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PEDRR Shoutout: CBD convenes its first Technical Workshop on Eco-DRR and EBA
At the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in October 2014, Member States requested the Executive Secretary to compile and analyze experiences on Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EBA). In response, a Technical Workshop on Ecosystem-based Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction was organized, with the support of the European Union, the Government of South Africa and the Government of Sweden, in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 28 September to 2 October 2015.
The workshop aimed to facilitate sharing of experiences and lessons on EBA and Eco-DRR. In attendance were National Representatives from key regions, as well as implementing partners. UNEP and IUCN provided perspectives on implementing Eco-DRR/EBA approaches. Outputs of the workshop will be presented to CBD's Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) for consideration. Key points raised included the importance of ecosystems in reducing people's vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks, mainstreaming into development policies and implementation, and need for capacity building. Learn more and check out our Facebook page for photos from the event.
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News
Sustainable Development Agenda adopted at UN Summit
The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda was adopted at the United Nations Summit in New York on 25-27 September. To commemorate the event in New York, UN staff gathered at the International Environment House in Geneva to witness the raising of a special flag composed of 17 pictograms representing the 17 goals framing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 17 goals and 169 targets stress the importance of healthy ecosystems and make references to disaster and climate risk reduction. Continue reading and check out more pictures from the Geneva event posted on our Facebook page.
Uganda: Beehives for a better life
Uganda is applying sustainable agriculture to deal with climate change which is affecting crop production and causing landslides and flooding in its mountain region. Through the Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Programme, being implemented by IUCN, UNDP and UNEP, local communities are diversifying livelihoods in order to build resilience to climate change impacts, including receiving practical training on bee-keeping. Read more.
Extreme weather harmful to grasslands
A six-year study on the impacts of variable climatic conditions on desert grasslands revealed that when weather patterns alternated between wet and dry years, ecosystem productivity deteriorates. This leads to diminishing grassland, which in turn encourages shrubs to develop and dominate, and which has serious consequences for communities who depend on grassland for their livestock grazing. Learn more.
Acknowledgements
PEDRR would like to thank Ms. Yingyue Wang, for her contributions to the PEDRR Secretariat. During her internship, Ms. Wang generated the PEDRR's weekly newsletter, social media communications, research on Myanmar's Eco-DRR country profile, and a case study on China's Eco-DRR efforts which will contribute towards UNEP/PEDRR's case study library. We wish Ms. Wang the best in her future endeavors.
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Featured Event
Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Indicators and Terminology
The first formal session of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group took place on 29-30 September at Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. At this session, UN member states gathered to discuss terminology and indicators related to DRR, which will measure global, regional and national progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework. The session focused on potential indicators for Targets A, B, D and G in the Sendai Framework. Find out more.
Publication
Didactic Toolkit for the Design, Management and Assessment of Resilient Farming Systems
This toolkit allows users to better understand the mechanics of farming systems and how the adoption of agro-ecological management can enhance the capacity of farmers in preparing for unpredictable events such as hurricanes, rain storms or droughts. Agro-ecological practices that increase resilience to severe events include increasing plant diversity in farms, adding organic matter to soils and managing soil cover. With the application of the toolkit, the design, management and assessment of the farming system towards extreme events can be monitored. Link to the publication.
Quick Knowledge
How many Susatainable Development Goals have targets that relate to DRR? To learn more
Answer: 4 Goals (Goals 1,2,11 & 13)
Job Vacancies
Glacial Lakes Aerial Monitoring Mission
Organisation: Focus Humanitarian Assistance - International Coordinating Committee Secretariat (FOCUS FICC); Focus Humanitarian Assistance - Pakistan (FOCUS Pakistan)
Location: Tajikistan
Deadline: 14 October 2015
International Consultant to improve the methodology for assessing the safety of schools
Organisation: UNICEF
Location: Astana, Kazakhstan
Closing Date: 15 October 2015
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Organisation: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Deadline: 20 October 2015
Intern/Assistant to the Senior Regional Adviser
Organisation: The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar), Asia-Oceana Region
Location: Gland, Switzerland
Deadline: 25 October 2015
For more information and other job vacancies, please see PEDRR's Linkedin
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