News

Regional contest on ecosystem-based adaptation

03.04.2017

Practical Action, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its Regional Portal for Technology Transfer and Action on Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean (REGATTA), have launched a regional contest to identify successful cases of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) technologies and practices that contribute to the resilience and adaptation of communities and ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean to climate change. The contest, titled "Demonstrating evidence on ecosystem-based adaptation: Cases in Latin America and the Caribbean”, is open to any public, private or civil society organization working to improve adaptation to climate change.

UNEP REGATTA and Practical Action have identified adaptation to climate change as a priority line of work and recognize the important role of ecosystems in actions against climate change. Therefore, promoting EbA initiatives can be an effective option for adaptation of the most vulnerable communities.

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are particularly vulnerable to the risks associated with climate change. The impact of these risks on communities and ecosystems varies by geography and may include longer and more severe dry seasons, increasing drought and water scarcity for agriculture, heat and water stresses for livestock and forest fires during the summer months. More erratic and non-seasonal rains can increase flooding, landslides and soil erosion. A serious threat to coastal countries is raising sea level combined with larger storm surges that cause coastal erosion and alter the salinity of coastal lands.

As a response to climate change, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are actively seeking to develop adaptation measures with ecosystem approaches that are resistant to climate-related risks and stressors and to make efficient use of the limited available natural resources. In this regard, efforts are being made to develop, identify, promote and disseminate EbA practices to reduce vulnerability and increase the resilience of communities and ecosystems in the region. For these reasons, UNEP REGATTA and Practical Action are interested in documenting good examples of EbA where implementing EbA technologies and practices contributes to adaptation to climate change.

Participants have until 20 April 2017 to submit their case studies. Members of the Mountain Partnership based in the region may be interested in contributing case studies on mountain-specific EbA technologies and practices to the contest. Ten case studies will be selected to be included in the publication of the book "Evidence on Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: Cases in Latin America and the Caribbean".

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Photo: Fundación CoMunidad/Alberto Pascual