Ecosystem Based Adaptation: the initiatives of the Commission on Ecosystem Management

1. Ecosystem Based Adaptation: the initiatives of the Commission on Ecosystem Management Dr. Bernal Herrera-F Chair for Mesoamerica Commission on Ecosystem Management ,UICN Director “Kenton Miller” Latin-American Chair of Protected Areas IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju, Korea September, 2012

2. Introduction Adaptation – the adjustments of natural or human systems in response to actual or expected stimuli (IPCC 2007) is: a) becoming an increasingly important part of the development agenda, especially in developing countries most at risk from climate change. b) at the forefront of scientific inquiry and policy negotiations.

3. Introduction • Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation (EbA): • 'the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change' • ‘… may include sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems, as part of an overall adaptation strategy that takes into account the multiple social, economic and cultural co-benefits for local communities'.

4. Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) • EbA is an approach that: • Builds resilience • Reduces the vulnerability of local communities to climate change. • Through considering the ecosystem services on which people depend to adapt to climate change, • EbA integrates sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in a comprehensive adaptation strategy.

5. EbA: A learning by doing approach Learn on EbA implementation Share lessons learned Foster the EbA implementation: Learning by doing Identify knowledge gaps Integrate best knowledge into decision making processes

6. Eleven case studies were selected covering different ecosystems and regions around the world. Canada SahelRegion New York Mali FijiIslands Colombia San AndresArchipielago South Africa Zambia Madagascar Anthartic

8. Principles and Guidelines for Integrating Ecosystem-based approaches to Adaptation in Project and Policy Design Angela Andrade , Rocío Córdoba, Radhika Dave, Pascal Girot, Bernal Herrera-F., Robert Munroe, Judy Oglethorpe, Emilia Pramova, James Watson, and Walter Vergara. http://iucn.org/cem

9. Principles for EbA policy desing • Promotes the resilience of societies and ecosystems • Promotes multi-sectoralapproaches • Operates at multiple geographical scales • Integrates flexible management structures that enable adaptive management • Minimizes tradeoffs and maximizes benefits with development and conservation goals to avoid unintended negative social and environmental impacts. • EbA is based on the best available science and local knowledge and should foster knowledge generation and diffusion • EbA is participatory, transparent, accountable, culturally appropriate and actively embracing equity and gender issues.

11. Some final remarks Share new lessons learned New study cases Integrate more science: effectiveness of EbA Integrate EbA into policy Integrate sectors into EbA implementation

12. More information: Gracias! http://iucn.org/cem