Scaling up of Adaptation in the Agricultural Sectors (SAAS)

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

Webinar 1: Introduction to ecosystem-based adaptation in the agricultural sectors: Context, approaches and lessons learned

Date: Wednesday, November 22nd, 15:00 – 16:30 CEST (UTC/GMT+1)

The first webinar of the module on “Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Agricultural Sectors” will present an overview of widely recognized and well-developed approaches, as well as on the ground experiences of the ecosystem-based management of natural resources in the agricultural sectors. The webinar will highlight the relevance of these approaches and experiences in the context of climate change adaptation. The specific learning objectives of the webinar are: a) what are the key approaches available to support ecosystem-based adaptation in the agricultural sectors? b) What are the lessons learned from the use of these approaches to support adaptation to climate change in the agricultural sectors?

Presentations and speakers:

Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) in agricultural sectors: An introduction

Selvaraju Ramasamy, Climate and Environment Division, FAO, Rome

Livelihood resilience is strongly linked to ecosystem resilience. EbA provides an approach for looking at the risks associated with climate change, ecosystems, and livelihoods with the aim of enhancing the overall resilience of natural and socioeconomic systems that impact livelihoods.

EbA in the agricultural sectors can come in the form of sustainably managing, conserving and restoring natural resources in an effort to strengthen the resilience of agricultural dependent livelihoods. EbA provides multiple services and benefits, including food and water production as well as buffering capacities against extreme events.

See Presentation

Watershed Management – Experiences from Chimborazo, Ecuador

Petra Wolter and Luca FedOstiani, Forestry Department, FAO, Rome

Watershed management involves any human action aimed at ensuring a sustainable use of watershed resources. It is an integrated and people centered approach where human actions are fundamental to the sustainable use of the resources. Watershed management requires that actions be multi-scale in nature. They should link the varied levels of policy development and implementation. Solutions should be combined to seek innovative and low-cost options that target both ecosystem conservation and livelihood improvement. Solutions should also be long-term focused, flexible and adaptive to management, planning and financing.

FAO supported a watershed management project in Chimborazo, Ecuador. The national government is executing the project, while FAO’s role is limited to technical and financial supervision. The project applied a cross-sectoral ecosystem/territorial vision. It aimed to involve all actors from provincial units and all types of users. The aim of the project was to establish a jointly agreed upon and validated watershed management plan. The plan is territorial in scope and includes a mix of good sustainable land practices (e.g. livestock production, forest restoration, value chain development and organic and conservation agriculture).

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Agroecology – Experiences in the context of EbA

Rémi Cluset, Agroecology Expert, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, FAO, Rome

Agroecology is a cross-sectoral and integrated approach. It attempts to balance the need to address ecological conservation and socio-economic improvement. The approach involves mimicking the self-regulation of nature and understanding traditional systems that can work to maintain ecosystem functioning. There exist several parallels between EbA and Agroecology and synergies need to be made. Parallels include the use of community and participatory approaches and nature-based solutions. Entry points can be different, where EbA focus adaptation and agroecology on transformation of food systems.

Agroecology in practice: Malawi – legume diversification for soil fertility. Large-scale transdisciplinary project that worked through a variety of organizations. Classical agro ecological practices were implemented and the methodology took into consideration issues of equity, community seed banks, and implemented participatory action research and horizontal learning. The project aimed to increase the resilience of the global agroecosystem, spread out the harvest period, and to introduce drought tolerant crops. Food and nutrition security was improved, including the diversification of diets and longer harvest periods.

See Presentation

Moderator:

Manar Abdelmagied, Climate and Environment Division, FAO, Rome