PROTECTED AREAS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Through ecosystem-based adaptation, protected areas provide a powerful tool to address climate change. Their role has been recognized by the international community addressing climate change, but is generally undervalued and under explored. Protected areas have long been one of the cornerstones of biodiversity conservation. Used to promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in natural surroundings, they remain not only vital to the conservation of the world's natural and cultural resources in the face of climate change but also have an important roles to play:     Fact: Protected ecosystems provide coastal protection against sea-level rises and the increased frequency of natural disasters due to climate change.

To replace the coast protection services provided by mangroves, has been estimated to cost US$300,000 per kilometer of shoreline

RECIPIENTS: SUGGESTED ACTIONS

• LifeWeb Expressions of Interest for projects that include the use of protected areas as tools for adaptation to climate change should be submitted.
• Expressions of Interest dealing with climate change adaptation should make reference to the national climate change adaptation strategies

DONORS: IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Protected areas provide opportunities to support climate change adaptation solutions through conservation.
• Protected areas can be a cost-effective means of adapting to climatic changes and can have important synergistic benefits for the conservation of biodiversity and the improvement of local livelihoods.
• LifeWeb has already facilitated matches between donors and recipients. In the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation, the German Ministry of Environment has already contributed, through LifeWeb, close to €40m with the intention to commit similar funds annually from its climate change fund to new and existing protected areas around the world.

RELEVANT CBD CONFERENCE OF PARTIES DECISIONS

• The Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in decisions V/4 and VII/15 recognized the link between climate change and biodiversity.
• The Conference of Parties to the CBD in decision IX/18 (A), article 23:
  Encourages Parties and invites relevant organizations to enhance research and awareness of the role that protected areas and the connectivity of networks of protected areas play in addressing climate change;
• The Conference of Parties to the CBD in decision IX/18 (B), article 3 invited parties to:
  (h) Explore funding opportunities for protected area design, establishment and effective management in the context of efforts to address climate change recalling that effective actions to reduce deforestation could constitute a unique opportunity for biodiversity protection, as noted by the Conference of Parties in decision VIII/30;
• The Conference of Parties, in decision IX/18 (B) Article 6, Urged multilateral organizations, NGOs and other funding organizations to support developing countries (…) by:
  (e) Supporting projects that demonstrate the role that protected areas play in addressing climate change

• The Convention’s Programme of Work on Protected Areas also encourages Parties to integrate climate change adaptation measures in protected area planning, management, and design (CBD Decision VII/28, Protected areas (Articles 8 (a) to (e)), Annex (Programme of work on protected areas): Suggested activity no. 1.4.5, Goal 1.4).