Review of ecosystem based adaptation projects: Selected lessons from Africa Ms Zuziwe Jonas, Climate change Bio-Adaptation research unit Durban Adaptation Charter South Africa, October 2015
Ecosystem based adaptation (EbA) Is the use of biodiversity & ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of Climate Change EbA links well with Community Based Adaptation, Ecosystem based-disaster Risk Reduction and other adaptation strategies All three utilise the ecosystem approach & increase resilience of people & communities
Ecosystem based adaptation (EbA) Oct 2015, CBD Eco-DRR workshop held in Sandton, Jhb. From draft synthesis report: Sought to separate EbA practices from business- as usual conservation practices EbA addresses both current & future impacts of climate change EbA reduces vulnerability of a socio-ecological system that includes both people & ecosystems
Criteria to identify EbA People element Use of biodiversity & ecosystems Climate change adaptation
EbA in sub-saharan Africa: An analysis Total of 40 projects from sub-saharan countries were reviewed (Midgely et al., 2012). 15 were found to meet the EbA criteria Three of these are presented here
Project 1:Conservation & collaborative management in the Mudumu North Complex, Namibia This is a broad management area comprising of conservancies, community forests & protected areas Focus on rehabilitating fauna & flora of the area to guide the development of tourism & other benefits OUTCOMES: locals moved away from an economy based on farming & the use of natural vegetation for food, fuel & building material & this is creating more resilient ecosystems & livelihoods We can harness the power of natural solutions to enhance livelihoods, diversify economies and build resilience to a changing climate.
Project2: Conservation of coastal ecosystems in Tanzania Pwani project works to reverse the trend of environmental destruction of critical coastal habitats OUTCOMES: Coastal ecosystems provide income, food & trade opportunities for local communities & can help buffer the effects of climate change including storms, severe weather events & sea level rise Ecological infrastructure creates natural buffers that enhance resilience to extreme weather events associated with climate
Project3: Mountain Gorillas, ecosystem services & local livelihoods in Rwanda, MG vulnerability assessment project focused on assessing cc impacts on gorillas considering a range of cc scenarios & socioeconomic issues related to livelihoods of local communities OUTCOMES: Supports & secure ecotourism & its associated livelihood benefits Uganda & the DRC Vulnerability assessments reveal climate change impacts on ecosystems & species, supporting adaptation strategies that secure livelihoods
Project4: SA Environmental Expanded Public Works Programmes, the Green Economy Healthy catchments secure ecosystem services, increasingly critical as cost effective solutions for water security and disaster risk reduction EPWP created by SA government aiming at maintaining, rehabilitating or restoring ecosystems & natural landscapes while on the other hand creating jobs for marginalised communities OUTCOMES: Reduced environmental & social vulnerability to climate change, job creation.
EbA in action in Local Authorities in South Africa Two projects recently supported by the Adaptation Fund, via the SA NIE to the AF Demonstrate how EbA is integrated within a local development approach Implemented projects that integrate adaptation, mitigation and poverty alleviation. The Facility is being drafted as a potential Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action for South Africa. The Facility will deliver sustainable small-scale infrastructure across 11 SADC countries, focusing on water services, water resource management, and agriculture.
Project5: Building resilience in the Greater umngeni Catchment, South Africa umgungundlovu District Municipality boundary Vulindlela Nhalzuka
Nhlazuka:Building resilience in the Greater umngeni Catchment, South Africa (USD 7.5 million) CLIMATE PROJECTIONS: Temperature increases Increase in extreme storm and flood events Seasonal shifts and later onset of summer rains IMPACTS: drownings in flash floods; lightening strikes; bush pigs and crop failures; wildfires OUTCOMES: Early warning systems that support local communities and small scale farmers Climate-proof settlements (built and ecological infrastructure) and informing settlement planning
Project 6: Taking Adaptation to the Ground: A Small Grants Facility for enabling local level responses to climate change Provide small grants (at least 12 of approx. USD100 000 each) Build local institutional capacity Gather lessons to inform scaling and replication of small grant-financing approaches Adaptation actions through 3 Investment Windows Climate-smart Climate-resilient Climate-proof Agriculture Livelihoods Settlements 12 small grants in 2 target areas valued at US$ 1.5 million
A few insights. For EbA, it is important to clearly make the climate response link - clearly show how the intervention will support people to adapt to CC, and how they are additional to business as usual It is useful to mainstream EbA (Community Based Adaptation and Ecosystem based-disaster Risk Reduction) into ongoing development and adaptation programmes and to address EbA through an integrated approach -that responds to challenges of socio-economic deprivation, ecosystem degradation and adverse climate change impacts Climate change adaptation requires coordination and collaboration with stakeholders at district, regional, and national level we need to move towards understanding complementarities through mainstreaming and integrating community based adaptation efforts with EbA Climate change adaptation is everybody s business - cross-sectoral partnerships are essential to unlocking the complementary skills which are found across different sectors Show how it can be done invest in demonstration projects and show how planning and policy can be practically translated into action
Governance, Roles and Responsibilities Overall Governance: NIE Steering Committee (DEA, SANBI, Treasury, Department of Monitoring & Evaluation, Adaptation Network) umngeni Project: Lead: umgungundlovu DM (UMDM) Main implementation partners: UMDM, university of Kwa Zulu Natal, Wildlife & Environmental Society of South Africa Project governance: Project Coordinating Committee** Small Grants Project: Lead: SouthSouthNorth Main implementation partners: Conservation SA, Choice Trust Project Governance overall: Project Advisory Committee (DEA, SANBI, Mopani DM, Namakwa DM, Adaptation Network) District Level Governance: Technical Advisory Groups**
Reading material Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 2015. Draft report on Ecosystem based Adaptation & Disaster Risk Reduction: A compilation of country experiences & synthesis of information. Midgely, G., Marais, S., Barnett, M., and Wagsaether, K. 2012. Biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development-harnessing synergies & celebrating success. Final technical report. Devisscher, T. 2010. Ecosystem-based adaptation in Africa. Sectoral report for the Adapt Cost study. Stockholm Environmental Institute. Conservation International: www.conservation.org/ebasolutions
Thank you