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Tonga’s mangroves project led by community members
Source: 350Pacific.org
On May 2, at the first Pacific Resilience Meeting in Suva, Fiji, the European Union/‘Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH’ (EU/GIZ) In-Country Coordinator for Tonga, Manu Manuofetau, stressed the importance of community involvement in the projects undertaken under the country's measures on Nature Based Solutions as Adaptation Strategies for the Pacific Region. “If you do not involve the communities there is 80% certainty that it will fail”, said Mr Manuofetau. Read the press release here
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Investing in climate change protection
A team of hydrologists, ecologists, climate scientists and livelihood experts is seeking to determine how investments in ecological infrastructure in South Africa can protect society from hydro-climatic hazards, as well as the associated socioeconomic benefits. The project is led by the African Climate and Development Initiative at the University of Cape Town and the Department of Geo-sciences and Natural Resource Management at the University of Copenhagen. Read the story here
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Alarming rate of forest loss threatens a crucial climate solution
Deforestation is threatening a crucial "natural solution" for controlling climate change before it is irreversible. "For every hectare of forest lost, we're one step closer to the scary scenario of runaway climate change, because forests not only store carbon, they continue to absorb it as they grow." said Frances Seymour from the World Resources Institute (WRI). According to Global Forest Watch, about 12 million hectares of tropical forest trees were lost in 2018. Read the story here
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Project Insights
Using forest ecosystems to build resilience in Chile
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The International Climate Initiative (IKI) project "Ecosystems Protecting Infrastructure and Communities (EPIC)" in Chile 2012-2017 promoted Eco-DRR and EbA approaches, researching how nature-based solutions build resilience and how native forests play a protective role in facing avalanches and landslides. The project was coordinated by IIED, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC. A new policy brief examines the experiences of the project, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of EbA and Eco-DRR implementation in Chile.
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Mangrove restoration for climate resilient communities in the Sherbo River Estuary, Sierra Leone
Climate change is having profound impacts on coastal communities in Sierra Leone. In the Sherbo River Estuary, USAID’s West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change program is working to increase coastal resilience by building community capacity and harnessing the benefits of mangroves. Mangrove forests play a key role in enhancing coastal resilience, protecting shorelines from coastal erosion, supporting biodiversity and wild fisheries, and acting as natural carbon sinks. Read the story here |
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Featured Publications
Rigorously valuing the role of U.S. coral reefs in coastal hazard risk reduction
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A new report published by the U.S. Geological Survey, prepared in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the University of California Santa Cruz, provides a valuation of the annual coastal protection benefits of coral reefs in the States of Hawaii, Florida, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, using map flood zones at 10-square-meter resolution along all 3,100+ kilometers of U.S. reef-lined shorelines. The report concludes that US reefs protect over 18,000 lives and provide US$1.8 billion in flood protection annually. The overall goal of the study is to provide decision makers and stakeholders with data to ultimately reduce disaster risks and increase the resilience of U.S. coastal communities to flooding.
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Ecosystem-based adaptation: series synthesis
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This USAID brief provides an introduction to Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), summarizes evidence, discusses cost-effectiveness, identifies the elements of a successful EbA approach and enabling conditions. It draws from a series of case studies, highlighting the potential role of EbA in addressing climate vulnerabilities and contributing to development results. The integration of EbA approaches into community-based adaptation strategies can address many of the priorities identified by vulnerable countries and people, such as reducing disaster risk and improving natural resource conditions.
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Worth of wetlands: revised global monetary values of coastal and inland wetland ecosystem services
A study published in Marine & Freshwater Research found that wetlands make up about 43.5% of the value of all global ecosystems, translating into about US$47 trillion per year in ecosystem services. Coastal wetlands are estimated to generate 43.1% of the total ecosystem services monetary value of all wetlands. Wetlands offer key services including filtration and nutrient cycling, as well as protecting river banks and coastlines against flooding and erosion.
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Events
Green, blue and grey infrastructure form key components of critical infrastructure and demonstrate the application of Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) and adaptation. Resilient infrastructure (such as coastal forests combined with sea walls) offers more sustainable solutions to achieving risk-informed development, as enshrined in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (especially Sendai Monitor Targets C and D). This working session co-organized by PEDRR at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction will promote an informed dialogue on this topic and discuss ways to better align or complement green, blue and grey infrastructure investments. More information here.
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Trainings
Adapting to climate change
GARAMA
17-21 June 2019
Norwich, United Kingdom
This intensive course aimed at individuals, organizations, policy-makers, researchers and local government officials provides participants with an understanding of climate science and policy at the global level and with the practical skills for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into their work. The training will highlight how adaptation relates to concepts such as risk, resilience, vulnerability and transformation, with some sections dedicated to ecosystem-based solutions. More information and registration here
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Project Manager
Organization: UNDP
Location: Suva, Fiji
Closing date: 6 May 2019
See here
Programme Officer (Disaster Risk Reduction/Natural Resource Management)
Organization: World Food Programme
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Closing date: 9 May 2019
See here
Coastal Resources Scientist
Organization: Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Closing date: 9 May 2019
See here
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Coastal Resources Scientist Supervisor
Organization: Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Closing date: 9 May 2019
See here
Intern/Assistant to the Senior Regional Advisor - Americas
Organization: Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Location: Gland, Switzerland
Closing date: 14 May 2019
See here
Ecosystem-based Adaptation Expert-retainer
Organization: UNOPS
Location: home-based
Closing date: 14 May 2019
See here
For more information please see PEDRR's Linkedin.
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