Scaling up of Adaptation in the Agricultural Sectors (SAAS)

Module 1: Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in the agricultural sectors

Webinar 6: Potential for EbA to build agricultural livelihood resilience in Dryland Ecosystems

Date: Thursday, August 9th, 14:00-15:30 CEST (UTC +2)

Dryland systems are the agro-ecosystems characterized by extreme climatic variability with low and erratic precipitation, water scarcity and high susceptibility to land degradation, including desertification, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. These challenges are paramount and can result in food insecurity within dryland communities.

To improve the productivity and resilience of drylands, to positively contribute to livelihood options and to adapt to climate change, management actions should include the rehabilitation of degraded drylands and the restoration of ecosystem services. The 6th webinar of the EbA in the agricultural sectors webinar module seeks to identify approaches, tools and methods available to promote the implementation and scaling up of ecosystem-based approaches in dryland ecosystems; to share lessons learned and good practices generated from the past and ongoing experience; and to identify opportunities and challenges for scaling up of ecosystem-based approaches for climate change adaptation in drylands.

Presentations and Speakers:

A harmonized approach for the valuation of ecosystem services in drylands: A case study from the Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (Cacilm2), a GEF project on integrated natural resources management in drought-prone and salt-affected agricultural production landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey

Sara MarjaniZadeh, Land and Water Officer, FAO and Makhmud Shaumarov, Project Coordinator, FAO

The overall objective of the CACILM2 Project is to scale up integrated natural resources management (INRM) in drought prone and salt affected agricultural production landscapes in the five Central Asian countries. This will be done through scaling up of sustainable management practices that minimize pressures and negative impacts on natural resources that reduce risks and vulnerability and, enhance capacity of rural communities to cope with or adapt to drought and salinity. For this presentation, a background of the CACILM1 project, it’s achieved experiences and how it led to the second phase will be presented. It will then discuss the importance, the effects and benefits of SLM (sustainable land management) and INRM best practices and their impacts on ecosystem services and production landscapes at wider scales in drylands and the chosen five Central Asian countries.

See Presentation  and Recording

Forest and landscape restoration for adaptation in drylands: The Great Green Wall Initiative

Nora Berrahmouni, Senior Forestry Officer, FAO Regional Office for Africa (FAORAF)

Africa’s Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative involves over 20 countries around the Sahara. Conceived as a mosaic of green and productive landscapes, the Great Green Wall is considered as a game changer for Africa’s Drylands and communities, given its potential to address climate change adaptation and mitigation, prevent and combat desertification, eradicate poverty, end hunger and boost food and nutrition security. FAO is engaged in this initiative through the EU-funded Action Against Desertification (AAD) programme, supporting six African countries (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Gambia, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal) in large-scale restoration— one that places rural communities at its heart and biodiversity as key source of resilience and adaptation to climate change. Through this presentation, we will showcase how plant-based solutions are being used for restoration and adaptation to climate change in Africa’s drylands.

See Presentation and Recording

Ecosystem-Based governance in dryland ecosystems: A case study on integrating traditional and conventional knowledge in pastoral systems in Northern Kenya

Claire OGALI, Programme Officer, Global Drylands Initiative at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

To enhance natural resource governance and restore the degraded rangelands, an ecosystem approach to resource governance is a pre requisite. The Participatory Rangeland Management Planning (PRMP) has been used by IUCN in engaging communities in rangeland management and planning. The aim of PRMP is to facilitate participatory rangeland management and planning in a simplified and practical way. The center of PRMP is participation by all the key stakeholders. The principles of PRM closely link with the principles of EbA especially in enhancing participation, incorporation of local knowledge and planning at the ecosystem scale. The PRMP approach was used in a project on strengthening natural resource governance in Garba Tula in Isiolo County, Kenya. The goal of the project was to improve governance to support better livelihood security and ecosystem management. The main output from the project was supporting the development of by-laws at the County level which recognize and build-on customary rules and regulations.

See Presentation and Recording

For Question and Answer session please click here

Moderator:

Molefi Mpheshea and Manar Abdelmagied, Climate and Environment, FAO, Rome