As part of FEBA’s role in synthesising multi-stakeholder knowledge on EbA, FEBA hosts a number of expert working groups (WGs) where members collaborate on key topics. These thematic working groups are an integral way for FEBA members from diverse organisations to share knowledge, exchange best practices, enhance mutual learning, and generate new knowledge. Many of these groups are developing knowledge products and events on EbA including position papers, technical documents, and webinars to synthesize this collective knowledge and to influence international policy and practice.
Expert Working Group on Biodiversity, Climate, One Health and Nature-based Solutions
Chaired by WHO and IUCN
Under the umbrella of the Friends of EbA (FEBA) network, leading experts engaged in the science-policy interface of public health, biodiversity, and climate change will collaborate in an innovative initiative led by the WHO and IUCN to help guide decision makers toward a healthier, greener and more sustainable future as they navigate the challenges of the post-COVID-19 era.
The World Health Organization (WHO), through its Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Friends of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (FEBA) network are establishing a new expert working group (EWG) on Biodiversity, Climate, One Health and Nature-based Solutions. This initiative builds upon and expands the scope of work carried out by the Inter-agency Liaison Group on biodiversity and health, co-chaired by WHO and the Convention on Biological Diversity between 2015 and 2020.
The EWG will develop guidance and tools to support the operationalization of One Health approaches and Nature-based Solutions by: (1) identifying co-benefits and trade-offs for human and ecosystem health, (2) strengthening social and ecological resilience and (3) supporting a healthy, green and just recovery from COVID-19.
Read more about the EWG launch here and here.
EbA in Humanitarian & Post-Disaster Contexts
Chaired by MercyCorps
Environmental Safeguarding and Nature-based solutions to DRR & CCA in Humanitarian Contexts
Ecosystem services, environmental health and safeguarding, and environmental hazards are often overlooked and degraded during humanitarian crises (e.g. protracted crises, conflict-affected fragile contexts, post-disaster, transitional recovery and development, etc.). Degradation of ecosystems and their services exacerbates peoples’ exposure to natural hazards and impacts from climate change, reducing access to safe, sufficient natural resources needed for livelihoods and undermining long-term development and increases. In addition, environmental and climactic factors play a critical role in the development and trajectory of complex crises. However, EbA can uniquely contribute to developing cost-effective, novel and durable solutions within crisis-hit areas, and contribute to building immediate and long-term resilience.
More shared, cross-network and inter-institutional research, learning and advocacy is needed to transform how humanitarian aid and development is done, to better consider nature based solutions and environmental safeguarding as a core component and strategy. The goal of this cross-network working group is to convene stakeholders across FEBA, the Environment and Humanitarian Action Network (EHAN) and the Partnership for Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) networks to address these issues intentionally and collaboratively, elevating and advancing this work through a comprehensive Community of Practice.
Urban EbA
Chaired by PlanAdapt
Healthy, functioning, and resilient ecosystems lay the foundation for sustainable economic development, food and water security, disaster risk reduction and climate action. The impacts of climate change pose unique risks to densely populated urban areas – and thus, the role of EbA as part of adaptation strategies in urban areas is critical. The FEBA Urban EbA Working Group, co-chaired by IUCN and PlanAdapt, brings together researchers and practitioners from the fields of urban development, climate change, EbA and green-grey infrastructure to share successes and failures to help learn from past projects and improve future urban EbA initiatives. In late 2020, the working group launched a survey to identify and compile practical examples of urban EbA planning and implementation, and hosted a webinar to showcase case studies of urban EbA in the Global South to promote the mainstreaming of EbA approaches as a cornerstone of climate adaptation in urban contexts. The information gathered through the survey, webinar and follow-up interviews will provide the basis for a FEBA technical publication on EbA in urban ecosystems. This compilation will contribute to the knowledge base of the growing area – in theory and practice – of Urban EbA.
EbA in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
Chaired by UNEP
The EbA & NAPs Working Group, chaired by UNEP as part of the NAP Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP), is developing guidelines on the integration of EbA into NAPs to support countries in NAP development. The EbA-NAP guidelines will be supplementary to the NAP Technical Guidelines produced by the LEG in 2012 and will directly build on these guidelines by elaborating the main entry points for EbA at each step. These guidelines will help least developed countries (LDCs) programme/design NAPs linked to EbA in support of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG). Taking a systems approach, the guidelines will identify entry points in the planning process, highlight knowledge gaps, provide in-depth coverage of issues such as transboundary water issues, and include an array of illustrative case studies to policymakers of where and how EbA has been used to inform NAP development.
As part of the EbA & NAPs FEBA Working Group, the guidance note Building Resilience With Nature: Maximizing Ecosystem-based Adaptation through National Adaptation Plan Processes was launched in early 2021.
Biodiversity & Climate Change
Chaired by the UNFCCC Nairobi Work Programme
The Biodiversity and Climate Change Working Group builds on the UNFCCC Nairobi Work Programme’s thematic work on the role of biodiversity and ecosystems for adaptation and work to fill identified knowledge gaps on EbA in this thematic area through the NWP platform. The working group brings together a community of practice to focus on biodiversity and climate change with an emphasis on forests and grasslands, which is mandated thematic work under the NWP, and facilitates technical knowledge sharing and exchange including case studies, lessons learnt and content specific examples of practice. The working group provides inputs and guidance on knowledge gaps that emerge from the UNFCCC thematic work, and supports in co-designing actions for governments and non-state actors and sharing relevant opportunities of engagement with UNFCCC constituted bodies and processes.
Global Green-Gray Infrastructure Community of Practice
Led by Conservation International
FEBA is a founding member of the Global Green-Grey Infrastructure Community of Practice, led by Conservation International. The Community of Practice serves as a forum for collaboration across the conservation, engineering, finance, and construction sectors to generate and scale green-grey climate adaptation solutions. Green-grey infrastructure combines conservation and/or restoration of ecosystems with the selective use of conventional engineering approaches to provide people with solutions that deliver climate change resilience and adaptation benefits. By blending “green” and “blue” conservation with “grey” engineering techniques, communities can incorporate the benefits of both solutions while, through a hybrid approach, minimizing the limitations of using either individually.
The Community of Practice has grown to 58 members spanning the globe, including AECOM, Bechtel, Deltares, Arup, Caterpillar, World Resources Institute, IUCN, TNC, RARE, and many academic partners. This multi-disciplinary community is addressing specific issues related to green-gray economics and finance, identifying case studies of hybrid solutions in action, and defining science-based engineering guidelines. The Community of Practice launched the Practical Guide to Implementing Green-Grey Infrastructure in late 2020.
EbA and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Chaired by SwedBio
The Working Group on EbA & the SDGs, chaired by SwedBio, will develop a comprehensive report on the role of EbA in the successful implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The report will build on related reviews focused on the importance of addressing climate change and biodiversity for sustainable development. This FEBA report will address for each SDG how habitat degradation, species loss and climate change undermine EbA and the potential achievement of the SDG as well as how an EbA approach can support its achievement.
If you are interested in joining one of these expert working groups, or starting a working group on another topic, please contact us.
