The integration of AbE into municipal planning makes it possible to conserve ecosystems that reduce the vulnerability of local communities.

Madrid, 16 December 2019. “Through the conservation of ecosystems, we improve the quality of life of local communities. That's why by conserving and preserving, we win.” These were the words of Prefect José Daniel Villao, from the prefecture of Santa Elena (a province in Ecuador affected by floods and increasingly intense El Niño phenomena), during the event “Natural Solutions? Experiences with integrating Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) measures into municipal planning”, which took place during COP25.

Thora Amend of EUROCLIMA+, pointed out that “humanity's challenges are multiple and not all of them can be solved by natural solutions, but many of them can.” She stressed that EbA actions aim to strengthen societies, reduce climate risks and improve the local economy.

Alejandra Tenorio and Karina Leal, representatives of the NGO Pronatura, who are implementing the project “Articulating global agendas from the local level” in seven municipalities in Mexico and Brazil, commented that the project develops capacities in the municipalities through the incorporation of tools that allow them to learn about the vulnerability of their population and their livelihoods, and that require priority attention.

 “By carrying out vulnerability analyses through livelihoods, it is possible to involve all relevant sectors, not just the environment,” Alejandra said.

For her part, Mariana Gianiaki, part of the project in Brazil, commented that the EbA actions they implement are mainly through agroforestry systems. “With this we aim to dynamize the economy of the most vulnerable communities within the municipalities where we are intervening, including Foz de Iguaçu (in Paraná) and Porto Seguro (in Salvador da Bahia),” she said.

Improving the local economy

There is great interest on the part of the private sector to support the implementation of EbA actions at the local level. So said Joao Augusti, Manager of Environment and Certification of Suzano, the largest paper and pulp company in Latin America. “By strategically reducing climate risks to local communities and forests, we are able to maintain our company's value chain with greater stability. In addition, with local socio-economic support projects, we stand out positively to our clients and investors,” he emphasised.

He pointed out that the application of EbA measures is not just the responsibility of the state, but also the community and local companies, because they are the ones who inhabit the territory and see the results directly.

In line with this, Andrew Scyner, Programme Manager / LAC Regional Programmes of EUROCLIMA+ (DEVCO G.2) indicated: “The time has come to act to prevent ecological disaster, and we cannot do it alone. We need plans and strategies that are multisectoral and involve public administration, the private sector, and civil society.

About the event

The event “Natural Solutions? Experiences with integrating EbA (Ecosystem-based Adaptation) measures into municipal planning” was organised by the Forests, Biodiversity and Ecosystems component of the EUROCLIMA+ programme together with Pronatura Mexico and ANAMMA from Brazil, on Thursday, December 12, in the EUROCLIMA+ Pavilion.

It was attended by Andrew Scyner, DEVCO G.2 EUROCLIMA+ Programme Manager / LAC Regional Programmes of EUROCLIMA+; Alejandra Tenorio (Pronatura) and Mariana de Olivera Gianiaki (ANAMMA), coordinators of the project “Articulating Global Agendas from the Local”; Prefect José Daniel Villao from the Prefecture of Santa Elena, Ecuador; Karina Leal, Director of Climate Change of Pronatura; Joao Augusti, Manager of Environment and Certification of Suzano; Mario Mantovani, Founder and member of the Council of ANAMMA; and the facilitation of Dr. Thora Amend of EUROCLIMA+.

Photo gallery of the event here.

The project

The project “Articulating global agendas from the local: Ecosystem-based Adaptation as a catalyst for municipal actions to achieve global goals,” is part of the “Forests, Biodiversity and Ecosystems” component of the EUROCLIMA+ programme implemented by Expertise France and GIZ, which finances a total of 9 projects in 12 Latin American countries.

The projects are developing innovative initiatives to adapt to climate change so that local communities and their territories can be more resilient to the effects of change. They aim to up-scale them in order to share their experiences in other countries and generate opportunities for replication, while also contributing to and informing their countries' adaptation and mitigation measures.

Learn more about the projects here.

About EUROCLIMA+ 

EUROCLIMA+ is a programme financed by the European Union and co-financed by the Federal Government of Germany through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as the Governments of France and Spain, to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), French Development Agency (AFD), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), the German society for international cooperation (GIZ), and UN Environment.

Contact for press and more information

Maite Cigarán: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.