Presentation by: Mike Morecroft 4a. Experience with ecosystem-based approaches under the Convention on Biological Diversity The session will present findings from a synthesis report prepared by the CBD Secretariat on experiences with ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation (EBA) and disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR). It will provide opportunities for countries to share experiences and discuss ways to mainstream EBA and Eco-DRR into NAPs and other plans and strategies. Participants will be invited to take part in a group exercise to identify gaps and needs, as well as entry points and opportunities for integrating EBA.

1. Ecosystem based adaptation:
the UK’s experience
Mike Morecroft
Principal Specialist, Climate Change, Natural England

2. UK process for NAP development
2008
20182016
2012 2013

3. UK NAP Themes
• Built Environment
• Infrastructure
• Healthy and resilient communities
• Agriculture and forestry
• Natural environment
• Business
• Local government

4. NAP Natural environment theme
 Building ecological
resilience
 Preparing for and
accommodating inevitable
change
 Valuing the wider
adaptation benefits the
natural environment can
deliver
 Improving the evidence
base

5. Main risks from climate change
to the UK
• Flooding and coastal change
• Heatwave impacts on people
• Water shortage during drought events
• Degradation of ecosystems and their services
• Domestic and international food production
and trade.
• Pests, diseases and invasive non-native
species

6. Opportunities for Ecosystem
Based Adaptation
• Natural flood management
• Natural cooling
• Retaining water during drought
• Wind breaks

7. Floods, storms and coastal change

8. Natural Flood Management
• Managed realignment – creating inter-tidal
habitats
• Re-naturalising water courses
• Restoring / creating wetlands
• Creating flood storage areas
• Sustainable drainage
• Tree planting

9. Managed realignment:
Alkborough, Humber Estuary
• Flood embankment
breached 2007
• 440 ha low-lying
agricultural land
converted to intertidal
habitats
• Helps to protect
300,000 people from
flooding

10. 10
Wallasea Island Managed Realignment (2015)

11. Holnicote Catchment Management

12. Restoring drained blanket bog

13. Natural cooling
• Keeping rivers cool (tree planting beside
rivers)
• Parks and trees in towns

14. River Ribble Trust
Keeping rivers cool by planting shade trees

15. Urban cooling: heat map of
London
London, June 2011, Land Surface Temperature; ARUP (2014)

16. The challenge: mainstreaming
 Built Environment
 Infrastructure
 Healthy and resilient communities
 Agriculture and forestry
 Business
 Local government
Naturalenvironment

17. Conclusions
• Ecosystem based adaptation can work
• Still at an early stage
• Need evidence of success
• Mainstreaming into other sectors is essential