Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Marine and Coastal Areas

1. Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Marine and Coastal Areas Lynne Zeitlin Hale Global Coastal and Ocean Forum May, 2010

2. Adaptation is already a necessity – need and cost increasing The World Bank estimates coastal management and defense as the most costly component of adaptation: $30 billion/year for developing countries Sea level rise

3. When Coastal Ecosystems are Lost PEOPLE LOSE Ecosystems provide important services that need to be maintained: • Food • Protection • Health • Income • Culture

4. Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EBA) Management interventions that: • Increase ecosystem and social resilience • Better survival, faster recovery • More fish, tourism income, cleaner water • Increase ability of coastal systems to provide protection from sea level rise and storms • Reduced erosion, wave dissipation, storm surge • Reduce costs of adaptation to climate change • Natural systems with self-maintenance and multiple benefits EBA needs to be integrated within sustainable development and comprehensive adaptation plans

5. Helping Coastal Nations and Communities Reduce their Vulnerability and Adapt • Visualize future problems & scenarios • Provide decision support for adaptation and resilience • Identify management actions that can be taken (science) • Apply solutions • Learn • Communicate • Build Capacity

6. Visualize future problems & scenarios; Provide decision support Choisseul, Solomon Islands Long Island, New York, USA

7. Managing for Ecosystem ResilienceCoral reefs 1998...a wake-up call

8. TNC Resilience Model Representation and Replication Habitat Types Multiples Risk Spreading Critical Areas Refugia Spawning Aggregations Secure Sources of Seed Connectivity Transport Replenishment Effective Management Threat Abatement Adaptive Strategies Strong Recruitment Enhanced Recovery RESILIENCE Enhance Ecosystem Resilience

9. Share Climate-Smart Management Approaches (www.reef resilience.org) Bahamas Hawaii Florida Keys Lesser Antilles Micronesia Meso-American Reef Coral Triangle Indian Ocean Global Outreach

10. Solutions: “Green” Infrastructure: Cost effective shoreline protection Mangroves, marshes, shellfish reefs • Baffle waves • Reduce erosion • Bind sediments • Trap new sediments • Support active accretion • Prevent mass movement of debris during storms

11. Habitat Restoration for Coastal Protection: Shellfish reefs • Largely extirpated habitat • Ongoing research at 40+ sites shows oyster reefs: • Reduce erosion • Improve water quality • Create habitat • Support fisheries • www.nature.org/shellfish

12. Habitat Restoration for Coastal Protection: Mangroves • Threatened Habitat but • 25% protected • Restoration possible; • Bangladesh:148,500 ha • Indonesia: 48,923 ha • Philippines:44,000 ha • Vietnam: 67,637 ha

13. Rising to the Challenge • Adaptation funding should prioritize coastal areas • Integrate and prioritize Ecosystem-based Adaptation within development planning and national adaptation plans • Clarify relative costs and effectiveness of green vs. grey infrastructure for coastal hazard protection • Integrate climate change consideration in hazard mitigation and response plans • Consider impacts of “hard” and sectoral adaptation measures on coastal and marine ecosystems • Take action now – on mitigation and adaptation