From watershed development to ecosystem-based adaptation: A journey to systemic resilience
This report is an assessment of the outcomes of two ecosystem-based adaptation projects from these programmes in Purushwadi and Bhojdari villages. The report shows how EbA can help build systemic resilience in ecosystems and communities. The climate crisis is particularly acute in India. The latest research predicts a rise in average temperatures of 2.4–4.4 °C by the end of the century. Increase in average temperature is associated with greater occurrence of heatwaves, longer and more frequent droughts, and heavy irregular rainfall. Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is one example of a nature-based solution for adaptation. It is a systemic approach that focuses on increasing people’s adaptive capacity through the sustainable use, conservation and restoration of ecosystems, their services, and biodiversity. It also aims for inclusive governance and improved coordination at different policy levels to create a sustainable development model. Further, EbA is regarded as a low-cost and no-regret option. Studies show that it can be used as an effective pro-poor approach in rural development, given its social cobenefits such as food security and poverty reduction.
