What is ecosystem-based adaptation and its relevance in humanitarian action?

What is ecosystem-based adaptation and its relevance in humanitarian action?

• A. Building seawalls and dikes is an example of ecosystem-based adaptation.
• B. Ecosystem-based adaptation uses only policy changes, not ecosystems.
• C. Using ecosystems to reduce risk and support livelihoods, such as mangroves for coastal protection and wetlands for flood control; protects biodiversity.
• D. It has no relevance to humanitarian action

Answer: (C)

Ecosystem-based adaptation uses natural ecosystems and their services to reduce climate risks while supporting people’s livelihoods, which makes it highly relevant for humanitarian action. By strengthening natural barriers and ecosystem functions, it helps communities withstand hazards and recover more quickly after disasters. Examples include mangroves protecting coastlines from storm surges, wetlands and floodplains moderating flood peaks, and healthy forests regulating watersheds. These nature-based approaches often cost less than built infrastructure, provide co-benefits like biodiversity protection and carbon storage, and support livelihoods through sustainable use of resources. The option that describes using ecosystems to reduce risk and support livelihoods with concrete examples—and that also highlights biodiversity protection—best captures how ecosystem-based adaptation works in practice. The other statements miss the ecological and livelihood-focused essence or mischaracterize EbA as solely policy-driven or irrelevant to humanitarian work.

Ecosystem-based adaptation uses natural ecosystems and their services to reduce climate risks while supporting people’s livelihoods, which makes it highly relevant for humanitarian action. By strengthening natural barriers and ecosystem functions, it helps communities withstand hazards and recover more quickly after disasters. Examples include mangroves protecting coastlines from storm surges, wetlands and floodplains moderating flood peaks, and healthy forests regulating watersheds. These nature-based approaches often cost less than built infrastructure, provide co-benefits like biodiversity protection and carbon storage, and support livelihoods through sustainable use of resources. The option that describes using ecosystems to reduce risk and support livelihoods with concrete examples—and that also highlights biodiversity protection—best captures how ecosystem-based adaptation works in practice. The other statements miss the ecological and livelihood-focused essence or mischaracterize EbA as solely policy-driven or irrelevant to humanitarian work.