Embracing Ecosystem-based Adaptation: Safeguarding Our Freshwater Ecosystems on World Water Day
As we commemorate World Water Day, it’s crucial to acknowledge the vital role that aquatic ecosystems play in the Earth’s water cycle, as well as the growing threats they face due to climate change. This year’s World Water Day focuses on the theme of glacier preservation. Aquatic ecosystems and glaciers are interconnected through the water cycle, with melting glaciers impacting rivers, lakes, and oceans, while rising ocean temperatures contribute to glacier melt. This cycle of warming and melting leads to further consequences for both people and the environment.
Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) offers a sustainable solution to enhance the resilience of communities to climate change while protecting the Earth’s critical aquatic resources that we all depend on, ensuring water for all. This blog explores what EbA is and how can it be effectively implemented in freshwater ecosystems to benefit oceans downstream, while also linking back to glacial health.
Understanding Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Freshwater Ecosystems
EbA involves using biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall strategy to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. It focuses on leveraging the natural capacity of ecosystems to mitigate and adapt to environmental changes. By restoring and conserving ecosystems, EbA can provide natural buffers against climate impacts, such as floods and droughts, especially in freshwater ecosystems.
Oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands are vital for biodiversity, human livelihoods, and climate regulation. They serve as natural water filters, support diverse flora and fauna, and provide resources for agriculture and recreation. However, these ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced challenges, such as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, as well as human-induced threats like pollution.
Case Studies and Success Stories
Several Global EbA Fund projects are working to implement EbA strategies in freshwater ecosystems to promote ecosystem health. The “De la Sierra al Mar” project implemented by the Smithsonian Institution in Peru’s Cañete River Watershed, serves as an example of fostering water security and biodiversity conservation for over 340,000 locals that rely on the diverse ecosystems of the watershed. The project uses evidence-based, participatory scenario planning to empower local stakeholders, ensuring that decisions on water and land use align with community needs and strengthen climate resilience. By assessing aquatic ecosystem health and collaborating with the Cañete Water Resources Council, the project combines scientific research with local knowledge, highlighting its role in sustainable ecosystem management.
The 3EP – Emphasising Ecosystems, Elevating People project was implemented by Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) in partnership with UN-Habitat, ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre, and various city actors. The project aim was to rediscover and regenerate Nairobi’s river systems, with a focus on the Ngong River Basin, to reduce climate risks, increase biodiversity, and enhance residents’ climate resilience and socio-economic well-being. Through capacity-building workshops the project facilitated the co-development of a shared vision for the future of the Ngong River Basin, bringing together local and national governments, civil society organisations, academia, and riverine communities in a collaborative effort to shape sustainable solutions. At the neighbourhood level, Rivers + People plans were developed for two informal settlements along the Ngong River – Mukuru and Kibera. Despite a complex and highly politicised environment, the project maintained a strong commitment to inclusive and participatory approaches, ensuring that local communities stayed central to discussions about the regeneration of Nairobi’s rivers. This approach set a benchmark for sustainable development and urban river basin management.
The “Building Climate Resilient Communities in Stung Prey Pros Watershed” project implemented by Church World Service (CWS) in Cambodia, aims to address the watershed’s vulnerabilities to climate change by exploring EbA approaches at the district level. By integrating landscape management and building local adaptive capacity, the project aims to embed EbA approaches into local planning and to boost food security and economic resilience of 1,500 smallholder and indigenous households. This initiative promotes multi-stakeholder participation and uses innovative tools to ensure sustainable resource management, aligning with both short- and long-term development goals. Launched in November 2023, the project emphasises collaboration with local communities and government officials to ensure alignment with local priorities and regulatory frameworks.
Preservation and Protection
As we celebrate World Water Day, it’s imperative to recognise that protecting our freshwater ecosystems can help address climate change while also providing additional benefits for water quality, food security, and sustainable development. EbA offers a promising path forward, aligning with global climate adaptation goals while preserving the invaluable services that freshwater ecosystems provide. To learn more about how projects funded by the Global EbA Fund contribute to safeguarding water resources, explore our projects on our website.
