Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Smallholder Farmers: opportunities and constraints

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1 Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Smallholder Farmers: opportunities and constraints Side Event at SBSTA 40, UNFCCC Wind Room, Ministry of Environment June 7, 2014 Moderator: Celia A. Harvey, Conservation International Photo x Position x: 8.74, y:.18

2 Smallholder Farmers and Climate Change Smallholder farmers: provide >80% of the food consumed in the developing world comprise 60% of the agriculture workforce worldwide Smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to climate change due to their: dependence on agriculture for both food security and income location in marginal or fragile lands often high levels of poverty limited access to information, credit, technical support or government services low adaptive capacity

3 Impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers Reductions/increased variability in crop and animal productivity Crop losses due to extreme weather events Increased incidence and severity of certain pests and diseases Increased soil erosion and degradation due to strong rain events Damage to on-farm infrastructure (homes, farm roads, etc) Reduced food security and income loss Photo x Position x: 8.74, y:.18 There is an urgent need to help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change

4 EbA= a viable option for smallholder farmers? Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) = the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change (CBD 2009) EbA uses the sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems to provide services that enable people to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

5 Examples of EbA in agricultural systems Windbreaks,hedges and live fences Silvopastoral systems Agroforestry Live barriers and use of cover crops Crop and farm diversification

6 Examples of EbA at the landscape lev Conservation or restoration of forest patches Restoration of degraded areas (planting, natural regeneration,) Farm and landscape diversification Conservation of riparian veget and on-farm vegetation

7 Why is EbA potentially helpful for smallholder farmers? Takes advantage of existing resources and natural processes Low tech approach Ensures provision of key ecosystem services Provides multiple additional benefits (e.g., biodiversity, mitigation) Potentially cheaper than non-eba approaches? Potentially more effective at maintaining agricultural resiliency over longer time periods? Photo x Position x: 8.74, y:.18 Yet, still need more information about EbA effectiveness, costs and how to scale up its adoption

8 Session objectives Highlight the importance of Ecosystem-based Adaptation as a means of helping smallholder farmers adapt to climate change Provide specific examples of how EbA can help make smallholder farming systems more resilient and improve farmer well-being Understand the relative benefits and constraints of the use of EbA by smallholder farmers Photo x Position x: 8.74, y:.18 Examine the technical, policy and financial conditions that are needed to scale up use of EbA

9 Speakers 1. Opportunities for ecosystem-based adaptation for smallholder farmers in Africa (Merlyn van Voore, UNEP) 2.Ecosystem-based adaptation options for smallholder coffee farmers in Central America and pastoralists in South Africa (Camila Donatti, Conservation International) 3.Farmer-managed natural regeneration as an EbA approach for smallholder farmers (Hans-Peter Zerfas, World Vision). 4.Integrated EbA and CbA among smallholder farmers: An overview of CARE s Experiences from Asia, Africa and Latin America (Sven Harmeling, CARE International) 5.Policy opportunities and constraints for EbA: lessons from the International Climate Initiative (Karen Tscherning, IKI) 6.Questions and Discussion