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To achieve food security, ecosystems must continue delivering a variety of benefits that are crucial for crop, livestock, forest and aquatic production systems as well as rural livelihoods. Productivity therefore depends on ecosystem functioning, and the healthy functioning and resilience of ecosystems depends - to a great extent - on biological and genetic diversity.  

However, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning will be affected by climate change in addition to existing pressures, such as land-use change and introduction of invasive species. Phenological cycles and food webs will be disrupted and the different migratory ability of organisms may lead to community changes. A diversity of genetic resources for food and agriculture allows for selection and adaptation to drought, salinity or diseases. Today, the narrow genetic base of improved varieties or breeds is a cause for genetic vulnerability.

Ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) has been defined as an overall strategy that integrates the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. It includes the sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems to provide services that help people adapt to both current climate variability, and climate change.