Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation: strengthening the evidence and informing policy - Research results from the Climate Resilient Livestock Production on Communal Lands project, South Africa

Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Under the ‘Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation: strengthening the evidence and informing policy’ project, IIED, IUCN and the UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) are working at 13 sites in 12 countries to gather practical evidence and develop policy guidance for governments on how EbA can best be implemented.

This report presents the findings from a literature review, and interviews with a wide variety of stakeholders conducted by Conservation South Africa at the project site in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa, where activities focused on the rehabilitation of critical rangeland and wetland ecosystems.

The report concludes that wetland restoration had improved access to water and reduced the risk of disasters, and thus improved the resilience and adaptive capacity of some community members. Despite a number of policy and institutional barriers to the implementation of effective EbA initiatives, these public works programmes offer great potential for scaling up EbA implementation. Mainstreaming is also occurring as EbA is incorporated into various national policy making and planning processes in South Africa.