and Eco-DRR, such as rity – a national priority in many countries, by
avoided costs of using artificial systems instead of twinning the objectives of employment creation
ecosystem services, land or service value increases, with environmental protection through public
local income enhancement, livelihood diversi- works programmes which already have an aim
fication, improved access to markets, improved of CCA and DRR.
food security and health, sustainable water pro-
visioning, reduction of conflicts over resources, yy Contributing to climate change mitigation
improved social cohesiveness, and knowledge targets via: (i) conservation or restoration of
enhancement. These are often broader than the forests and coastal vegetation, 42 and rewetting
direct financial benefits shown by cost-benefit cal- of drained peatlands to reduce CO2 emissions,
culations or other valuation techniques, and while which enhance carbon sequestration and (ii)
difficult to quantify in monetary terms, they pro- reduction of deforestation and land degradation
vide invaluable benefits to society. Other examples including peatland drainage, which aids in lim-
of multiple benefits of EbA and Eco-DRR include: iting further greenhouse gas emissions. 43
yy Providing adaptation and DRR solutions that yy Improving the quality of life and mental and
deliver on multiple commitments by supporting physical health of people, for example, through
national development and adaptation goals such providing urban green spaces which also provide
as coastal protection, conservation of natural relief from heat. 44
resources, sustainable development and social
well-being. 41
42 Duarte et al. 2013

43 Busch et al. 2015
41 WWF 2013 44 Kabisch et al. 2016
34
yy Engaging people and communities, helping to Governments urgently need to implement resil-
build trust and responsibility while maintaining ient adaptation and risk reduction measures in
livelihoods and providing potential business op- response to current and future climate change
portunities. impacts and disaster risks. There is mounting
evidence that sustainable management, conser-
yy Addressing underlying key drivers of climate vation and restoration of ecosystems are effective
and disaster risk, generating more robust solu- solutions for these global challenges. By addressing
tions for coping with future challenges and un- risk across scales and through a social-ecological
certainty due to climate change. lens, EbA and Eco-DRR provide flexible and effec-
tive options as part of an overall strategy for adap-
tation and disaster risk reduction, while promot-
1.7 Planning and Implement- ing multiple benefits for people, nature and the
ing EbA and Eco-DRR economy. Encouragingly, recent analyses of coun-

tries submitting (I)NDCs showed that 86 per cent
of country submissions included an adaptation
Key principles and safeguards and a flexible and component in their plans which outline goals, ac-
iterative framework for planning and implement- tivities and needs for adaptation 45 . Many of these
ing EbA and Eco-DRR are detailed in Part 2. The (I)NDCs include ecosystem-orientated visions for
framework integrates other related guidelines and adaptation and propose a range of conservation,
processes, including the adaptation process under restoration, agroforestry and community-led ap-
the UNFCCC, and is composed of key steps (see proaches to achieve these visions 46 (see box 5 for
summary in table 1). further information). The voluntary guidelines
provide a framework for translating such visions
and ambitions into action.
Table 1 Framework for planning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR

Step Purpose
A. Understanding the Social-Ecological System Identify key features of the target SES, including
(SES) biodiversity and ecosystem services, and their
inter-linkages with people
raising awareness and building capacity
B. Assessing vulnerabilities & risks Identify the main climate change and disaster risks
Integrating knowledge of IPLCs,
and impacts on the SES

Overarching considerations:
C. Identifying EbA and Eco-DRR options Identify potential options within an overall adap-
tation/risk reduction strategy
mainstreaming,
D. Prioritising, appraising and selecting options Develop criteria for prioritizing and appraising
options, including consideration of scale and mon-
etary- and non-monetary benefits
E. Project design & implementation Design and implement selected options, ensuring
ongoing stakeholder engagement, capacity-build-
ing, mainstreaming and monitoring
F. Monitoring & evaluation Improve implementation by providing information
for adaptive management and encourage con-
tinual learning to help inform future policy and
practice
45 World Resources Institute 2017

46 Seddon et al. 2016
35
1.8 Governance opportunities Adapting to uncertain climate risks can provide a
for EbA and Eco-DRR window of opportunity for institutional change.

Since climate change and disaster risks are affect-
ing societies, policy responses need to consider di-
Governance aspects are key considerations when verse contexts and socio-economic considerations
planning EbA and Eco-DRR measures, as mul- beyond the relatively restricted means of national
ti-level and multi-sectoral approaches are required governments. Linking ecological dynamics with
to address holistic ecosystem management for risk policies in complex, multi-jurisdictional settings
reduction objectives. Key governance challenges with adaptive management and governance
relevant to nature-based solutions generally in- frameworks can move social-ecological systems
clude: toward greater sustainability. 47
yy Multi-level governance: Climate change, dis- Integrating ecological concepts into governance
aster risk reduction and ecosystem governance frameworks requires a dialogue across actors
occur within a complex web of stakeholders from multiple disciplines, including ecologists,
operating at different levels. Although climate hydrologists, climate experts, social scientists, re-
variability occurs at different scales, the role of silience experts and legal scholars. Leveraging civil
local and regional settings for the formulation of society and the private sector can considerably
adaptation and risk reduction strategies is highly strengthen planning and implementation of EbA
important. and Eco-DRR measures. A broad suite of stake- and
rights holders should thus be considered in the
yy Multi-sectoral governance: The integration of planning phase, and windows of opportunity for
adaptation and risk reduction issues in different joint action with government institutions on dif-
sectors and corresponding policies is a central ferent levels should be identified and built into co-
mechanism of governance. herent climate change adaptation or risk reduction
strategies. These plans should avoid duplication of
yy Governing under uncertainty: A challenge efforts or gaps by clearly defining roles, responsi-
in formulating and implementing adaptation bilities and mandates while respecting equity and
strategies is due to considerable uncertainties human rights aspects.
around the sensitivity of the climate system, re-
gional climate impacts and the consequences for In the context of EbA and Eco-DRR, policy inte-
social-ecological systems. Governance arrange- gration is relevant at all levels of governance. Es-
ments should therefore be able to undertake pro- pecially where vulnerabilities and risks are highly
cess-oriented approaches, react flexibly to new localized, subnational actors play a key role in
scientific findings and develop strategic stake- effective governance and should address trade-offs
holder relationships according to the needs and between environmental and economic objectives
opportunities arising, but considering the long- through policy development, land use planning
term perspective of all climate-related planning. and permitting and licensing of infrastructure or
economic activities. 48
47 Cosens et al. 2014

48 Ibid
36
Governance principles relevant for the main- legal and economic environment for adaptation
streaming of EbA and Eco-DRR include: inclusive and risk reduction. Civil society can mobilize peo-
decision-making, transparency, responsiveness ple’s participation in policy making and govern-
and accountability. They are oriented towards ance, including via media, or interest groups such
effective, equitable and sustainable resource as NGOs, community organizations or indigenous
management and livelihood enhancement, and peoples’ associations. Academia provides scientific
embrace diverse cultures and knowledge systems. knowledge as the basis for policy and informed de-
In times of uncertainty, polycentric governance cision-making. The private sector is a key actor for
systems, with multiple centers of semiautonomous the governance of EbA and Eco-DRR measures due
decision-making, can have numerous advantages to its flexibility of action and innovation, impor-
such as enhanced adaptive capacity, provision tance for public awareness, financial powers and
of good institutional frameworks for natural re- potential to enhance policy implementation. Fi-
source systems, and mitigation of risks due to re- nancing institutions, insurance companies, inves-
dundant governance actors and institutions. 49 tors, producers, retailers, and sector-specific actors
bring cost-benefit and efficiency thinking to the
Good governance goes beyond the government; it table. They can provide the financial means for in-
includes civil society and the private sector, with novations to emerge, or use pressure or incentives
clear roles and mandates for action (figure 5). A key for new policies to be developed, implemented or
role of the state is to create a favourable political, enhanced.
49 Carlisle and Gruby 2017
37
Figure 5 Interactions between the state, civil society and the private sector in governance for
effective adaptation and risk reduction
Political
Media parties
Non-
governmental
organizations Legislature
Religious Mobilizing Engaging

peoples’ society in
groups/ participation governance Executive
churches as stakes- & at all levels
rightsholders
Social Civil Society State Judiciary

organizations
Community Driving business based Creating a favourable

organizations on values and political, legal & eco-
consumption nomic environment
patterns
Creating Supporting the
opportunities for state in policy
Academia people and the implementation
environment
Financing in-
Private Sector stitutions
Insurances
Investors
Building
Producers sector
Retailers
Source: GIZ, 2018
38
1 Primer forAbbreviations
Policymakers
39
²
Voluntary guidelines
for the design and
effective implementation
of ecosystem-based
approaches to climate
change adaptation and
disaster risk reduction
40
² Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
2.1 Introduction enous peoples and local communities, the private

sector and civil society as a flexible framework for
planning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR.
Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change The voluntary guidelines may also contribute
adaptation and disaster risk reduction are holistic to an objective of the national adaptation plan
approaches that use biodiversity, and ecosystem guidelines, under the United Nations Framework
functions and services to manage the risks of Convention on Climate Change, to reduce vulnera-
climate-related impacts and disasters. Ecosys- bility to the impacts of climate change by building
tem-based adaptation (EbA) is the use of biodiver- resilience and adaptive capacity.
sity and ecosystem functions and services, as part
of an overall adaptation strategy, contributing to The draft voluntary guidelines were considered by
the well-being of societies, including indigenous the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and
peoples and local communities, and helping peo- Technological Advice of the CBD at its twenty-sec-
ple adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. ond meeting (Montreal, Canada, 2 – 7 July 2018) 53 ,
EbA aims to maintain and increase the resilience and subsequently were adopted by the Conference
and reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and of the Parties to the CBD at its fourteenth meeting
people in the face of the adverse effects of climate (Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 17 – 29 November 2018) 54 .
change. 50 Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction The core elements of the guidelines were presented
(Eco-DRR) is the holistic, sustainable management, in the annex of the draft decision. A longer infor-
conservation and restoration of ecosystems to mation document 55 presented these core elements
reduce disaster risk, with the aim of achieving sus- accompanied by additional information and tools.
tainable and resilient development. 51 The information that was not included in the an-
nex of the draft decision are the following: tables
These voluntary guidelines for the design and 3 to 12, figure 8, boxes 5, 9, 10, 11 and 12, as well
effective implementation of ecosystem-based as the lists of key actions under sections 2.3.2 and
approaches to climate change adaptation and dis- 2.3.3. The present report contains the version of
aster risk reduction have been prepared pursuant the guidelines as adopted by the Conference of the
to paragraph 10 of decision XIII/4 52 . The voluntary Parties at its fourteenth meeting, with the addition
guidelines are intended to be used by Parties, other of the above listed boxes, figures, tables and lists of
Governments, relevant organizations, and indig- key actions.
50 Derived from CBD Technical Series 41. 2009. Connecting Biodiver- 53 The voluntary guidelines were presented in the annex of document
sity and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Report of the CBD/SBSTTA/22/8 and supplementary information including a
Second Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate primer for policymakers, a list of relevant tools, and sectoral briefs
Change (SCBD 2009). on the use of EbA and Eco-DRR, was presented in an information
51 Estrella and Saalismaa. 2013. document (CBD/SBSTTA/22/INF/1).
52 www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-dec-04-en.pdf 54 The voluntary guidelines as adopted by the Conference of the
Parties at its fourteenth meeting are available in the annex of
Decision 14/5.
55 CBD/SBSTTA/22/INF/1.
41
Table 2 Examples of EbA and Eco-DRR interventions and outcomes 56

Hazard/climate Ecosystem type EbA or Eco-DRR intervention options Outcome
change impact
Drought Mountains Sustainable mountain wetland management Improved water
Soil erosion and forests regulation
Erratic rainfall Forest and pasture restoration Erosion prevention
Restoration of pastures with deep-rooting native Improved water storage
species capacity
Erratic rainfall Inland waters Conservation of wetlands and peatlands Improved water storage
Flood capacity
Drought River basin restoration Flood risk reduction
Transboundary water governance and ecosystem Improved water
restoration provisioning
Erratic rainfall Agriculture Ecosystem restoration and agroforestry Improved water storage
Temperature and drylands capacity
increase Intercropping of adapted species Adaptation to higher
Shift of seasons Using trees to adapt to changing dry seasons temperatures
Drought Adaptation to shifting
Sustainable livestock management and pasture seasons
restoration Improved water
provisioning
Drought resilience by sustainable dryland
management
Extreme heat Urban Green aeration corridors for cities Heat wave buffering
Temperature Adaptation to higher
increase Storm water management by green spaces temperatures
Floods River restoration in urban areas Flood risk reduction
Erratic rainfall Improved water
Green facades for buildings regulation
Storm surges Marine Mangrove restoration and coastal protection Storm and cyclone risk
Cyclones and coastal reduction
Sea level rise Coastal realignment Flood risk reduction
Salinization Sustainable fishing and mangrove rehabilitation Improved water quality
Temperature Adaptation to higher
increase temperatures
Ocean Coral reef restoration
acidification
2.1.1 Overview of the voluntary technologies, practices and efforts of indigenous

guidelines peoples and local communities, mainstreaming,
and raising awareness and building capacity. The
The guidelines begin with an overall introduction overarching considerations should also be borne
to the mandate and basic terminology of EbA in mind when undertaking the steps of planning
and Eco-DRR. Section 2.2 presents principles and and implementation. Section 2.4 presents a step-
safeguards that provide standards and measures wise approach intended to work iteratively for EbA
to bear in mind during all of the steps of plan- and Eco-DRR planning and implementation along
ning and implementation presented in section with suggested practical actions.
2.4. Section 2.3 presents other important overar-
ching considerations on: integrating knowledge, 56 Examples provided by GIZ from the PANORAMA database
panorama.solutions/en
42
2.1.2 What are ecosystem-based ap- 2.2 Principles and

proaches to climate change adap- safeguards
tation and disaster risk reduction?
The Convention on Biological Diversity published The voluntary guidelines are underpinned by
Technical Series 85 57 which presents a synthesis principles and safeguards that were developed
report on experiences with the implementation of by reviewing existing literature and guidelines
EbA and Eco-DRR. It provides detailed informa- on EbA and Eco-DRR 58 and complement other
tion on experiences with policy and legal frame- principles and guidelines 59 adopted under the
works, mainstreaming, integrating gender and Convention or under other bodies. The safeguards
the contribution of indigenous peoples and local are social and environmental measures to avoid
communities. Additional examples of EbA and unintended consequences of EbA and Eco-DRR
Eco-DRR activities are presented in table 2. to people, ecosystems and biodiversity; they also
facilitate transparency throughout all stages of
EbA and Eco-DRR have the following characteris- planning and implementation, and promote the
tics: realization of benefits.
a. Enhance resilience and adaptive capacity and The principles integrate elements of EbA and Eco-
reduce social and environmental vulnerabili- DRR practice and serve as high-level standards
ties in the face of the risks associated with the to guide planning and implementation. They are
impacts of climate change, contributing to in- clustered into themes: building resilience and en-
cremental and transformative adaptation and hancing adaptive capacity, inclusivity and equity,
disaster risk reduction; consideration of multiple scales, and effectiveness
and efficiency. The guidelines in section 2.3 pro-
b. Generate societal benefits, contributing to sus- vide suggested steps, methodologies and associated
tainable and resilient development using equi- tools to implement actions on EbA and Eco-DRR
table, transparent and participatory approaches; according to the principles and safeguards.
c. Make use of biodiversity and ecosystem func-

tions and services through sustainably manag-
ing, conserving and restoring ecosystems;
d. Form part of overall strategies for adaptation

and risk reduction that are supported by poli-
cies at multiple levels, and encourage equitable
governance while enhancing capacity.
58 Including “Guidance on Enhancing Positive and Minimizing

Negative Impacts on Biodiversity of Climate Change Adaptation
Activities” (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/20/INF/1).
59 See Ecosystem restoration: short term action plan (decision XIII/5);
the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peo-
ples; and Principles, Guidelines and Other Tools Developed under
57 Lo 2016 (www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-85-en.pdf) the Convention, available at www.cbd.int/guidelines
43
2.2.1 Principles
Principles for building resilience and enhancing adaptive capacity through EbA and Eco-DRR
1 Consider a full range of ecosystem-based approaches to enhance resilience of socio-ecological systems as a part of
overall adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies.
2 Use disaster response as an opportunity to build back better for enhancing adaptive capacity and resilience 60 and
integrate climate-resilient ecosystem considerations throughout all stages of disaster management.
3 Apply a precautionary approach 61 in planning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR interventions.
Principles for ensuring inclusivity and equity in planning and implementation
4 Plan and implement EbA and Eco-DRR interventions to prevent and avoid the disproportionate impacts of climate
change and disaster risk on ecosystems as well as vulnerable groups, indigenous peoples and local communities,
women and girls.
Principles for achieving EbA and Eco-DRR on multiple scales
5 Design EbA and Eco-DRR interventions at the appropriate scales, recognising that some EbA and Eco-DRR benefits
are only apparent at larger temporal and spatial scales.
6 Ensure that EbA and Eco-DRR are sectorally cross-cutting and involve collaboration, coordination, and
co-operation of stakeholders and rights holders.
Principles for EbA and Eco-DRR effectiveness and efficiency
7 Ensure that EbA and Eco-DRR interventions are evidence-based, integrate indigenous and traditional knowledge,
where available, and are supported by the best available science, research, data, practical experience, and diverse
knowledge systems.
8 Incorporate mechanisms that facilitate adaptive management and active learning into EbA and Eco-DRR, including
continuous monitoring and evaluation at all stages of planning and implementation.
9 Identify and assess limitations and minimize potential trade-offs of EbA and Eco-DRR interventions.
10 Maximise synergies in achieving multiple benefits, including for biodiversity, conservation, sustainable
development, gender equality, health, adaptation, and risk reduction.
60 The use of the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction phases

after a disaster to increase the resilience of nations and communi-
ties through integrating DRR measures into the restoration of phys-
ical infrastructure and societal systems, and into the revitalization
of livelihoods, economies and the environment. (UNISDR 2017)
61 The precautionary approach is stated in the preamble of the Con-
vention on Biological Diversity: “Where there is a threat of signif-
icant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific
certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures
to avoid or minimize such a threat.”
44
2.2.2 Safeguards
Safeguards for effective planning and implementation of EbA and Eco-DRR

Applying environmental 1. EbA and Eco-DRR should be subject, as appropriate, to environmental impact as-
impact assessments and sessments including social and cultural assessments (referring to the Akwé: Kon
robust monitoring and guidelines) at the earliest stage of project design, and subject to robust monitoring
evaluation and evaluation systems.
Prevention of transfer of 2. EbA and Eco-DRR should avoid adverse impacts on biodiversity or people, and
risks and impacts should not result in the displacement of risks or impacts from one area or group to
another.
Prevention of harm to 3. EbA aand Eco-DRR, including disaster response, recovery and reconstruction meas-
biodiversity, ecosystems ures, should not result in the degradation of natural habitat, loss of biodiversity
and ecosystem services or the introduction of invasive species, nor create or exacerbate vulnerabilities to
future disasters.
4. EbA and Eco-DRR should promote and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem func-
tions and services, including through rehabilitation/restoration and conservation
measures as part of post-disaster needs assessment and recovery and reconstruc-
tion plans.
Sustainable resource use 5. EbA and Eco-DRR should neither result in unsustainable resource use nor enhance
the drivers of climate change and disaster risks, and should strive to maximize ener-
gy efficiency and minimize material resource use.
Promotion of full, effective 6. EbA and Eco-DRR should ensure full and effective participation of the people con-
and inclusive participation cerned, including indigenous peoples and local communities, women, minorities
and the most vulnerable, including the provisioning of adequate opportunities for
informed involvement.
Fair and equitable access to 7. EbA and Eco-DRR should promote fair and equitable access to benefits and should
benefits not exacerbate existing inequities, particularly with respect to marginalized or vul-
nerable groups. EbA and Eco-DRR interventions should meet national labour stand-
ards, protecting participants against exploitative practices, discrimination and work
that is hazardous to their well-being.
Transparent governance 8. EbA and Eco-DRR should promote transparent governance by supporting rights
and access to information to access to information, providing all stakeholders and rights holders, particularly
indigenous peoples and local communities, with information in a timely manner,
and supporting the further collection and dissemination of knowledge.
Respecting rights of women 9. EbA and Eco-DRR measures should respect the rights of women and men from
and men from indigenous indigenous peoples and local communities, including access to and use of physical
peoples and local and cultural heritage.
communities
45
2.3 Overarching considera- identifying and monitoring climatic, weather and
tions for EbA and biodiversity changes and impending natural haz-
ards. Ecosystem-based approaches can also serve
Eco-DRR design and to bring back abandoned practices, such as indig-
implementation enous and traditional agricultural practices. Inte-
grating the knowledge of indigenous peoples and
local communities also involves an appreciation of
When undertaking the stepwise process for plan- their cosmovisión 62 . and an acknowledgement of
ning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR provid- their role as knowledge holders and rights holders.
ed in Section 2.4, there are three main overarching Tools for integrating knowledge, technologies,
considerations to bear in mind at each step: inte- practices and efforts of indigenous peoples and lo-
grating knowledge, technologies, practices and ef- cal communities are presented in table 3. Ways to
forts of indigenous peoples and local communities; incorporate indigenous and traditional knowledge
mainstreaming of EbA and Eco-DRR; and raising and practices in EbA and Eco-DRR planning and
awareness and building capacity. Taking these ac- implementation throughout all stages of planning
tions into account can enhance uptake of EbA and and implementation include the following:
Eco-DRR approaches, and improve effectiveness
and efficiencies, enabling more and better out-
comes from the interventions. Key actions
a. Discover and document linkages between lo-

2.3.1 Integrating knowledge, cal, indigenous and traditional knowledge and
technologies, practices and efforts practices and the goals and objectives of climate
of indigenous peoples and local change adaptation and disaster risk reduction;
communities
b. Consult multi-stakeholder working groups,
Indigenous peoples and local communities have especially indigenous peoples and local com-
managed variability, uncertainty and change munities, to facilitate knowledge-sharing across
through multigenerational histories of interaction sectors on the role of ecosystems in adaptation
with the environment. Indigenous and traditional and disaster risk reduction;
knowledge and coping strategies can thus form an
important basis for climate change and disaster c. Put in place effective participatory and trans-
risk reduction responses, complementing estab- parent mechanisms to obtain the best available
lished evidence, and bridging gaps in information. evidence;
Indigenous, traditional and local knowledge sys-
tems – and forms of analysis and documentation, d. Integrate the knowledge of indigenous peoples
such as community mapping – can play a signif- and local communities into assessments after
icant role, similarly to early warning systems, in obtaining free prior and informed consent.
62 A worldview that has evolved over time that integrates physical and
spiritual aspects (adapted from the Indigenous Peoples’ Restoration
Network).
46
Table 3 Toolbox for integrating knowledge, technologies, practices and efforts of

indigenous peoples and local communities
Tool/Organization Description
Traditional Knowledge and Climate Science Provides articles, videos and various other resources that will assist
Toolkit (UNU) indigenous peoples, local communities, policymakers and other
stakeholders in accessing research on climate change adaptation and
mitigation collections.unu.edu/view/UNU:1500
Weathering Uncertainty: Traditional Provides an overview of the literature relating to the contribution of
Knowledge for Climate Change traditional/indigenous knowledge to our understanding of global
Assessment and Adaptation climate change: observations, impacts and opportunities for adaptation
(UNESCO and UNU) unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002166/216613e.pdf
Examples of the application of traditional Summary of approaches and strategies for applying local knowledge to
knowledge to adaptation climate change adaptation across different sectors www.ipcc.ch/pdf/
(IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, assessment-report/ar5/wg2/WGIIAR5-Chap15_FINAL.pdf
Chapter 15)
Indigenous people and climate change: Report demonstrating how indigenous peoples are essential to the
from victims to change agents through success of policies and measures directed towards mitigating and
decent work (ILO) adapting to climate change, especially their sustainable economic model
and traditional knowledge www.ilo.org/global/topics/indigenous-tribal/
WCMS_551189/lang--en/index.htm
Handbook for ILO Tripartite Constituents Outlines requirements regarding consultations in accordance with
(ILO) the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 www.ilo.org/
wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@normes/documents/publication/
wcms_205225.pdf
Indigenous and traditional knowledge Highlights the best practices, lessons learned and available tools for the
and practices for adaptation: overview, use of indigenous and traditional knowledge and practices (ITKP) for
available tools, good practices and lessons adaptation unfccc.int/files/adaptation/application/pdf/4_synopsis_itkp.
learned (UNFCCC) pdf
2.3.2 Mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR goal is enhanced support and implementation of
EbA and Eco-DRR where it proves effective.
Mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR is the integra-
tion of ecosystem-based approaches into climate- Mainstreaming occurs continuously throughout
and disaster-risk planning and decision-making EbA and Eco-DRR planning and implementation.
processes at all levels. Mainstreaming may start The process begins in Step A with the achievement
with integrating ecosystem considerations into of a broad understanding of the political and insti-
adaptation and disaster risk reduction objectives, tutional set-up of the target system, which enables
strategies, policies, measures or operations so that the identification of potential entry points for
they become part of national and regional devel- mainstreaming. Other key components of main-
opment policies, processes and budgets at all levels streaming include enhancing sectoral outreach,
and stages. Mainstreaming enhances the effec- raising awareness, and capacity building.
tiveness, efficiency, and longevity of EbA and Eco-
DRR initiatives by embedding their principles into When mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR, it is
local, municipal and national policies, planning, important to align with national and subnational
assessments, financing, training, and awareness development frameworks and mainstream into
campaigns, among other policy tools. The overall relevant plans, policies and practice at multiple
47
scales, including with international frameworks b. Assess existing national adaptation and disaster
and conventions, such as the Sustainable Develop- risk reduction policies, plans and investments,
ment Goals and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity in addition to broader (non-adaptation- and
2011 – 2020 (figure 6). Mainstreaming helps to en- DRR-related) environmental, land use and de-
hance long-term sustainability and possibilities for velopment policies and plans to identify entry
funding (box 6). It is also important to incorporate points for promoting Eco-DRR/CCA implemen-
a disaster and climate risk reduction lens when tation. These include, but are not limited to:
implementing environmental impact assessments i. National Biodiversity Strategies and Ac-
and strategic environmental assessments to pre- tion Plans (NBSAPs)
vent unintended impacts that may exacerbate risk ii. (National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and
and to promote EbA and Eco-DRR measures. linkages to Nationally Determined Con-
tributions (NDCs) and national legislation
When mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR, it is im- (see box 5)
portant to align with national and subnational de- iii. National Plans for Land Degradation Neu-
velopment frameworks and mainstream into rele- trality
vant plans, policies and practice at multiple scales, iv. Disaster risk management plans, including
in order to enhance long-term sustainability and national drought strategies
possibilities for funding (figure 6 and box 6). It is v. Land-use planning, including urban plan-
also important to align with international frame- ning
works and conventions, such as the Sustainable vi. Agricultural, fisheries, water, infrastruc-
Development Goals and the Strategic Plan for Bio- ture, and other sectors (see Part 3)
diversity 2011-2020 63 . It is also important to incor- vii. Development policies
porate a climate and disaster risk reduction lens, viii. Budget plans
when implementing environmental impact assess-
ments and strategic environmental assessments, to c. Align EbA and Eco-DRR with national and
prevent unintended impacts that may exacerbate sub-national development frameworks and
risk and promote EbA and Eco-DRR measures. mainstream into relevant plans, policies and
practice at multiple scales to enhance long-term
A sample framework for mainstreaming is shown sustainability and possibilities for funding (fig-
in figure 6. Key actions for mainstreaming EbA ure 7).
and Eco-DRR include:
d. Align with international frameworks and con-
Key Actions ventions, such as the SDGs, CBD Strategic Plan
for Biodiversity, and others, and incorporate
a. Underscore the value of healthy ecosystems in EbA and Eco-DRR measures into reporting
adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies schemes.
and frameworks, supporting the maintenance
of functioning and provisioning of essential e. Improve convergence in the design and imple-
services under current and future climate mentation of EbA and Eco-DRR into existing
change scenarios. programmes of work (including adaptation,
environment, development, humanitarian),
including climate-proofing existing interven-
tions.
63 www.cbd.int/sp
48
f. Incorporate a disaster and climate risk reduc- developing boundary conditions, including
tion lens when implementing Environmental considering green or hybrid solutions before
Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic En- grey when more effective.
vironmental Assessments (SEAs) to prevent
unintended environmental impacts that may i. Create incentive structures for the promotion
exacerbate risk and to promote EbA and Eco- of eco-friendly infrastructure development and
DRR measures. incentives for private sector to include EbA and
Eco-DRR (e.g. tax reduction); and
g. Invest in risk-informed development by
protecting existing healthy natural/green j. Screen national tax systems and public funding
infrastructure from new development (e.g. wa- to avoid/eliminate perverse incentives, ecosys-
ter-infrastructure or coastal) and by creating tem degradation, or maladaptation.
boundary conditions for the design of such
large-scale developments. k. Review technical standards, e.g. procurement
documents, guidance and M&E project cycle
h. Create entry points for ecosystem-based solu- needs to allow flexibility of ecosystem solu-
tions in ministerial guidelines for tenders by tions.
Figure 6 Example framework for mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR in development planning 64
• Understanding social- • Risk and vulnerability • Strengthening

ecological systems and assessments, socio- EbA and Eco-DRR
integrating knowledge, economic analyses monitoring systems
technologies, practices STEP B STEP F
and efforts of IPLCs • Influencing national, • Promoting investments
• Understanding subnational and sec- in EbA and Eco-DRR
the political, toral policy planning • Strengthening
governmental, and processes supporting national,
institutional contexts • Developing EbA and subnational and
• Raising awareness and Eco-DRR enabling sectoral policy
building partnerships policy measures measures
• Evaluating institutional • Strengthening institu- • Strengthening
and capacity needs tions and capacities; institutions
STEP A learning-by-doing and capacities:
mainstreaming as
standard practices
Finding the Entry Points and Mainstreaming EbA and Strengthening EbA
Making the Case Eco-DRR in Policy and Implementation
Planning Processes
Multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral engagement
64 Adapted from WWF 2013 and UNDP-UNEP 2011
49
Box 5 How do EbA & Eco-DRR fit into the UNFCCC (I)NDCs and NAPs?
(Intended) Nationally Determined Contributions ((I)NDCs) set out high-level objectives and a vision for
addressing adaptation goals. 86 per cent of countries who submitted (I)NDCs include an adaptation com-
ponent in their plans which outline goals, activities and needs for adaptation (World Resources Institute
2017). Another analysis of (I)NDCs revealed that, although only 23 countries mention EbA explicitly, many
more have ecosystem-orientated visions for adaptation and propose a range of conservation, restoration,
agroforestry and community-led approaches to achieve these visions (Seddon et al. 2016). The most com-
monly cited needs for adaptation among sectors are in the water, agriculture and human health sectors
(Mogelgaard and McGray 2015).
National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) aim to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by build-
ing adaptive capacity and resilience; and integrate climate change adaptation into policies, programmes
and activities within all relevant sectors and at different levels. The main elements in developing a NAP
are laying the groundwork and addressing gaps, preparatory elements including identifying and ap-
praising adaptation options, implementation strategies; and reporting, monitoring and review. The NAP
process is a key tool for coherent implementation of an (I)NDC adaptation component (GIZ 2016b). En-
try-points for integrating EbA and Eco-DRR include:
yy An ecosystem and risk reduction lens should be applied to the NAP process. For example, in assessing
vulnerabilities and risk, using a landscape or systems approach will help to identify ecosystems that
provide critical climate regulation services. EbA is explicitly listed as one of several approaches in the
NAP Technical Guidelines for conducting vulnerability and risk assessments, which can aid in prioritiz-
ing measures such as conservation or restoration actions to maintain ecosystem health and functioning.
yy In reviewing and appraising adaptation options, it is recommended to consider economic, ecosystem
and social costs and benefits. Using appraisal methods that consider costs and benefits in the short and
long-term and within appropriate geographical scales can aid in making the case for ecosystem-based
approaches.
yy In implementing adaptation activities, the NAP process also notes that implementation approaches
could include a resilience approach, through climate-proofing development or ecosystem-based ap-
proaches. The NAP planning process is iterative and adaptive, and can involve the use of several differ-
ent approaches in each of its main elements (see NAP Technical Guidelines, Least Developed Countries
Expert Group 2012).
A key aspect of mainstreaming is finding appro- best available solutions, and a willingness to invest
priate entry points for integrating EbA and Eco- and (re)build better. These are important oppor-
DRR into concrete but often also complex policy tunities to include EbA or Eco-DRR aspects. Entry
and planning frameworks and decision-making points may occur at all levels of government, and
processes. Entry points can be dynamic, depend- can imply different levels of governance, or collab-
ing on three key aspects: oration with the private sector.
a. The awareness of stakeholders about an
existing problem, challenge or risk; In general, entry points for mainstreaming may be
b. Available solutions, proposals, tools and found in:
knowledge;
c. Political will to act, mandates and roles. a. The development or revision of policies and
plans, e.g. development or sectoral plans, na-
If all three aspects come together in favourable tionally determined contributions, as appro-
ways, there is a “momentum” for policy change. In priate, national adaptation plans, national bio-
cases of disaster and states of emergency, there is diversity strategies and action plans, strategic
generally openness towards stakeholders’ needs, environmental assessments, land-use plans;
innovative tools and approaches, joint searches for
50
b. Command and control instruments, e.g. climate g. Partnerships that enable the full and effective
change and environmental laws, standards, and participation of civil society organizations, in-
environmental impact assessments, and disas- digenous peoples and local communities, wom-
ter risk management; en and youth.
c. Economic and fiscal instruments, e.g. invest- As emphasized throughout the EbA and Eco-DRR
ment programmes, funds, subsidies, taxes, fees; planning and implementation process, reaching
out to sectors is key to raising awareness of and
d. Educational and awareness-raising measures, integrating EbA and Eco-DRR into sectoral plans
e.g. environmental education, extension pro- and national-level planning, and encouraging
grammes, technical careers and university cross-sectoral collaboration for joint implementa-
curricula; tion.
e. Voluntary measures, e.g. environmental agree- A key action in this respect is to consider integrat-
ments with private landowners, or the defini- ing EbA and Eco-DRR in sectoral development
tion of standards; plans at local, national and regional scales, such as
in land use and water management, in both rural
f. Measures that guarantee the free prior in- and urban contexts. Briefs for supporting EbA and
formed consent, of indigenous peoples, where Eco-DRR practitioners to undertake outreach into
appropriate; sectors are available in Part 3.
Box 6 Opportunities for mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR into funding priorities
EbA and Eco-DRR contribute to multiple objectives, including development, disaster risk, adaptation,
mitigation, food and water security, and to ensure risk-informed investments. The cross-sectoral and
transdisciplinary approaches of EbA and Eco-DRR, and the potential realization of multiple benefits offer
several opportunities to attract/enhance funding.
yy Encourage new financial incentives for investments in sustainable ecosystem management that empha-
sise ecosystems as part of adaptation and disaster risk planning. Examples include developing incentive
programmes for farmers to implement practices that contribute to maintaining resilient ecosystems,
such as agroforestry and conservation tillage.
yy Unlock new investments for EbA and Eco-DRR through the climate-proofing of existing investment
portfolios.
yy Work with the private sector (including insurance, tourism, agriculture and water sectors) to harness
their expertise, resources and networks. This helps in encouraging and scaling up investments in EbA
and Eco-DRR, and identifying public-private partnerships.
yy Engage government regulatory bodies to support and endorse private sector investments in natural in-
frastructure and EbA and Eco-DRR.
yy Identify partnerships with industry associations that can aid in the identification of climate risks, im-
pacts and adaptation strategies. Examples include the development of climate risk assessment tools for
use by private sector investors and insurance companies, adoption of hydro-meteorological and climate
information services, and working with developers to improve land-use planning, including such EbA
and Eco-DRR activities as ecosystem restoration.
yy Create national-level incentive structures for EbA and Eco-DRR, especially for private landowners and
companies.
The mainstreaming of EbA and Eco-DRR into funding priorities should ensure that initiatives adhere to
the EbA and Eco-DRR principles and safeguards with clear intentions to achieve enhanced social-ecologi-
cal resilience to climate change impacts and disasters.
51
Considering the information provided above, a

simple framework for mainstreaming EbA and
Eco-DRR into development and sectoral plans is
presented in figure 7.
Figure 7 Entry points for mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR within key development and sectoral
strategies
c t o r s t ra t e g i e
Se sk
s Climate m
ster ri i
& adapt gaon
Disa ucon ao
red n
r, B
to y ents & m e t h o co iodi
s ec nom trum d
ns ve
te eco Ins s er rs
va
)
Ind i cators
ee a
ity n
(gr Priv
o
n
I mp a c t s
Wa & qu
a
ing
o
G l
ter ality
l-be
prov
wel
ision
Human
of EbA & Eco-DRR

Mainstreaming:
Food producon
foresty, fisher
l jusce &
agricult
ance
ecosystem services are

Socia ion,
taken into account in

govern
c es
u
h
development
r
o
e,
y
strategies, policies
/
& actions
ng
n ni
Edu are
p la
aw
c a nes
se
o s
du
n,
an
L
Fin
anc an nt
e U r b p me
el o
P u b lic dev
administraon
Entry points for mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR within key development and sectoral strategies by embedding
ecosystem-based approaches into existing instruments and methods, selecting appropriate indicators for monitoring
and evaluation, ensuring successful impact by developing a theory of change.
Source: adapted from figure 2 CBD COP Decision 14/5, based on GIZ, 2018
52
2.3.3 Raising awareness and building Key Actions

capacity
a. Identify targets of international frameworks to
Communicating the multiple benefits of EbA and raise awareness;
Eco-DRR across sectors, communities of practice,
and disciplines is crucial to enhancing uptake and b. Conduct baseline assessments of:
sustainability of initiatives, in addition to opening i. the existing skills and capacity of policymak-
avenues for funding. National and internation- ers to address gaps and needs; and
al policy agreements provide an opportunity to ii. institutional capacities and existing coordi-
bridge the gap between different communities nation mechanisms to identify needs for sus-
of practice. Interlinkages between ecosystem tainably mainstreaming and implementing
management, climate change and disaster risk EbA and Eco-DRR;
reduction are all reflected in various targets under
the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai c. Consider the different information and com-
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris munication needs of different stakeholder
Agreement on Climate Change, decisions of the groups in order to develop effective outreach;
Parties to the Rio conventions, and resolutions of
Parties to the Ramsar Convention. 65 d. Build a common knowledge base and seek to
identify a common language among stake-
holders to support their cooperation. There
are many networks available to support these
efforts and which offer platforms for sharing
information and experience. 66
66 Such as the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Re-

duction (PEDRR), Friends of EbA (FEBA), PANORAMA, BES-Net
(Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network), Ecoshape, Ecosys-
tem Services Partnership’s Thematic Working Group on Ecosystem
Services and Disaster Risk Reduction, IUCN Thematic Groups, and
65 See also CBD Technical Series No. 85 (Lo 2016), annexes II and III. CAP-Net (UNDP).
53
Table 4 Toolbox for mainstreaming adaptation and DRR and raising awareness
Using NDCs and NAPs to Advance Guidelines on streamlining and leveraging Nationally Determined Contributions
Climate-Resilient Development: (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to improve adaptation plan-
Framework for linking NAPs and ning and action. (IISD). napglobalnetwork.org/2016/11/using-ndcs-naps-ad-
NDCs vance-climate-resilient-development
NAP Align: Aligning NAP process- Provides practical recommendations on how to integrate adaptation to climate
es to development and budget change into a country’s planning and budgeting system. (GIZ) (English and
planning French). www.adaptationcommunity.net/?wpfb_dl=235
Opportunities and options for Outlines opportunities and options for reducing vulnerability and mainstream-
enhancing adaptation actions and ing climate change adaptation, including through the process to formulate and
supporting their implementation: implement national adaptation plans, including a section on opportunities for
reducing vulnerability and main- financing and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR. unfccc.int/files/adaptation/
streaming adaptation (UNFCCC) groups_committees/adaptation_committee/application/pdf/tp_adapta-
tion_2016.pdf
Mainstreaming Ecosystem-based A practice-oriented training course developed by GIZ (2016), which contains
Adaptation into development several flexible modules and complementary sessions to guide addressing the
planning (GIZ) main steps of the EbA mainstreaming cycle and includes a session on Eco-DRR
(also relevant to Eco-DRR) (English and Spanish). 67
Biodiversity Mainstreaming Tool- Tools developed to aid the wise use of natural resources and sustainable devel-
box for land-use planning and opment, and to help mainstream biodiversity objectives into land-use planning
development (ICLEI) and development decision-making. biodiversityadvisor.sanbi.org/wp-content/
uploads/2015/02/Biodiversity-Mainstreaming-Toolbox_Senior-Managers-Sum-
mary.pdf
Mainstreaming Environment and This handbook draws on successful experiences from countries around the world
Climate for Poverty Reduction and in effectively mainstreaming poverty-environment issues into development
Sustainable Development: The In- agendas. www.unpei.org/about-the-interactive-handbook
teractive Handbook to Strengthen
Planning and Budgeting Processes
(UNDP)
Integrated Strategic Environmen- Provides guidance on undertaking Integrated Strategic Environmental Assess-
tal Assessment in Sri Lanka ments that includes considerations for enhancing resilience. www.unep.org/
(UNEP and UNDP) disastersandconflicts/Introduction/ DisasterRiskReduction/Capacitydevelop-
mentandtechnicalassistance/ISEAinSriLanka/tabid/105928/Default.aspx
CBD Technical Series No. 85 Contains several examples of mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR into national
plans, strategies and targets (Lo 2016)
Helping nature help us (IUCN) Provides information on harmonizing Eco-DRR with biodiversity conservation.
The regional lessons include case studies that could be useful for mainstreaming
Eco-DRR into biodiversity conservation. portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/
files/documents/2016-070.pdf
Entry points for mainstreaming Experiences from practitioners on how to successfully integrate EbA and Eco-
EbA (GIZ) DRR in national and subnational processes and harness synergies. www.adapta-
tioncommunity.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/giz2017-en-learning-brief-
entry-points-eba-low-res.pdf
67 For more information on the mainstreaming training course

(available by request), please see www.adaptationcommunity.net/
trainings/training-course-mainstreaming-ecosystem-based-adap-
tation-development-planning-updated-2016
54
2.4 Stepwise approach to perspective on all ecosystems and include con-
design and implementa- siderations for mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR.

The guidelines integrate these approaches within a
tion of effective EbA series of iterative steps (figure 8). The process is in-
and Eco-DRR tended to be flexible and adaptable to the needs of
a project, programme or country, region, or land-
scape/seascape. The principles and safeguards for
In developing a conceptual framework for these EbA and Eco-DRR are central to the planning and
guidelines, various climate change adaptation and implementation process, and the overarching con-
disaster risk reduction processes were considered, siderations are provided to improve effectiveness
in addition to broader problem-solving approach- and efficiencies. All steps are linked to a toolbox
es such as the landscape and systems approach providing a non-exhaustive selection of further
frameworks. The main approaches and processes guidance and tools (Tables 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12).
considered are briefly reviewed in table 5 as they Stakeholder engagement, mainstreaming, capaci-
form the basis of the framework developed for ty-building, and monitoring should be conducted
these guidelines. These guidelines employ a broad throughout the process.
55
Table 5 Main frameworks considered for the development of the EbA and Eco-DRR Guidelines
CCA: Climate change adaptation, DRR: Disaster risk reduction
Framework Issue Scale Key Features
National CCA National Main framework under the UNFCCC for adaptation planning on
Adaptation Plans a national level. Key stages of (i) assessments of impacts, vulner-
(NAPs) under the ability and risk; (ii) adaptation planning; (iii) implementation of
UNFCCC adaptation actions; and (iv) monitoring and evaluation. Strength-
ening of technical and institutional capacity, learning and sharing
of good practices and experiences, and adaptive management, are
integral to each stage. 68
Operational CCA Sub- Begins with a vulnerability assessment of social-ecological sys-

Framework for national tems. Other steps include the identification and prioritization
EbA (WWF) of EbA responses, implementation and monitoring, and main-
streaming EbA in national and local climate change planning. 69
Adaptation CCA National/ Focuses on maintaining functionality of ecosystems, and begins

mainstreaming sub- with using a climate and ecosystem lens to define the problem
cycle (GIZ) national (e.g. lack of water), and identifying the system of interest (e.g. a
watershed, sector or policy). 70
Disaster risk DRR National/ Key stages of risk assessment (including risk identification, analy-
management cycle sub- sis and evaluation), risk prevention (through planning and policy),
national preparedness (early warning, emergency planning and education),
and, following a disaster, response and recovery (rescue, recovery
and rehabilitation, risk transfer). 71
Eco-DRR cycle DRR National/ Integrate ecosystem considerations into the traditional disaster
sub- risk management cycle. With improved development planning,
national on-going risk reduction and sustainable development, hazard
events may be prevented from becoming disasters. Eco-DRR
should be considered throughout early post-disaster recovery,
reconstruction, risk and vulnerability assessments, and on-going
disaster prevention through sustainable development. 72
Ecosystems CCA/DRR Sub-national Promotes the use of EbA to protect communities from disasters
protecting and climate change impacts. Step-by-step guidance is proposed
infrastructure for implementing EbA and Eco-DRR, based on existing EbA
& communities guidelines. 73
(EPIC) (IUCN)
Landscape Multiple Multiple Encourages problem and solution analysis by considering land-
Approach scapes and systems and integrating different spatial and temporal
scales as an iterative process. Emphasizes the importance of con-
ducting an initial landscape assessment and continuous involve-
ment of stakeholders. 74
68 UNFCCC 2016
69 WWF 2013
70 GIZ 2016a
71 European Environment Agency 2017
72 Sudmeier-Rieux 2013
73 Monty et al. 2017
74 CARE Netherlands and Wetland International 2017
56
Figure 8 Iterative process for planning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR
A. Understanding the
social-ecological system
Integrating knowledge of B. Assessing

F. Evaluating Outcomes
IPLCs Vulnerabilities & Risks
EbA & Eco-DRR

Principles &
Safeguards
Raising awareness & Mainstreaming
building capacity
E. Project design C. Identfying EbA/

Eco-DRR options
D. Prioritizing,
appraising & selecting
options
Iterative process for planning and implementing EbA and Eco-DRR as part of overall climate change adaptation and
disaster risk reduction strategies. The process is centred on the principles and safeguards presented in these guidelines.
The outer circle outlines discrete steps to take, and the inner circle outlines overarching considerations throughout the
process.
57
Step A Understanding the social-ecological system
Purpose Key Actions
This exploratory step is aimed at enhancing the a. Undertake an organizational self-assessment to

understanding of the social-ecological system understand strengths, weaknesses, capacity (in-
targeted for climate change adaptation and disas- cluding technical and financial) and opportuni-
ter risk management interventions. This includes ties for partnership on EbA and Eco-DRR. Based
identifying key features of the ecosystem/land- on this, a multi-disciplinary team (including
scape, including biodiversity and ecosystem func- but not limited to indigenous peoples and local
tions and services, and interlinkages with people. communities, other experts, representatives
Step A enables addressing root causes of risk in from relevant sectors and government bodies) is
coping with current and future climate change organized for planning and implementing EbA
impacts. Additionally, it generates baseline infor- and Eco-DRR;
mation to ensure that EbA and Eco-DRR measures
reconcile conservation and development needs b. Identify and define the social-ecological system
and do not harm biodiversity, cultural diversity of interest (for example, a watershed, sector or
or ecosystem functions and services, or the people policy);
and livelihoods that depend on such functions and
services, in line with the principles and safeguards. c. Conduct analyses and consultations, making
Moreover, Step A includes in-depth stakeholder use of the multidisciplinary team, in order to
analysis and multi-stakeholder and participatory understand the drivers of risk, capacities and
processes that feed into subsequent steps, and, assets of communities, societies and economies,
therefore, more detailed actions are presented to and the wider social and natural environment;
undertake these analyses (box 7).
d. Analyse the problem, determining its scope
(geographical and temporal) by defining the
Outcomes boundaries of the system (see supporting guid-
ance in associated toolbox), and set goals and
a. A defined social-ecological system of interest objectives for adaptation and disaster risk re-
(biodiversity, ecosystems and services, so- duction without harm to biodiversity or ecosys-
cio-economic characteristics and dependencies) tem functions and services. The spatial scale for
and related goals and objectives for adaptation risk management, associated with the impacts
and disaster risk reduction; of climate change, should be broad enough to
address the root causes of risk and deliver mul-
b. Defined stakeholders and rights holders; tiple functions to stakeholders with different
interests, and sufficiently small to make imple-
c. Defined political and institutional entry points mentation feasible;
for EbA and Eco-DRR within the system.
58
e. Identify and map key provisioning, regulating, g. Screen relevant entry points for EbA and Eco-
supporting and cultural services in the system DRR particularly in a policy, planning or budg-
that contribute to resilience. As 90 per cent of eting cycle at different scales and levels where
disasters are water-related, including drought considerations of climate change risk and adap-
or floods 75 , understanding the hydrology of the tation could be incorporated;
landscape is crucial for scoping and designing
EbA orEco-DRR interventions; h. Map out the institutional responsibilities for
intersections of development, conservation,
f. Determine initial entry points for EbA and Eco- disaster risk reduction and climate change ad-
DRR interventions; aptation, including relevant sectors;
i. Conduct an in-depth stakeholder analysis

(box 7).
Box 7 Stakeholder and rights-holder analysis and establishment of participatory

mechanisms
An assessment of the system or landscape helps to analyse the problem, define the boundaries for cli-
mate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction interventions, and screen for entry points for EbA
and Eco-DRR. This information should feed into an in-depth stakeholder analysis before engaging stake-
holders throughout the adaptation/DRR process, and also iteratively benefits from information from
stakeholders. Prior and informed engagement of stakeholders and rights holders will increase ownership
and likely success of any adaptation/DRR intervention. In-depth stakeholder analyses and development
of multi-stakeholder processes and participatory mechanisms are key to meeting principles on equity
and inclusivity and related safeguards. The Akwé: Kon Voluntary Guidelines (www.cbd.int/traditional/
guidelines.shtml) outline procedural considerations for the conduct of cultural, environmental and social
impact assessments, which are widely applicable to EbA and Eco-DRR.
Key Actions
yy Identify indigenous peoples and local communities, stakeholders and rights holders likely to be affect-
ed by EbA and Eco-DRR interventions, and identify people, organizations and sectors that have influ-
ence over planning and implementation, using transparent participatory processes.
yy Ensure full and effective participation of all relevant stakeholders and rights holders, including the
poor, women, youth and the elderly, ensuring they have the capacity and sufficient human, technical,
financial and legal resources to do so (in line with the safeguards).
yy Engage with civil society organizations and/or community-based organizations to enable their effective
participation.
yy Where appropriate, identify and protect the ownership and access rights to areas for the use of biologi-
cal resources.
75 United Nations 2015
59
Table 6 Step A Toolbox: Understanding the social-ecological system/landscape and stakeholder

analysis and engagement
The Toolkit for Ecosys- Piloted in protected areas, TESSA guides non-specialists through methods for identifying
tem Service Site-based which ecosystem services may be important at a site, and for evaluating the magnitude
Assessment (TESSA) of benefits that people obtain from them currently, compared with those expected under
alternative land-use. www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/estoolkit
Integrated Valuation of InVEST is a suite of software models used to map and value the goods and services from
Environmental Services nature that sustain and fulfil human life. This tool enables decision makers to assess quan-
and Tradeoffs (InVEST) tified trade-offs associated with alternative management choices and to identify areas
where investment in natural capital can enhance human development and conservation.
www.naturalcapitalproject.org/InVEST.html
Exploring Nature-Based This report proposes a simple, practical methodology for screening (rather than assessing)
Solutions: The role of ecosystem services in areas where green infrastructure may contribute to reducing current
green infrastructure in (or future) weather- and climate-related natural hazards. The hazards addressed include
mitigating the impacts landslides, avalanches, floods, soil erosion, storm surges and carbon stabilization by eco-
of weather- and climate systems. Several case studies at the European level outline the screening process and also
change-related natural summarise recent estimates of the economic value of green infrastructure.
hazards www.eea.europa.eu/publications/exploring-nature-based-solutions-2014
Stocktaking for National Helps assess a country’s current national adaptation planning capacities and in identifying
Adaptation Planning strategic goals for NAP that feed into the preparation of a country-specific NAP Roadmap.
(SNAP) Tool (GIZ) The publication ‘Stocktaking for National Adaptation Planning – Assessing Capacity for
Implementing NDCs’ highlights results from applying SNAP in various geographical ter-
rains on national and subnational scales. www.adaptationcommunity.net/?wpfb_dl=362
CliF Reflect Tool to (GIZ) This tool supports planners and policymakers in reflecting on the current level of capaci-
ties within a country to mobilize and effectively manage climate finance.
www.adaptationcommunity.net/ndc_adaption_toolbox/clif-reflect
Tool for Assessing Adap- TAAN allows users to compare several (I)NDCs’ adaptation components, access a singular
tation in Nationally De- country’s (I)NDC adaptation factsheet and visualize statistics of adaptation-related con-
termined Contributions tent mentioned in the (I)NDCs. The tool is a means of improving a comprehensive under-
((I)NDCs) (TAAN) standing of the adaptation-related content in the (I)NDCs. www.adaptationcommunity.
net/nap-ndc/tool-assessing-adaptation-ndcs-taan
Multi-stakeholder 10 building blocks for designing participatory systems of cooperation. Sector Project:
management: Tools for Mainstreaming Participation. Report series: Promoting participatory development in Ger-
Stakeholder Analysis man development cooperation. Eschborn: GTZ. www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/
(GTZ, 2007) en-svmp-instrumente-akteuersanalyse.pdf
Gender Analysis Tool to help analyse gender roles, activities, assets, needs and available opportunities for
men and women. E.g., CARE Rapid Gender Analysis Toolkit. gender.care2share.wikispaces.
net/CARE+Rapid+Gender+Analysis+Toolkit
Tools to support EbA Inventory of available tools to support EbA planning and implementation. www.iied.org/
(in development) (UN- call-for-feedback-inventory-tools-support-ecosystem-based-adaptation
EP-WCMC and IIED)
Gender and Vulnerable A guidance synthesizing and presenting information and tools for the integration of
Groups and National Ad- gender and vulnerable groups’ considerations into adaptation planning. www.adaptation-
aptation Plan Processes/ community.net/ndc_adaption_toolbox/gender-vulnerable-groups-gvg-national-adapta-
NDCs – Guidance tion-plan-nap-processes-ndcs-guidance
(GIZ 2017)
Guide on Designing and The guide links the underlying rationale for multi-stakeholder partnerships, with a clear
Facilitating Multi-Stake- four phase process model and set of core principles. (Centre of Development Innovation
holder-Partnerships (CDI), of Wageningen University). www.mspguide.org/msp-guide
60
Step B Assessing vulnerabilities and risks
Purpose and in establishing baselines for monitoring the

success of interventions.
Vulnerability and risk assessments are undertaken
to identify the main climate change and disaster Vulnerability is defined as the propensity or pre-
risks and impacts on the social-ecological system disposition to be adversely affected. Vulnerability
of interest, for example, taking stock of biodiver- encompasses a variety of concepts and elements,
sity and ecosystem service information to identify including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and
species or ecosystems that are particularly vul- lack of capacity to cope and adapt. 76 Vulnerability,
nerable to the negative impacts of climate change. exposure and hazards together determine the risks
The assessments are then used to identify, appraise of climate-related impacts (figure 9). While they
and select targeted adaptation and disaster risk have different definitions and underlying assump-
reduction interventions in planning and design. tions, both risk and vulnerability assessments fol-
Risk and vulnerability assessments also aid in allow a similar logic. 77
locating resources to where they are most needed,
Figure 9 Illustration of the core concepts of the contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IMPACTS
Vulnerability SOCIOECONOMIC
CLIMATE
PROCESSES
Natural Socioeconomic
Variability Pathways
Hazards RISK Adaptation and

Anthropogenic Mitigation
Climate Change Actions
Governance
Exposure
EMISSIONS
and Land-use Change
Note: Risk of climate-related impacts results from the interaction of climate-related hazards (including hazardous
events and trends) with the vulnerability and exposure of human and natural systems. Changes in both the climate
system (left) and socioeconomic processes including adaptation and mitigation (right) are drivers of hazards, exposure
and vulnerability.
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, 2014
76 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fifth Assessment

Report, 2014.
77 IPCC 2007
61
Risk assessments generally consist of three steps: Key Actions

risk identification (finding, recognizing and de-
scribing risk); risk analysis (estimation of the prob- a. Develop or make use of frameworks and con-
ability of its occurrence and the severity of the cepts that recognize the linkages between peo-
potential impacts); and risk evaluation (comparing ple and ecosystems as integrated social-ecologi-
the level of risk with risk criteria to determine cal systems rather than viewing adaptation and
whether the risk and/or its magnitude is tolerable). risk reduction only through a human lens;
These steps consider both climate and non-climate
factors that generate a climate or disaster risk. b. Assess past and current climate and non-cli-
mate risks to the social-ecological system with
The advantage of an integrated risk and vulnera- flexible criteria that address the linkages be-
bility assessment approach, as opposed to assessing tween human and environmental systems:
only vulnerability, is that it addresses the large i. Consult previous assessments of climate
proportion of impacts that are triggered by haz- change impacts on biodiversity and ecosys-
ardous events as well as integrates both climate tem functions and services; for example, na-
change adaptation and disaster risk reduction tional impact and vulnerability assessments
approaches. A relatively new practice is moving prepared for UNFCCC, or vulnerability as-
from single hazard approaches to multi-hazard/ sessments from forest, agriculture, fisheries
multi-risk assessments. This approach can account or other relevant sectors;
for regions or classes of objects exposed to multiple ii. Conduct socioeconomic and ecological field
hazards (e.g. storms and floods), and cascading ef- surveys to identify vulnerabilities in both
fects, in which one hazard triggers another. communities and ecosystems (including
ecosystems that provide critical functions
Key considerations and general activities for un- and services for climate change adaptation or
dertaking risk and vulnerability assessments are DRR) 78;
discussed below. Tools and examples and more iii. Assess the drivers of current risks and vul-
detailed stepwise guidance on conducting risk and nerability and, if possible, future risks based
vulnerability assessments are provided in table 7. on climate change projections or scenarios
that are at the appropriate scale, e.g. down-
scaled to the local level, where appropriate;
Outcomes
a. A risk and vulnerability profile in current and

future climate scenarios of the social-ecological
system covering hazards, exposure, and vul-
nerabilities (including sensitivities and adaptive
capacities);
b. Main drivers of risks and underlying causes.
78 European Environment Agency 2017
62
c. Integrate quantitative approaches (based on ticipatory rural appraisals to understand local

scientific models) and qualitative approaches, perceptions and past experiences;
which are grounded in expert judgement and
indigenous and traditional knowledge (more d. Develop hazard and risk maps such as through
detail is provided below). For example, use par- the use of participatory 3-D modelling of risks.
Box 8 Identifying the most vulnerable groups, communities & ecosystems
People who are socially, economically, culturally, politically, institutionally, or marginalized in other ways
are especially vulnerable to climate change, and also vulnerable to some adaptation and mitigation re-
sponses (IPCC 2014). Their vulnerability may be a result of several factors, such as socioeconomic dispari-
ty, exposure, or discrimination due to gender, class, ethnicity, age, or disability (IPCC 2014).
Identifying the vulnerable groups and communities who are disproportionately affected by the impacts of
climate change and disaster risks is essential to targeting adaptation and risk reduction measures effec-
tively and equitably (CARE 2011). This should include indigenous peoples and local communities, and his-
torically or politically marginalized groups such as women, youth, the elderly, the rural poor, and the dis-
abled. Additionally, it is important to assess the ecological integrity of ecosystems, and the key ecological
features that are both more impacted or transformed by climate change, and how this affects the capacity
to provide critical ecosystem services. The use of disaggregated geospatial data is critical for identifying
the most vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems. In addition, important steps include:
yy Conducting gender analyses to determine gender considerations influencing vulnerability to climate
change and disaster risk;
yy Using geospatial data on poverty and disaster risk to target and prioritize regions for adaptation and
disaster risk reduction;
yy Consulting the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria or the Climate Change Vulnerabil-
ity Index for Ecosystems and Habitats for assessing the status of ecosystems at local, national, regional
and global levels. Assessments determine whether an ecosystem is vulnerable, endangered, or critically
endangered;
yy Bringing the academic community to the process by promoting consultations with universities, research
centres, and researchers; and
yy Identifying vulnerable communities, groups and ecosystems on an ongoing basis and in a participatory
and inclusive manner to ensure EbA and Eco-DRR interventions are appropriately targeted to the peo-
ple and ecosystems most in need.
63
Table 7 Step B Toolbox: Assessing vulnerabilities and risks
Risk/Vulnerability Assessments
Vulnerability Sourcebook The Vulnerability Sourcebook offers a conceptual framework and step-by-step
(GIZ) guidelines for standardised assessments of vulnerability to climate change.
www.adaptationcommunity.net/?wpfb_dl=203
Risk Supplement to the The risk supplement is a practical guidance on how to apply the Vulnerability
Vulnerability Sourcebook & Sourcebook’s approach using the IPCC AR5 risk concept. The guidebook applies a
Climate Risk Assessment for standardised approach to climate risk assessments in the context of EbA-planning
EbA - A guidebook for policy- by following the modular sourcebook and risk supplement methodology and using
makers and practitioners (GIZ) an illustrative application example. www.adaptationcommunity.net/vulnerability-as-
sessment/vulnerability-sourcebook
Operational Framework for Step-by-step guidance for implementing EbA including a chapter on the first step of
EbA (WWF) conducting risk and vulnerability assessments. awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_
wb_eba_project_2014_gms_ecosystem_based_adaptation_general_framework.pdf
Adaptation Wizard (UK) Risk and systems’ vulnerability framework for adaptation developed in the UK. www.
ukcip.org.uk/wizard
Scenario Planning for Climate Step-by-step guide to using scenarios to plan for climate change adaptation at a local
Change Adaptation: A Guid- or regional scale, helping to develop resource management approaches that take fu-
ance for Resource Managers ture possible climate change impacts and other important uncertainties into account.
scc.ca.gov/files/2013/04/Scenario-Planning.pdf
Risk Assessment and Mapping Multi-hazard and multi-risk perspective approach taking into account regions
for Disaster Management or classes of objects exposed to multiple hazards (e.g. storms and floods), and
(European Commission) considering ‘cascading effects’. ec.europa.eu/echo/files/about/COMM_PDF_
SEC_2010_1626_F_staff_working_document_en.pdf
World Overview of Database of practices and technologies, including some based on indigenous and
Conservation Approaches traditional knowledge. www.wocat.net/projects-and-countries
and Technologies (WOCAT)
Integrating Landscape Description of a cluster planning approach for disaster risk reduction planning,
Dimensions in Disaster Risk building on the understanding of the relationship between landscape-scale drivers of
Reduction: A Cluster Planning disaster risk and community vulnerability and capacity. ink.springer.com/chapter/10.
Approach (Partners for 1007%2F978-3-319-43633-3_12
Resilience)
Guidance on Integrating Eco- Provides information and advice on how to integrate consideration of ecosystems
system Considerations into and their services into a climate change vulnerability and impact assessment. www.
Climate Change Vulnerability adaptation-undp.org/resources/training-tools/guidance-integrating-ecosystem-con-
and Impact Assessment (VIA) siderations-climate-change-vulnerability
to Inform Ecosystem-based
Adaptation (UNEP-WCMC)
Risk and Vulnerability Assess- Training manual for quantifying the role of ecosystems in DRR and climate change
ment Methodology Devel- adaptation, based on a pilot project implemented in Jamaica from 2009-2010. www.
opment Project (RiVAMP) in grid.unep.ch/products/3_Reports/RiVAMP_Training_2012.pdf
Jamaica
64
Local/Community-level tools
Climate Vulnerability and Handbook assessing hazard impacts on each of the five categories of livelihood re-
Capacity Analysis Handbook sources and providing a framework for community-based adaptation. www.carecli-
(CARE) matechange.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=30
CEDRA – Climate change and Analyses risks posed by climate change and environmental degradation and supports
Environmental Degradation NGOs in understanding communities’ experiences of environmental change.
Risk and Adaptation assess- tilz.tearfund.org/en/themes/environment_and_climate/cedra
ment (Tearfund)
CRiSTAL – Community-based Tool to help project planners and managers integrate climate change adaptation and
Risk Screening Tool – risk reduction into community-level projects. www.iisd.org/cristaltool
Adaptation and Livelihoods
(IISD, Stockholm Environment
Institute and IUCN)
Tools considering vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems
Red List of Ecosystems (IUCN) Tool to evaluate the status of the ecosystems as well as a repeatable method to
measure drivers and trends that contribute to ecosystem risks. Helpful to ensure long
term functioning of ecosystems. www.iucn.org/theme/ecosystem-management/our-
work/red-list-ecosystems
Climate Resilience Evalua- Tool to integrate existing methods such as CRiSTAL, CARE’s CVCA, etc. and provides
tion for Adaptation Through a broad framework together with general guidelines and suggestions, allowing peo-
Empowerment (CREATE) – ple to assess and analyse their vulnerability and capacity, identify adaptation options
Integrated Vulnerability and and begin the planning process. cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/create_factsheet_final.
Capacity Assessment Method pdf
Database on the application of Case studies on the application of gender-sensitive approaches and tools for under-
gender-sensitive approaches standing and assessing impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change as
and tools (UNFCCC) inputs for the technical paper mandated in paragraph 17 of FCCC/SBSTA/2013/3.
www4.unfccc.int/sites/nwp/pages/Search.aspx
Gender-sensitive Climate Provides a framework for analysing vulnerability and capacity to adapt to climate
Vulnerability and Capacity change and build resilience to disasters at the community level, with a particular
Analysis (GVCA): Practitioners focus on social and in particular gender dynamics, based on experiences of using the
Guide (Care) approach in Mozambique. careclimatechange.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/
GCVCA_Practitioners-Guide-FINAL-July-2014.pdf
Making Disaster Risk Increases understanding of gender concerns and needs in DRR; develop capacity to
Gender-Sensitive: Policy & address gender issues, contains gender mainstreaming policy guidelines including
Practical Guidelines (UNISDR, gender-sensitive risk assessments, early warning systems, and gender-sensitive indi-
UNDP and IUCN) cators to monitor mainstreaming progress.
65
Step C Identifying EbA and Eco-DRR options
Purpose and analyse viability for future climate impacts

and risks;
Having defined the boundaries of the social-eco- b. Refine the initial entry points identified for EbA
logical system/landscape and identified initial and Eco-DRR. Criteria for selecting entry points
entry points for EbA and Eco-DRR, as well as vul- can include:
nerabilities and risks (Step A), potential options are i. High probability of effectiveness from previ-
identified by the multi-stakeholder group within ous experiences in a similar social-ecological
an overall strategy of climate change adaptation setting;
and disaster risk reduction. A list of relevant tools ii. Strong support from stakeholders.
linked to this step is provided in table 8.
c. In collaboration with multi-stakeholder groups,
inclusive of stakeholders, rights holders and ex-
Outcome perts, formulate appropriate strategies, within
an overall adaptation strategy, to address the
A list of available strategies and options for reduc- risks and vulnerabilities identified in Step B;
ing the exposure and sensitivity of social-ecolog- d. Assess specific issues and priorities of the vul-
ical systems to climate hazards and enhancing nerable groups, sectors, and ecosystems;
adaptive capacity. e. Ensure that EbA and Eco-DRR are planned at
the local, community and household levels and
at the landscape or catchment level, as appro-
Key Actions priate;
f. Identify the EbA and Eco-DRR strategies that
a. Identify existing coping strategies and re- meet the objectives defined in Step A, and that
sponses to address the risks of climate change adhere to its main elements;
impacts and disasters, and/or those used to ad- g. Consider the qualification criteria and stand-
dress current climate variability and socio-eco- ards for EbA. 79
nomic pressures on ecosystems and societies,
Table 8 Step C Toolbox: Identifying EbA and Eco-DRR Strategies
Ecosystems Restoration Opportunity New methodology and global interactive tool for mapping areas where
Mapping for DRR and CCA (UNEP/ ecosystems can reduce disaster risk, crossing human exposure to natural
GRID-Geneva and UNEP/PCDMB) hazards with presence/absence of ecosystems, which enables the prioritiza-
tion of areas where ecosystems should be protected and/or restored.
www.grid.unep.ch/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti-
cle&id=47&Itemid=253&lang=en&project_id=235CE705
PANORAMA – Solutions for a healthy An interactive platform and database of specific, applied examples of suc-
planet (GIZ, IUCN, UN Environment, cessful NBS, EbA and Eco-DRR processes or approaches structured accord-
GRID Arendal, Rare) ing to regions, ecosystems, specific thematic areas, governance and hazards
addressed. The practical examples (solutions) are consisting of specific
success factors (building blocks). Useful for identifying practical EbA &
Eco-DRR examples that address different targets (Aichi, Sendai Framework,
SDGs, NDC). panorama.solutions/en/explorer/grid/1042
79 FEBA 2017
66
Selection of nature-based solutions: Inventory of nature-based projects implemented in the Autonomous

Good practices in the Basque Community of the Basque Country (BAC). They are organized into three
Autonomous Community (Spain) sections – rivers, coasts and cities – dedicated to iconic measures in each
of the provinces of the Basque Country. growgreenproject.eu/wp-content/
uploads/2018/05/NBS-Climate-Adaptation-Basque-Country.pdf
Addressing Slow-Onset Events Database that maps 151 organizations working on slow onset events – ris-
(UNFCCC) ing temperatures, desertification, loss of biodiversity, land and forest degra-
dation, glacial retreat and related impacts, ocean acidification, sea level rise
and salinisation, and the scope of their current efforts. www4.unfccc.int/
sites/NWP/Pages/soe.aspx
Options for ecosystem-based adapta- Supports environmental decision-makers in choosing, implementing, moni-
tion in coastal environments: A guide for toring, evaluating and, over time, adaptively managing coastal EBA.
environmental managers and planners Online guide, website and decision-support tool available at: www.un-
and decision-support tool (UNEP) ep-wcmc.org/news/coastal-eba
Database on ecosystem-based ap- An initiative under the Nairobi work programme to provide examples of
proaches to Adaptation (UNFCCC) ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation. www4.unfccc.int/sites/NWP/
Pages/soe.aspx
EU Natural Water Retention Measures Contains sector-specific NWRMs which encourage the retention of water
(NWRM) catalogue within a catchment, thus enhancing its natural functioning. It contains a
comprehensive but non-prescriptive range of measures. nwrm.eu/meas-
ures-catalogue
Implementing nature-based-flood pro- Presents five principles and implementation guidance for planning, such
tection: Principles and implementation as evaluation, design, and implementation of nature-based solutions for
guidance (World Bank) flood risk management as an alternative to or complementary to con-
ventional engineering measures. documents.worldbank.org/curated/
en/739421509427698706/Implementing-nature-based-flood-protec-
tion-principles-and-implementation-guidance
Local investments for climate change Provides options for types of adaptation activities that use employment in-
adaptation: Green jobs through green tensive approaches, focusing on inclusive local practices for environmental
works – A guide for identifying, design- sustainability. www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/
ing and implementing interventions in documents/publication/wcms_172716.pdf
support of climate change adaptation at
the local level (ILO)
Greening the Grey: a framework for Highlights innovations from academia and practice designed to green grey
integrated green grey infrastructure infrastructure assets such as bridges, street furniture and coastal engineer-
(IGGI) ing structures that need to remain primarily grey for their essential function.
eprints.gla.ac.uk/150672
Greater working with natural processes Explains what natural processes are in flood and coastal risk manage-
in flood and coastal erosion risk man- ment and provides practitioners with a high quality basis for achieving
agement (Environment Agency, UK) greater working with natural processes. webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.
uk/20130903132727/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/
planning/136425.aspx
River restoration and biodiversity Describes the importance of rivers for nature conservation, summarises the
(Crew, Scotland) damage that river habitats have sustained over many decades, and discusses
ways in which repairing damage and restoring river habitats can bring ben-
efits both to wildlife and to human society. www.crew.ac.uk/publication/
river-restoration
67
Step D Prioritizing, appraising and selecting EbA and

Eco-DRR options
Purpose c. Consider multiple values and benefits, includ-

ing non-monetary, to capture the full value of
In this step, the EbA and Eco-DRR options identi- different EbA and Eco-DRR options;
fied in Step C are prioritized, appraised and select-
ed to achieve the goals set out in Step A, as part of d. Assign weights to the proposed criteria, and
an overall adaptation and disaster risk reduction use the criteria to rank the EbA and Eco-DRR
strategy for the system of interest. A list of relevant options;
tools for prioritizing, appraising and selecting EbA
and Eco-DRR options and identifying trade-offs is e. Prioritize and short-list EbA and Eco-DRR op-
available in table 10. tions based on the agreed-upon criteria;
Given the importance of evaluating trade-offs and f. Make use of the multi-stakeholder group and
limitations, more detailed actions are provided consult other rights holders to identify the best
(box 9). Methods for appraising the value of EbA options and develop a business case;
and Eco-DRR activities are detailed in table 9. In-
formation on ways to increase scientific and tech- g. Analyse the costs, benefits, impacts and trade-
nical knowledge of EbA and Eco-DRR approaches offs of different risk management scenarios,
are also elaborated below in box 10. and the costs of inaction, to capture gains or
losses in ecosystem functions and services pro-
visioning that have an impact on adaptation
Outcomes and disaster risk reduction and resilience (e.g.
consideration for wetlands);
a. List of prioritized options based on selected cri-
teria; and h. Consider the sustainable use of local ecosys-
b. Selection of final options for implementation. tems, services and/or materials in EbA and
Eco-DRR options that could bring additional lo-
cal benefits and reduce carbon emissions from
Key Actions transport, rather than outsourced labour and
materials;
a. Using participatory approaches (Step A), identi-
fy the criteria/indicators to be used to prioritize i. In appraising options, consider the costs and
and appraise the EbA and Eco-DRR options benefits of interventions over the long term,
identified in Step C. For example, using mul- as the time period in economic comparison of
ti-criteria analysis or cost-effectiveness to eval- various options is important, and consider both
uate adaptation options (see table 9 for appraisal upfront capital and longer-term maintenance
methodologies); costs. For example, engineered structures, such
as dykes, can be relatively inexpensive at the
b. Ensure that trade-offs and limitations of op- investment level but carry high maintenance
tions are part of the appraisal process (box 9), costs, whereas ecosystem-based approaches,
and include consideration of green or hybrid such as wetland restoration, may be less ex-
solutions, before grey, when more effective; pensive in the long term and provide multiple
benefits;
68
j. Assess the strength of proposed EbA and Eco- environmental impacts have been clearly iden-
DRR measures by examining how they adhere tified and assessed; (ii) appropriate measures
to the elements, principles and safeguards, have been taken to avoid or, if not possible,
considering available qualification criteria and mitigate risks; and (iii) the measures taken to
standards; avoid/mitigate risks are themselves monitored
and reported on throughout project life cycles.
k. Before the design and implementation of se- The EIA should incorporate a summary of rec-
lected projects (Step E), conduct environmental ommendations from past, ongoing and planned
impact assessments (EIA) of the recommended projects and programmes within the relevant
options, ensuring that: (i) possible social and geographic jurisdiction.
Box 9 Evaluating trade-offs and limitations
Part of the process of prioritizing, appraising and selecting adaptation/DRR options involves the identi-
fication and evaluation of potential trade-offs. Trade-offs may arise when an activity protects one group
of people at the expense of another, or favours a particular ecosystem service over another. Some trade-
offs are the result of deliberate decisions; others occur without knowledge or awareness. For example,
the implementation of adaptation actions upstream may have effects on downstream communities, and
at different times. Ecosystems are subject to climate change, and, therefore, EbA, Eco-DRR and other
practices that use ecosystem-based approaches should be designed to be robust in the face of current
and projected impacts of climate change. Trade-offs and limitations should be considered and integrated
within overall adaptation and disaster risk reduction planning and aligned with national policies and strat-
egies. They should also be implemented alongside other measures of risk reduction, including avoidance
of high-risk zones, improved building codes, early warning and evacuation procedures. A trade-off anal-
ysis across scales and considering multiple benefits can help to place EbA and Eco-DRR options on equal
footing alongside other options.
Key actions
yy Develop indicators of short and long-term changes across various spatial scales to detect potential
trade-offs and limitations of EbA and Eco-DRR (see Step F for more detail);
yy Use geospatial data and models (such as those available in InVEST (www.naturalcapitalproject.org/
invest) to understand how changes in ecosystem structure and function as a result of adaptation or DRR
interventions will affect ecosystem services across a land- or seascape;
yy Consider the full range of infrastructure options from “green” to “hybrid” to “hard” and their compati-
bility, recognizing that different combinations are needed in different situations;
yy Ensure that EbA and Eco-DRR are informed by the best available science and indigenous and traditional
knowledge to fully account for possible trade-offs and limitations;
yy Ensure the integration of EbA and Eco-DRR into overall adaptation or disaster risk reduction strategies,
in recognition of potential limitations of ecosystem-based approaches;
yy Consider and minimise trade-offs or unintended consequences of EbA and Eco-DRR throughout all
stages of planning and implementation, including accounting for uncertainties in climate projections
and for different scenarios.
69
Table 9 Methods for appraising the value of EbA and Eco-DRR activities 29
(CBA = cost-benefit analysis, NPV = net present value)
Methodology Brief Description Advantages Disadvantages
Multi-criteria Part or wholly qualitative- Allows appraisal to be con- Limited to relative assess-
analysis (MCA) based approach, which pro- ducted in the absence of/ ments of alternative policy
vides a “ranking” of initia- limited amount of quantitative options
tives based on monetary and data
non-monetary criteria. Outputs are appraisal-
specific – i.e. cannot be
generalised more widely
Cost-effective- Quantitative approach which Useful when a specific output/ Not applicable when a single
ness analysis identifies the policy option objective is needed to be met initiative is being appraised,
(CEA) providing a specific output/ or when considering multiple
benefit at the lowest cost Can be used when compre- initiatives providing different
hensive quantitative cost data levels of the required benefit.
is available for monetising Implicitly ignores potentially
costs but not benefits significant eco-benefits
Scenario-based Quantitative approach which Accounts for uncertainty Potentially difficult to gain
cost-benefit assesses costs and benefits surrounding flood risk without consensus on the appropriate
analysis (in monetary form) across being computationally or data scenarios to use
(SBCBA) different scenarios/states of intensive
the world. Risk of not capturing the ex-
Provides numeric outputs, tent of uncertainty surround-
allowing for cardinal compari- ing climate change, especially
sons between initiatives under ‘deep uncertainty’
Easily understood for

non-technical audiences
Allows for the application of

risk-based rules
Robust decision Quantitative approach which Captures deep uncertainty – Can be computationally and
making (ROM) assesses the proposed initia- leaves ‘no stone unturned’ data intensive
tives across all plausible states
of the world, and identifies the Provides numeric outputs Potentially difficult to inter-
initiative most robust across pret for non-expert audiences
these. Provides a clear picture of
which initiatives are optimal in Value function for deriving
different states of the world costs and benefits needs to be
well calibrated
Ranges of plausible parameter

values need to be known
Real options Extension of CBA which esti- Accounts for learning about Can be computationally or
analysis (ROA) mates the ‘option value’ asso- the nature or extent of flood data intensive – requires the
ciated with each initiative i.e. risk going forward – captures assignment of probabilities
the option to delay or adjust in the value in delaying or adjust- to scenarios at various future
the future. Calculates the NPV ing a particular initiative time periods
of each initiative given the
particular actions that could Useful when comparing large
be taken given different states irreversible options with small-
of the world being realised, er-scale flexible options
and the probabilities of these
occurring.
70
Box 10 Increasing scientific and technical knowledge of EbA and Eco-DRR approaches
The transdisciplinary, multi-sectoral approaches of EbA and Eco-DRR provide new avenues for research
and opportunities for enhancing the evidence base. To set the stage for this, linkages between IPLCs, the
scientific community, experts and practitioners can be made by planning and implementation through
consultations, knowledge platforms, learning networks, communities of practice, and knowledge co-gen-
eration. Areas that could benefit from collaborative research regarding EbA and Eco-DRR include:
yy Exploring new modelling approaches to understand the linkages between adaptation, disaster risks,
and social-ecological systems, and linkages between biodiversity and climate change at different scales;
yy Developing comparative assessment procedures of EbA and Eco-DRR vs. traditional hard or grey
infrastructure;
yy Developing and testing indicators of EbA and Eco-DRR efficacy in the context of social-ecological
resilience;
yy Understanding the limits and thresholds of EbA and Eco-DRR;
yy Understanding the full scope of multiple benefits from implementing EbA and Eco-DRR, and means to
upscale them;
yy Enhancing the efficacy of participatory processes.
Additionally, The Paris Agreement (Article 8) outlines several areas of cooperation and facilitation to en-
hance understanding, action and support for adaptation, including adapting to slow onset events, events
that may involve irreversible and permanent loss and damage, comprehensive risk assessment and resil-
ience of communities, livelihoods and ecosystems.
80 Excerpted from Frontier Economics 2013
71
Table 10 Step D Toolbox: Prioritizing appraising and selecting adaptation and DRR options and
identifying trade-offs
Valuing the Benefits, Costs Resource to guide the design, delivery and use of EbA valuation studies to inform and
and Impacts of Ecosystem- influence decision-making, including 40 case studies on EbA-relevant valuations that
based Adaptation Measures: have been implemented globally, over recent years. (GIZ 2017). www.adaptationcom-
A sourcebook of methods for munity.net/download/sec_guides/EbA-Valuations-Sb_2017-Dec_en_online_1-0.pdf
decision-making
Supporting decision-making Policy brief exploring the support of decision-making for adaptation, through provi-
for effective adaptation sion of frameworks, knowledge and criteria for performance evaluation and compari-
(National Climate Change sons (Decision Support Tools). www.nccarf.edu.au/sites/default/files/attached_files_
Adaptation Facility, Australia) publications/DECISION_070313_A4.pdf
Integrated Valuation of InVEST enables decision-makers to assess quantified trade-offs associated with al-
Environmental Services and ternative management choices, with models to account for both service supply (e.g.,
Tradeoffs (InVEST) living habitats as buffers for storm waves) and the location and activities of people
who benefit from services (e.g., location of people and infrastructure potentially af-
fected by coastal storms). www.naturalcapitalproject.org/InVEST.html
Restoration of the sponge Report on a recent study on the costs and benefits of restoration of the sponge
function in wetland soils as a function in wetland soils in the middle mountains of the Rhine basin for flood and
measure for integrated river drought risk reduction. europe.wetlands.org/publications/sponge-restoration/
basin management in the
Rhine catchment (Wetlands
International)
ROAM (Restoration Restoration and assessment methodology for land use trade-offs at landscape scale.
Opportunities Assessment www.iucn.org/theme/forests/our-work/forest-landscape-restoration/restora-
Methodology) (IUCN) tion-opportunities-assessment-methodology-roam
OpeNESS Decision-making tool on Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services. www.open-

ness-project.eu
Voluntary guidelines for Provides a forward-looking framework for countries to enhance tenure security and
responsible governance over user and access rights over land and natural resources used in agriculture, forestry
the tenure of land, forestry and fisheries sectors, and provides guidance on how to ensure principles such as
and fisheries (FAO) transparency, equity, civic engagement, accountability, effectiveness, efficiency and
sustainability can be upheld in land administration, management and policy formula-
tion. www.fao.org/docrep/016/i2801e/i2801e.pdf
Cost and Benefits of Highlights case studies using

Ecosystem Based Adaptation: 1) Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA);
The Case of the Philippines 2) Cost-Effective Analysis; and
(IUCN) 3) Multi-criteria Analysis for EbA decision-making.
www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/content/documents/philippines_cba_study_final_ver-
sion.pdf
Making the economic case for Description of application of cost-benefit analyses to EbA and lessons learned based
Ecosystem-based Adaptation: on the the Global Mountain EbA Programme in Nepal, Peru and Uganda. www.ad-
Learning Brief (UNDP) aptation-undp.org/sites/default/files/downloads/undp_mt_eba_learning_brief_3_fi-
nal_web_vs_05.01.16.pdf
72
Step E Project design and implementation
Purpose b. Consider the qualification criteria and stand-

ards for EbA;
In this step, the interventions selected in Step D
are designed and implemented according to the c. Design interventions at the appropriate scale to
principles and safeguards. Throughout the design address the goals set out in Step A;
and implementation, it is important to continually
revisit the principles and safeguards and ensure d. Engage relevant experts, and strengthen linkag-
ongoing stakeholder engagement, capacity-build- es between the scientific community and pro-
ing, mainstreaming and monitoring (figure 8). ject executors to ensure optimal and appropri-
ate use of ecosystems for adaptation and DRR;
Given the added importance of transboundary
and cross-sectoral cooperation, coordination and e. Select appropriate tools, and if needed, plan for
policies, more detailed actions are provided (see the development of new methodologies;
box 11). Tools for project design and implementa-
tion are provided in table 11. f. Determine technical and financing require-
ments and develop a budget accordingly;
Outcome g. Establish a workplan, including timelines of ac-

tivities, milestones to achieve, multi-stakehold-
A project design and implementation plan (includ- er consultations needed, and allocation of tasks
ing a finance strategy, capacity development strat- and responsibilities;
egy, defined actions for institutional and technical
support measures). h. Develop strategies to reduce identified risks and
trade-offs and enhance synergies (see Step D);
Key Actions i. Establish linkages between the project and na-

tional, subnational, and/or local development
a. Consider the EbA and Eco-DRR elements, prin- plans, strategies, and policies;
ciples and safeguards throughout design and
implementation (See Step B); j. Consider principles for building resilience and
adaptive capacity in social-ecological systems
(see box 12).
73
Box 11 Transboundary and cross-sectoral cooperation, coordination and policies
Climate change impacts and disaster risks extend beyond political boundaries; therefore, an integrated
landscape or systems approach aids in problem-solving across sectors and boundaries. Transboundary
cooperation can enable the sharing of costs and benefits and prevent potentially negative impacts of
measures taken unilaterally. Transboundary cooperation can also provide opportunities for socioeconom-
ic development and managing issues at appropriate ecosystem scales.
EbA and Eco-DRR interventions increasingly call for cooperation with other sectors, including agriculture,
water, urban development and infrastructure.
Transboundary and cross-sectoral considerations can be integrated into EbA and Eco-DRR by:
yy Integrating the different scales of critical ecosystem functioning needed for adaptation and disaster risk
reduction in EbA and Eco-DRR;
yy Greater coherence between regional/transboundary EbA and Eco-DRR-strategies and policies contrib-
utes to improved effectiveness of actions;
yy Learning from well-established cross-sectoral planning mechanisms, such as integrated water re-
sources management (IWRM), integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and land-use planning, to
strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation and enhance uptake of EbA and Eco-DRR into relevant sectoral
frameworks (also applicable to mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR);
yy Setting up a commission or task group with transboundary partners and sector; representatives to de-
velop a joint vision, goals and objectives for EbA and Eco-DRR;
yy Developing a common understanding of vulnerabilities at the transboundary scale and for different
sectors through the use of common models and scenarios and agreed-on methodologies and sources of
information; and
yy Adopting an iterative monitoring and evaluation process (see Step F) to ensure that transboundary and
cross-sectoral EbA and Eco-DRR strategies continue to meet national adaptation and disaster risk re-
duction targets and maximize the potential for multiple benefits.
74
Box 12 Applying resilience thinking in EbA and Eco-DRR design
A resilience approach to sustainability focuses on building capacity to deal with unexpected change –
such as the impacts of climate change and the risk of disaster. Applying a resilience lens to designing
EbA and Eco-DRR interventions involves managing interactions between people and nature as social-
ecological systems to ensure continued and resilient provisioning of essential ecosystem services that
provide adaptation and disaster risk functions. There are seven key principles in applying resilience
thinking, distilled from a comprehensive review of social and ecological factors that enhance the
resilience of social-ecological systems and the ecosystem services they provide (Stockholm Resilience
Centre 2014):
1. Maintain diversity and redundancy, for example, by maintaining biological and ecological diversity.
Redundancy is the presence of multiple components that can perform the same function, and can
provide ‘insurance’ within a system by allowing some components to compensate for the loss or failure
of others.
2. Manage connectivity (the structure and strength with which resources, species or actors disperse,
migrate or interact across patches, habitats or social domains in a social-ecological system), e.g. by
enhancing landscape connectivity to support biodiversity and ecosystem services that contribute to
adaptation and risk reduction.
3. Manage slowly changing variables and feedbacks (two-way ‘connectors’ between variables that can
either reinforce (positive feedback) or dampen (negative feedback) change.
4. Foster complex adaptive systems thinking by adopting a systems framework approach (Step A).
5. Encourage learning such as by exploring different and effective modalities for communications.
6. Broaden participation, such as by dedicating resources to enable effective participation.
7. Promote polycentric governance systems, including through multi-institutional cooperation across
scales and cultures.
75
Table 11 Step E Toolbox: Project design and implementation
Implementing nature-based flood Guidelines including principles and implementation steps for eco-
protection: Principles and implementation system-based flood protection. documents.worldbank.org/curated/
guidance (World Bank) en/739421509427698706/Implementing-nature-based-flood-protec-
tion-principles-and-implementation-guidance
Water in drylands: Adapting to scarcity Guidelines for integrated water resources and management in drylands
through integrated management (IUCN) ecosystems. portals.iucn.org/library/de/46239
Protected Areas as tools for disaster risk Guidelines on using protected areas as effective buffers to prevent nat-
reduction: a handbook for practitioners ural hazards from becoming disasters. www.iucn.org/content/protect-
(IUCN) ed-areas-tools-disaster-risk-reduction-handbook-practitioners
Safe Havens: Protected Areas for Disaster 18 case studies to demonstrate how protected areas can be better man-
Risk Reduction and Climate Change aged for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. www.
Adaptation (IUCN) iucn.org/sites/dev/files/2014-038.pdf
Restoring River Continuity: methods Webinars explaining methods and challenges of river restoration with
and challenges (Wetlands International a specific focus on improving river connectivity. europe.wetlands.org/
– European Association and the Italian event/rivers
Center for River Restoration)
Climate Change Adaptation for World Guidelines and framework for assessing risk to World Heritage sites and
Heritage Sites: A Practical Guide (UNESCO) to features that contribute to their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).
Provides information on the identification and selection of options for
adaptation and DRR. whc.unesco.org/en/series
Building with Nature and hybrid Guidelines on how to introduce and integrate Building with Nature prin-
approaches (Ecoshape) ciples into water infrastructure development. www.ecoshape.org/en/
design-guidelines/ and https://publicwiki.deltares.nl /display/BWN1/
Guideline
Mainstreaming Climate-Smart Agriculture Guidance on understanding the different options that are available for
into a Broader Landscape Approach (FAO) planning, policies and investments and the practices that are suitable for
making different agricultural sectors, landscapes and food systems more
climate-smart. www.fao.org/3/a-i3325e.pdf
CBD Decision XIII/5: Ecosystem Principles and key activities for short-term action plans on ecosystem
restoration: short-term action plan restoration. www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-dec-05-en.pdf
Gender, Climate Change and Community- Guidebook for designing and implementing gender-sensitive communi-
Based Adaptation (UNDP) ty-based adaptation programmes and projects. www.undp.org/content/
undp/en/home/librarypage/environment-energy/climate_change/gen-
der/gender-climate-change-and-community-based-adaptation-guide-
book-.html
Pacific Gender and Climate Change Toolkit: Toolkit designed to support climate change practitioners working in
Tools for Practitioners national governments, non-governmental organizations, regional and
international organizations, integrate gender into all aspects of policy,
programming and project work. www.pacificclimatechange.net/sites/
default/files/documents/ Pacific_gender_toolkit_full_version.pdf
76
Making Ecosystem-based Adaptation Practical assessment framework for designing, implementing and moni-
Effective: A Framework for Defining toring EbA measures by proposing a set of elements, qualification criteria
Qualification Criteria and Quality and quality standards and example indicators.
Standards (FEBA) EN: www.adaptationcommunity.net/download/ecosystem-based_ad-
aptation/technical_paper/FEBA_EbA_Qualification_and_Quality_Crite-
ria_EN.pdf
SP: www.adaptationcommunity.net/download/ecosystem-based_ad-
aptation/technical_paper/FEBA_EbA_Qualification_and_Quality_Crite-
ria_ES.pdf
FR: www.adaptationcommunity.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/
FEBA_EbA_Qualification_and_Quality_Criteria_FR.pdf
EbA Finance Guidebook (GIZ) Provides practical information on potential funding sources for EbA
measures from public and private actors by a collection of country exam-
ples. www.adaptationcommunity.net
Exploring nature-based solutions: The Report focusing on extreme events and natural hazards at the European
role of green infrastructure in mitigating scale that are projected to increase due to climate change, such as land-
the impacts of weather- and climate slides, avalanches, floods and storm surges. In addition, the report also
change-related natural hazards (European touches upon the green infrastructure and ecosystem services contribut-
Environment Agency) ing to global climate regulation. The analysis is carried out using spatially
explicit data centred on the physical capacity of ecosystems to deliver
services that can mitigate natural hazard risks. www.eea.europa.eu/pub-
lications/exploring-nature-based-solutions-2014
AdaptationCommunity.net On-line platform for sharing information on applying approaches, meth-

ods and tools that facilitate the planning and implementation of adapta-
tion action. www.adaptationCommunity.net
A Community of Practice for EbA on A YouTube channel providing regular information from practitioners,
YouTube (adaptationcommunity.net) experts, planners and decision makers on EbA related topics, such as
broadcasted webinars. www.youtube.com/channel/UCb_x4rPctuGm-
FOLjHdSIN8Q
Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction Introduces the basic concepts of Eco-DRR and important points for the
in Japan design and implementation of EbA and Eco-DRR projects. www.env.
go.jp/nature/biodic/eco-drr/pamph04.pdf
Green infrastructure: guide for water A guide that provides examples of Green Infrastructure options that
management (UNEP) address water management challenges while delivering a number of sig-
nificant co-benefits. web.unep.org/ecosystems/resources/publications/
greeninfrastructure-guide-water-management
77
Step F Monitoring and Evaluation of EbA and Eco-DRR
Purpose effects of the EbA and Eco-DRR intervention, in-

cluding short- and medium-term outcomes and
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of EbA and Eco- long-term results;
DRR are critical for assessing progress and efficien- c. Develop indicators at the appropriate temporal
cy and effectiveness of interventions. Monitoring and spatial scales to monitor the quantity and
enables adaptive management and is ideally carried quality of change:
out throughout the lifetime of the intervention. i. Ensure that monitoring and evaluation in-
Evaluation assesses an ongoing or completed pro- clude indicators 82 formulated to the SMART
ject, programme or policy, its design, implemen- criteria, which are Specific, Measurable,
tation and results. M&E can encourage continual Achievable and Attributable, Relevant and
learning to help inform future policy and practice Realistic, Time-bound, Timely, Trackable
and make corresponding adjustments. and Targeted and/or the ADAPT principles
(Adaptive, Dynamic, Active, Participatory,
There is a movement towards integrating approach- Thorough);
es for M&E from both adaptation and disaster ii. Ensure that indicators are vulnerability- and
risk reduction fields. A myriad of approaches and risk-oriented and focused, and that they are
frameworks have been developed, including log- able to measure high risks versus low risks
ical frameworks and results-based management. and how EbA and Eco-DRR interventions
Key actions and considerations related to M&E are reduce risk over time. It is important to de-
outlined below. 81 Tools associated with this step fine “risk layers” and to prioritize which risks
are available in the Step E Toolbox: Monitoring and should be measured using indicators;
evaluation of EbA and Eco-DRR. iii. Use targets and indicators under the Sustain-
able Development Goals, Aichi Biodiversity
Targets and other relevant frameworks to
Outcome track progress in sustainable ecosystem
management and biodiversity enhancement,
A monitoring and evaluation framework that is re- which also deliver towards strengthening
alistic, operative and iterative, including a protocol resilience to climate change impacts and dis-
for data collection and evaluation, and information asters;
generated on outcomes and impacts of interven- iv. Align indicators with existing M&E frame-
tions. works where possible;
d. Determine baselines for assessing effectiveness;
e. Use appropriate participatory and inclusive tools
Key Actions for monitoring and evaluation of EbA and Eco-
DRR, ensuring the engagement of local commu-
a. Set up an M&E framework, establishing its ob- nities, stakeholders and rights holders. Ensure
jectives, audience (who uses the information the relevant experts are engaged, such as special-
from an M&E assessment), data collection, mode ists on ecosystems/species status, and ecosystem
of dissemination of information, and available function;
technical and financial capacity; f. Test EbA and Eco-DRR related indicators for lo-
b. Develop a results/outcomes framework within cal relevance.
the M&E framework that details the expected
81 Several of the key actions and considerations are based on the M&E 82 More information on indicators is available through the CBD website
Learning Brief (in development), to be published in 2018 by Deutsche (www.cbd.int/indicators/default.shtml) and in the IPCC Fifth As-
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. sessment Report (see www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5)
78
Table 12 Step F Toolbox: Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring and evaluating Step-by-step practical guidance on the development and implementation of an
ecosystem-based adaptation M&E system for EbA on multiple scales. The guidebook enables EbA projects oper-
(EbA) – A guidebook (GIZ) ating at a local and community level to connect with EbA policies and programmes
generated at regional and national levels and demonstrates the benefits of EbA
and how effective M&E can strengthen the case for its inclusion in strategies for
responding to the impacts of climate change. www.adaptationcommunity.net/pub-
lications
Monitoring and Evaluation Experiences from practitioners on how to set up M&E systems and indicators for
Learning Brief: How to measure monitoring and evaluating adaptation results and linking EbA-specific M&E to other
successes of ecosystem-based monitoring and reporting systems. www.adaptationcommunity.net/wp-content/up-
adaptation (GIZ) loads/2018/01/giz2017-en-learning-brief-measuring-success-eba-low-res.pdf
Climate Change Policy Brief: Policy brief examining the feasibility and practicability of a set of common global
Adaptation metrics and the adaptation indicators and their use in the context of the Paris Agreement, looking
Paris Agreement (GIZ) at the different purposes of applying adaptation metrics and providing recommen-
dations for their targeted use. www.adaptationcommunity.net/wp-content/up-
loads/2017/11/giz2017-en-policy-brief-adaptation-metrics.pdf
AdaptMe: Adaptation Monitor- Enables users to think through some of the factors that can make an evaluation of
ing and Evaluation Toolkit adaptation activities inherently challenging, and guide the design of a robust evalua-
(European Climate Adaptation tion. www.ukcip.org.uk/wp-content/PDFs/UKCIP-AdaptME.pdf
Platform)
Summary of tools for monitor- Table of tools and approaches for conducting monitoring and evaluation of adapta-
ing and evaluating adaptation tion activities, including compatibilities with EbA. www.sanbi.org/wp-content/up-
activities (DEA and SANBI) loads/2018/03/final-guidelines-ecosystem-based-adaptation-eba-south-africa.pdf
Toolkit for the Indicators of Provides practical guidance for making use of Indicators of Resilience in Socio-eco-
Resilience in Socio-ecological logical Production Landscapes and Seascapes in the field, for engaging local com-
Production Landscapes and munities in adaptive management of the landscapes and seascapes in which they
Seascapes (UNU, Biodiversity live. collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:5435/Toolkit_for_the_Indicators_of_Resilience.
International, UNDP, IGES) pdf
Integrating ecosystems in Introduces a set of criteria and steps to develop an ‘ecosystem-smart’ approach
resilience practice: Criteria for in the design, implementation and evaluation of risk reduction programmes, and
Ecosystem-Smart Disaster Risk guidance on the required capacities, partnerships, institutional set-up and planning
Reduction and Climate Change needs. www.wetlands.org/publications/integrating-ecosystems-in-resilience-prac-
Adaptation (Wetlands Interna- tice-criteria-for-ecosystem-smart-disaster-risk-reduction-and-climate-change-ad-
tional) aptation
79
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Annexes
Annex I Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 83
Annex II Policy instruments and frameworks related to EbA and Eco-DRR ................................................................................... 89
Annex III Existing guidelines and principles considered for the development of the report ................................. 92
82
Annexes
Annex I Glossary 83
Term Definition/description and source

Adaptation In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects, in
order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of
adjustment to actual climate and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to
expected climate. (IPCC).
Adaptive capacity The combination of the strengths, attributes, and resources available to an individual, commu-
nity, society, or organization that can be used to prepare for and undertake actions to reduce
adverse impacts, moderate harm, or exploit beneficial opportunities. (IPCC).
Builds the capacity of people to adapt to climate change impacts through maintaining and
enhancing their asset/capital sets, addressing entitlements, encouraging innovation, giving
greater access to information, establishing flexible governance/decision-making, related to
biodiversity and ecosystem services. (IUCN).
Agroforestry The practice of integrating trees into agriculturally productive landscapes. (World Agroforestry
Centre).
Biological diversity The variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine
and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this in-
cludes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. (CBD).
Building with Nature A new approach to hydraulic engineering that uses the forces of nature to benefit environment,
economy and society. (Ecoshape).
Capacity The combination of all the strengths, attributes, and resources available to an individual, com-
munity, society, or organization, which can be used to achieve established goals. (IPCC).
Climate change A change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by
changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended
period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes
or external forcings, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmos-
phere or in land use. (IPCC).
Climate change The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, ad-
adaptation aptation seeks to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, human
intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects. (IPCC AR5).
Climate extreme The occurrence of a value of a weather or climate variable above (or below) a threshold value
near the upper (or lower) ends of the range of observed values of the variable. For simplicity,
both extreme weather events and extreme climate events are referred to collectively as “cli-
mate extremes”. (IPCC).
Climate risk An integrated approach that advances climate-sensitive decision-making. It focuses on de-
management velopment outcomes that are dependent on climatic conditions, such as in agriculture, water
resources, food security, health, the environment, urbanism and livelihoods. (UNDP).
Climate-smart CSA contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals. It integrates the three
agriculture dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) by jointly ad-
dressing food security and climate challenges. It is composed of three main pillars:
1) sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes;
2) adapting and building resilience to climate change;
3) reducing and/or removing greenhouse gases emissions, where possible. (FAO).
Community-based A community-led process, based on communities’ priorities, needs, knowledge and capacities,
adaptation which should empower people to plan for and cope with the impacts of climate change. (IIED).
Community-based An approach that combines the sustainable management of natural resources and risks
natural resource and in a given area. It combines the concept of “co-management” of natural resources with
risk management community-based disaster risk reduction.
83 Updated from CBD Technical Series No. 85 (Lo 2016)
83
Desertification Defined as land degradation in drylands, leading to a condition of significantly reduced fertility
and water holding capacity. Desertification is a reversible condition of the earth’s surface, as
opposed to aridity, which is a climatic condition. (UNCCD).
Disaster A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread hu-
man, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the
affected community or society to cope using its own resources. (UNISDR)
Severe alterations in the normal functioning of a community or a society due to hazardous
physical events interacting with vulnerable social conditions, leading to widespread adverse
human, material, economic, or environmental effects that require immediate emergency re-
sponse to satisfy critical human needs and that may require external support for recovery.
(IPCC).
Disaster risk The likelihood over a specified time period of severe alterations in the normal functioning of
a community or a society due to hazardous physical events interacting with vulnerable social
conditions, leading to widespread adverse human, material, economic, or environmental effects
that require immediate emergency response to satisfy critical human needs and that may re-
quire external support for recover. (IPCC).
Disaster risk Processes for designing, implementing, and evaluating strategies, policies, and measures to
management improve the understanding of disaster risk, foster disaster risk reduction and transfer, and pro-
mote continuous improvement in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery practices, with
the explicit purpose of increasing human security, well-being, quality of life, and sustainable
development. (IPCC).
Disaster risk Denotes both a policy goal or objective, and the strategic and instrumental measures employed
reduction for anticipating future disaster risk; reducing existing exposure, hazard, or vulnerability; and
improving resilience. (IPCC).
The concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and
manage the causal factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure to hazards, less-
ened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and
improved preparedness for adverse events. (UNISDR 2009, p. 10-11).
Drought A period of abnormally dry weather long enough to cause a serious hydrological imbalance.
Drought is a relative term, therefore any discussion in terms of precipitation deficit must refer
to the particular precipitation-related activity that is under discussion. For example, shortage
of precipitation during the growing season impinges on crop production or ecosystem function
in general (also termed agricultural drought), and during the runoff and percolation season
primarily affects water supplies (hydrological drought). A megadrought is a very lengthy and
pervasive drought, lasting much longer than normal, usually a decade or more. (IPCC).
Ecosystem approach Strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes
conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. (CBD).
Ecosystem-based Incorporates biodiversity and ecosystem services into an overall adaptation strategy to help
adaptation people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. (CBD).
Uses biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help peo-
ple and communities adapt to the negative effects of climate change at local, national, regional
and global levels. (UNEP).
Any initiative that reduces human vulnerabilities and enhances adaptive capacity in the context
of existing or projected climate variability and changes through sustainable management, con-
servation and restoration of ecosystems. (IUCN).
Ecosystem-based Sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems to reduce disaster risk,
disaster risk reduction with the aim to achieve sustainable and resilient development. (Estrella and Saalismaa 2013).
Decision-making activities that take into consideration current and future human livelihood
needs and bio-physical requirements of ecosystems, and recognize the role of ecosystems in
supporting communities to prepare for, cope with and recover from disaster situations. Sus-
tainable ecosystem management for disaster risk reduction is based on equitable stakeholder
involvement in land management decisions, land-use-trade-offs and long-term goal setting.
(IUCN).
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Annexes
Ecosystem function The flow of energy and materials through the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.
It includes many processes such as biomass production, trophic transfer through plants and
animals, nutrient cycling, water dynamics and heat transfer. (IPBES, adapted from www.eco-
systemservicesseq.com.au/ecosystem-functions.html).
Ecosystem health Ecosystem health is a metaphor used to describe the condition of an ecosystem, by analogy
with human health. Note that there is no universally accepted benchmark for a healthy eco-
system. Rather, the apparent health status of an ecosystem can vary, depending upon which
metrics are employed in judging it, and which societal aspirations are driving the assessment.
(IPBES).
Ecosystem services The benefits people obtain from ecosystems, which have been classified by the Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment as: Provisioning services, such as supply of food, fibre, timber and wa-
ter; regulating services, such as carbon sequestration, climate regulation, water regulation and
filtration, and pest control; cultural services, such as recreational experiences, education and
spiritual enrichment and supporting services, such as seed dispersal and soil formation. (Millen-
nium Ecosystem Assessment 2005).
Exposure The presence of people; livelihoods; species or ecosystems, environmental services and re-
sources; infrastructure; or economic, social, or cultural assets in places that could be adversely
affected. (IPCC).
Extreme weather See “Climate extreme”
Evaluation The systematic and objective assessment of an ongoing or completed project, programme or
policy, its design, implementation and results. An evaluation should also assess the effects of
any positive or negative changes in the developmental and environmental context of an EbA
measure. (GIZ).
Flood The overflowing of the normal confines of a stream or other body of water, or the accumula-
tion of water over areas that are not normally submerged. Floods include river (fluvial) floods,
flash floods, urban floods, pluvial floods, sewer floods, coastal floods, and glacial lake outburst
floods. (IPCC).
Food security Occurs when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preference for an active and healthy life
(FAO).
Household level food security is complex, trans-boundary and multifaceted including biophys-
ical, socio-economic, political, demographic, gender and other dimensions. In general, three
key indicators are used to measure the level of food insecurity, namely: availability, access and
utilization. (UNCCD).
Gender analysis A gender analysis examines how gender relations affect different problems and proposed solu-
tions. It involves assessing gender norms, roles and relations in order to establish a baseline
with regard to gender differences and to expose where there is gender inequality.
Gender equality Gender equality refers to equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for women and men.
Achieving gender equality means ensuring that individuals’ choices, options and autonomy are
not constrained because of their gender. Gender equality implies that women and men, in their
differences and similarities, are equally valued and respected by the society they live in.
Gender Gender mainstreaming is a globally recognized strategy for making women’s as well as men’s
mainstreaming concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring,
and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic, and societal spheres. This
is to ensure that women and men benefit equally from processes of development, and that
inequality is not perpetuated.
Green infrastructure Green infrastructure a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas with
other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem
services. It incorporates green spaces (or blue if aquatic ecosystems are concerned) and other
physical features in terrestrial (including coastal) and marine areas. On land, green infrastruc-
ture is present in rural and urban settings. (European Commission).
Hazard The potential occurrence of a natural or human-induced physical event that may cause loss of
life, injury, or other health impacts, as well as damage and loss to property, infrastructure, live-
lihoods, service provision, and environmental resources. (IPCC).
85
Impacts Impacts generally refer to effects on lives, livelihoods, health, ecosystems, economies, socie-
ties, cultures, services, and infrastructure due to the interaction of climate changes or hazard-
ous climate events occurring within a specific time period and the vulnerability of an exposed
society or system. Impacts are also referred to as consequences and outcomes. The impacts of
climate change on geophysical systems, including floods, droughts, and sea level rise, are a
subset of impacts called physical impacts. (IPCC 2014).
Incremental Refers to actions where the central aim is to maintain the essence and integrity of the existing
adaptation technological, institutional, governance, and value systems, such as through adjustments to
cropping systems via new varieties, changing planting times, or using more efficient irrigation.
Integrated Risk Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Ecosystem Management and restoration (EMR) and
Management Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) to strengthen and protect livelihoods of vulnerable commu-
nities, as applied by Partners for Resilience.
Integrated water A process that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and
resource management related resources in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equita-
ble manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. (GWP 2000).
Landscape Landscapes are distinct geographical areas or properties uniquely representing the combined
work of nature and of man, illustrative of the evolution of human society and settlement over
time, under the influence of the physical constraints and/or opportunities presented by their
natural environment and of successive social, economic and cultural forces, both external and
internal. (World Heritage Committee).
Landslide A mass of material that has moved downhill by gravity, often assisted by water when the ma-
terial is saturated. The movement of soil, rock, or debris down a slope can occur rapidly, or may
involve slow, gradual failure. (IPCC).
Land use planning Land-use planning means the systematic assessment of physical, social and economic factors
in such a way as to encourage and assist land users in selecting options that increase their pro-
ductivity, are sustainable and meet the needs of society. (FAO).
Least developed A country that exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with the lowest
country Human Development Index ratings of all countries in the world.
Low-regrets Low-regrets adaptation options are those actions that could potentially deliver net socioec-
adaptation options onomic benefits to local communities and ecosystems whatever the extent of future climate
change. The low-regrets approach is an important part of EbA and focuses on maximizing pos-
itive and minimizing negative aspects of nature-based adaptation strategies and options. (defi-
nition adapted from a joint UNEP-UNDP-IUCN working definition of “no-regrets” adaptation).
Maladaptation An action or process that increases vulnerability to climate change-related hazards. Maladap-
tive actions and processes often include planned development policies and measures that
deliver short-term gains or economic benefits but lead to exacerbated vulnerability in the me-
dium to long-term (UNDP). Maladaptation can also include trade-offs or benefiting one group
at the expense of another.
Mitigation A human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases. (IPCC).
(of climate change)
Mitigation (of disaster The lessening of the potential adverse impacts of physical hazards (including those that are
risk and disaster) human-induced) through actions that reduce hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. (IPCC).
Monitoring Systematically collecting and documenting data on specified indicators with the aim of track-
ing change. This enables planners and practitioners to improve adaptation efforts by adjusting
processes and targets, and can be carried out during implementation throughout the lifetime
of the adaptation/risk reduction intervention. (UNFCCC).
Multi-criteria analysis A structured approach used to determine overall preferences among different alternative op-
tions, where the options accomplish several objectives that may not always complement one
another. In MCA, desired objectives are specified and corresponding attributes or indicators
are identified. The measurement of these indicators is often based on a quantitative analysis
(through scoring, ranking, and weighting) of a wide range of qualitative impact categories and
criteria.
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Annexes
Nairobi work A mechanism under the UNFCCC to facilitate and catalyse the development and dissemination
programme (UNFCCC) of information and knowledge that would inform and support adaptation policies and prac-
tices. Its implementation has been coordinated by the SBSTA, under the guidance of the Chair
of the SBSTA and with assistance from the secretariat, and with contributions from Parties
and other adaptation stakeholders. Through its diverse range of modalities, the Nairobi work
programme provides unique opportunities for linking relevant institutions, processes, resources
and expertise outside the Convention to respond to adaptation knowledge needs arising from
the implementation of the various workstreams under the Convention and identified by Parties.
National adaptation Established under the Cancun Adaptation Framework, the NAP provides Parties to the UN-
plan (UNFCCC) FCCC with the means of identifying medium- and long-term adaptation needs and developing
and implementing strategies and programmes to address those needs.
National biodiversity The principal instruments for implementing the CBD at the national level (Article 6). The
strategy and action Convention requires countries to prepare a national biodiversity strategy and action plan (or
plan (CBD) equivalent instrument) and to ensure that this strategy is mainstreamed into the planning and
activities of all those sectors whose activities can have an impact (positive and negative) on
biodiversity.
National report (CBD) National reports provide information on measures taken for the implementation of the CBD,
and their effectiveness. Parties submitted their fifth national reports in response to decision
X/10 of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the CBD.
Nature-based Actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems, which
Solutions address societal challenges (e.g. climate change, food and water security or natural disasters)
effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity
benefits. (IUCN).
Precautionary The precautionary approach is Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Devel-
approach opment, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio
de Janeiro (1992). It states that: “In order to protect the environment, the precautionary ap-
proach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats
of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason
for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”
Preparedness The knowledge and capacities developed by governments, professional response and recovery
organizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover
from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events or conditions. (UNISDR).
Recovery The restoration, and improvement where appropriate, of facilities, livelihoods and living con-
ditions of disaster-affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors.
(UNISDR).
Resilience The ability of a system and its component parts to anticipate, absorb, accommodate, or recov-
er from the effects of a hazardous event in a timely and efficient manner, including through
ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structures and
functions. (IPCC).
Risk The combination of the probability of an event and its negative consequences (UNISDR). Risk
is commonly expressed as a function of exposure, the conditions of vulnerability that are pres-
ent, and the magnitude and frequency of a hazard event. (Sudmeier-Rieux 2013).
Social-ecological A coupled system of humans and nature that constitutes a complex adaptive system with eco-
system logical and social components that interact dynamically through various feedbacks. (Stockholm
Resilience Centre).
Spatial planning A method used to influence the future distribution of activities in space (European Commis-
sion). Spatial planning is critical for delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits by
creating more stable and predictable conditions for investment and development, by securing
community benefits from development, and by promoting prudent use of land and natural
resources for development. (WWF).
87
Storm surge The temporary increase, at a particular locality, in the height of the sea due to extreme meteor-
ological conditions (low atmospheric pressure and/or strong winds). The storm surge is defined
as being the excess above the level expected from the tidal variation alone at that time and
place. (IPCC).
Sustainable land and The adoption of land use systems that, through appropriate management practices, enables
water management land users to maximize the economic and social benefits from the land while maintaining or
enhancing the ecological support functions of the land resources. SLWM includes management
of soil, water, vegetation and animal resources. It involves a holistic approach that integrates
social, economic, physical and biological assets. SLWM encompass other approaches such as
integrated natural resource management, integrated water resource management, eco-agri-
culture and sustainable forest management (SFM), and many facets of sustainable agriculture.
(GEF 2011).
Synergies Linking processes in a way that increases the effects of the sum of the joint activities beyond
the sum of individual activities, and thus making efforts more effective and efficient.
Theory of Change Process of project planning and evaluation which maps the relationship between a long-term
goal of a project and the intermediate and early changes that are required to bring it about. The
approach emphasizes the theory and assumptions underlying the pathway of change from the
implementation of selected interventions and activities to intended outcomes. (Conservation
International).
Transformational Seeks to change the fundamental attributes of systems in response to actual or expected
adaptation climate and its effects, often at a scale and ambition greater than incremental activities. It in-
cludes changes in activities, such as changing livelihoods from cropping to livestock or by mi-
grating to take up a livelihood elsewhere, and also changes in our perceptions and paradigms
about the nature of climate change, adaptation, and their relationship to other natural and
human systems. (IPCC AR5).
Vulnerability The propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected. Vulnerability encompasses a variety
of concepts including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and
adapt. (IPCC AR5).
The characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible
to the damaging effects of a hazard. (UNISDR).
Women’s Women’s empowerment is the process of supporting women in gaining more control over their
empowerment own lives: it involves support at the personal level, such as self-esteem and awareness devel-
opment, in conjunction with measures to help women challenge the broader barriers to their
autonomy, such as gender-discriminatory laws and cultural practices.
88
Annexes
Annex II Policy instruments and frameworks

related to EbA and Eco-DRR
Framework Policy Instrument Description

CBD Strategic Goal B Target 5: Rate of loss of all natural habitats halved;
Strategic Reduce direct pressures on Target 7: Areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are
Plan for biodiversity and promote managed sustainably including biodiversity conservation;
Biodiversity sustainable use Target 10: Multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs and
2011-2020 other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean
acidification are minimized to maintain integrity and functioning.
Strategic Goal C Target 11: Protected areas – terrestrial, inland water, coastal and
Improve status of biodiversity by marine water landscapes and seascapes;
safeguarding ecosystems, species Target 13: Genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and
and genetic diversity domesticated animals and of wild relatives, including other socio-
economically as well as culturally valuable species, is maintained.
Strategic Goal D Target 14: Ecosystems that provide essential services including
Enhance the benefits to all from water and that contribute to health livelihoods and well-being are
biodiversity and ecosystem restored and safeguarded;
services Target 15: Ecosystem resilience and contribution of biodiversity
to carbon stocks enhanced, including restoration of degraded
ecosystems, mitigation, adaptation, and desertification.
Sustainable SDG 13: Take urgent action to yy Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related
Development combat climate change and its hazards and natural disasters in all countries;
Goals impacts yy Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strate-
gies and planning.
SDG 6: Ensure access to water yy Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable
and sanitation for all drinking water for all;
yy Implement integrated water resources management at all levels,
including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate;
yy Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including moun-
tains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food yy Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resil-
security and improved nutrition ient agricultural practices that increase productivity and produc-
and promote sustainable tion, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for
agriculture adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding
and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil
quality.
SDG 1: End poverty in all its yy Build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations
forms everywhere and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related
extreme events and other economic, social and environmental
shocks and disasters.
SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and yy Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing
well-being for all at all ages countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of
national and global health risks.
SDG 11: Make cities inclusive, yy Substantially increase the number of cities and human settle-
safe, resilient, and sustainable ments adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans
towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation
to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and imple-
ment, in line with the Sendai Framework.
89

SDG 14: Conserve and yy Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to
sustainably use the oceans, seas avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their
and marine resources resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve
healthy and productive oceans.
SDG 15: Sustainably manage yy Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ter-
forests, combat desertification, restrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in
halt and reverse land particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with
degradation, halt biodiversity obligations under international agreements.
loss
Sendai Prioritizes ecosystem-based yy Priority Action 1: The role of ecosystems will need to be taken into
Framework approaches to build resilience account in disaster risk assessments;
and reduce disaster risk yy Priority Action 2: Strengthening risk governance;
yy Priority Action 3: Strengthen investments in disaster resilience.
Paris Parties established the global Preamble:
Agreement goal on adaptation of enhancing yy Recognizing the importance of the conservation and enhance-
adaptive capacity, strengthening ment, as appropriate, of sinks and reservoirs of the greenhouse
resilience and reducing vulner- gases referred to in the Convention;
ability to climate change, with yy Noting the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems,
a view to contributing to sus- including oceans, and the protection of biodiversity, recognized
tainable development (Article 7, by some cultures as Mother Earth, and noting the importance for
paragraph 1) some of the concept of “climate justice”, when taking action to
address climate change.
Article 7, paragraph 2:
yy Parties recognize that adaptation is a global challenge faced by
all with local, subnational, national, regional and international
dimensions, and that it is a key component of and makes a con-
tribution to the long-term global response to climate change to
protect people, livelihoods and ecosystems, taking into account
the urgent and immediate needs of those developing country
Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of
climate change.
Article 7, paragraph 5:
yy Parties acknowledge that adaptation action should follow a coun-
try-driven, gender-responsive, participatory and fully transparent
approach, taking into consideration vulnerable groups, commu-
nities and ecosystems, and should be based on and guided by the
best available science and, as appropriate, traditional knowledge,
knowledge of indigenous peoples and local knowledge systems,
with a view to integrating adaptation into relevant socioeconomic
and environmental policies and actions, where appropriate.
CBD X/33 The Conference of the Parties called for implementation of ecosys-
Decisions tem-based approaches for adaptation, including sustainable man-
agement, conservation and restoration of ecosystems.
XII/20 Calls on governments and other relevant organizations to promote
EbA and Eco-DRR approaches and integrate these into their respec-
tive policies and programmes on Biodiversity and Climate Change
and DRR, recognizing that while biodiversity and ecosystems are
vulnerable to climate change, the conservation and sustainable use
of biodiversity and restoration of ecosystems can play a significant
role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, combating deserti-
fication and disaster risk reduction.
UNFCCC National Adaptation Plans Enables Parties to formulate and implement national adaptation
Cancun (NAPs) plans as a means of identifying medium- and long-term adaptation
Adaptation needs and developing and implementing strategies and programmes
Framework to address those needs.
90
Annexes

CBD Article 6 National Biodiversity Strategies Urges Parties and other governments to use revised and updated
and Action Plans (NBSAPs) NBSAPs as instruments for the integration of biodiversity targets
into national development and poverty reduction policies and
strategies, economic sectors and spatial planning processes (deci-
sion X/2). Parties were also invited to integrate ecosystem-based
approaches for adaptation into relevant strategies, including adapta-
tion strategies and plans, national action plans to combat desertifi-
cation, NBSAPs, poverty reduction strategies, disaster risk reduction
strategies and sustainable land management strategies (decision
X/33).
UNCCD Land degradation neutrality The amount of healthy and productive land should stay stable start-
Decisions (LDN) target ing in 2030. Parties also agreed to develop indicators for measuring
progress in LDN and for enhancing land resilience to climate change
and halting biodiversity loss linked to ecosystem degradation.
Ramsar Resolution XII.13 on Wetlands Encourages Parties to integrate wetland-based disaster risk man-
Convention and Disaster Risk Reduction agement and climate change adaptation into development policies
Resolutions and planning at all levels of government, including in vulnerability
analysis, poverty reduction strategies and natural resource manage-
ment plans (including land-use and water-use plans) and sectors,
and in multi-sector policies and plans.
Resolution VIII.35 Encourages Parties with Ramsar sites affected by drought or other
The Impact of natural disasters, natural disasters to use the mechanisms and benefits of the Mon-
particularly drought, on treux Record by placing such sites that are in need of priority con-
ecosystems servation action on the Record and, as appropriate, seeking national
and international assistance to support their conservation action.
Draft resolution on cultural Encourages integrating wetland cultural services into all relevant
values, local communities and national and regional policies, including in Poverty Reduction Strat-
climate change egies, National Climate Change Strategies, Sustainable Development
mitigation and adaptation in Goals.
wetlands
Draft resolution on the Encourages the application of the Rapid Assessment of Wetland
rapid assessment of wetland Ecosystem Services in order to assess ecosystem services, contrib-
ecosystem services ute to the description of the ecological character of Ramsar Sites,
and ensure the maintenance of these services in their management
processes, acknowledging that the important ecosystem services
that wetlands provide have direct relevance to the achievement of
the Sustainable Development Goals including those related to the
reduction of natural disasters and adaptation to climate change,
biodiversity and sustainable use of ecosystems.
Ramsar Wetlands for disaster risk yy Wetlands and the benefits they provide should be considered in
Convention reduction: Effective choices or disaster risk assessments and their impacts should be considered
Policy Brief resilient communities across entire river basins or coastal zones rather than just political
and administrative boundaries;
yy Development planning and land use changes should be consid-
ered when assessing disaster risk patterns and wetland degrada-
tion; and
yy Rapid environmental assessments conducted after a disaster
should consider options for wetland restoration as a contribution
to wetland recovery.
91
Annex III Existing guidelines and principles considered for the

development of the report
Guidelines Description/Aims Target Audience
Principles and Guidelines Set of draft principles and guidelines to act as a foundation Planners/
for Integrating Ecosys- for planning and implementing EbA. implementers;
tem-based Approaches Financial institutions
to Adaptation in Project
and Policy Design
(Andrade et al. 2011)
EbA Decision Support Framework includes setting adaptive context, selecting Mid-level decision-makers
Framework: From Prin- adaptation options, designing for change, and adaptive and planners at national /
ciples to Practice (UNEP implementation. local level
2012)
Operational Guidelines Aimed at clarifying criteria for EbA projects and at provid- EbA implementing agencies,
on EbA (GEF 2012) ing practical, operational advice; guidelines also comple- executing agencies and
ment review criteria applied to projects and programmes project proponents seeking
submitted for funding approval. LDCF and SCCF funding
Operational Framework Framework aims to provide robust and detailed guidance Decision-makers involved
for Ecosystem-based for planning, assessment and implementation of EbA in subnational decision
Adaptation (WWF 2013) measures. making
Vulnerability-based, begins with vulnerability assessment
of social-ecological systems, then identification and prior-
itization of options, implementation, and mainstreaming
EbA into national policies and programmes.
Advancing Implemen- Highlights opportunities for implementing integrated Policymakers, implementers

tation of the Sendai ecosystem management and risk reduction strategies in
Framework for Disaster countries and communities, and outlines a roadmap for
Risk Reduction (2015- advancing implementation of the SFDRR through Eco-
2030) through Ecosystem DRR/CCA and reflects on the scope for promoting Eco-
Solution (PEDRR 2016) DRR/CCA as an integrated strategy that delivers across the
2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
A Landscape Approach Synthesises the main characteristics of the landscape Policymakers, implementers
for Disaster Risk Reduc- approach and suggests seven steps when adopting a land-
tion in 7 steps (CARE scape approach. Although this paper focuses specifically
Netherlands and Wet- on disaster risk reduction to help increase community
lands International 2017) resilience, the landscape approach is applicable to other
types of programming.
Guidelines for EbA in Outlines actions for identifying, developing and imple- Practitioners, funders,
South Africa (Republic menting EbA and defines EbA cornerstones, high-level researchers, policymakers
of South Africa, in draft principles, criteria, and safeguards.
2017)
EbA: Question-based Describes a process, based around asking a detailed set of Project managers,
guidance for assessing questions, that can be used by project managers and re- researchers
effectiveness (Reid et al. searchers to shape project design, assess progress, or draw
2017) conclusions effectiveness.
92
Annexes
Guidelines Description/Aims Target Audience
Ethical Principles on European and Mediterranean Ethics Charter on resilience Policymakers

Disaster Risk Reduction to major disasters, approved by the Council of Europe, with
and People’s Resilience the aim to improve preparedness and deal with ethical
(Prieur 2012) problems concerning victims of disasters.
Making Ecosystem-based Practical assessment framework for designing, implement- Policymakers and
Adaptation Effective: A ing and monitoring EbA measures by proposing a set of practitioners
Framework for Defining elements, qualification criteria and quality standards and
Qualification Criteria example indicators.
and Quality Standards
(FEBA technical paper
developed for UNFCCC
-SBSTA 46) (FEBA 2017)
Implementing na- Present five principles and implementation guidance for Professionals in risk
ture-based flood protec- planning, such as evaluation, design, and implementation management and climate
tion: Principles and im- of nature-based solutions for flood risk management as an adaptation, NGOs,
plementation guidance. alternative to or complementary to conventional engineer- donors, and international
(World Bank 2017) ing measures. organizations.
Nature-based Solutions Proposes a definitional framework for nature-based solu- Conservation and
to address global societal tions (NbS), which includes EbA and Eco-DRR. The report development practitioners,
challenges (Cohen-Sha- includes a set of general principles for any NbS interven- policymakers and
cham et al. 2017) tion and considers several potential parameters that can researchers, as well as civil
be used to build an operational framework, on the basis society organizations.
of which the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of
NbS interventions can be systematically assessed.
Ecoshape Building with Aims to give guidance on how to introduce and integrate Contractors, engineering
Nature design guideline Building with Nature into water infrastructure develop- companies, research
www.ecoshape.org/en/ ments, including the Building with Nature principles and institutions, governments
design-guidelines the five general design steps that are involved. and NGOs
When not every response Proposes normative principles to guide responses to cli- Policymakers
to climate change is a mate change, avoid maladaptation and promote sustaina-
good one: Identifying ble adaptation:
principles for sustainable 1. Recognise context for vulnerability,
adaptation (Eriksen et al. 2. Acknowledge differing values and interests,
2011) 3. Integrate local knowledge into adaptation,
4. Consider feedbacks between local and global processes.
93
3
Outreach
into Sectors
Integrating ecosystem-based
approaches to climate change
adaptation and disaster risk
reduction
for the design and effective implementation of EbA & Eco-DRR and supplementary information
The participants in the Technical Workshop to Re- To quote the compilation of briefs, please use the
view the Voluntary Guidelines for the Design and suggested citation:
Effective Implementation of Ecosystem-based Ap-
proaches to Climate Change Adaptation and Dis- Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Di-
aster Risk Reduction (held 20 – 22 November 2017, versity (2019). Outreach into sectors: integrating
in Bonn, Germany) expressed a need for practical ecosystem-based approaches to climate change
briefs to support EbA and Eco-DRR practitioners to adaptation and disaster risk reduction. In: Volun-
more efficiently and effectively advocate for eco- tary guidelines for the design and effective imple-
system-based approaches within sectors. Accord- mentation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate
ingly, the CBD Secretariat coordinated a group of change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and
experts from agencies 1 who volunteered their time supplementary information. Secretariat of the Con-
and expertise to lead the development and author- vention on Biological Diversity. Technical Series No.
ship of briefs on opportunities for integration of 93. Montreal, 156 pages.
EbA and Eco-DRR. This document contains seven
practical briefs in the following sectors:
1. development planning and public finance;

2. spatial planning in land- and seascapes;
3. agriculture;
4. humanitarian;
5. infrastructure;
6. forestry; and
7. water.
Drafts of these sectoral briefs were provided to a

wide range of experts across EbA and Eco-DRR
networks for their comments and inputs.
The briefs offer information and advice on how

sectors are impacted by climate change and how
ecosystem-based approaches can provide solu-
tions, including practical examples, actions need-
ed, and relevant resources.
These sectoral briefs are self-contained with their

own footnotes, list of references and suggested
further reading, as well as individual citations, to
facilitate their separate use as outreach papers into
specific sectors.
1 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the

International Labour Organization, Deutsche Gesellschaft für In-
ternationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Union
for Conservation of Nature, and the World Wide Fund for Nature
96
3  Opportunities in
EbA and public finance workshop, Peru.

Photo: © Mathias Bertram
Opportunities in
development planning and public finance 1

for integrating ecosystem-based approaches to climate change and disaster risk reduction
How are development planning and finance Why ecosystem-based approaches should be
affected by climate and disaster risks? strengthened
Climate change and natural disasters have be- Terrestrial and marine ecosystems provide the
come a development issue. They pose serious, foundation for sustainable development pathways
wide-ranging risks to the development targets of of societies and economies. Livelihoods of at least
governments covering economies, societies and 3 billion people depend directly on marine biodi-
ecosystems. Both climate-related risks and those versity (SCBD 2009), 1.2 billion jobs directly
associated with biodiversity loss and ecosystem depend on natural resources and ecosys-
collapse are among the top global economic risks tem services (ILO 2018).
(WEF 2019). A study by OECD (2015) indicates a
projected global gross domestic product (GDP) loss Ecosystem-based approaches or nature- people depend on
3 billion
of 2 – 10 % until 2100 under a projected tempera- based solutions, either as stand-alone marine biodiversity
ture rise of 4°C. The ILO estimates that by 2030 a measures or in combination with built infra-
1.5°C increase would lead to a loss of 2 per cent of structure, are often more cost-effective in
work hours globally. This is equivalent to about delivering key facilities and services than
75 million full time jobs (ILO 2018). grey measures on their own. Despite
Effective development policies and financing

their importance, ecosystems continue
to be degraded and depleted. The value
1.2 billion
jobs depend on
strategies are needed to reduce risks, combined of services that ecosystems provide to natural resources
with instruments and tools to help retain, share or humanity tend to be poorly understood and
transfer financial losses if extreme events occur. articulated, and as a result, it is frequently over-
In addition, national and sector-based strategies looked when formulating development and public
and policies, especially in vulnerable sectors such finance policies, plans and projects. Very often,
as agriculture, need to be developed to ensure both benefits for conserving and sustainably using
climate change and natural disaster resilience to ecosystems and costs attached to their degradation
safeguard the investment (FAO 2017a). and loss are under-estimated. As a result, develop-
ment policies, institutions and markets incentivize
overexploitation of ecosystems for short-term
4°C gains.
rise
ture
per a
1.5°C Tem
2019 2030 2050 2100
2% loss of work 1 The development and authorship of the sectoral brief “Opportu-
hours globally = (GDP)
about 75 million loss of nities in development planning and public finance for integrating
full time jobs 2 – 10% ecosystem-based approaches to climate change and disaster risk
reduction” was led by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Land degradation & Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
climate change may
reduce global crop
yields by up to 50%
97
Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change yy Social inclusion, participation and productive

adaptation and disaster risk reduction provide var- employment: Especially rural poor and mar-
ious solutions to development challenges dealing ginalized groups of societies directly depend
with climate and disaster risks. They support a on ecosystems and their services for sustaining
holistic and cross-sectoral thinking that takes the their livelihoods. Ecosystem-based approaches
interdependence of people, economy and nature help them to actively participate in ecosystem
into account. management and livelihood improvement since
they require local ownership, knowledge and
There is a wide recognition that the SDGs are in- resources, including labour force. This increases
terconnected and that they can only be achieved productive employment (“green jobs” that con-
by addressing social, economic and environmental tribute to preserve or restore the environment)
concerns equally. This represents a mind shift and income generation, sustainability and inde-
from previous development and financing policies, pendence from external financial and technical
which focused primarily on socio-economic de- resources.
velopment without integrating the importance of
ecosystems and society’s dependency on them. yy Using local knowledge: Local, traditional or
indigenous knowledge is often the basis for eco-
A systematic integration of ecosystem-based ap- system-based approaches. They acknowledge
proaches into development planning and public and utilize this knowledge in combination with
finance policies holds various advantages that cov- scientific knowledge in the context of social de-
er the following: velopment frameworks.
yy Multiple benefits: Besides risk reduction for yy Addressing various development goals: The
public investments, ecosystem-based approaches implementation of ecosystem-based approaches
provide a multitude of benefits to society and has the potential to address various internation-
economy, including provision of decent jobs and al, national and local development goals around
natural resources (food, fibres, medicine), water food security, employment creation, water sup-
regulation, climate change mitigation by carbon ply, poverty reduction, education, economic di-
sequestration and recreation. Countries like Peru versification, nature protection, climate change,
demonstrate that public financing for EbA can disaster risk reduction, etc.
be allocated through national budgets across
sectors and at multiple scales, ranging from local yy Leveraging international support: Nature-
to regional and to national level (GIZ, 2019). based solutions provide additional entry points
for international policy and financial support
yy Cost-effectiveness: As natural buffers, ecosys- ranging from global climate and biodiversity
tems are often less expensive to maintain and funds (e.g. GCF, GEF) to green development
could be more effective than physical engineer- strategies, poverty reduction strategies, environ-
ing structures. Depending on local conditions mental compliance systems etc. Integrating na-
and climate projections, hybrid green-grey in- ture-based solutions into planning and finance
frastructure solutions may work best in terms of policies often raises international recognition
public health, social cohesion, urban biodiversity and reputation of a country as a “front runner”
and mitigation, creating win-win solutions for sustainable development.
for the environment, society and the economy
(NWP, 2017).
98
3  Opportunities in development planning and public finance
Figure 1 Interdependency between economy, society and the biosphere illustrated by the
Sustainable Development Goals
ECONOMY
SOCIETY
BIOSPHERE
Source: Carl Folke et al, Stockholm Resilience Center, 2017
99
Typical ecosystem-based approaches & technologies include the following:
Approach / technology examples Environmental Risk reduction Socio-economic

(including weblinks of EbA/Eco-DRR benefit benefit benefit
examples from the PANORAMA
Solutions platform) 2.
Reforestation of slopes in upper Erosion prevention, Buffering of Social protection, job

watersheds 3 – through native tree fertility maintenance, cyclones, land-slide creation, productivity
species that stabilize soils and store carbon sequestration, prevention, flood maintenance, income
water. Species should be resistant to fresh water provision, prevention generation
current and future risks such as pests, climate regulation,
extreme weather events, cyclones etc. habitat for species
Agroforestry 4 – as an integrated Climate regulation, Buffering of extreme Economic

approach to the production of trees food provision, temperatures, diversification,
and of non-tree crops or animals habitats for species, precipitation, job creation,
on the same piece of land. Agro- pollination, carbon droughts, storm productivity increase
forestry can improve the resilience sequestration surges
of agricultural production to current
climate variability as well as long-term
climate change through the use of
trees for intensification, diversification
and buffering of farming systems.
Renaturation of flood plains 5 – Erosion prevention, Flood protection Cost reduction

consists of measures to (re-)create water provision and (avoided damage,
natural retention areas for flood water regulation, habitats maintenance), job
e.g. by the restoration of old river for species creation, recreation
arms, flood retention areas, restoration
of river forests, etc.
Coastal habitat Erosion prevention, Buffering of cyclones Economic diversifi-

conservation / restoration 6 – such carbon sequestration, and storm surges cation, job creation,
as mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass habitat for productivity increase,
meadows or coral reefs aims to (commercial) species, social protection (of
provide a natural buffer against coastal water purification, livelihoods), provi-
erosion and inundation. nutrient cycling sion of raw material
and food
(Source: GIZ, 2018)
2 PANORAMA Solutions for a healthy planet platform (www.panorama.solutions)

3 panorama.solutions/en/solution/applying-ecosystem-based-disaster-risk-reduction-eco-drr-integrated-water-resource
4 panorama.solutions/en/solution/resilient-rural-livelihoods-through-eco-restoration-and-sustainable-natural-resources
5 panorama.solutions/en/solution/mayesbrook-river-restoration-project
6 panorama.solutions/en/solution/building-nature-safe-prosperous-and-adaptive-coastlines-indonesia
100
Photos, from top to bottom:

 Upper watershed, Peru. © GIZ / Mathias Bertram
 Forest Garden Borneo. © GIZ Indonesia
 Mekong Delta, Viet Nam.
© Flickr, creative commons, Frank Starmer
www.flickr.com/photos/spiderman/4198184105, is licensed
under CC BY 2.0  Coastline in Sulawesi,
Indonesia. © GIZ / Mathias Bertram
101
Existing opportunities & required action
Several entry points for strengthening ecosystem-based approaches for climate change adaptation and disas-
ter risk reduction within development planning and public finance include the following:
Entry points Examples
Policies Economic development and public investment policies, fiscal policies,

procurement policies, policy alignment strategies, Guidelines for a just
transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for
all (2015), UN Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN
Rio Conventions including the UNFCCC Paris Agreement and Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDC), UNCCD, CBD, UNISDR.
Planning Long-term and medium-term development plans at national and

instruments subnational level and budgeting, climate change strategies including
National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), compliance systems for higher
political commitments (e.g. SDGs), strategic environmental assessments,
environmental impact assessments.
Command and Public expenditure, investment and procurement laws, standards and
control instruments safeguards.
Economic and Public investment programmes, debt funding, funds (e.g. Green Climate
fiscal instruments Fund, Global Environmental Facility), taxes (e.g. carbon tax), public-private
partnerships, fees, environmental fiscal reforms and transfer mechanisms,
subsidies as incentive systems, insurance systems, payment for ecosystem
services.
Institutions Inter-ministerial task forces, committees, chambers of commerce,

mobilization of civil society etc.
102
Further action will be needed in the following areas:
yy Analyse current and potential risks for devel- yy Include nature-based principles and criteria in
opment planning and public investment caused public expenditure planning, the funding de-
by climate change and natural disasters at the cisions of the international donor community
appropriate scale such as land- / seascape, ad- (ODA), as well as the private sector.
ministrative entity (e.g. district) and local scale
(community). yy Support a mind shift from environment versus
development towards a paradigm of environ-
yy Assess the role of ecosystems for productive em- mental conservation and sustainable use for
ployment creation and income generation. development – as being a necessary and enabling
condition.
yy Identify short-, medium- and long-term actions
to address current and future risks including yy Use ecosystem service valuation methods at the
ecosystem-based, hybrid and engineering-based appropriate scale to analyse benefits, costs and
solutions as well as social options. impacts of ecosystem services across different
sectors. This analysis will serve to inform poli-
yy Compile evidences and convincing arguments cymakers about the impacts of decisions and to
– including facts and figures – for the effective- allow the weighing of different options. It should
ness and efficiency of risk reduction by ecosys- also cover the “cost of inaction” under a business
tem-based measures. as usual scenario.
yy Identify key development and financing policies yy Promote the revision of legal frameworks and
and funding streams where ecosystem-based standards to strengthen ecosystem-based ap-
approaches need to be strengthened and assess proaches into medium and long-term national
how they can be combined to insure sustaina- development planning frameworks and budget-
bility. This includes multilateral funds, national ing processes.
budgets, private investments.
yy Add EbA & Eco-DRR-relevant criteria in the
yy Identify key actors from government, civil so- national budget allocation planning and in the
ciety and private sector to become allies during screening process of investment projects.
the integration of nature-based solutions into
public investments and to form partnerships for yy Promote inclusive planning strategies through
development. social dialogue.
Photos, background, f.l.t.r.:

Umbria landscape 2. © Flickr, creative com-
mons, Franco Blanco, www.flickr.com/photos/
franxblank/8677097579, is licensed under
CC BY 2.0, greyscale of original  Ecuador.
© GIZ / Nadia Manasfi  Vietnam. © GIZ
PANORAMA Solutions  Brazil. © GIZ PAN-
ORAMA Solutions
103
References
FAO (2017a): FAO strategy on climate change www.fao.
org/3/a-i7175e.pdf
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

IPBES (2016): Summary for policymakers of the
assessment report of the Intergovernmental Science-
Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
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in Land Reclamat
Diversity, Montreal.
(2019). Emerging lessons for mainstreaming Ecosystem- at: www.ipbes.net/deliverables/3a-pollination Stockholm Resilience Center (2017): How food connects
Ecosystem Recov
based Adaptation: Strategic entry points and processes. all the SDGs, www.stockholmresilience.org/research/
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Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) environmentally sustainable economies and societies for sdgs.html
GmbH, Bonn. www.adaptationcommunity.net/wp- all.
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lessons-for-EbA-mainstreaming_web.pdf ILO (2018): World Employment and Social Outlook planning, implementation and evaluation addressing
– Greening with Jobs. www.ilo.org/weso-greening/ ecosystems and areas such as water resources – synthesis
GIZ (2018): Illustrative examples for ecosystem- documents/WESO_Greening_EN_web2.pdf report by the Secretariat (FCCC/SBSTA/2017/3) unfccc.
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PANORAMA Solutions for a Healthy Planet platform: 9789264235410-en.htm Planning and Practice: www.aboutvalues.net
www.panorama.solutions
Further reading
ELD Initiative (2015): The value of land: Prosperous Community of Practice. www.adaptationcommunity.net/ ILO (2018): Creating Jobs through Public Investment
lands and positive rewards through sustainable land publications/?topic=ecosystem-based-adaptation www.ilo.org/global/topics/employment-intensive-
management. Available at: www.eld-initiative.org investment/publications/WCMS_619821/lang--en/index.
GIZ (2017): Valuing the Benefits, Costs and Impacts htm
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit of Ecosystem-based Adaptation Measures: A
(GIZ) (2012): Guide on Integrating ecosystem services sourcebook of methods for decision-making. www. Matthews T., Lo A.Y. and Byrne J.A. (2015):
into development planning. A stepwise approach for adaptationcommunity.net/download/sec_guides/EbA- Reconceptualizing green infrastructure for climate change
practitioners based on the TEEB approach. Available at:
www.aboutvalues.net
Valuations-Sb_2017-Dec_en_online_1-0.pdf With abstra
adaptation: Barriers to adoption and drivers for uptake by
spatial planners. Landscape and Urban Planning 138, 155
GIZ (2018): Financing EbA – Experiences from

GIZ (2016: Mainstreaming Ecosystem-based Adaptation
to Climate Change into Development Planning – a training French and
-163. How green infrastructures can help cities adapt to
climate change and major challenges for spatial planners.
practitioners on obstacles and success stories on how course for decision makers, planners and practitioners.
to identify sources and instruments for financing EbA www.adaptationcommunity.net/trainings/training-
measures at different scales, a learning brief from the EbA course-mainstreaming-ecosystem-based-adaptation-
development-planning-updated-2016
Developed and authored by: Published by:
With support from the European Union, the Government The designations employed and the presentation of Citation:
of Sweden and the Government of Germany material in this publication do not imply the expression Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
This brief is part of a series of seven practical briefs to of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (2019). Opportunities in
support the integration of ecosystem-based approaches legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its development planning and public finance for integrating
to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers ecosystem-based approaches to climate change
within sectors. The agencies who contributed to the or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do adaptation and disaster risk reduction. In: Voluntary
development and authorship of the sectoral briefs are: not necessarily represent those of the Convention on guidelines for the design and effective implementation of
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation
Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization for educational or non-profit purposes without special and disaster risk reduction and supplementary information.
(ILO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale permission from the copyright holders, provided Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Union for acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat Technical Series No. 93. Montreal, 156 pages.
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wide Fund of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of
for Nature (WWF). any publications that use this document as a source. For further information, please contact:
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104 E-mail: secretariat@cbd.int Website: www.cbd.int
3  Opportunities in Opportunities in
Photo: Coastal Landscape, South Africa.

Opportunities in
© GIZ / Andrea Bender
spatial planning in land- and seascapes 1
How is land and marine spatial planning Why ecosystem-based approaches should be
affected by climate change and disaster risks? strengthened
Climate change as well as natural disasters pose Ecosystems underpin economies and societal
wide-ranging challenges to the development tar- well-being through the provision of ecosystem
gets of governments for national economies, so- services (MEA 2005). There are several spatial
cieties and ecosystems. Both climate-related risks relationships between areas within land- and
and those associated with biodiversity loss and seascapes where a service such as risk reduction is
ecosystem collapse are among the top global eco- produced and where its benefits become apparent.
nomic risks (WEF 2019). Extreme events such as For example, the conservation and sustainable
floods, heat waves, droughts and cyclones but also management of forests of an upper watershed does
slow onset events such as increasing temperatures, not only provide local services such as water stor-
glacier retreat and sea level rise pose significant age and erosion prevention, but landscape services
challenges for societies and their use of land-based such as water provision and flood risk reduction to
and marine resources. These events manifest downstream land use systems. To ensure sustain-
themselves at different levels, from local to land- ability in the long term, it is crucial to use ecosys-
and seascapes. tems in a way that avoids degradation, considers
current and future vulnerabilities and maintains
Risk varies spatially and requires context-specific resilience (FEBA, 2016).
approaches for planning. For example, the flood
risk to a city might be increased by deforestation Integrated management and restoration of eco-
and soil erosion in the upper watershed, while systems at land- and seascape level can greatly en-
storm damage within a coastal village might be hance the overall benefits that ecosystems provide
exacerbated by degraded mangroves, coral reefs to society. Concepts such as Ecosystem-based Ad-
or seagrass beds. Other factors might affect the aptation (EbA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-
coastline, such as unsustainable groundwater DRR) support holistic and cross-sectoral thinking
extraction causing land subsidence; river canali- that takes the interactions and interdependency of
zation may cause a disturbance of sedimentation people, economy and nature into account. Both are
in rivers; built infrastructure along the coastline landscape approaches – a framework to integrate
may disturb sediment settlement in front of the policy and practice for multiple land uses, within
coastline. Therefore a holistic approach for spatial a given area – where decisions (policies, planning,
planning of land and seascapes – covering a mul- and implementation) need to be based on spatial
titude of actors, sectors and interests – is key for information. A landscape approach is an interdis-
setting up effective climate change adaptation and ciplinary, cross-sectoral and holistic approach to
risk reduction strategies. help overcome barriers by sectors and contribute
to effective climate change adaptation by con-
1 The development and authorship of the sectoral brief “Oppor- necting all stakeholders involved, starting with
tunities in spatial planning in land- and seascapes for integrating
ecosystem-based approaches to climate change and disaster risk the communities at risk in the affected landscape
reduction” was led by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale (Sayer, et al. 2013).
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
105
A systematic integration of ecosystem-based ap- yy Adaptive management: Due to the fixed design
proaches into spatial planning holds various ad- and purpose of built physical “grey” infrastruc-
vantages that cover the following: ture measures, they often cannot be modified
afterwards; whereas ecosystem-based or hybrid
yy Multiple benefits: Besides risk reduction, eco- approaches, combining both grey and green in-
system-based approaches provide a multitude frastructure can be adapted and managed more
of benefits to society and economy, including easily to fulfil their functions for society.
provision of natural resources (food, fibres, and
medicine), water regulation, climate change mit- yy Social inclusion, participation and employ-
igation through carbon sequestration, recreation ment: Especially rural poor and marginalized
and provision of habitats for species. groups of societies directly depend on ecosys-
tems and their services for sustaining their live-
yy Cost-effectiveness: As natural risk buffers, nat- lihoods. Ecosystem-based approaches help them
ural and sustainably managed ecosystems are to participate in ecosystem management and
often less expensive to maintain and could be livelihood improvement since they require local
more effective than physical engineering struc- ownership, knowledge and resources, including
tures. Depending on local conditions, condition labour force. Participatory spatial planning will
of ecosystems and climate projections, hybrid enable governments and local stakeholders to
green-grey infrastructure solutions that com- jointly identify priority areas for improving land
bine an ecological infrastructure (e.g. forests, tenure and access to key resources.
wetlands) with a built infrastructure (e.g. dams,
water retention ponds) may work best in terms yy Using local knowledge: Ecosystem-based ap-
of public health, social cohesion, urban biodi- proaches are often built on local, traditional or
versity and mitigation, creating win-win solu- indigenous knowledge. They acknowledge and
tions for the environment, society and economy utilize this knowledge in combination with sci-
(NWP, 2017). entific knowledge in the context of using land
based and marine resources.
106
3  Opportunities in spatial planning in land- and seascapes
Photo: Coastal Landscape, South Africa. © GIZ / Andrea Bender

107

(including weblinks of EbA/Eco-DRR benefit benefit benefit
examples from the PANORAMA
Solutions platform) 2.
Include disaster and climate risks Erosion prevention, Buffering of Social protection,
in integrated water resources fertility maintenance, cyclones, land-slide productivity
management including reforestation carbon sequestration, prevention, flood maintenance, income
of slopes in upper watersheds 3 – fresh water provision, prevention generation, job
combination of IWRM action plan climate regulation, creation
and reforestation through native tree habitat for species
species that stabilize soils and store
water. Species should be resistant to
current and future risks such as pests,
extreme weather events, cyclones etc.
Transboundary river cooperation Water provision and Buffering of Improved

for improved water governance 4 regulation, erosion flash floods ownership, economic
– such as river basin approaches prevention, climate from upstream, diversification,
to have a better understanding of regulation, habitat sedimentation, productivity increase,
policy planning and transboundary for species surface water social protection
cooperation issues. pollution control
Renaturation of flood plains 5 – Erosion prevention, Flood protection Cost reduction

consists of measures to (re-)create water provision and (avoided damage,
natural retention areas for flood water regulation, habitats maintenance),
e.g. by the restoration of old river for species recreation, income
arms, flood retention areas, restoration generation, job
of river forests, etc. creation
Coastal habitat Erosion prevention, Buffering of cyclones Economic

conservation / restoration 6 – such carbon sequestration, and storm surges, sea diversification,
as mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass habitat for species, level rise productivity increase,
meadows or coral reefs aim to provide water purification, social protection
a natural buffer against coastal erosion nutrient cycling (of livelihoods), job
and inundation. creation, provision
of raw material and
food
(Source: GIZ, 2018)

3 panorama.solutions/en/solution/applying-ecosystem-based-disaster-risk-reduction-eco-drr-integrated-water-resource
4 panorama.solutions/en/solution/strengthening-multilevel-governance-eba-binational-sumpul-river-sub-basin-el-salvador
5 panorama.solutions/en/solution/mayesbrook-river-restoration-project
6 panorama.solutions/en/solution/building-nature-safe-prosperous-and-adaptive-coastlines-indonesia
108

 Wetlands. © GIZ / Mathias Bertram  River wetlands,
Indonesia. © GIZ/Mathias Bertram  Landscape.
© Flickr, creative commons, mike138, www.flickr.com/
photos/72486075@N00/351894183, is licensed under
CC BY 2.0  reef0787. © Flickr, creative commons,
NOAA Photo Library/David Burdick, www.flickr.com/
photos/noaaphotolib/5015132522, is licensed under CC
BY 2.0
109
Entry points as opportunities for strengthening ecosystem-based approaches for climate change adaptation
and disaster risk reduction within spatial planning include the following:
Policies UN Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNFCCC

Paris Agreement including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC),
UNCCD Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme, CBD Aichi
Targets and Post 2020 Framework, UNISDR, Bonn Challenge on Forest
Landscape Restoration.
Planning “Ridge-to-reef” or “source-to-sea” approaches, territorial planning and

instruments landscape approaches, long-term and medium-term land, coastal and ma-
rine development plans at national and subnational level, watershed man-
agement plans, land use plans, climate change strategies including National
Adaptation Plans (NAPs), risk maps, land use maps and cadastral systems,
land use conflict resolution mechanisms, participatory land use, coastal and
marine spatial planning approaches (e.g. the concept of “Blue Planning in
Practice” or the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100).
Command and Land use and zoning laws, standards and safeguards, management cer-
control instruments tification schemes, strategic environmental assessments, environmental
impact analysis.
Economic and Public investment programmes, funds (e.g. Land Degradation Neutrality
fiscal instruments Fund, Green Climate Fund), taxes, fees, fiscal transfer mechanisms and
subsidies as incentive systems for spatial planning.
Institutions Inter-ministerial task forces and management committees, river basin

committees, land use planning, forest user and water user associations etc.
Technology High resolution spatial data and information (satellite based, drones, etc.)
that is often openly available, geographical information systems (e.g. open
source) and related planning and decision support tools (e.g. Marxan,
InVEST, SeaSketch).
110
yy Assess the current and potential challenges (and yy Strengthen institutional coordination and mul-
risks) for land use, coastal and marine spatial ti-stakeholder approaches for spatial planning;
planning caused by climate change and natural increase the role of non-state actors and local
disasters in addition to other man-made risks by ownership (e.g. civil society, research, private
using a combination of available geographical sector) for the governance of terrestrial and ma-
information systems and spatial climate and dis- rine resources.
aster risk information.
yy Further align land cover and spatial use maps
yy Identify short-, medium- and long-term ac- across different sectors such as agriculture, for-
tions to address these risks including ecosys- estry, mining, urban planning, nature conserva-
tem-based, hybrid and engineering-based solution, shipping, industrial and artisanal fisheries
tions as well as social options. (i.e. national spatial data infrastructure).
yy Identify key actors from government, civil socie- yy Review legal instruments related to spatial plan-
ty and private sector to become allies in adapted ning at regional, national and local level with
spatial planning and establish suitable formats regards to possible future integration of ecosys-
for ongoing exchange, negotiation and joint tem-based approaches to climate change and
planning between these actors and sectors. disaster risk reduction.
Photo: Ecuador © GIZ / Nadia Manasfi

111
References
Epple, C., Wicander, S., Mant, R., Kapos, V., Rossing, T.,
Rizvi, A. R. (2016): Shared goals – joined-up approaches?
Why action under the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable
Development Goals and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
2011 – 2020 needs to come together at the landscape
level. FEBA discussion paper developed for CBD COP 13.
UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK, and IUCN, Gland, Switzer-
land. 8 pp. www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/content/docu-
GIZ, IUCN, UN-Environment, GRID Arendal, Rare (2017):
PANORAMA Solutions for a Healthy Planet platform:
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005): Ecosystems

and Human Well-being – a synthesis report: www.millen-
niumassessment.org/documents/document.356.aspx.pdf
88
Restoring Life on
UNFCCC Nairobi Work Programme (2017): Adaptation
Private-sector Exp
planning, implementation and evaluation addressing
ecosystems and areas such as water resources – synthesis
report by the Secretariat (FCCC/SBSTA/2017/3) unfccc.
int/documentation/documents/advanced_search/
in Land Reclamat
items/6911.php?priref=600009445
World Economic Forum (2019): The Global Risks Report

ments/feba_technical_discussion_paper_1.pdf Sayer, J., T. Sunderland, J. Ghazoul, J. Pfund, D. Sheil, 2019, 14th edition: www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Glob-
E. Meijaard, M. Venter, A.K. Boedhihartono, M. Day,
C. Garcia, C. van Oosten, and L.E. Buck (2013): Ten princi-
ples for a landscape approach to reconciling agriculture,
Ecosystem Recov
al_Risks_Report_2019.pdf
conservation, and other competing land uses. PNAS

110(21): 8349-8356.
Further reading
Baldwin, Rob, Ryan Scherzinger, Don Lipscomb, Miranda Dossier No. 6. Paris: UNESCO. unesdoc.unesco.org/imag- ILO (2018): Creating Jobs through Public Investment
Mockrin & Susan Stein (2014): Planning for land use and es/0018/001865/186559e.pdf www.ilo.org/global/topics/employment-intensive-in-
conservation: Assessing GIS-based conservation software vestment/publications/WCMS_619821/lang--en/index.
for land use planning. Res. Note RMRS-RN-70. Fort Col- European Commission (2018): Natural Water Retention htm
lins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Measures catalogue. nwrm.eu/measures-catalogue
Rocky Mountain Research Station. www.fs.fed.us/rm/ UNEP (2016): Evidence-based analysis and practical guid-
pubs/rmrs_rn070.pdf Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) ance on the challenges and enabling factors for successful
(2018): Climate Risk Assessment for EbA - A guidebook Marine Spatial Planning.
Blue Solutions (2017): Blue Planning in Practice: Ecosys- for policy makers and practitioners. www.adaptationcom-
tem-based Marine and Coastal Planning and Management munity.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/giz-eurac-unu- Schultz-Zehden, Angela; Kira Gee & Katarzyna ’Scibior
bluesolutions.info/images/BPiP_ParticipantHand- 2018-en-guidebook-climate-risk-asessment-eba.pdf (2008): PlanCoastHandbook on Integrated Maritime Spa-
book-REVISED-VERSION_180115.pdf tial Planning www.plancoast.eu/files/handbook_web.pdf
GIZ (2017): Valuing the Benefits, Costs and Impacts of
EcoShape (2017): Building with Nature Guideline. pub- Ecosystem-based Adaptation Measures: A sourcebook van Wesenbeeck, Balkeac, van Eijk, Tonneijc, Sirye,
licwiki.deltares.nl/display/BTG/Guideline of methods for decision-making. www.adaptation- Rudiantoe, Winterwerp (2015): Aquaculture induced
community.net/download/sec_guides/EbA-Valua- erosion of tropical coastlines throws coastal communities
Ehler, Charles, & Fanny Douvere (2009): Marine Spatial
Planning: a step-by-step approach toward ecosys-
tions-Sb_2017-Dec_en_online_1-0.pdf With abstra
back into poverty. Ocean & Coastal Management, Vol-
ume 116, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
tem-based management. Intergovernmental Ocean-
ographic Commission and Man and the Biosphere
ILO (2015): Guidelines for a just transition towards envi-
ronmentally sustainable economies and societies for all.
S0964569115300223
French and
Programme. IOC Manual and Guides No. 53, ICAM www.ilo.ch/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/---emp_ WOCAT Global Database on Sustainable Land Manage-
ent/documents/publication/wcms_432859.pdf ment (UNCCD) (2018): qcat.wocat.net/en/wocat
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
This brief is part of a series of seven practical briefs to of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (2019). Opportunities in
support the integration of ecosystem-based approaches legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its spatial planning in land- and seascapes for integrating
to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers ecosystem-based approaches to climate change
within sectors. The agencies who contributed to the or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do adaptation and disaster risk reduction. In: Voluntary
development and authorship of the sectoral briefs are: not necessarily represent those of the Convention on guidelines for the design and effective implementation of
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation
Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization for educational or non-profit purposes without special and disaster risk reduction and supplementary information.
(ILO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale permission from the copyright holders, provided Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Union for acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat Technical Series No. 93. Montreal, 156 pages.
Rice paddy in viet nam. Photo: © GIZ / ICMP

Opportunities in
the agriculture sector 1

How is agriculture affected by climate and In addition, the agriculture sector often bears a
disaster risks? disproportionate share of disaster impacts, many
of which are borne directly by small-
Changing weather patterns and increasing fre- holders and the poor in both
quency of natural hazards such as droughts, urban and rural areas (FAO
storms, heatwaves, and torrential rain are affect- 2018a). In developing coun- Loss, damage
ing agricultural productivity. They are causing tries, during 2003 – 2013, by natural hazards
severe impacts on crops, livestock and fish and loss and damage caused by
in agriculture
farm infrastructure; this significantly affects ag- natural hazards in the ag-
in developing countries,
ricultural investments, incomes, food production ricultural sectors totalled
2003 – 2013
and food security now and in the future. Climate nearly US$ 80 billion (FAO
change is considered a significant “hunger-risk 2015). It has been estimated US$ 80 billion
multiplier”. Effects of climate change on agricul- that between 2006 and 2016,
tural production and livelihoods will intensify over 20 per cent of all damage and
over time, particularly affecting Sub-Saharan loss caused by natural disasters, Damage,
Africa and South and Southeast Asia (FAO, 2016a). and 80 per cent for drought loss absorbed
It is estimated that the population living in pov-
erty could increase by between 35 to 122 million
was absorbed by agriculture
(FAO, 2018a). Disasters have
by agriculture
people by 2030 due to climate change, largely due negative impacts on natu-
2006 – 2016
to negative effects on household agricultural in- ral resources that sustain
comes (FAO, 2016a). Climate change will also dis- agriculture, including sur- 20 % 80 %
proportionately impact the most vulnerable that face and groundwater de-
lack access to services and natural resources such pletion and contamination, Natural
disasters Drought
as land (ILO, 2017). increased soil erosion, damage
to native forests, mangroves, wet-
lands and salinisation of soils.
Effects of
climate change
on agricultural production and livelihoods
will intensify over time, particularly affecting
Sub-Saharan Africa,
South & Southeast Asia
1 The development and authorship of the sectoral brief “Opportu-

nities in the agriculture sector for integrating ecosystem-based
approaches to climate change and disaster risk reduction” was led
by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
GmbH and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO).
113
Why ecosystem-based approaches should be

strengthened
Agricultural production depends on well-func-

tioning ecosystems and the services they provide 70 %
such as the provision of healthy and fertile soils, of about
water, pollination, climate regulation, natural pest
management, as well as extreme event buffering.
1.1 billion people
living in poverty
Nearly 70 per cent of the estimated 1.1 billion peo-
ple living in poverty in rural areas depend directly depend on
on the productivity of ecosystems for their liveli- ecosystems
hoods (FAO 2019).
for their livelihoods
Nature-based solutions help building resilience
of agricultural production systems as well as of
the ecosystems on which they depend. Resilience
against multiple threats is a key prerequisite for
sustainable development, in particular, when it
comes to the challenge of being able to feed over
9.5 billion people by 2050. Carbon neutral and cli-
By 2050
mate resilient systems are needed across sectors, we need to feed
especially for agriculture and food systems, to sus-
tain food and nutrition security. Ecosystem-based 9.5 billion
approaches can therefore play a significant role in
the transformation of the agriculture sector to-
people
wards long-term sustainable production systems
that can meet the future population’s dietary and
food security requirements (FAO 2014).
114
3  Opportunities in the agriculture sector
Many past policies and strategies have often led natural hazards of floods and droughts can be
to unsustainable and / or even counter-productive addressed through interventions, which capture
goals (Munang, 2014). EbA and Eco-DRR look at water within the landscape through soil and wa-
the economic, ecological and social dimensions of tershed interventions (FAO, 2018e).
agro-ecosystems and the ecological functionality
of landscapes. They also aim to systematically in- By reducing risks and building resilience at farm
tegrate climate and disaster risk information into and territorial levels, nature-based solutions
planning and decision-making within territories, help to minimize losses and maintain or even
governance and management systems. increase agricultural productivity. In addition,
other co-benefits can be promoted, such as carbon
Agricultural practitioners are key managers sequestration, restoration of habitats and biodi-
of land and waterscapes and among the major versity conservation. It has been estimated that a
beneficiaries of ecosystem services. Small-scale shift to more sustainable agricultural practices,
farmers, herders, fishers, forest dwellers and their including local and traditional knowledge from
families, manage over 80 per cent of the world’s indigenous people, has the potential to create
estimated 500 million small farms and are there- over 200 million more full-time jobs by 2050. Job
fore if empowered can be important stewards of creation will occur due to labour-intensive green
nature-based solutions. Through capacity building farming practices, management and preservation
and provision of services and incentives, they can of ecosystems, research and development, and
apply EbA and Eco-DRR interventions both at the training of rural populations in the use of green
territorial and farm level. For example, interlinked technologies (ILO, 2017a and 2017b).
Small-scale Sustainable
farmers, herders, agricultural
fishers, forest dweller families’ practices, including
manage
knowledge from
80 per cent of the indigenous people,
world’s 500 million
has the potential to create over
small farms 200 million more
full-time jobs by
2050
115

(including weblinks of EbA/Eco-DRR examples benefit benefit benefit
from the PANORAMA Solutions platform) 2
Crop diversification 3 – through the use of local Erosion Buffering Economic
varieties, intercropping, mixed farming systems, prevention, of extreme diversification,
introduction of additional cultivated species and soil fertility temperatures, productivity and
climate resilient varieties it is aimed at enhancing maintenance precipitation increased income,
plant productivity, quality, health and nutritional droughts, floods, food security
value and build resilience to pests, diseases and storm surges
climate change,
Sustainable rangeland management, livestock Erosion Buffering of Productivity and
production and pasture restoration – with 4 prevention, potential losses income stability;
locally adapted breeds, optimization of grazing maintenance of due to extreme maintenance of
density and grazing rotation. biodiversity events productive assets
Agroforestry 5 – as an integrated approach to Climate Buffering Economic

the production of trees and of non-tree crops regulation, of extreme diversification,
or animals on the same piece of land. Agro- food provision, temperatures, productivity
forestry can improve the resilience of agricultural habitats precipitation, increase
production to current climate variability as well for species, droughts, storm
as long-term climate change through the use pollination, surges
of trees for intensification, diversification and carbon
buffering of farming systems. sequestration
Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) 6 – land Soil productivity, Droughts, salinity Enhanced
restoration method that can convert degraded crop protection productivity,
lands into more productive area, by retention of limited resources
naturally regenerating seedlings (Monty, 2017). required
Soil management 7 – crop rotation, green Reduced Reduced water Increased
manure, soil cover / mulching, zero tillage, as loss / use of requirement, production /
used in agroecology, conservation agriculture. natural resources improved income, job
(water), improved resilience to creation
soil fertility and floods and
biodiversity droughts
Territorial and landscape interventions Improved Reduce variability Stable production
(sustainable land and water management) 8 water quality of agricultural and increased
– water retention / regulation at landscape and availability, production, food security, job
and field level. Can include conservation and reduced reduce incidence creation
connection of forest remnants, integrated soil erosion. and severity of
management of peatlands, terracing, contour Increased floods, droughts
ploughing, protection of water catchments, and biodiversity and landslides
flood plains, trenches for water retention, shade and ecosystem
and water capture trees, etc. functioning
(Source: FAO 2010, FAO, 2017a, FAO 2017b, GIZ, 2018 and www.panorama.solutions)

3 panorama.solutions/en/solution/ecosystem-based-adaptation-small-holders-roslagen-sweden
4 panorama.solutions/en/solution/developing-sustainable-landscapes-grasslands-south-africa
5 panorama.solutions/en/solution/resilient-rural-livelihoods-through-eco-restoration-and-sustainable-natural-resources
6 panorama.solutions/en/solution/sustainable-land-use-management-konegummez-village-turkmenistan
7 panorama.solutions/en/solution/promoting-principles-ecosystem-based-adaptation-conservation-agriculture
8 panorama.solutions/en/solution/promotion-agrobiodiversity-and-riparian-restoration-sixaola-binational-river-basin
116

 Agroforestry system, Indonesia. © GIZ / Mathias
Bertram  Livestock, Mongola. © GIZ / Dirk Ostermeier  Trees
ForTheFuture, Ethiopia. © Flickr, creative commons, Trees for
the Future, www.flickr.com/photos/plant-trees/2675275368, is
licensed under CC BY 2.0  GCS-Tenure Project in Maluku.
© Flickr, creative commons, Ulet Ifans, www.flickr.com/photos/
cifor/36827416006, is licensed under CC BY 2.0  Plants in nurs-
ery. © Flickr, creative commons, CIFOR, www.flickr.com/photos/
cifor/35387442373, is licensed under CC BY 2.0  Aerial photo of
village in North Dafur, Sudan. © UNEP
117
Several entry points for strengthening ecosystem-based approaches for climate change adaptation and disas-
ter risk reduction within the agriculture sector include the following:
Policies Food security policies, economic development policies, UN Agenda 2030

and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNFCCC Paris Agreement
including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) with agriculture
sectors (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture), UNCCD Land
Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme, CBD Aichi Targets and
Post 2020 Framework, UNISDR, Guidelines for a just transition towards
environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all.
Planning Development plans, agricultural production plans, sector plans, watershed

instruments management plans, land use plans, climate change strategies including
National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation
Action (NAMAs), UNFCCC Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA), FAO
Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) framework, skills development strategies.
Command and Agrarian laws, standards, environmental laws and impact assessments,
control instruments mandatory certification schemes.
Economic and Agricultural investment programmes, funds, taxes, fees and subsidies as
fiscal instruments incentive systems, Payments for Environmental Services (PES).
Informative Formal education, such as agricultural schools and non-formal extension

measures programmes, demonstration sites, farmer to farmer exchanges, IT
agricultural solutions, etc.
Voluntary Voluntary environmental agreements, standards and certification schemes

measures e.g. fairtrade and “green” certification schemes.
Institutions Task forces, committees, associations, unions, cooperatives, regional

government agricultural and environmental advisory bodies, international
and national food producing companies, extension services.
Management types Public, collaborative and private management of farmland and pastures,
Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approaches, micro-wa-
tershed management for improving irrigation, CSA approaches.
118
yy Assess the dependency of agricultural value (associations, foundations, community organi-

chains on ecosystem services and how agricul- zations, media and academia) and private sector
tural activities affect the provision of ecosystem (including food producing companies, coopera-
services. tives and retailers as well as investors) to become
allies / partners during the planning and imple-
yy Assess risks and vulnerabilities of the agriculture mentation of measures.
sector to climate change and disaster impacts in
terms of sensitivity, exposure to risks and adap- yy Strengthen local governance and management
tive capacity. This includes a risk assessment for structures by improving technical and institu-
agricultural value chains - from production to tional capacities of land use organizations (e.g.
consumption - to estimate possible impacts of farmers, pastoralists, fishers) and by fostering
current and future hazards and the potential of the participation of local communities and mar-
nature-based solutions to mitigate risks. ginalized groups in decision-making processes.
yy Assess the capacity and skills of agricultural yy Identify priorities and entry points to main-
practitioners needed to manage, implement and stream EbA into development plans at local, re-
monitor ecosystems-based practices. gional, and national scales.
yy Identify short-, medium- and long-term actions yy Development of appropriate tools to determine
to address these risks based on existing local and main benefits, barriers, and costs for the adop-
traditional / indigenous knowledge and scientific tion of appropriate EbA / Eco-DRR measures by
knowledge. different practitioners such as farmers and in
particular smallholders.
yy Develop approaches for integrated risk reduc-
tion strategies that systematically include na- yy Promote an enabling environment to implement
ture-based solutions in the overall planning and and scale out EbA / Eco-DRR measures adoption,
implementation. including the effective use of financial incentive
and taxation schemes.
yy Improve cross-sector coordination of public
institutions (e.g. Ministries of Agriculture and yy Assess the potential for integrating the risk re-
Environment, Finance and Planning), policy duction potential of ecosystems into agricultural
and legislation to create the needed enabling insurance products and credit lines.
environment for the adoption of EbA / Eco-DRR
measures. yy Set up of sound M&E-systems as well as appro-
priate indicators and criteria to measure impact
yy Identify leaders and key actors from government of EbA-practices.
(planning and sector ministries), civil society
119
References
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United
Nations). 2014. Building a common vision of sustainable
food and agriculture. www.fao.org/3/a-i3940e.pdf
FAO. 2015. The impact of disasters on agriculture and

food security. www.fao.org/3/a-i5128e.pdf
FAO. 2016a. The State of Agriculture and food security:

Climate change, agriculture and food security. FAO, Rome
FAO. 2017b. Benefits of farm level disaster risk reduction
practices in agriculture: www.fao.org/3/a-i7319e.pdf
FAO. 2017c. Addressing Agriculture, Forestry and Fisher-

ies in National Adaptation Plans, supplementary guide-
lines. www.fao.org/3/a-i6714e.pdf
FAO. 2017d. Migration, Agriculture and Climate Change,

Reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience. www.
88
Restoring Life on
FAO. 2019. State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and
Agriculture.
Private-sector Exp
GIZ, IUCN, UN-Environment, GRID Arendal, Rare. 2017.
PANORAMA Solutions for a Healthy Planet platform:
in Land Reclamat
ILO. 2017a. Work in a changing climate: the green initia-
tive. ILO: Geneva.
Ecosystem Recov
173 pp. Available at www.fao.org/3/a-i6030e.pdf fao.org/3/i8297en/I8297EN.pdf
ILO 2017b, Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change: From
FAO. 2016b. The agriculture sectors in the Intended FAO. 2018a. 2017 The impact of disasters and crises on Victims to Change Agents through Decent Work, 2017.
Nationally Determined Contributions: Analysis, by Stro- agriculture and food security: www.fao.org/3/I8656EN/
hmaier, R., Rioux, J., Seggel, A., Meybeck, A., Bernoux, M., i8656en.pdf ILO. 2015, Guidelines for a just transition towards envi-
Salvatore, M., Miranda, J. and Agostini, A. Environment ronmentally sustainable economies and societies for all.
and Natural Resources Management Working Paper No. FAO. 2018b. Climate Smart Agriculture Sourcebook www.
62. Rome. fao.org/climate-smart-agriculture-sourcebook/about/en Munang, R. 2014. The imperative for Landscape Ap-
proaches for Improved Food Security Climate Resilience
FAO.2016c. Food security and climate benefits through FAO. 2018c. FAO’s work on agroecology: www.fao.org/ in Africa. Presentation at Landscapes for People, Food
nationally appropriate mitigation actions in agriculture. documents/card/en/c/I9021EN and Nature in Africa Conference, July 1-3, 2014.
www.fao.org/3/a-i6012e.pdf
FAO. 2018d. Catalysing dialogue and cooperation to Nyman, N. 2018. National adaptation planning (NAP) pro-
FAO. 2017a. FAO Submission to the UNFCCC in the areas scale-up agroecology: Outcome of the FAO regional cesses and EbA. FAO NAP-Ag Webinar Series pp 18 www.
of ecosystems, interrelated areas such as water resourc- seminars on agroecology: www.fao.org/documents/card/ slideshare.net/ExternalEvents/national-adaptation-plan-
es and adaptation under the Nairobi work programme. en/c/I8992EN ning-nap-processes-and-eba
Available at: unfccc.int/files/parties_observers/submis-
sions_from_observers/application/pdf/784.pdf FAO. 2018e. Flood and drought farm and ecosystem based
interventions in Western Balkans. Document pending
release.
Further reading
Deichert, G et al. 2017. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), A europa.eu/metadata/adaptation-options/agro-forest- Mitter H., Heumesser C., Schmid E. 2015. Spatial mode-
Manual for Implementing the Sustainable Land Manage- ry-and-crop-diversification ling of robust crop production portfolios to assess agri-
ment Program (SLMP). Compiled by the Sustainable Land cultural vulnerability and adaptation to climate change.
Management (GIZ-SLM) Programme, Addis Ababa. FAO. 2017. Economics and Policy Innovations for Cli- Land use policy, 46, p. 75-90. ISSN: 0264-8377.
Egoh, Benis & O’Farrell, Patrick & Charef, Aymen & Leigh,
mate-Smart Agriculture (EPIC). www.fao.org/economic/
esa/policy-briefs
With abstra
Monty F., Murti R., Miththapala S., and Buyck C. 2017.
Josephine & Gurney, Leigh & Koellner, Thomas & Henry
Nibam, Abi & Egoh, Mody & Willemen, Louise. 2012. An FAO. 2010: “Climate-Smart” Agriculture: Policies, Practic- French and
Ecosystem protecting infrastructure and communities:
lessons learned and guidelines for implementation. Gland,
African account of ecosystem service provision: Use, es and Financing for Food Security, Adaptation and Miti- Switzerland: IUCN, 108 pp. Examples of Assisted Natural
threats and policy options for sustainable livelihoods. gation: www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1881e/i1881e00.htm Regeneration (ANR) in Burkina Faso and Senegal.
Ecosystem Services. 10.1016/j.ecoser.2012.09.004.
ILO, 2018. Creating Jobs through Public Investment www. UNFCCC. 2012. National Adaptation Plans: Technical
European Climate Adaptation Platform. 2015. Agro- ilo.org/global/topics/employment-intensive-investment/ Guidelines for the national adaptation plan process. Least
forestry and crop diversification. climate-adapt.eea. publications/WCMS_619821/lang--en/index.htm Developed Countries Expert Group, UNFCCC.
of Sweden and the Government of Germany material in this publication do not imply the expression Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity,
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
This brief is part of a series of seven practical briefs to of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the (GIZ) GmbH, and the Food and Agriculture Organization
support the integration of ecosystem-based approaches legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its of the United Nations (FAO). (2019). Opportunities in
to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers the agriculture sector for integrating ecosystem-based
within sectors. The agencies who contributed to the or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster
development and authorship of the sectoral briefs are: not necessarily represent those of the Convention on risk reduction. In: Voluntary guidelines for the design and
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced effective implementation of ecosystem-based approaches
Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization for educational or non-profit purposes without special to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
(ILO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale permission from the copyright holders, provided and supplementary information. Secretariat of the
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Union for acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat Convention on Biological Diversity. Technical Series No. 93.
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wide Fund of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of Montreal, 156 pages.
for Nature (WWF). any publications that use this document as a source.
Copyright © 2019, Secretariat of the Convention on
Biological Diversity Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
World Trade Centre, 413 Rue St. Jacques, Suite 800
Design/Layout: Ira Olaleye Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9
120 Tel.: +1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: +1 (514) 288 6588
E-mail: secretariat@cbd.int Website: www.cbd.int
Viet Nam / Integrated Coastal Management Programme ICMP
3  Opportunities in Opportunities in the humanitarian sector
Children collecting Oc la in Mangrove forest. Photo: © GIZ

Opportunities
in the humanitarian sector 1

Millions of people every year worldwide are in approaches. Ecosystem-based approaches focus
need of humanitarian assistance as a conse- on the sustainable management, conservation
quence of disasters caused by natural hazards. and restoration of ecosystems and their services,
The frequency and magnitude of extreme events to strengthen the resilience of species, people
is increasing under climate change, threatening and communities in facing disasters and climate
decades of development efforts and survival. By change respectively (UN Environment, 2015).
exacerbating competition over natural resources,
environmental degradation, water scarcity and Cross-sectoral collaboration including multiple
food insecurity, among many other factors, cli- stakeholders is crucial for further mainstreaming
mate change is also a primary amplifier of ongo- and scaling-up on Ecosystem-based DRR (Eco-
ing humanitarian crises. DRR) and Adaptation (EbA). Recent global policy
developments provide important entry points not
27 million Between 2008 and 2015, around only to scale up EbA and Eco-DRR approaches but
people 27 million people were displaced

annually by natural hazards and
also to ensure greater coherence through integrat-
ed approaches for conservation, DRR and climate
displaced annually
between 2008 and 2015 climate related disasters, and this change adaptation, as highlighted in the Sendai
due to climate related trend is rising (IDMC, 2015). Healthy Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris
disasters
ecosystems and ecosystem services Agreement, the Agenda for Humanity and the
can play a vital role in disaster risk 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In line
reduction (DDR) and climate change with a New Way of Working, these approaches can
Increase mitigation and adaptation as well as also support bridging the development, conserva-
of farm incomes in building resilience to changing tion and humanitarian worlds.
by 30 % conditions. Farm incomes would
if farmers could mitigate increase by 30 per cent if farmers Current efforts are being made in the relief, early
climate change risks could effectively mitigate risks recovery, and reconstruction steps but it is neces-
linked to climate change (FAO, 2016). sary to highlight the need for proactive action in
disaster preparedness, risk reduction and risk and
Over the past decade, ecosystem-based and vulnerability assessment (Figure 1).
bio-engineering approaches have emerged as an
alternative to grey infrastructure or engineered

nities in the humanitarian sector for integrating ecosystem-based
by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
121
Figure 1 Entry points for Eco-DRR within the Disaster Management Cycle
Pre-disaster risk
reduction phase
Disaster prevention and
sustainable development
Disaster
Develpment and preparedness
ongoing risk Impact
reduction Relief
Risk
Time
reduction
Early recovery/
transition
Risk and
vulnerability
assessment
Reconstruction
Post-disaster recovery
Adapted from RICS, 2009
122
EbA and Eco-DRR opportunities What does the sector have to do?
EbA and Eco-DRR approaches can help understand Ecosystem conservation, restoration and sustain-
disaster risk and climate change adaptation by able management are crucial for climate change
identifying their root drivers through multi-stake- adaptation and disaster risk reduction, although,
holders and multi-sectoral dialogues. Exploring advocacy, fund raising and joint efforts remain
opportunities for strengthening coordination and necessary to address the negative impacts of cli-
better engaging with environmental, development mate change and disasters. Main challenges can
and humanitarian sectors will help to find solu- be identified in linking humanitarian assistance
tions for alleviating pressures on the humanitari- to development activities, to increase the under-
an sector. standing of EbA and Eco-DRR by collecting specif-
ic data and strengthening capacities of partners to
Healthy ecosystems can contribute to reducing integrate EbA and Eco-DRR into their strategies,
risks, including for cascading effects and second- plans and projects. Indeed, capacity building, and
ary damages, and assist in delivering humani- training on Eco-DRR and EbA to support their
tarian aid before and after disaster. The need to integration in humanitarian assistance and ensure
conduct detailed environmental assessments to cooperation could be seen as a major challenge.
identify the status of ecosystems facilitates the Gathering evidence of the benefits of investing in
collaboration of scientists and local communities Eco-DRR and EbA as opposed to the costs of inac-
when developing locally adapted EbA and Eco- tion or of hard engineering alternatives could help
DRR plans and strategies. Such activities could overcome some of these challenges.
promote job creation in disaster prone areas, local
ownership and encourage environmental infor- EbA and Eco-DRR can be part of long-term efforts
mation and data sharing, including traditional and associated with development assistance, as they
indigenous knowledge. Such would, for example, lay the basis to bridge the humanitarian and de-
be the case of post-disaster emergency employ- velopment gap. When it comes to humanitarian
ment interventions that could contribute to build- action which covers recovery and reconstruction
ing resilience in the reconstruction, contributing practices, however, the environment often contin-
to EbA and Eco-DRR. In addition, both approaches ues to be considered only as an afterthought (JEU,
help to develop locally adapted and cost-effective 2014). Nowadays, DRR and preparedness have a
solutions by promoting local innovations through direct link to humanitarian aid, but it is still neces-
integrated social and ecological vulnerability as sary to mainstream the ecosystem component into
well as capacity assessments (Monty, 2017). this to promote both EbA and Eco-DRR. Currently,
a high percentage of funding is provided to carry
Fostering these approaches within a sustainable out specific DRR activities in the short term, while
development framework goes beyond response or it would be more effective to invest in ecosys-
recovery from impacts, leading to longer-term re- tem-based initiatives with a long-term view.
silience. EbA and Eco-DRR entails several aspects,
from prevention to increase community, eco- A better coordination between humanitarian
system and institutional resilience of ecosystem, and environmental actors combined with a rein-
strengthen public policy on Eco-DRR, enhance forced consideration of environment and climate
preparedness and build back better. knowledge in humanitarian assistance can ensure
the continuity of response activities into a more
123
resilient reconstruction phase. Data sharing will tors should work together to ensure that the en-
facilitate synergies across sectors and underpin vironment is duly considered when planning for
a strengthened humanitarian-environmental humanitarian action, creating the basis for longer-
approach. Environmental and humanitarian ac- term recovery and resilience efforts.
Approach / technology examples Description
Land restoration (Ethiopia) – Wetlands International in collaboration with humanitarian partners,

Wetlands International 2 including the Netherlands Red Cross worked on large-scale tree planting to
mitigate erosion and retain water by establishing a roadmap for improving
land and water health, and enhancing awareness through capacity building.
Water sanitation (Peru) – UNEP 3 Project Agua Limpa: restoring the health of water supplies while boosting
biodiversity by restoring forests and rehabilitating river banks and riverside
vegetation in river basin.
Disaster risk knowledge Villagers in Tajikistan put disaster risk knowledge in practice through training
(Tajikistan) – European civil session on ecological awareness to reduce risk and protect communities from
protection and humanitarian aid landslides and avalanches. Activity: tree plantation to reduce avalanches.
operations 4
Population preparedness Mangrove reforestation and fruit tree planting along with training events for
through mangrove reforestation DRR committees and community members led to improved understanding of
(Philippines) – HEKS/EPER 5 local hazards, early warning systems and better community preparation thus
ensuring long term sustainability and the resilience of livelihoods to future
disasters.
Resilient coastal cities – USAID 6 The goal is to enhance local collaboration and problem solving to support
effective climate change adaptation. To do this, community assessment
approaches are tailored to community resilience needs at a city-wide
perspective so that stakeholders can absorb and contextualize community-
scale needs.
Green works and climate change ILO in collaboration with national governments, employers and workers
adaptation – ILO 7 promotes sustainable local reconstruction and recovery in times of conflict
and crisis, seeking to bridge immediate crisis recovery to long-term
development work. It aims to create jobs by restoring and protecting the
productive capacity of lands to create livelihood and income security for the
most vulnerable.
2 www.wetlands.org/video/building-ecosystem-resilience-ethiopias-somali-region
3 news.un.org/en/story/2010/06/340652-restoring-damaged-ecosystems-can-generate-wealth-and-employment-un-report
4 ec.europa.eu/echo/blog/meet-villagers-tajikistan-who-are-putting-disaster-risk-knowledge-practice_fr
5 www.seafdec.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/AQDMatters_May-June16_for-distribution.pdf
6 coastalresilience.org/project/nature-in-humanitarian-cycle
7 www.ilo.org/global/topics/employment-intensive-investment/themes/green-works/lang--en/index.htm
124

All flickr photos are licensed under CC BY 2.0
 Forest landscape restoration in Ethiopia. © Flickr, creative com-
mons, CIFOR, www.flickr.com/photos/cifor/35159438104  Climate
Centre Peru forecast-based financing humanitarian distribution.
© Flickr, creative commons, Serran6, www.flickr.com/photos/
climatecentre/25699041231  EU-funded disaster risk initiatives
prove crucial when sudden help is needed. A villager shows how his
vegetable garden got flooded when the water level rose. © Flickr, cre-
ative commons, EU/ECHO/Pierre Prakash, www.flickr.com/photos/
eu_echo/35521052513  Mangrove forest, Pandan Island, Puerto
Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. © Flickr, creative commons, Storm
Crypt, www.flickr.com/photos/storm-crypt/3076940251  Kingstown

as seen from Fort Charlotte, St Vincent. © Flickr, creative commons,
Andrew Moore, www.flickr.com/photos/andryn2006/34180537086
 Construction of stone walls using the labour-based approach to
prevent slope erosion and protect the Gonaïve Watershed, Haiti.
125 © Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP)
Advantages and challenges of mainstreaming Eco-DRR and EbA approaches:
According to priority 1 of the Sendai Framework, yy Promote synergies between Humanitarian,

“policies and practices for disaster risk manage- Environmental and Development actors in the
ment should be based on an understanding of production and sharing of knowledge and capac-
disaster risk in all its dimensions …hazard charac- ities to design and implement EbA and Eco-DRR.
teristics and the environment” (UNISDR, 2015). To Promote open-access to data that do not present
achieve cross-sectoral implementation of policies any safety concern (population safety, conflict of
and practice, local and indigenous knowledge interest, etc.).
and practices should be combined with scientific
knowledge mainstreaming the ecosystem compo- yy Map environmental information, data and
nent thus ensuring EbA and Eco-DRR implemen- assessments at different levels with focus on
tation. preparedness, disaster-wide data, national level
coordination and direct programming imple-
A cross-sectoral approach, coupled with high in- mentation.
vestment and involvement of crucial sectors, e.g.
policy and decision makers, informed by the best yy Ecosystem risks are directly related to social vul-
scientific and local knowledge ensures increasing nerability and success of Nature-based Solutions
inter-institutional collaboration and community in general, and particularly of EbA and Eco-DRR
capacity building. This combination helps to im- approaches. Therefore, ecosystem risk assess-
prove human well-being, strengthen resilience ments (e.g. IUCN RLE methodology) should be
and enhance preparedness. Ecosystem-based conducted as a key baseline for monitoring eco-
approaches within climate change adaptation system health and identifying key threats and
and DRR are useful not only for their capacity to mechanisms driving to biodiversity loss.
reduce and buffer against impacts of hazards, but
also for associated social, economic and cultural yy During post-disaster phases, environmental
benefits. assessment tools should be framed according
to the range of users, aims and functionalities
Despite advantages as aforementioned, there within community consultation and engage-
remain many challenges particularly in the en- ment; these should also be realistic in terms of
hancement of existing partnerships and the crea- humanitarian response timelines and lack of
tion of new ones along with an increase of funds environmental expertise in many humanitarian
allocated to EbA and Eco-DRR projects. Further organisations.
action will be needed in the following areas:
yy Increase the overall quality and accountability
yy Enlarge the Humanitarian-Environmental co- of humanitarian action by assessing environ-
operation, integrating also the Development mental risk more accurately and from ear-
sector. ly-stages of interventions.
126
yy Quantify benefits of EbA and Eco-DRR ap- approaches. Focus should be given to these new
proaches to demonstrate the value provided by concepts in order to endorse a longer term vision
ecosystem services; both approaches are still which directly benefits the affected communi-
both very underfunded, despite the evidence ties.
that every preparedness dollar has an impact in
the long term. It is recommended that suitable yy Cope with the lack of institutionalization of en-
performance indicators be developed to improve vironment due to constant rotating personnel.
accountability, monitoring and knowledge man-
agement. yy Work to develop ways to better integrate envi-
ronmental considerations into the humanitarian
yy Broadening the engagement and awareness of programme cycle approach, starting from early
the donor community on these ecosystem-based planning stage.
Photo: High Andes, Peru. © PANORAMA TMI Solutions

127
References
IDMC, 2015. Global Overview 2015: People internally
displaced by conflict and violence. Internal Displacement
Monitoring Centre and Norwegian Refugee Council 2015.
JEU (UN Environment/OCHA Joint Unit), 2014.

Environment and Humanitarian Action: Increasing
and communities: lessons learned and guidelines for
implementation. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 108pp.
Renaud, F. G., Sudmeier-Rieux, K., Estrella, M., &

Nehren, U. (2016). Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk
Reduction and Adaptation in Practice. Advances in natural
88
Restoring Life on
Private-sector Exp
UN Environment, 2015. Promoting ecosystems for
disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation:
Opportunities for Integration. Geneva, Switzerland: UN
in Land Reclamat
Environment.
UNISDR, 2015. Sendai framework for disaster risk

Effectiveness, Sustainability and Accountability. Geneva, and technological hazards research. reduction 2015–2030. United Nations International
Switzerland: JEU.
Monty, F., Murti, R., Miththapala, S. and Buyck, C.

RICS, 2009. The Built Environment Professions in Disaster
Risk Reduction and Response. A guide for humanitarian
Ecosystem Recov
Strategy for Disaster Reduction 2015.
(eds). 2017. Ecosystems protecting infrastructure agencies. MLC Press, University of Westminster, 40 pp.
Further reading
Bland, L.M., Keith, D.A., Miller, R.M., Murray, N.J. and ILO, 2015. Guidelines for a just transition towards envi- World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Tech-
Rodríguez, J.P. (eds.) (2017). Guidelines for the application ronmentally sustainable economies and societies for all. nologies (WOCAT), see more at www.wocat.net/en. The
of IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria, International Labour Organization 2015. overall goal of the WOCAT Network is to unite knowledge
Version 1.1. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. ix + 99pp. IUCN management and decision-support efforts, to enable
Red List of Ecosystems Methodology to conduct ecosys- ILO, 2018. Creating jobs through public investment. Inter- scaling up of Sustainable Land Management among all
tem risk assessment, see more at https://iucnrle.org national Labour Organization 2018. stakeholders.
Guidance Note on Data and Information in Humanitarian UNISDR, 2017. Build Back Better in recovery, rehabilita- The Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction
Settings for Environmental Actors – March 2018, Coordi- tion and reconstruction. Stakeholders, actions and tasks Integration Guidance (CEDRIG) is a practical and user
nation of Assessments, the final version will be available to strengthen recovery capacity and decision-making friendly tool developed by the Swiss Agency for Develop-
shortly on www.eecentre.org/assessments effectiveness prior to the onset of disaster while promot- ment and Cooperation (SDC), see more at www.cedrig.org
ing, guiding and support Build Back Better approaches in
Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction. United Na-
tions International Strategy for Disaster Reduction 2017.
With abstra
French and
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat and the International Union for Conservation of Nature
This brief is part of a series of seven practical briefs to of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the (IUCN) (2019). Opportunities in the humanitarian
support the integration of ecosystem-based approaches legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its sector for integrating ecosystem-based approaches to
to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
within sectors. The agencies who contributed to the or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do In: Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective
development and authorship of the sectoral briefs are: not necessarily represent those of the Convention on implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and
Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization for educational or non-profit purposes without special supplementary information. Secretariat of the Convention
(ILO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale permission from the copyright holders, provided on Biological Diversity. Technical Series No. 93. Montreal,
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Union for acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat 156 pages.
Photo: Kotzebue ShoreZone survey, July 2012. © Flickr,

creative commons, ShoreZone, www.flickr.com/photos/
shorezone/11471418433, is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Opportunities in
the infrastructure sector 1

How physical and natural infrastructure is events in the short term. As the global population
affected by climate change and disaster risks and economy grow thus more physical infrastruc-
ture is to be constructed, there will be more risks
Industrialization, the use of fossil fuels, and poor for the infrastructures around the world. A 2017
consideration for the environment have contrib- report by the U.S. Government Accounting Office
uted to climate change, intensifying the frequency found that climate change had cost U.S. taxpayers
and strengths of natural disasters around the some US$ 350 billion over the previous decade
world. Extreme weather patterns are causing (GAO, 2017); in Thailand, the 2004 earthquake and
intensified storms and flooding and at the same Indian Ocean tsunami caused US$ 334 million
time in other regions, droughts and desertification damage and US$ 27 million losses in the infra-
are becoming the norm. Natural disasters destroy structure sector (ADPC, 2014). Although natural
jobs, oblige people to move and slow down eco- hazards and climate change impact natural infra-
nomic activity through the destruction of capital structure, it can be regarded as a disturbance that
stock, delivery and transport systems and other is a part of a long-term natural process and it can
infrastructure. Although rebuilding recover and adapt to the changing conditions.
capital stock following a disaster
Climate may stimulate GDP, the short- Physical infrastructure and natural infrastructure
change costs and long-term economic such as sea walls, riverbanks, dams, coastal forests
in the USA were consequences of disasters are also built and maintained to mitigate disaster
are negative, particu- risks. They also need to be adapted to the long-
US$ 350 billion larly for developing term climate change impacts such as sea level rise
over the last decade
and smaller econ- and changing weather patterns such as intensify-
omies (Felbermayr ing and increasing storms or droughts. UNFCCC
and Gröschl, 2013). estimate of additional annual investment need and
Infrastructure is a key financial flow needed by 2030 in the infrastruc-
area that can help meet ture sector to cover costs of adaptation to climate
both climate change miti- change is 8 to US$ 130 billion (UNFCCC 2007).
gation in reducing emissions
In Thailand, and adaptation objectives Why ecosystem-based approaches for
the 2004 earthquake and
Indian Ocean tsunami caused through building disaster infrastructure should be strengthened
US$ 334 million resilience.
Many scientists recently started to argue ecosys-
damage Physical and natural tem-based approaches can provide more cost-ef-
and
US$ 27 million infrastructure can be fective and low-regrets solutions especially in
losses negatively damaged the face of uncertain climate change scenarios

in the infrastructure sector or even destroyed by
natural hazards and
nities in the infrastructure sector for integrating ecosystem-based
climate change impacts approaches to climate change and disaster risk reduction ” was led
by the International Labour Organization with contributions from
such as extreme weather the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
129
(Cheong et.al. 2013, Timmerman et.al. 2013 and income, and sustained employment and trade
2015, Martin and Watson 2015). Scientists also opportunities. The optimal use of local labour
compare the strengths and weaknesses of built in- and materials will have further backward and
frastructure, natural ecosystems, and point out the forward linkages, stimulating the local economy
innovative opportunities to combine the two into and contributing to poverty reduction as well as
hybrid approaches (Sutton-Grier et.al. 2015). ensuring sustainable construction practices.
Some of the key benefits of Ecosystem-based ap- yy Adaptive management: Due to the fixed design
proaches are summarized as follows: and purpose of built physical “grey” infrastruc-
ture measures, they often cannot be modified
yy Multiple benefits: Besides risk reduction, eco- afterwards; ecosystem-based or hybrid ap-
system-based adaptation and disaster risk resil- proaches, combining grey and green infrastruc-
ience provide a multitude of benefits to society ture can be adapted and managed more easily to
and economy at low cost, including provision of fulfil their functions for society.
natural resources (food, fibres, medicine), water
regulation, climate change mitigation by carbon yy Using local knowledge: Ecosystem-based ap-
sequestration, recreation and provision of habi- proaches are often built on local, traditional or
tats for species. indigenous knowledge. They acknowledge and
utilize this knowledge in combination with sci-
yy Cost-effectiveness: As natural buffers, ecosys- entific knowledge in the context of using land-
tems are often less expensive to maintain and based and marine resources.
could be more effective than physical engineer-
ing structures. Depending on local conditions Practical examples of ecosystem-approaches are
and climate projections, hybrid green-grey in- also increasing in the face of climate change. For
frastructure solutions that combine ecological example, Room for the River programme in the
infrastructure (e.g. forests, wetlands) with built Netherlands aims to bring back the natural river
infrastructure (e.g. dams, water retention ponds) flood plains and wetlands to act as buffer capac-
may work best in terms of public health, social ities in case of increased river water levels. Green
cohesion, urban biodiversity and mitigation, Infrastructure Plan of New York City is building
creating win-win solutions for the environment, rain gardens and other types of green infrastruc-
society and the economy (NWP, 2017). ture to manage storm water and improve water
quality in local waterways. ABC (Active, Beautiful,
yy Contribution to the local economy and decent Clean) waters policy tries to build attractive green
jobs: Investing in infrastructure provides op- space, parks, water courses and green buildings to
portunities for employment creation, income capture and retain rain waters as well as to create
generation and inclusive economic growth. The an attractive urban environment. Mangrove for
construction and maintenance of infrastruc- the Future (MFF) project restores mangrove forests
ture create direct, indirect and induced impacts along the coastline in more than 10 countries in
through employment while the assets subse- Asia to protect coastlines as well as contribute to
quently built up will improve access to services, the local livelihood.
130
3  Opportunities in the infrastructure sector
A f te r
fo re
Be
Af te r
Before

 Eco-engineering by using broom grass for
road stabilisation thus reducing landslides
risks, Nepal. © Sanjaya Devkota
 Mangrove restoration with hydrological plans
carried out by the Mangrove Action Project
(MAP) to reduce flood risks, Thailand. © MAP
131
Approach / technology Environmental benefit Risk reduction benefit Socio-economic benefit

examples
Use forests for disaster Providing habitats for Water retention, Firewood, fodder, timber,
mitigation – identify species, climate change prevention of landslides, other non-timber forest
areas where forests can mitigation by absorbing mitigating damage from products
mitigate natural hazards carbon, conserving wind, airborne sand,
and plant and / or landscape beauty high-tides, tsunamis,
protect forests in those snow, fog, avalanches,
areas e.g. protection rock falls, flood damage
forests in Japan and mitigation etc.
Switzerland.
Maintain and restore Providing habitats for Mitigating damage from Increase of fish catch and
mangroves for coastal species, climate change wind, airborne sand, other aquatic resources,
protection – protect mitigation by absorbing high-tides, tsunamis, eco-tourism opportunity,
or / and plant mangrove carbon, conserving preventing land erosion, firewood, fodder, timber
trees by evaluating landscape beauty coping sea level rise
the environment and
selecting appropriate
species e.g. mangrove
reforestation in
Bangladesh.
Use coral reefs and Providing habitats Mitigating wave energy, Increase of fish catch and
seagrasses for coastal for species, creating cooping sea level rise, other aquatic resources,
protection – protect recreational opportunity coastal protection eco-tourism opportunity
coral reefs and sea
grasses by designating
marine protected areas.
Use wetlands for flood Providing habitats Mitigating flood risk Increase of fish catch and
control – use wetlands for species, creating other aquatic resources,
or farmlands for flood recreational space eco-tourism opportunity,
control. recreational space
Use protected areas for Providing habitats Mitigating various Eco-tourism opportunity,
disaster risk reduction for species, creating disaster risks recreational space
and reconstruction – recreational space
setting aside hazardous
area as protected areas.
Apply ecological Providing habitats for Mitigating various Increase of fish catch and
engineering and species, conserving disaster risks other aquatic resources,
combine grey and green landscape and seascape eco-tourism opportunity,
infrastructure – e.g. beauty recreational space
quasi-natural river
engineering.
132

All photos are licensed under CC BY 2.0
 Coastal forest, Vietnam. © ICPM
 Mangrove Forest, Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa, Palawan,
Philippines. © Storm Crypt, www.flickr.com/photos/storm-
crypt/3076940251  Coral Reef at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife
Refuge. © Jim Maragos/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, www.
flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/5565696408  Wetland, noo sun
dairy June 2012. © LivingLandscapeArchitecture, www.flickr.
com/photos/59834423@N04/9170494339  Protected area of
Daugavgriva. © Jevgenijs Slihto, www.flickr.com/photos/101181388@
N07/16223299533  River Akerselva, Oslo: Grünerløkka.
© kaysgeog, www.flickr.com/photos/23351536@N07/44380251455
133
In 2011, the ILO coined the term “Green Works” Green Infrastructure Strategy in 2013; Japan
to refer to “infrastructure and related works that integrated Green Infrastructure into its 4th Na-
have direct environmental benefits or are in tional Infrastructure Development Plan in 2015).
response to a specific environmental context in-
cluding changes in climate and extreme weather yy Using strategic environmental assessment as
events”. Different techniques appropriate to labour an opportunity to consider natural or hybrid
based approaches can be used, for example on “green-grey” infrastructure as an option.
road construction, including cold techniques with
bitumen emulsion, which avoid heating the aggre- yy Pilot testing innovative technologies and ideas
gates and can reduce the environmental impacts and try to upscale them into technical standards
and decrease occupational hazards (ILO, 2013). (e.g. Building with Nature programme is pilot
Green Infrastructure (GI) encourages infrastruc- testing innovative technologies in private-public
ture investments by relying on services produced partnership) and employment intensive invest-
by ecosystems, for example, using natural infra- ment programmes.
structure for flood protection, water purification
and storage, and by reducing runoffs. As such GI yy Use recovery and reconstruction process to in-
through labour-based approaches can contribute troduce ecosystem-based approach (e.g. green
to decreasing ecological casualties while bringing works / infrastructure and approaches that were
significant benefits to biodiversity, environmental integrated into Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding
rehabilitation and increasing biodiversity. Strategy and an international competition to
select Sandy recovery plans was organized under
Existing opportunities & required action these recommendations).
Entry points as opportunities for strengthening yy Empowering affected communities – especially

ecosystem-based approaches for climate change poor rural or urban ones, as well as indigenous
adaptation and disaster risk reduction for physical and tribal peoples – to adapt to the changing
and natural infrastructure include the following: climate is necessary to reduce future impacts on
their livelihoods and living conditions.
yy Mainstreaming into various policies, plans and
strategies such as national development plans, yy Recognizing that indigenous peoples’ traditional
employment plans, infrastructure development knowledge often does not receive adequate focus
plans, environmental plans, adaptation plans as a means for building climate resilience at the
(NAP) (e.g. European Commission introduced local level.
134
Further action will be needed in the following yy Seek for more strategic, proactive, systems-level
areas: approaches to infrastructure planning that en-
sure nature-based solutions are carefully consid-
yy Promote scientific research and pilot testing ered and integrated across different sectors, in
to further accumulate evidence on ecosys- close connection to the SDGs.
tem-based approaches and scaling-up this
knowledge into technical standards and guide- yy Mainstreaming green infrastructure into Na-
lines. tional Adaptation Plans (NAP) and putting them
into practice to meet both climate change mit-
yy Collect and revisit traditional knowledge and igation and adaptation objectives by reducing
practices on ecosystem-approaches and integrate infrastructure emissions and building resilience.
them into modern science.
yy However, inadequate resources and poor govern-
yy Encourage further collaboration among differ- ance often result in the poor provision of public
ent scientific disciplines and government sectors and community infrastructure, assets and ser-
such as civil engineering, disaster management, vices. Those services that would help to manage
climate change, ecology and natural resource and cope by building climate resilience through
management. water and soil conservations schemes, but also
by supporting productive means of livelihoods
yy Device innovative comprehensive and inclusive through better irrigation and transportation
planning process that should inform to stake- systems, often receive limited attention in many
holders multiple benefits and risks of various of the countries of the region. At the same time,
options for infrastructure design ranging from indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge often
physical to natural infrastructure in an unpre- does not receive adequate focus as a means for
dictable changing climate. building climate resilience at the local level.
Photo: Pyawt Ywar pump irrigation project in Myanmar’s Central dry zone. © f lickr,
creative commons, Madeline Dahm/IWMI, www.flickr.com/photos/iwmi/46035683922/
in/album-72157704091398075, is licensed under CC BY 2.0
135
References
ADPC, 2014. The economic impact of the 26 December
2004 earthquake & Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand.
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, 2014, 23 pp. www.
adpc.net/igo/category/ID628/doc/2014-a17Hxl-AD-
PC-Tsunami_impacts_in_Thailand.pdf
Cheong, S.-M., Silliman, B., Wong, P.P. , van Wesenbeeck,

B.K., Kim, C.-K., Guannel, G., Coastal adaptation with eco-
logical engineering, Nat. Clim. Change 3 (2013) 787–791.
Macintosh, D.J., Mahindapala, R., Markopoulos, M.
(eds) (2012). Sharing Lessons on Mangrove Restoration.
Bangkok, Thailand: Mangroves for the Future and Gland,
Switzerland: IUCN.
Martin, T.G., Watson, E.M., Intact ecosystems provide

best defence against climate change, Nat. Clim. Change 6
(2016) 122–124.
88
Restoring Life on
Timmerman,S., Kirwan M.L., Building land with a rising
sea, Science 349 (6248) (2015) 588–589.
Private-sector Exp
UNFCCC. Investment and Financial Flows to Address Cli-
mate Change. Climate Change Secretariat, Bonn. 2007.
van Wesenbeeck, B.K., van der Meullen, M.D., Pesch, C.,
in Land Reclamat
de Veiend, H., de Vries, M.B., Nature-based approaches
in coastal flood risk management: physical restrictions
Sutton-Grier, A.E., Wowk, K., Bamford, H., Future of our and engineering challenge in adaptation, in: F.G. Renaud,
Ecosystem Recov
Felbermayr, G.J. and Groeschl, J., Naturally Negative: The coast: the potential for natural and hybrid infrastructure K. Sudmeier-Rieux, M. Estrella, U. Nehren (Eds.), Eco-
Growth Effects of Natural Disasters (October 31, 2013. to enhance the resilience of our coastal communities, system-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation in
economies and ecosystems, Environ. Sci. Policy 51 (2015) Practice, 2016 Springer International Publishing, Switzer-
GAO, 2017. United States Government Accountability Of- 137–148. land, 2016, p. 598.
fice, Report to Congressional Requesters: Climate Change
– Information on Potential Economic Effects Could Help Timmerman, S., Meire, P., Bouma, T.J. , Herman, P.M.J.,
Guide Federal Efforts to Reduce Fiscal Exposure. GAO- Ysebaert, T., de Vriend, H.J., Ecosystem-based coastal
17-720, September 2017. www.insurancejournal.com/ defence in the face of global change, Nature 504 (2013)
research/research/success/climate-change-2017 79–83.
Further reading
Belle J.A., Collins N. and Jordaan A., 2017. Building resil- Monty F., Murti R. and Futura N., 2016. Helping Nature Environmental Science & Policy, 51, 137-148.
ience in Natural Capital to reduce disaster risks and adapt help us: Transforming disaster risk reduction through doi.org/10.1007/s11355-006-0013-9
to climate change: A case of wetlands in the eastern free ecosystem management. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. vi +
state; South Africa. American Journal of Environmental 82 pp. Guide focusing on advancing the development and appli-
Science 13 (5):358 -377. Available at: goo.gl/7nSEzW cation of natural and nature-based approaches for man-
Monty F., Murti R., Miththapala S., and Buyck C. (eds), aging flood risk. World Wild Fund (WWF), 2017. Natural
Cohen-Sacham E., Walters G., Janzen C. and Maginnis S. 2017. Ecosystems protecting infrastructure and commu- and Nature-based Flood Management: A Green Guide,
(eds), 2016. Nature-based Solutions to address global so- nities: lessons learned and guidelines for implementation. WWF and U.S. Agency for International Development
cietal challenges. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xii + 97 pp. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 108 pp. Available at: Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA),
goo.gl/KQTLM7 222 pp. Available at: goo.gl/2T6cqq
ILO, Local investments for climate change adaptation:
Green Jobs through green works, 2011. Water Infrastructure Solutions from Ecosystem Services Economic considerations and linkages with ecosystems
Underpinning Climate Resilient Policies and Programmes services : Jones R.N., Symons J. and Young C.K., 2015.
ILO, Guidelines for a just transition towards environmen- (IUCN WISE-UP), www.iucn.org/theme/water/our-work/ With abstra
Assessing the economic value of Green Infrastructure
tally sustainable economies and societies for all, 2015 current-projects/wise-climate : Green Paper. Climate Change Working Paper No. 24.
ILO, Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change: From Vic- Summaries of the strengths and weakness of built, natural
French and
Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria
University, Melbourne. Available at : goo.gl/apRKRj
tims to Change Agents through Decent Work, 2017. and combined solutions. Sutton-Grier A.E., Wowk K. and
Bamford H., 2015. Future of our coasts: the potential for ILO, Green Works and Employment Intensive Invest-
ILO, Gender, labour and a just transition towards environ- natural and hybrid infrastructure to enhance the resilience ments. www.ilo.org/global/topics/employment-inten-
mentally sustainable economies and societies for all, 2017. of our coastal communities, economies and ecosystems. sive-investment/themes/lang--en/index.htm
of Sweden and the Government of Germany material in this publication do not imply the expression Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity,
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat the International Labour Organization (ILO) and
This brief is part of a series of seven practical briefs to of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the the International Union for Conservation of Nature
support the integration of ecosystem-based approaches legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its (IUCN) (2019). Opportunities in the infrastructure
to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers sector for integrating ecosystem-based approaches to
within sectors. The agencies who contributed to the or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
development and authorship of the sectoral briefs are: not necessarily represent those of the Convention on In: Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to
Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization for educational or non-profit purposes without special climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and
(ILO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale permission from the copyright holders, provided supplementary information. Secretariat of the Convention
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Union for acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat on Biological Diversity. Technical Series No. 93. Montreal,
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wide Fund of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of 156 pages.
Copyright © 2019, Secretariat of the Convention on
Biological Diversity Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Design/Layout: Ira Olaleye Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9
136 Tel.: +1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: +1 (514) 288 6588
the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Brazil. © Flickr,
creative commons, Neil Palmer/CIAT, www.flickr.com/photos/
3 
Photo: Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest, near Manaus,

Opportunities in Opportunities in
cifor/35525190330, is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Opportunities in
the forestry sector 1

How is the forestry sector affected by climate biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and support
and disaster risks? adaptation. Forests further provide shelter, wa-
ter, and food and fuel security for people. Forests
There is no commonly agreed definition of the are home to 80 per cent of the world’s terrestrial
“forestry sector”. A more comprehensive definition biodiversity, and they also form the source of live-
would include all economic activities that mostly lihoods for many different human settlements,
depend on the production of goods and servic- including 70 million indigenous people. Forestry
es from forests. This would include commercial represents 5 per cent of the employment that relies
activities that are dependent on the production on ecosystem services (ILO, 2018). In the context
of wood fibre (i.e. production of industrial round- of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
wood, wood-fuel and charcoal; sawn wood and it is also very important to take into consideration
wood based panels; pulp and paper; and wooden that, according to FAO (2018), “around 40 per cent
furniture). It would also include activities asso- of the extreme rural poor – or some 250 million
ciated with the commercial production and pro- people – live in forest and savannah areas, and
cessing of non-wood forest products. The forestry forests may provide around 20 per cent of income
sector also includes the subsistence use of wood for rural households in developing countries,
and non-wood forest products (FAO, 2016). It could both through cash income and by meeting sub-
even include activities related to forest ecological sistence needs”. In addition, “around one-third
process (such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, of the world’s population, or about 2.4 billion
water and air purification, and maintenance of people, make use of wood to provide basic energy
wildlife habitat). services such as cooking, boiling water and heat-
ing. Overall, forests supply about 40 per cent of
We depend on forests for our survival, from the global renewable energy in the form of wood fuel”
air we breathe to the wood we use. Forests offer (FAO, 2018).
watershed protection, prevent soil erosion, protect
... provide around 20 % 40 % of the extreme rural ... are home to 80 %
Forests ... of income for rural households
in developing countries
poor live in forest and savannah
areas = 250 million people
of the world’s
terrestrial biodiversity
40 % 5 % ... are source of livelihoods for
70 million
... supply of Forestry represents
global renewable energy of the employment that relies
in the form of wood fuel on ecosystem services indigenous people
1 The development and authorship of the sectoral brief “Oppor-

tunities in the forestry sector for integrating ecosystem-based
by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
137
All these activities are directly or indirectly at as well as frequency and severity of forest fires.
risk due to a rapidly changing climate. Forest eco- These influences occur at the same time as effects
logical integrity, a common indicator to assess its of direct human intervention affecting on forest
composition, structure and functionality, can be condition as result of timber extraction or leading
impacted by climate-related events, in multiple to their permanent or temporal removal through
ways, according to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Re- disparate land-use change dynamics, as well as to
port (AR5): the establishment of tree plantations. Altogether,
multiple threats and drivers of change can lead
yy “Within this century, magnitudes and rates of to different scenarios of transformation, that will
climate change represent high risk of abrupt and cause changes in both the ecological state of forest
irreversible regional–scale change in the com- (i.e. shifts in composition, structure), and on its
position, structure, and function of terrestrial productivity, and will require innovative adaptive
ecosystems” (IPCC, 2013). solutions from the forestry sector.
yy In addition, “increased tree mortality and associ- Ecosystem services provided by forests provide im-
ated forest dieback is projected to occur in many portant economic value. However, their value and
regions over the 21st century, due to increased contributions to human well-being and economic
temperatures and drought” (IPCC, 2013). activity are not accounted by countries’ nation-
al accounts expressed in GDP nor in businesses’
yy “Forest dieback poses risks for carbon storage, accounting of assets and market transactions. In
biodiversity, wood production, water quality, Costa Rica, for example, the forestry sector con-
amenity, and economic activity” (IPCC, 2013), tributes 0.1 per cent of GDP, as usually calculated
and has effects on non-timber forest products from monetary transactions, but its contribution
and tourism. rises to 2.0 per cent when associated ecosystem
services are considered. This is due to forests’
Variations in climate conditions and extreme contribution to agriculture and hydroelectric pro-
events can alter the dynamics of plant diseases, duction (through water flow regulation), tourism
reproduction rates, population distribution of (through aesthetic and cultural values) and the
species with commercial value, ecological inter- pharmaceutical sector (through biodiversity pres-
actions between species, trophic relationships and ervation) (ILO, 2018).
resilience of ecosystems (Dunlop & Brown, 2008)
138
3  Opportunities in the forestry sector
Why ecosystem-based approaches should be deforestation and combating forest degradation,

strengthened while at the same time fulfilling their social needs
(ILO, 2017).
Forests and climate mitigation are intrinsically
linked since forests are a source of carbon emis- In the context of disaster risk reduction, forests
sions while also contributing to carbon removal increase resilience within hydrologic and soil sys-
from the atmosphere. Forest conversion and tems, configure natural barriers to retain storms
degradation are a source of carbon emissions that and winds, provide stability to prevent future
contribute to GHG emissions causing climate landslides, configure micro-climates against heat
change. In contrast, conserving forests or avoiding waves and reduce risks of other erosion and deser-
their conversion to other land uses, as well as sus- tification.
tainable management of forests, both constitute
mitigation and adaptation measures against this Within that context, different management strate-
problem (WWF, 2018). In addition, sustainable gies are employed by foresters to aim for achieving
forest management “can increase the resilience of a climate-resilient tree species composition, that
communities by providing fundamental econom- can also lead to improving the contribution of
ic, social and environmental services such as food, forests to climate mitigation, resilience, as well
wood energy, shelter, fodder and fibre, as well as as their economic benefits. Due to the long rota-
income and employment and the conservation of tion times, foresters are usually well-practiced at
biodiversity” (FAO, 2016). planning for the long-term, however not all strat-
egies (e.g. introduction of exotic species, GMOs)
Around 70 million indigenous and are necessarily beneficial for ecosystem
tribal peoples, and other local resilience and there is a high risk of
communities, are dependent on maladaptation. Undertaking and
forests to meet their livelihood accessing relevant research and
needs. While they face chal- implementing adaptive manage-
lenges from the impacts of
climate change, or the devel- 70 million
indigenous and tribal
ment are essential components of
management planning. Therefore,
opment of market economies, adaptive and climate smart forest
peoples, and other local
their traditional knowledge on communities, are de- management is a key component
natural resources management, pendent on forests of a integrated landscape, territorial
and traditional systems of produc- and watershed approach that can en-
tion contribute to build a sustainable sure resilience to shocks but also bring other
relationship with natural resources, which be- social, economic and environmental co-benefits
comes fundamental for reducing emissions from (FAO 2017a).
139
Typical ecosystem-based approaches, technologies and techniques within the forestry sector include
the following:
Approach / technology examples 2 Environmental Risk reduction Socio-economic

benefit benefit benefit
Forest conservation and Population Buffering of extreme Income generation,

management: strategies to manage conservation, erosion temperatures and job creation, provision
ecosystems and increase forest prevention, ecological precipitation, flood of non-timber forest
integrity: including new protected integrity risk reduction, storm products
areas, management of strategic risk reduction
areas for carbon capture, increase
governance of forest and planning of
connectivity.
Sustainable forest management Population Buffering of extreme Income generation,

according with the study of conservation, temperatures and job creation, provision
opportunities, climatic threats and ecological integrity precipitation, flood of wood, fuel and
risks, futures scenarios of use of the risk reduction, storm fibre
land, local or regional priorities and risk reduction
markets.
Forest landscape / ecological Population Buffering of extreme, Income generation,

restoration: recovery, rehabilitation conservation, increase temperatures and job creation provision
and / or restoration of degraded of ecological integrity, precipitation, flood of wood, fuel and
forests. erosion prevention, risk reduction, storm fibre
carbon sequestration, risk reduction
climate regulation,
recreation, fresh
water provision,
habitats for species
Source: (Lhumeau & Cordero 2012, WWF 2018)
2 The magnitude of the benefits and/or main trade-offs associated with different environmental and socio-economic benefits are not analyzed in this
document. There is also no distinction between more commercial-driven practices from others that can be associated with traditional local manage-
ment of natural resources.
140

 Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest, near Manaus, the capital of
the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Brazil. © Flickr, creative commons,
Neil Palmer/CIAT, www.flickr.com/photos/cifor/35525190330, is
licensed under CC BY 2.0  Forest garden in Borneo, Indone-
sia. © GIZ Indonesia, Forests and Climate Change Programme,
FORCLIME  Forest restoration. © GIZ/Andrea Bender
141
International agreements REDD+ strategies, national adaptation strategies, NDCs in the context
and pledges of UNFCCC, biodiversity goals under CBD, and SDGs national strategies,
Bonn Challenge and Forest Landscape Restoration pledges.
National and Forest sector policy, fiscal incentives and subsidies, land use and
sub-national policies environmental policy, finance, and trade agreements.
Planning At the sector level (e.g. long- and medium-term forest sector plans,
instruments sustainable forest management strategies, skills development strategies);
at the landscape-level (e.g. ecological and economic zoning); and at the
production and / or management units level (e.g. forest management
plans, training, conflict resolution, and benefit sharing schemes).
Command and Transnational regulations (e.g. Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and
control instruments Trade (FLEGT)) and national forest-related regulations.
Economic and Timber taxes, Payments for Ecosystem Services (they can also be
fiscal instruments considered under the national / sub national policies).
Informative Forest extension, farmer-to-farmer schemes, collaborative agreements

measures between companies or smallholders, or traditional systems based on
local knowledge.
Voluntary Voluntary certification schemes including forest certification (e.g. FSC)

measures and other social and environmental safeguards.
Institutions Organizational strengthening, improved transparency, streamlining

bureaucratic processes, adopting high-tech monitoring technologies,
targeting, for example, Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, forest
industry, forest user associations.
Management types Sustainable forest management, collaborative and participatory forest

management.
142
Public Employment Programmes (PEPs) can pro-

vide alternative employment with better working
conditions and income for poor persons who are
engaged in deforestation and over-harvesting.
PEPs can direct their labour towards environmen-
tally sound activities such as reforestation and
other agro-forestry activities, instead of environ-
mental destruction (ILO, 2018).
Photo: Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest, near Manaus, the capital of the Bra-
zilian state of Amazonas. Brazil. © Flickr, creative commons, Neil Palmer/CIAT,
www.flickr.com/photos/cifor/35525190330, is licensed under CC BY 2.0
143
References
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change for Australia’s National Reserve System: A Pre-
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org/forestry/climatechange/en ILO, Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change: From Vic- Lhumeau. A & D. Cordero. 2012. Adaptación basada en
tims to Change Agents through Decent Work, 2017. Ecosistemas: una respuesta al cambio climático. UICN,
FAO 2017a. Landscapes for life: Approaches to landscape Quito, Ecuador. 17 pp.
management for sustainable food and agriculture. www. IPCC. 2014. Summary for policymakers. In: Climate
fao.org/3/i8324en/i8324en.pdf Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part WWF. 2018. WWF Living Forest Report. Chapter 4 wwf.
A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working panda.org/about_our_earth/deforestation/forest_publi-
Forests & Climate Change. 2018. wwf.panda.org/about_ Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergov- cations_news_and_reports/living_forests_report
our_earth/deforestation/climate_change_and_forest ernmental Panel on Climate Change [Field, C. B., V. R. Bar-
With abstra
French and
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (2019).
This brief is part of a series of seven practical briefs to of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the Opportunities in the forestry sector for integrating
support the integration of ecosystem-based approaches legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its ecosystem-based approaches to climate change
to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers adaptation and disaster risk reduction. In: Voluntary
within sectors. The agencies who contributed to the or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do guidelines for the design and effective implementation of
development and authorship of the sectoral briefs are: not necessarily represent those of the Convention on ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced and disaster risk reduction and supplementary information.
Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization for educational or non-profit purposes without special Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
(ILO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale permission from the copyright holders, provided Technical Series No. 93. Montreal, 156 pages.
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Union for acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wide Fund of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of For further information, please contact:
Copyright © 2019, Secretariat of the Convention on World Trade Centre, 413 Rue St. Jacques, Suite 800
Biological Diversity Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9
Tel.: +1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: +1 (514) 288 6588
Design/Layout: Ira Olaleye E-mail: secretariat@cbd.int Website: www.cbd.int
144
Cape of good hope national park South Africa.

Photo: © GIZ / Mathias Bertram
Opportunities in
the water sector 1

How is the water sector affected by climate IPCC also states that climate change is projected
and disaster risks? to (i) reduce renewable surface water and ground-
water resources significantly in most arid / dry
Climate change has the potential to impact sig- subtropical regions; (ii) increase the frequency of
nificantly on water resources. According to the meteorological droughts (less rainfall) and agricul-
United Nations World Water Development Report tural droughts (less soil moisture) in presently dry
(WWAP, 2019), “over 2 billion people live in coun- regions; (iii) increase the frequency of short hydro-
tries experiencing high water stress, and about logical droughts (less surface water and ground-
4 billion people experience severe water scarcity water) in dry regions; and (iv) negatively impact
during at least one month of the year”. Moreover, freshwater ecosystems by changing streamflow
according to (Vörösmarty et al., 2010), 80 per cent and water quality. However, a key fact to consider
of the world’s population already suffers serious is that there is significant variability and uncer-
threats to its water security, as measured by indi- tainty regarding projections of clear trends in
cators including water availability, water demand changes to annual precipitation due to a changing
and pollution. And this stress levels will continue climate, compared to other types of projections.
to increase as demand for water grows and the
effects of climate change intensify, limiting the Multiple climate related alterations can result in
possibility of global population to safely manage changes in annual and seasonal flow regimes,
drinking water and sanitation services. groundwater–surface water interactions and,
therefore, affect raw water availability, which can
A rapidly changing climate is altering the already also affect water quality and biodiversity. Even
precarious availability of water and therefore though water moves through the hydrologic cycle,
threatens water security. The IPCC states in the it is a locally variable resource, and vulnerabilities
5th Assessment Report AR5 (2014) and in the 1.5C to water-related hazards differ between regions.
Special Report (2018) that changing climate over Further, changes in the hydrologic cycle due to cli-
the past several decades can be associated with mate change can lead to diverse impacts and risks
changes in key components of the hydrological on people and nature, and they are conditioned by
cycle. For example, changes and interact with non-climatic drivers of change
in precipitation (annual and water-management responses (e.g. dispro-
and seasonal pat- portionate and inequitable water allocation to the
terns, intensities, multiple users and sectors in basins). If the trend
80 %
and extremes) is less water availability, this will also exacerbate
have been ob- competition for water among different users and
served around sectors.
of the world’s the world,
population suffers
serious threats to its 1 The development and authorship of the sectoral brief “Opportuni-
water security ties in the water sector for integrating ecosystem-based approaches
to climate change and disaster risk reduction ” was led by the World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
145
Finally, it is important to remember that water narrow economic pursuits have been given pri-
is the agent that delivers most of the impacts of ority over other concerns. On top of that, there
climate change to society and economy for ex- are many other stresses than climate change on
ample to the energy, agriculture, industry and freshwater resources, with water quality and avail-
transport sector. A majority of climate change ability impacted by growing demand, population
impacts are perceived through water-related growth, unsustainable consumption, wasteful
disasters; over the last twenty years, the over- practices, and pollution. Therefore, a better in-
whelming majority (90 per cent) of disasters have tegration between sectoral and environmental
been caused by weather-related events, most of policies is a prerequisite to achieving sustainable
them were water-related, such as floods, droughts, development. Such integration, in order to be suc-
storms etc. (UNISDR, 2015). Water-related natural cessful, needs to put sustainable water security at
hazards, such as floods and droughts, can affect the forefront.
water supply and sanitation infrastructure, lead-
ing to significant economic and social losses and Water security is defined by United Nations as “the
impacts. Such hazards are projected to increase capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable
in frequency and intensity as a result of climate access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality
change. The short and long-term impacts of wa- water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-be-
ter-related extreme events include loss of life, ing, and socio-economic development, for ensur-
spread of communicable diseases, interruptions in ing protection against water-borne pollution and
water and food-provisioning systems, damage to water-related disasters, and for preserving ecosys-
financial assets and social disruption (Mata-Lima tems in a climate of peace and political stability”
et al., 2013). (Working Definition by UN-Water 2014). Ecosys-
tem-based approaches are a central component of
Why ecosystem-based approaches should be a water security approach, allowing the possibility
strengthened to maintain and enhance the functionality of
ecosystems, aiming to maximize and optimize the
Terrestrial and water-related ecosystems play an total value of the ecosystem services by conserving
important role in the global water cycle. Forests, and even enhancing these functions for the next
grasslands, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes, are generations. Concepts, like Sustainable Drainage
crucial for ensuring goods and services like drink- Systems (SuDS), Natural Water Retention Measures
ing water, food, energy and climate resilience. (NWRM) are gaining importance within holistic
Recognizing this role and the interactions between water management strategies. Therefore, an Eco-
them, is critical to managing water resources and system-based adaptation and Eco-DRR approach
basins sustainably. Natural resources like water, as within the water security agenda can help the wa-
well as ecosystem services, are the basis of all eco- ter sector in multiple ways such as:
nomic sectors and local livelihoods.
yy Storing water and enhancing water quality:
The water sector must deal with the complex task Ecosystems, such as forests and wetlands play
of securing and balancing water for people, indus- a crucial role in water provision and regula-
try, food production, navigation, hydropower and tion. They store and gradually release water
the environment (and others). Yet, the dependen- during drier periods and create a favourable
cy of human well-being on ecosystems has been microclimate. This helps to reduce costs for
given insufficient attention whence, historically, artificial storage and water pumping. Buffer
146
3  Opportunities in the water sector
strips and ground cover help to prevent a sil- yy Providing sustainable development benefits:
tation of creeks and rivers. Ecosystems help to secure and to filter clean
water for domestic consumption and sanita-
yy Minimizing impacts from extreme weather tion, food production and other purposes. If
events and climate variability: Inland water well combined with build infrastructure, they
ecosystems including rivers and meadows strengthen zero hunger policies, sustainable
have a significant risk reduction function for communities, good health and well-being.
extreme rain and flood events by absorbing
and holding excessive water. yy Co-benefits on climate mitigation, by con-
serving and possibly enhancing natural car-
yy Enhancing the ecological integrity and bon stocks.
functionality that sustains water regulation:
A holistic management of ecosystems within yy Contributing to the overall climate resil-
a landscape, by using integrated watershed ience of societies both in rural and urban
management approaches, significantly areas.
strengthens water regulation services.
Photo: Mono Delta, Benin and Togo. © PANORAMA GIZ Solutions

147
Typical ecosystem-based approaches, technologies and techniques within the water sector include
the following: 2

Green infrastructure in urban areas and their Improved micro- Flood protection, Risk reduction
hinterland 3 (including the use of green roofs, climate, improved reduction of for people and
porous pavements, and urban parks) can im- habitat for urban extreme weather infrastructure,
prove storm water management and reduce species event risks new recreation
flood risk in cities, and can moderate the areas, aesthetic
heat-island effect, as well as having co-ben- appreciation and
efits for mitigation. Many ecosystem services inspiration for
that are relevant to the city’s resilience may be culture, improved
provided well outside its geographical area, and well-being
hence natural buffers in the rural hinterland (health);
of the city and wider surrounding landscape new opportunities
should be considered, as well as cooperation for employment,
with municipalities and citizens there to estab- innovations,
lish a regional approach of land use planning to public / private
protect the buffers. It is important to consider partnerships
that green infrastructure can be a valuable
supplement to grey infrastructure that will still
be needed. The right combination of green and
grey is the most promising way. In this regard
“flexible infrastructure” that can adapt to dif-
ferent future climate scenarios / pathways can
be a crucial quality of such grey infrastructure.
Strategic selection of the size, location, and Conservation Buffer zones, Improved water
layout of protected areas. Keeping abreast of biodiversity, flood protection, provisioning, qual-
the practical potential of implementing policy carbon storage secured water ity and security,
and / or legal instruments to keep the area and sequestration provisioning, benefits to live-
protected. Social issues such as local conflicts, reduction of lihoods through
loss of livelihoods with little or no system in extreme weather sustainable use
place to counteract that are often major on- event risks (tourism, biodi-
the-ground challenges faced locally. Thus, versity-derived
community-based adaptation measures, along products)
with EbA approaches should go hand in hand
in inherently complex locations.
Reduction of non-climate stresses, promote Conservation Sustainable Improved live-

effective and equitable governance and resto- of biodiversity, management of lihoods of local
ration of degraded ecosystems. carbon storage natural resources communities
and sequestration
2 panorama.solutions/en/solution/storm-water-management-and-urban-regeneration-malm%C3%B6
3 panorama.solutions/en/solution/storm-water-management-and-urban-regeneration-malmö
148

 Mexico city. © GIZ/Mathias Bertram  Village forest manage-
ment planning, Ban Lou, Lao. © GIZ/Sebastian Koch  Resource
assessment in mangroves in Vietnam. © GIZ Vietnam
149

Landscape and watershed management and Fresh water Flood protection, Improved water
river basin management by including a mul- provisioning, drought risk provisioning and
titude of ecosystems, land use systems and improved water reduction quality, for people
stakeholders relevant for improving water regulation, carbon (consumption,
regulation and provision 3. sequestration, sanitation) and
provision of production sectors
habitats for (e.g. agriculture,
species industries, energy
production)
Restoration of wetlands, artificial wetlands – Fresh water Flood protection, Improved water
Restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed provision and drought risk provision and
wetlands or creating artificial wetlands reduces sanitation, reduction, storm quality, for people
discharge volumes by providing retention ar- improved water buffering (consumption,
eas, enhances biodiversity and water quality, regulation, sanitation) and
and supports livelihoods of local communities. reduced carbon production sectors
Wetlands and other natural “sponges” do not, emissions, (e.g. agriculture,
however, influence the peaks of extreme flood higher carbon fisheries,
events once soils are completely saturated. sequestration, industries, energy
provision of production)
habitats for
species
Restoration of flood plains to (re-)create nat- Improved water Flood protection Risk reduction
ural retention areas for flood water. Also, the regulation, erosion for people,
tendency of communities to live in riverbank prevention, infrastructure
areas should be reduced and land use plans provision of and industry,
may have to be revised and adapted. habitats for improved water
species provision and
quality, for people
(consumption,
sanitation) and
production sectors
(e.g. agriculture,
industries, energy
production)
4 panorama.solutions/en/solution/tacan%C3%A1-watersheds-implementing-transboundary-water-governance-through-local-community
150
Several entry points for strengthening ecosys- tion and disaster risk reduction within the water
tem-based approaches for climate change adapta- sector do exist already and include the following:
Policies Water security policies, basin, national and subnational climate change
adaptation policies, disaster risk reduction policies, national climate
change mitigation plans (as many ecosystems have ecosystem services that
serve both mitigation and adaptation (e.g. mangroves, peatlands)).
Planning Water sector plans, watershed plans, runoff master plans, development
instruments planning (e.g. engineering sector, agriculture sector), urban planning,
forestry (peatlands and mangroves), integrated coastal zone management
plans, spatial plans, protected areas plans, integrated river basin plans,
wetland management plans.
Command and Water standards, environmental and social impact assessments, ministerial
control instruments guidelines (e.g. for coastal zone management projects).
Economic and Payment for ecosystem services, ecological fiscal reform, environmental
fiscal instruments taxes, water funds, green taxes and subsidies, water funds, mainstreaming
of green accounting (in local and national) budgetary processes.
Informative Education and extension programmes, participatory planning, water

measures and nexus dialogues. Dialogue with the broader civil society at local and
transboundary levels.
Voluntary Water stewardship.

measures
Institutions Water regulating bodies, water providers, Ministry of Environment,

Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Energy, Planning Ministry, Alliance for
Water Stewardship, civil society networks.
Management types Landscape restoration, integrated water resource management, integrated

coastal zone management, transboundary water cooperation.
151
References
BMZ 2018: BMZ Strategy for Interlinkages between
Water, the Environment and Climate Change.
L. A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp.
www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr
88
Restoring Life on
Private-sector Exp
in Land Reclamat
WWAP (United Nations World Water Assessment
Programme)/UN-Water. 2018. The United Nations World
Synergies and conflicts between goals. www.bmz. Water Development Report 2018: Nature-Based Solutions
Ecosystem Recov
de/en/zentrales_downloadarchiv/web-apps/wasser/ IPCC, 2018: Global warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special for Water. Paris, UNESCO.
Strategiepapier435_01_2018.pdf Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above
pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas Development Report 2018: Nature-Based Solutions for
Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA). emission pathways, in the context of strengthening Water. Paris, UNESCO. UNEP. 2014. Green Infrastructure
Collaborative Water Resources Planning for an Uncertain the global response to the threat of climate change, Guide for Water Management: Ecosystem-based
Future. 2018. Paris, UNESCO. sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate management approaches for water-related infrastructure
poverty [V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, H. O. Pörtner, D. projects. ISBN: 978-92-807-3404-1GI guide 2014.
IPCC, 2014. Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Roberts, J. Skea, P. R. Shukla, A. Pirani, W. Moufouma-
Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Okia, C. Péan, R. Pidcock, S. Connors, J. B. R. Matthews, WWAP (UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme).
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Y. Chen, X. Zhou, M. I. Gomis, E. Lonnoy, T. Maycock, 2019. The United Nations World Water Development
Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R. K. Pachauri and M. Tignor, T. Waterfield (eds.)]. Report 2019: Leaving No One Behind. Paris, UNESCO.
With abstra
French and
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (2019).
This brief is part of a series of seven practical briefs to of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the Opportunities in the water sector for integrating
support the integration of ecosystem-based approaches legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its ecosystem-based approaches to climate change
to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers adaptation and disaster risk reduction. In: Voluntary
within sectors. The agencies who contributed to the or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do guidelines for the design and effective implementation of
development and authorship of the sectoral briefs are: not necessarily represent those of the Convention on ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced and disaster risk reduction and supplementary information.
Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization for educational or non-profit purposes without special Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
(ILO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale permission from the copyright holders, provided Technical Series No. 93. Montreal, 156 pages.
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the International Union for acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wide Fund of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of For further information, please contact:
Copyright © 2019, Secretariat of the Convention on World Trade Centre, 413 Rue St. Jacques, Suite 800
Biological Diversity Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9
Tel.: +1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: +1 (514) 288 6588
Design/Layout: Ira Olaleye E-mail: secretariat@cbd.int Website: www.cbd.int
152
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of
any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the
legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers
or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Convention on
Biological Diversity. This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special
permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat of the
Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of any publications that use this document as a source.

Tel.: +1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: +1 (514) 288 6588
Design/Layout: Ira Olaleye
With support from the European Union, the Government of Sweden and the Government of Germany

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93

Secretariat of the CBD Technical Series No. 93

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND

Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of

Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

ISBN: 9789292256661 (Print version)

ISBN: 9789292256678 (Web version)

Copyright © 2019, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

For further information, please contact:

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

1 Primer for policymakers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19

2 Voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of

2.3.2 Mainstreaming EbA and Eco-DRR ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47

3 Outreach into Sectors. Integrating ecosystem-based approaches

List of figures, tables and boxes

1 IPCC 2012; IPCC 2014

Mandate and a technical workshop was conducted with

7 Technical workshop for review of the voluntary guidelines for

Audience Framework of the report

Part 2 Guidelines for practitioners yy Annex III provides an overview of existing

Part 3 Outreach into sectors

Part 2 provides guidelines for practitioners and

yy Principles of EbA and Eco-DRR, which are key

yy Annex 1 is a glossary with definitions of key

These sectoral briefs are self-contained with their

Role of EbA/Eco-DRR in achieving Role of EbA/Eco-DRR in

1.1 Key messages 1.2 Introduction

1. Ecosystem-based approaches to climate All over the world, across

... accounted for an estimated 90 %

Water- ... have affected 14 IPCC 2013

related 4.2 billion people 15 IPCC 2012

disasters ... ... have caused 18 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005

for generating multiple benefits is increasing. 22 Temmerman et al. 2013

According to the latest assessment report of the

Box 1 Key terms related to biodiversity

EbA & Eco-DRR implementation enhances

Other driving forces Policy & Decision Making Value

Improved policies reduce driving EbA&Eco-DRR is mainstreamed

components of adaptation of DRR. In contrast, Eco-DRR addresses hazard

Figure 3 Conceptual diagram of EbA and Eco-DRR

Are part of overall strategies: Generates societal benefits,

30 Munang et al. 2013 31 Kabisch et al. 2016

yy UN General Assembly resolutions (RES/70/195, yy The Ramsar Convention Resolution XII.13 on

34 ILO 2015 35 Raymond et al. 2017

yy Mangrove rehabilitation at the village level is

yy A cost-benefit analysis indicates a signifi-

36 Examples from www.AdaptationCommunity.net and

MOUNTAIN AND FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

c MOUNTAIN AND FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

Aichi icons (icons with numbers below, right): © BIP/SCBD

Aichi icons (icons with numbers below, right): © BIP/SCBD

TURAL AND DRYLAND ECOSYSTEMS

MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS

Ecosystem SDG Aichi Hazards Measures

Mountain yyDrought yySustainable mountain wetland

yyRestoration of pastures with deep-

Inland water yyErratic rainfall yyConservation of wetlands &

yyTransboundary water governance &

Agricultural yyErratic rainfall yyEcosystem restoration and