Operational framework for ecosystem-based adaptation: Implementing and mainstreaming ecosystem-based adaptation responses in the Greater Mekong sub-region
This framework provides operational guidance to government planners and other practitioners on how to develop and mainstream ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. The framework is guided by available literature, best practices, and the experiences of diverse development and adaptation practitioners. It offers stepwise guidance for analyzing vulnerability, selecting adaptation responses at the sub-national level, and mainstreaming EbA into policies and planning processes.
The framework is divided into two sections. Section I provides a brief explanation of EbA and the rationale for integrating it when assessing potential adaptation options and strategies worldwide. This section focuses on the need for an operational framework, discusses the framework's target users, and briefly explains the importance of considering social-ecological systems, vulnerability, and resilience in the EbA context. A brief discussion on the challenges and gaps prevalent in the existing EbA practices and frameworks is also presented.
Section II describes the design of the framework and provides guidance for applying it to achieve better climate change adaptation outcomes. This section includes a conceptual design (ecosystem-development nexus), the use of robust analytical methodologies (scenario-analysis, spatial concepts, cost-effectiveness analysis, and participatory methods), and detailed guidance that is applicable at different scales to make EbA more relevant to development planners and policy makers.