Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Mitigation

Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Mitigation is managing and rehabilitating ecosystems for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.

UNDP-GEF promotes pro-poor ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation approaches that foster inclusive, economic development and socio-ecological resilience in the face of climate change.  Policy, legislative and regulatory reforms that work to provide equitable access to shared natural resources, will work to eradicate extreme poverty through sustainable development.

UNDP-GEF supports countries to integrate climate-related risks and opportunities into national development and poverty reduction strategies and plans to protect the natural resource base and address the needs and livelihoods of the most vulnerable groups, including women and indigenous peoples. UNDP-GEF is committed to:

  • Promoting ecosystem resilience;
  • Fostering ecosystem-based adaptation to and mitigation of climate change; and
  • Strengthen the ability of protected areas to enable climate change adaptation and mitigation.

UNDP-GEF's support for sustainable forest management (SFM) is under way in forest landscapes across the world with a total area of over 1.1 million hectares. UNDP-GEF's USD 700 million Adaptation portfolio helps national governments develop and implement adaptation strategies, including elements that are ecosystem-based. This work is funded through the Adaptation Fund, the Strategic Priority on Adaptation (SPA), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).

Projects

Global Ecosystems Based Adaptation in Mountains Programme

Human wellbeing and livelihoods cannot be sustained without healthy ecosystems. Mountain ecosystems are particularly important, in that they maintain rich ecological processes and provide essential goods and services, especially water, not only to mountain people, but also to downstream lowlands where demand from population centers, agriculture and industry is high.

Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of Communities in Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea’s North Coast and Islands regions, coastal flooding is the most important climate change-related hazard. It threatens both coastal populations and important economic centers, including provincial capitals and economic. In the hinterland areas, climate change-related inland flooding is the most pressing hazard with the largest potential for widespread damage. The lack of water impoundments and/or water reticulation schemes serves to increase the vulnerability of the largely agrarian communities.

Kiribati: Enhancing National Food Security in the Context of Climate Change

Kiribati is a nation comprised of 33 atolls (21 inhabited) spread across a vast Pacific Ocean territory. The people of rural Kiribati are largely reliant upon a limited land base and coastal zone fisheries for both nutrition and livelihood.

As the population grows and climate change advances, the security of island resources will be challenged. Already, the ecosystem integrity upon which islanders depend for climate change resilience is being eroded.

Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities

Implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India with support UNDP, the 6-year project ‘Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities’ (2019-2024) will enhance the climate resilience of the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, in the coastal areas of India. The project will shift the paradigm towards a new approach integrating ecosystem-centred and community-based approaches to adaptation into coastal management and planning by the public sector, the private sector and civil society.
 

Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Uganda

Mount Elgon landscape in Uganda is the seventh highest mountain in Africa, a major catchment area and straddles the border between Kenya and Uganda. The climate is cool with a mean annual rainfall of 1,270 mm. The population of Mount Elgon is almost entirely rural and dependent on subsistence agriculture, with approximately 564,000 people living in the 4 districts which make up the project site. The region is home to Mt Elgon National Park and is of great conservation value, but high population density means that agriculture is spreading rapidly.

Community based Adaptation to Climate Change through Coastal Afforestation in Bangladesh

This project, executed by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and implemented by UNDP, has reached 18,269 households engaging citizens in afforestation, agriculture, livestock, and fishery-based livelihood adaptation and training measures. The project promotes the diversification of livelihoods and income generation, for example, through the rational use of coastal land to produce forest, fruit and fish resources.

Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Nepal

The Harpan Watershed, Panchase in Nepal lies in the mid-hills of Nepal and consists of valleys, hills and the high mountains of the Himalayas. The economy of the Panchase is largely subsistence, based on crop production and livestock. There is high climatic variation due to changes in altitude and an average rainfall of 3, 355mm. The selected project site, the Harpan watershed, is about 15 km² with sub-tropical to temperate climate. There are about 900 households with a population of 4,598.

Sustaining agricultural biodiversity in the face of climate change in Tajikistan

According to the Russian botanist and geneticist, Nikolai Vavilov, Tajikistan is a storehouse of globally important agro-biodiversity. Tajikistan’s agricultural biodiversity is not only of importance to the livelihoods of rural communities, to the local economy, and to local long-term food security, but also to global food security particularly in light of the future challenges of global climate change.

Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Seychelles

This project seeks to reduce the vulnerability of the Seychelles to climate change, focusing on two key issues—water scarcity and flooding. Climate change projections in the Seychelles show that rainfall, while increasing in overall terms, will become even more irregular. Much of the precipitation is falling in sharp bursts, creating heavy flooding in the wet season, while imposing extended period of drought during the dry season.

Enhancing Sustainability, Agricultural Landscape, Community Livelihoods in Bhutan

The 'Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Resilience of Forest and Agricultural Landscape and Community Livelihoods in Bhutan' ​project (2017-2023) will operationalize an integrated landscape approach in Bhutan by strengthening biological corridors, supporting sustainable forest and agricultural systems, and building the climate resilience of community livelihoods.

Strengthening Land and Ecosystem Management Under Conditions of Climate Change in the Niayes and Casamance Regions in the Republic of Senegal

The"Strengthening Land and Ecosystem Management Under Conditions of Climate Change in the Niayes and Casamance Regions in the Republic of Senegal" project supports ecosystem-based adaptation and builds the enabling environments required for long-term climate resilience. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility Least Developed Countries Fund. According to Senegal’s NAPA, the country is experiencing repeated droughts that have severely changed the water regime and vegetation cover. In addition, periodic flooding is also experienced.

Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change in Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Gambia

The project, 'Enhancing Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Areas and Communities to Climate Change in the Republic of Gambia',  will restore and maintain 2,500 ha of the mangroves forests of Tanbi Wetlands (of which 177,285 Gambian depends directly or indirectly on their economic activities, its buffer zones, sewage sinks and coastal stabilization roles), the North Bank, Western and lower river regions through a co-management approach to act as an additional buffer against climate-induced pressures in coastal a

Integration of Climate Change Risks and Resilience into Forestry Management in Samoa (ICCRIFS)

Facing the need to increase the resilience of Samoa's forest areas on which local communities significantly rely upon for their livelihoods, the project aims at implementing alternative forestry management approaches and technique, supported through creating an enabling environment to build institutional and technical capacities.