Ecosystem-based Adaptation Research Articles

Enhancing the role of International NGOs in promoting the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation policies: insights from an International Union for Conservation and Foundation of Netherlands Volunteers led project in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Enhancing the role of International NGOs in promoting the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation policies: insights from an International Union for Conservation and Foundation of Netherlands Volunteers led project in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Assessing climate change-induced losses and damages to coastal ecosystem services: Empirical evidence from Manpura Island, Bangladesh

Under the on-going climate change, slow-onset events, such as sea-level rise and salinity intrusion, have a more pronounced effect on biodiversity and ecosystem services, which have fewer options for adaptation compared to human systems, resulting in losses and damages. People who rely on ecosystems are also experiencing substantial damages and irreversible losses. Therefore, accurately assessing the losses and damages to ecosystem services becomes crucial. To address this issue, this paper employs an analytical framework adopted from Geest et al. (2019) and conducts a case study on the effects of extreme and slow-onset events on a coastal island of Bangladesh to evaluate the current losses and damages to ecosystem services. The study estimates the economic losses and damages to individual households, specifically in terms of some provisioning services, such as rice and fish, ranging from US$28 to US$419 per household. Furthermore, the case study elucidates the diverse values that individuals attributed to ecosystem services in their everyday lives, as well as non-economic losses, damages, and harms that are rooted in human emotions and experiences. It highlights non-economic losses and damages such as the gradual decline of social unity, an increase in mental illness, long-term physical health consequences, increased feelings of insecurity, and the depletion of fertile topsoil. The research concludes that building human capital for ecosystem-based adaptation is crucial to mitigating these impacts. It emphasises the need of documenting losses and damages locally using web-based recordkeeping in order to take evidence-based action to address losses and damages.

Perception of Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability in Machakos County, Kenya

The study was designed to assess climate variability trends on rainfall and temperature data between 1990 and 2020, analyse community perception to climate variability, evaluate adaptation strategies and their effectiveness and examined the challenges of adaptation to climate variability. Farmers were randomly selected and questionnaires administered, while focused group discussions were conducted to obtain farmer’s perceptions of climate variability. Rainfall and temperature data was statistically analysed using Mann Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator (p<0.05. The study found out there was a significant variation in the amount of annual rainfall received of (p< 0.004) (S= -53) which showed a decreasing trend, while temperature showed a warming trend of (p>0.099) (S=29). Also, farmers perceived that climate variability events were real with (71.1%) and (68.0%) noticing a change in rainfall and temperature respectively over the same period. The study established that community perceptions on rainfall and temperature trends agreed with meteorological data on observed climatic trends. Planting of drought resistant crops was most popular with (89.8%) (n=255) agreeing, while (79.2%) said it was the most effective strategy. The study found that although some farmers have adopted some adaptation strategies, they were constrained with (82.4%) agreeing that age was a great challenge to adaptation and had a moderate negative correlation with adaptation of (0.097) with labour and (25.5%) saying it was not a challenge. The study recommends farmers use the study findings on rainfall and temperature trends and data recordings on local agricultural performances to enhance their ability to adapt. To researchers and academic community the study recommends the intensification of research on ecosystem-based adaptation and the use of the results in mainstreaming policy making, planning and implementation of climate related decisions. The results reveal important knowledge that if effectively applied will inform the county government in climate management decisions and reduce farmer’s vulnerability.

Climate Change Impacts on Wildlife Protected Areas in Southern Africa: a Bibliometric Analysis

The article examines how climate change has impacted wildlife-protected areas in Southern Africa in the context of tourism development. Protected areas are known as preferred destinations for nature-loving tourists. Using a systematic review and bibliometric analysis the authors identify symptoms of climate change in Southern Africa’s wildlife-protected areas and adaptation strategies for resilient destinations. Some of the key effects of climate change identified in the analysis include species reduction, human-wildlife conflicts, habitat quality and infrastructure modification and social impacts. The authors establish at what levels changing climatic conditions in protected areas affect conservation and tourism processes in protected areas thus contributing to the body of knowledge on wildlife-human interactions, survival strategies of community members and interactions between community members and conservation organizations. The synthesized data can be used in future studies to focus on climate-proofing protected areas and surrounding communities, can help social enterprises and conservation groups to improve community resilience against climate change and inform conservation ecosystem-based adaptation strategies.

Ecosystem-based adaptation practices to stem climate change impacts: smallholder farmers’ perspectives

ABSTRACT Local climate change impacts hit hard at smallholder farmers in developing countries due to their overreliance on rain-fed farming. Whilst ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change holds an answer to smallholder farmers' adaptation needs, there are inadequate empirical results from the field to support formulation of effective adaptation strategies. Hence, this paper aimed at investigating EbA practices adopted by farmers, in North-Western Ghana to ameliorate local climate change impacts, with emphasis on benefits and associated challenges. The study methods were cross-sectional survey, mixed methods, and case study approach, with all data collected in the Wa West District of Ghana. Data were gathered using questionnaire, focus group discussion (FGD) and interviews. Data from the questionnaire were entered into SPSS version 20 to analyze associations between the variables using cross-tabulation. Descriptive statistics, in the form of percentages and frequencies, were then generated from the survey data and integrated with the qualitative information in the presentation of results. Also, statistical significance of the relationships was analyzed using chi-square test. Chi-squared tests were done to determine associations between socio-economic and environmental factors, and challenges and benefits associated with the adoption of EbA practices. This was necessary to give further insights to inform policy-related decisions aimed at addressing EbA adoption challenges. The results revealed that farmers use a combination of practices rather than single practice. Farmers integrated crops and trees and keep local breed of farm animals. Benefits of EbA included improvements in soil fertility leading to high crop yield and availability of food and income. Challenges of adopting EbA were the long timespan for benefits of most EbA practices to begin to accrue, lack of extension information and increasing cost of hired labour. It is recommended that tree integration should emphasis trees with multiple benefits and compatible with food crops.

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience in African Nations

This study examines the critical intersection of agriculture, climate change, and sustainable development in Africa. It emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen agricultural sectors to ensure food security, alleviate poverty, and address climate change's looming threat. The research involves a literature review methodology, analyzing climate change trends and their impact on food security through both qualitative and statistical analysis. It also includes the creation of a customized climate change adaptation framework for Africa. Sustainable agriculture emerges as a key solution to address challenges, such as soil degradation, in Africa's diverse agricultural landscape. Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, significantly affects the like diversification, ecosystem-based adaptation, and continent's agriculture. Strategies technology adoption are highlighted. Government policies, climate advisories, and sustainable agriculture initiatives play vital roles. The study concludes by stressing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and investment to fortify Africa's agriculture against climate change, leading to a more secure and prosperous future.

Coastal community’s perceptions on the role of seagrass ecosystems for coastal protection and implications for management

Seagrass meadows provide important ecosystem services to coastal communities, which include ecosystem-based adaptations for coastal protection; however, globally seagrasses are among the least conserved marine ecosystems. In order to develop and provide accurate and efficient decision-making processes and conservation actions, an understanding of the importance of ecosystem services for people's livelihoods and wellbeing is key. Using social research methods, such as Nominal Group Technique, Key Informant Interviews and household surveys, this study explored the association between seagrass ecosystem services and the perceptions of coastal communities on socio-ecological values including ecosystem-based adaptations in Maputo and Inhambane Bays, Mozambique. Fishermen identified support to fisheries production as crucial services provided by seagrasses to coastal communities. Respondents (93%) perceived that coastal erosion is occurring in the region and that it has accelerated in the last 20 years due to more frequent floods following cyclones. In addition, coastal development (34.9%) together with destructive fishing practices (31.3%) were stated as the main anthropogenic causes of coastal erosion as seagrasses diminish. The coastal communities (76.3%) proposed marine ecosystem restoration as the first measure to prevent coastal erosion. The coastal respondents also identified seagrass regulatory ecosystem services being central for their social and economic wellbeing and demonstrated (92%) a desire to participate in seagrass restoration in their region. This study found a high level of awareness by local communities concerning the values and socio-ecological function of seagrass meadows. This provides a strong foundation to develop effective conservation and management measures in order to ensure sustainable solutions to build resilience and stronger ecosystem-based adaptations against climate change.

Nature-based Solutions for climate-resilient cities: A proposal of a model for successful implementation

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) were introduced by the IUCN for the first time, but today have different definitions in the literature. NbS are deemed the key to urban sustainability and aim to enhance the built environment through ecological and environmental interventions to support the built environment for future extremes of climate change and related hazards. NbS include blue and green infrastructures, ecological engineering, ecosystem services and ecosystem-based adaptation. Various frameworks defined different key considerations and the literature suggests plenty of frameworks towards successful NbS applications. Current debates critique the extent to which innovative and adaptive the solutions are, whether they are implemented by considering social values and social equity, and the financial burden they often bring which strengthens the disparities between the world cities. Uncontrolled urbanization often causes cities to become an environmental problem. This paper conducts a literature review to lay out the current debates and to highlight the multidimensionality of NbS. It focuses on the potential of NbS in disaster risk reduction and so the paper draws a framework to successfully implement and provide improvements for NbS based on the theoretical ground. NbS are investments in the life quality of the residents and preventive tools in the risk management of cities. The paper attempted to frame the NbS clearer for scholars interested in the subject.

Exploring Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) as climate change adaptation strategy in brgy. Bagupaye, Mulanay, Quezon, Philippines

Farming practices in Brgy. Bagupaye, Mulanay, Quezon, Philippines were assessed as to their conformity with the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), a concept that utilizes both ecosystem services and biodiversity as integral components for adaptation strategy. The study revealed that despite farmers’ limited knowledge of EbA, some of their agricultural practices were found to be already within the context of EbA as climate change adaptation measures. Using survey questionnaires and field visit, six out of the thirteen documented farm practices were considered to be within the EbA concept of ecosystem-basedness. These were: fallow period during water scare conditions, diversification of farms, cropping with short annual crops, land preparation during the onset of rainy months, modification of their planting practices, and backyard livestock raising. Moreover, farmers’ decisions on their farm management were highly influenced by their local knowledge and past experiences on climatic stress which is an essential element in developing improved science and experience-based adaptation practices. The win-win nature of EbA and its flexibility to fit in with the farmers’ local knowledge and limited resources concludes that it is a promising climate change adaptation measure to the smallholder farmers.

Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Practices of Smallholder Farmers in the Oti Basin, Togo: Probing Their Effectiveness and Co-Benefits

The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategy is considered an effective approach to address the impact of climate change while ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services on which farming depends. However, understanding the EbA’s effectiveness for smallholder farmers in the Savannah region remains limited. The focus of this study is to explore the EbA practices that have been implemented by farming communities in the Savannah region of Togo. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these practices and the perceived co-benefits reported by 425 smallholder farmers who participated in the survey. Our findings show that five practices, namely agroforestry, crop rotation, grass hedge/stone bunds, in-field water drainage channel, and intercropping, were practiced mainly by smallholder farmers and perceived as effective in reducing their vulnerability to climate risks. In addition, the benefits observed were linked to all five EbA practices. As a result, we can determine the suitable combination of EbA practices that fulfil the requirements of smallholder farmers, including co-benefits such as food security, adaptation advantages, and ecosystem service provisions. Such findings provide insights for developing integrated agriculture and climate change policies suitable for weather-induced disaster-prone areas such as the Savannah region.

Sea Level Rise Impacts in Coastal Areas and Possible Mitigation Engineering Approaches

Coastal areas are subjected to both natural and man-made actions, leading to a deterioration of coastal structures. Climate change has had a heavy impact on these areas in recent years. An important consequence of these actions is sea level rise. This phenomenon is the most important cause of coastal erosion, a serious problem with ecological, economic, and human health consequences. The countermeasures to contrast this phenomenon and the degradation of the entire coastal system, are represented by engineering interventions. These basically consist of approaches for adaptation to sea level rise, namely protection, retreat, and accommodation. Variations and site adaptation of these actions can involve procedures of no intervention; advancement; protection; retreat; accommodation; and ecosystem-based adaptation. While these procedures have provided coastal benefits and protection, in the long run, they may cause further coastal disruption and further aggravate the situation. Such interventions, therefore, require an accurate assessment of the advantages and disadvantages. However, it is certainly necessary to proceed with actions aimed at mitigating climate change, respecting the rules in a sustainable way.

Integrating indigenous environmental and scientific knowledge for ecosystem-based adaptation of Muro Practices on Lembata Island

Previous studies argued that indigenous environmental knowledge was only part of local wisdom and tended to pay attention to the threat of its extinction. Indigenous environmental knowledge has not yet received recognition as an alternative perspective in dealing with the complexities of environmental management and climate change, along with the dominance of the western paradigm and current knowledge systems. This study aims to assemble the indigenous environmental knowledge systems of fisheries from communities along the coast of Lembata Island to assist in the conservation of marine ecosystems. Desk studies were used for information gathering, and the results were analyzed within the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) framework. Our results indicate that local communities in Lembata island have Muro as a temporary closure measure to manage coastal resources initiated by indigenous people that are valuable for the local people and simultaneously benefit the coastal ecosystem, including biodiversity. The results have implications for considering indigenous environmental knowledge to maintain the balance and continuity of coastal ecosystems and the main foundation in natural resource management.

The Roles of Adaptive Water Governance in Enhancing the Transition towards Ecosystem-Based Adaptation

The growing realization of the inadequacies of the conventional approach to climate change adaptation has generated interest in sustainable forms of adaptation that could promote long-term ecosystem health and social equity. In this regard, the concept of ecosystem-based adaptation has been receiving attention as an integrative framework for maintaining healthy ecosystems, with the aim of building the resilience and reducing the vulnerability of social–ecological systems to climate change impacts. However, there is currently an inadequate understanding of the institutional requirements for the transition towards ecosystem-based adaptation. A promising institutional mechanism for addressing these governance challenges is adaptive governance, a governance mechanism that relies on flexible, multi-level institutions to connect actors across multiple scales in managing conflicting values and uncertainties in ecosystem-based management processes. This paper discusses four roles of adaptive governance in the transition of water resource systems towards ecosystem-based adaptation: (1) creating awareness about climate change through social learning and the integration of diverse sources of knowledge; (2) generating interest for policy change through the provision of economic and non-economic incentives; (3) creating opportunities for change through the promotion of vertical and horizontal interactions among actors; and (4) building capacities for change through enhanced access to relevant institutions and resources.

Public perception and preferences for coastal risk management: Evidence from a convergent parallel mixed-methods study

Coastal ecosystems are exposed to unprecedented levels of human pressure and to the cumulative effects of climate change. Altogether, these threats have been exposing coastal areas to augmented hazardous processes, leaving communities highly vulnerable to coastal risks and challenging the coastal management paradigm. Disregarding public perceptions of coastal risk management may be myopic and, thus, an obstacle to the success of the efforts towards coastal risks' mitigation and adaptation. Therefore, this study aims at comprehensively ascertain public perception and preferences for coastal risk management, through a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative study accounted for 3028 participants that enrolled in the population-based survey. The qualitative study accounted for 320 participants that responded to the e-interview. Data were analysed independently and triangulated for further interpretation. Evidence from this study suggests that citizens prioritize the intrinsic value of coastal systems, when favouring a risk adaptation strategy. Therefore, ecosystem-based adaptation measures were highlighted, in detriment of grey infrastructure. Additionally, and due to the reported high levels of public authorities' distrust, the public seems to urge for a transition from a technocratic to a participatory coastal management, in which public's preferences are legitimized. Consequently, and in order to decentralize coastal governance, citizens demonstrated a proactive disposition to actively engage in coastal management. Findings from this study were discussed in order to provide guidance to the development of tailored coastal management initiatives and policy tools, which are expected to be effective at enhancing coastal communities' resilience to hazardous processes and augmenting citizens' engagement in coastal management.

Shoreline Change Analysis of the Eastern Coast of Ghana between 1991 and 2020

The Eastern Coastline of Ghana is facing intense natural and anthropogenic disturbances, which pose a serious threat to the coastal community, ecosystem, and livelihoods. This study assessed the shoreline changes occurring along the Eastern Coast of Ghana stretching 149 km from Laloi Lagoon West of Prampram to Aflao, Ghana. The study utilizes satellite images from Landsat 4TM, Landsat 7 ETM+, and Landsat 8 OLI taken between 1991 and 2020. Data pre-processing techniques using ENVI 5.3 included calibration, layer stacking, mosaicking, and supervised classification. Post-classification shorelines were extracted using ArcGIS 10.7, and the DSAS tool was used to determine the rate of change over the 29-year period. The results showed that the coastline experienced an average erosion rate of 9 m/y and a maximum rate of 24 m/y, however, the accretion rate (3 m/y) was much lower, reflecting general coastline retreat. Thus, some 25 coastal communities are highly exposed to shoreline erosion. Sustaining the coastal area may require coastline re-engineering interventions. This study recommends continuous monitoring of the shorelines to ensure the protection of livelihoods. Implementation of both hard engineering and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies may be required to achieve holistic results toward sustainable coastal management.

Review on mangrove restoration: Re-greening the sea coast

Mangroves are important coastal resources that can provide exceptional ecosystem benefits. Several of its ecosystem functions, including sediment buildup, carbon sequestration, and storm surge protection, are being recognized as practical tools for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Its unique capacity to endure extreme environmental circumstances makes them; in particular, the only viable option for ecosystem-based adaptation in exposed coastal locations. Mangroves are among the most severely damaged tropical ecosystems, and they are continuing to disappear as a result of increased human activity. Especially in the Asia-Pacific region, where they exist in the form of complex socio-ecological systems, mangroves remain heavily threatened due to numerous anthropogenic activities. Mangroves are under grave danger; hence it is imperative that prompt steps be taken to methodically conserve and restore their ecosystems. The Asia-Pacific region is the location of nearly half of the existing mangroves, scattered over some of the poorest and post-conflict states. Dependence on traditional sources of income and the recent trend of coastal development have had a negative impact on the region's mangrove sustainability. Lacks of supportive policies and mangrove conversion to non-forest uses has been further fueled by insufficient institutional intervention. Nevertheless, in recent years, participatory, multi stake holder-based approaches for mangrove conservation and/or restoration have gained immense popularity in the region of Asia pacific. Participatory management which exemplifies an ameliorative approach can also support sustainable development, community empowerment, and social inclusion. Despite its asserted superiority, a number of new sustainability challenges need to be carefully examined and reconciled due to conflicting results of earlier experiences.

Ecosystem restoration reduces community vulnerability to water-induced disasters: Need to rethink Chure conservation in Nepal

Disaster risk reduction strategies are often accompanied by conventional adaptation approaches, involving high costs and limited flexibility. Conversely, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) has been advocated as a sustainable approach because it is cost-effective, efficient and provides co-benefits (e.g., ecosystem services). However, there is limited awareness and understanding among both disaster risk reduction professionals and ecologists about the linkages of ecosystem restoration to disaster risk reduction. Here, we assessed people's perceptions towards the availability of ecosystem services in the highly degraded and fragile landscape to floods and soil erosion in Central Nepal. We then assessed vulnerabilities at household level in both pre- and post-restoration periods, using indicators such as distance to the river, land cover composition (ratio of forest to non-forest), occupation, availability of ecosystem services, and effectiveness of the restoration projects in the vicinity. Our results show that vulnerability as a function of adaptive capacity and sensitivity decreased even though there were no significant improvements in some of the provisions of ecosystem services we assessed. Since our results showed restoration projects were not integrated following the principles of EbA criteria, careful integration during project design and implementation would strengthen community resilience in future. Our work provides new insight into the restoration response to disasters and provides a basis for future research and policy development.

Vulnerability and ecosystem-based adaptation in the farming communities of droughtprone Northwest Bangladesh

Agriculture is sensitive to climate change as it depends on temperature and rainfall patterns for crop production. Though Bangladesh's recent growth in its agriculture sector is remarkable, the farmer community living in the northwest region of Bangladesh faces drought every year that negatively affects agriculture, ecology, and society. However, studies focusing on farmer communities' vulnerability to drought and adaptation options through a social-ecological lens are limited. The present study used a framework that combines social-ecological vulnerability (i.e., exposure, sensitivity, and lack of resilience) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategies and linked them with risk governance (i.e., organization, planning, and implementation) to understand social-ecological risk and adaptation. Data was collected through 50 in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions with the farmer communities of the Tanore sub-district of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. We found that increased temperature, lack of water availability, change in rainfall pattern, and limited availability of drought-resilient crop seeds increased farmers’ vulnerability to drought. Farmers were shifting from traditional farming practices to more ecosystem-based, integrated farming practices that are less climate-sensitive. Combined agriculture, selecting drought-tolerant rice varieties, and shifting cropping patterns were some strategies that farmers adopted to address risks. However, the adaptation of these strategies was not well-governed. Farmers opined some strategies that could be initiated at the organization (e.g., local government support), planning (e.g., planning farming skill development), and implementation (e.g., restoring water bodies) levels to help the community to reduce risk. The study would aid in framing governance measures to reduce vulnerability and risk in agriculture-dominated social-ecological systems.

Meeting the challenges to climate change adaptation: an NGO community-based successful projects in Mauritius.

Climate change and anthropogenic pressure are among the main drivers of coastal environment degradation in Mauritius, a small island developing state. Globally, mitigation and adaptation strategies applied to the complex socio-ecological coastal systems offer effective solutions in curbing the adverse impacts. In environmental protection, Non-Governmental Organisations' (NGOs) role was first recognised in the 1992 UN Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development, and they are now integrated with most coastal environmental rehabilitation programmes. This paper describes two climate-based adaptation projects undertaken about a decade ago by an NGO in Mauritius. The projects were community-driven in all phases of implementation. The first project focussed on the Ecosystem-based-adaptation (EbA) approach of restoring a mangrove ecosystem and improving community life at Le Morne Village. The second project aimed at the rehabilitation of a historical site and the consolidation of a degraded coastline at Poudre d'Or Village. Components of 'hard' and 'soft' adaptive measures were applied as pathways to guide project implementation. The projects required extensive field visits, focus group interviews, and participatory inputs from all stakeholders. A 10-year assessment of the processes applied in the conceptualisation, implementation, and in evaluating the outcomes was gleaned from regular visits to local inhabitants, stakeholders, and NGO members since the completion of the projects. In 2022, an informal interview at Le Morne and a survey at Poudre d'Or showed that both projects resulted in positive outcomes. Good governance capacity and rigour in the management of the project team were highlighted as crucial attributes to the success of the projects.

Ecosystem-based adaptation in Africa: integrating mitigation and adaptation

Ecosystem-based adaptation in Africa: integrating mitigation and adaptation