Ecosystembased adaptation and disaster risk reduction and gender

Ecosystem-based adaptation and disaster risk reduction and gender: findings of the draft synthesis report Sakhile Koketso Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

CBD Synthesis Report on EBA and Eco-DRR • • In decision XII/20, the CBD COP requested the Executive Secretary to compile experiences with ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation (EBA) and disaster risk reduction (eco-DRR) In response to this decision, the SCBD issued a notification requesting information from countries and organizations on their experiences with EBA and eco-DRR The SCBD also commissioned a synthesis report which compiles experiences with implementation of EBA and eco-DRR, including analysis of policy relevant issues such as economics of EBA, gender mainstreaming, inclusion of IPLCs; the synthesis report is based on a wide variety of information including submissions from countries, national reports, NBSAPs, GEF projects etc The preparation of the report is developed with the input and guidance of a technical reference group, involving experts and practitioners UNDP, UNEP, UNFCCC, FAO, UNISDR, CMS, WMO, the Ramsar Convention, IUCN, Bird. Life International, Conservation International and WWF.

CBD Synthesis Report – Key messages • EBA and Eco-DRR overlap in practice, and both build upon and utilize approaches that already exist in the practices of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, climate change adaptation and livelihood development. Figure 1: Linkages between EBA and other fields of practice within the overall context of sustainable development. EBA is shown as a three-way synergy between, biodiversity and, ecosystem, conservation, climate change adaptation, and societal resilience (figure adapted from Midgley et al. 2012 and annotated by UNDP)

CBD Synthesis Report – Key messages Linkages between EBA and eco-DRR: • A recent review of commonalities and differences between EBA and Eco-DRR found that in practice, it is difficult to distinguish between the two - there are more commonalities than differences due to the basic shared underlying principle of utilizing the ecosystem approach and increasing the resilience of people and communities (Doswald and Estrella 2015). Figure 2: Overlap between ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) and ecosystem -based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) (adapted from a figure depicting climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction overlaps in Mitchell and Van Aalst 2008).

CBD Synthesis Report – Key messages • • • A rationale for implementing EBA and Eco-DRR is due to the anticipated multiple benefits they may bring, including the contribution to sustainable livelihoods, and preservation of local identities, such as in forest communities Many countries have integrated EBA and Eco-DRR into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, National Adaptation Programmes of Actions, disaster management plans, development policy, and drought relief policy Cooperation among ecosystems/biodiversity, adaptation and disaster reduction communities results in a greater ability to design interventions that deliver better outcomes Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities have long coped with variability, uncertainty and change through multi-generational histories of interaction with the environment. Indigenous, traditional and local knowledge systems - and forms of analysis and documentation such as community mapping - can play a significant role in identifying and monitoring climatic, weather and biodiversity changes and impending natural hazards, similar to early warning systems

CBD Synthesis Report – Key messages • • • Adaptation and DRR policies and programmes can be strengthened if contributions from both women and men are incorporated. Therefore, gender mainstreaming should be a significant aspect of Eb. A and eco. DRR to ensure success and sustainability of policies, programmes and projects. The consideration of trade-offs should be present throughout the risk assessment, scenario planning, and adaptive management approaches for EBA and Eco-DRR implementation. In addition to monitoring the short-term provisions of services, managers should also monitor the long-term evolution of slowly changing variables. It is important to recognize the potential limitations of using Eb. A or eco. DRR. Ecosystems are subject to climate change impacts, and therefore any intervention utilizing the ecosystem approach can be vulnerable to change, which should be accounted for when planning activities.

Findings of the study relating to gender: • Encouraging progress on the recognition that involvement of women, youth and children is important, however, few concrete examples of action on gender mainstreaming, particularly for adaptation and disaster risk reduction planning

Case study – Caicaoan village, Uganda: • • • Flooding and related problems with food security Maladaptation – alternative sources of livelihoods led to overharvesting of firewood and depletion of resources Deforestation and lack of water are two of the many problems that the local women’s group in Caicaoan decided to address. Photo: OXFAM

Case study – Caicaoan village, Uganda: • • They successfully planted evergreen and mango trees to replace those cut down for fuel and charcoal, and this reduced soil erosion and helped women earn an income. They also built a borehole so that the seven-hour round trip they used to make to collect water was reduced to 30 minutes. The work of the women’s group has given women an important leadership role in finding sustainable livelihoods solutions for the community. ~ excerpted from ‘Sisters on the Planet’, Oxfam, 2007. Photo: OXFAM

Case study – Swaziland: • • • (UNFCCC NWP workshop on traditional knowledge and gender, 2014) In Swaziland, women were an important, and at times only, available source of information for a food security vulnerability assessment. The information was collected through household surveys, which served as a useful tool to collect gender-disaggregated vulnerability data Photo: IFAD

Case study – Timor Leste: • • • The different roles in society, and different knowledge of natural resources, of men and women were also an important consideration in mangrove rehabilitation activities in Timor Leste. Because women were mainly responsible for collecting resources in coral reefs and mangroves while men were mostly fishing, they acquired more knowledge about mangroves. Women’s involvement during participatory planning and monitoring and evaluation benefited the mangrove rehabilitation programme (UNFCCC 2014). Photo: JICA

Challenges and Gaps Participants at the UNFCCC NWP workshop mentioned above and the CBD technical workshop provided several insights on challenges and opportunities: – The lack of political will for gender-sensitive adaptation policies and plans; – Limited resources, including finance, technical and institutional capacities at all levels; – Misconception about gender equality and perception that gender is a women’s issue only, when gender refers to both men and women – Lack of comprehensive and consistent application throughout the adaptation cycle – Lack of understanding of the benefits of gender-sensitive adaptation actions; and – Lack of gender-sensitive approaches in monitoring and evaluation

Lessons Learned • Participants at the CBD Technical Workshop on EBA and Eco-DRR identified several lessons learned regarding gender mainstreaming in EBA and Eco-DRR measures: • Challenges persist in the understanding on what gender is – there needs to be capacity building on understanding gender issues in order for EBA and Eco-DRR to be effective • Even where there gender has been mainstreamed into climate adaptation policy, implementation is still challenging • Successful examples of gender mainstreaming can be seen from grassroots women’s organisations in the Americas where women’s groups are now training local governments on how to reduce disaster risk and build partnerships with local governments

Opportunities • A gender-sensitive approach would allow women’s traditional knowledge to be used as an effective adaptation tool. • For example, women in Hawaii used their knowledge of planting pandanus trees for coastal protection (UNFCCC 2013).

The draft synthesis report is available for peer review until 4 January 2016 at: https: //www. cbd. int/sbstta 20/review/

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