Inter-linkages Inter-linkages between Biological between Biological Diversity and Diversity and Climate ChangeClimate Change

Braulio Dias (CBD, Brazil)Braulio Dias (CBD, Brazil)

Member AHTEG 2002-3Member AHTEG 2002-3

Informal joint meeting of the CBD-SBSTTA Informal joint meeting of the CBD-SBSTTA and UNFCCC-SBSTA, Montreal 30 and UNFCCC-SBSTA, Montreal 30

November 2005November 2005

Rationale for synergies and Rationale for synergies and cooperationcooperation

• Climate change is a major driver of Climate change is a major driver of biodiversity lossbiodiversity loss

• Biodiversity management can Biodiversity management can contribute to climate change contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation mitigation and adaptation

• Both Conventions contribute to Both Conventions contribute to sustainable developmentsustainable development

Ad hocAd hoc Technical Expert Group Technical Expert Group

• Government nominated experts Government nominated experts (invited through CBD and (invited through CBD and UNFCCC focal points)UNFCCC focal points)

• Co-chairs: Outi Berghall and Co-chairs: Outi Berghall and Robert WatsonRobert Watson

• Three meetings: 2002 - 2003Three meetings: 2002 - 2003• Input from IPPCInput from IPPC• Expert & Government ReviewExpert & Government Review• Report welcomed by CBD Report welcomed by CBD

SBSTTA and UNFCCC SBSTASBSTTA and UNFCCC SBSTA• Parties of both conventions Parties of both conventions

encouraged to make use of the encouraged to make use of the reportreport

AHTEG AHTEG ReportReport 1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

2.2. Biodiversity: linkages to Biodiversity: linkages to climate changeclimate change

3.3. Observed and projected Observed and projected impacts of climate change on impacts of climate change on biodiversitybiodiversity

4.4. Climate change mitigation Climate change mitigation and adaptation options: links and adaptation options: links to and impact of biodiversityto and impact of biodiversity

5.5. Approaches for supporting Approaches for supporting planning, decision making planning, decision making and public discussionand public discussion

6.6. Selected case studiesSelected case studies

AHTEG Report - Some FindingsAHTEG Report - Some Findings

• Significant opportunities for Significant opportunities for mitigating climate change, and for mitigating climate change, and for adapting to climate change while adapting to climate change while enhancing the conservation of enhancing the conservation of biodiversitybiodiversity

• LULUCF activities can play important LULUCF activities can play important role in reducing net emissionsrole in reducing net emissions

• Conservation of biodiversity and Conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem structure maintenance of ecosystem structure and function can contribute to and function can contribute to adaptation strategiesadaptation strategies

Mitigation activitiesMitigation activities

• Afforestation and reforestation activities can have Afforestation and reforestation activities can have positive, neutral or negative impacts, depending on positive, neutral or negative impacts, depending on the ecosystem being replaced, and management the ecosystem being replaced, and management options applied:options applied:

• The best opportunities for positive effects can be The best opportunities for positive effects can be achieved:achieved:

On degraded landsOn degraded lands with natural regeneration and native specieswith natural regeneration and native species minimal clearing of pre-existing vegetationminimal clearing of pre-existing vegetation chemical use is minimizedchemical use is minimized rotation lengths are extendedrotation lengths are extended low impact harvesting methods are usedlow impact harvesting methods are used

• Avoided deforestation can provide the greatest Avoided deforestation can provide the greatest biodiversity benefitsbiodiversity benefits

Adaptation activitiesAdaptation activities

•Adaptation is necessary not only for Adaptation is necessary not only for projected changes but also because projected changes but also because climate is already affecting many climate is already affecting many ecosystemsecosystems

•Reduction of other pressures on Reduction of other pressures on biodiversity (habitat conversion, over-biodiversity (habitat conversion, over-harvesting, pollution, alien invasions) harvesting, pollution, alien invasions) constitute important adaptation constitute important adaptation measuresmeasures

•Genetically-diverse population and Genetically-diverse population and species-rich ecosystems have a greater species-rich ecosystems have a greater potential to adapt to climate changepotential to adapt to climate change

•Protection or restoration of ecosystems Protection or restoration of ecosystems may provide important goods and may provide important goods and services to compensate for likely lossesservices to compensate for likely losses

AHTEG Report - Some ConclusionsAHTEG Report - Some Conclusions

• The Ecosystem approach of the CBD provides a The Ecosystem approach of the CBD provides a flexible management approach to address climate flexible management approach to address climate change mitigation and adaptation activities in a change mitigation and adaptation activities in a broad perspectivebroad perspective

• The Ecosystem approach is a strategy for the The Ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living integrated management of land, water and living resources, involving consideration of :resources, involving consideration of :– Ecosystem goods and servicesEcosystem goods and services– Sharing of costs and benefitsSharing of costs and benefits– Management at appropriate scale(s)Management at appropriate scale(s)– Adaptive managementAdaptive management

A range of tools available ..A range of tools available ..

to assess the economic, environmental to assess the economic, environmental and social implications of different climate and social implications of different climate change mitigation and adaptation projects change mitigation and adaptation projects and policies, and aid decision making:and policies, and aid decision making:

Environmental impact Environmental impact assessmentsassessments

Strategic Strategic environmental environmental assessmentsassessments

Decision-analytic Decision-analytic frameworks frameworks

Valuation techniquesValuation techniques Criteria and indicatorsCriteria and indicators

Case studiesCase studies UgandaUganda – – Mt Elgon National ParkMt Elgon National Park Costa RicaCosta Rica – – EcomarketsEcomarkets FinlandFinland – – EIA of National Climate StrategyEIA of National Climate Strategy MadagascarMadagascar – – Masaola National ParkMasaola National Park BelizeBelize – – Rio Bravo Climate Action ProjectRio Bravo Climate Action Project SudanSudan – – Community-based Rangeland Community-based Rangeland

Rehabilitation for Carbon sequestrationRehabilitation for Carbon sequestration Britain and IrelandBritain and Ireland – – Climate Change Nature Climate Change Nature

ConservationConservation Central America and MexicoCentral America and Mexico – – Mesoamerican Mesoamerican

Biological CorridorBiological Corridor UgandaUganda – – Tree Plantations for Carbon CreditsTree Plantations for Carbon Credits Romania Romania – – Afforestation of Degraded Afforestation of Degraded

Agricultural LandAgricultural Land

Lessons from case studiesLessons from case studies

1.1. Scope for afforestation, reforestation, Scope for afforestation, reforestation, improved forest management and avoided improved forest management and avoided deforestation activities to be harmonized with deforestation activities to be harmonized with biodiversity conservation. biodiversity conservation.

2.2. Linking biodiversity with community livelihood Linking biodiversity with community livelihood options provides a good basis for CDM projects options provides a good basis for CDM projects to advance sustainable development;to advance sustainable development;

3.3. The neglect and/or omission of social, The neglect and/or omission of social, environmental and economic considerations environmental and economic considerations can lead to conflicts and undermine success;can lead to conflicts and undermine success;

4.4. Countries and key stakeholders need to have Countries and key stakeholders need to have the necessary information, tools and capacity the necessary information, tools and capacity to balance environment, social and to balance environment, social and development goals.development goals.

Lessons from case studies …..Lessons from case studies …..

5.5. Some minimum environmental and social Some minimum environmental and social norms could avoid perverse outcomes.norms could avoid perverse outcomes.

6.6. Appropriate analytical tools and instruments Appropriate analytical tools and instruments can help guide decision making; adaptive can help guide decision making; adaptive management; and learning and replicationmanagement; and learning and replication

7.7. Baseline data, inventories and monitoring are Baseline data, inventories and monitoring are requiredrequired

8.8. The ecosystem approach provides a good basis The ecosystem approach provides a good basis to guide the formulation of climate change to guide the formulation of climate change mitigation policies/projects and conservation of mitigation policies/projects and conservation of biodiversity.biodiversity.

AHTEG Report - ConclusionsAHTEG Report - Conclusions

• Clear opportunity to implement mutually Clear opportunity to implement mutually beneficial activitiesbeneficial activities

• These opportunities rarely realized These opportunities rarely realized because of lack of coordination at because of lack of coordination at national and international levelsnational and international levels

• A range of tools available to assess A range of tools available to assess impacts of projects and aid decision impacts of projects and aid decision makingmaking

Second Ad hoc technical Second Ad hoc technical expert group on expert group on Biodiversity and Climate Biodiversity and Climate ChangeChange

Biodiversity and Biodiversity and Adaptation to Adaptation to Climate ChangeClimate Change

SecondSecond Ad hoc Ad hoc Technical Expert Group Technical Expert Group

• Government nominated expertsGovernment nominated experts• Co-chairs: Heiki Toivonen and Co-chairs: Heiki Toivonen and

Nagmeldin Goutbu ElhassenNagmeldin Goutbu Elhassen• First meeting: September 2005First meeting: September 2005• Report considered by CBD SBSTTA 30 Report considered by CBD SBSTTA 30

November 2005November 2005

-> -> Further assessment of the integration of Further assessment of the integration of biodiversity considerations in the biodiversity considerations in the implementation of adaption activities to implementation of adaption activities to climate change and advice for planning and climate change and advice for planning and implementing activities to address implementing activities to address adaptation to climate changeadaptation to climate change

Biodiversity and Adaptation to Biodiversity and Adaptation to Climate Change – key message 1Climate Change – key message 1

• National policies, programmes and plans for National policies, programmes and plans for adapation should take biodiversity considerations adapation should take biodiversity considerations into account. into account.

• If biodiversity considerations are incorporated If biodiversity considerations are incorporated formally and routinely into adaptation planning, formally and routinely into adaptation planning, negative consequences can be minimized and negative consequences can be minimized and positive benefits enhanced (see Annex 1 of the positive benefits enhanced (see Annex 1 of the report)report)

Biodiversity and Adaptation to Biodiversity and Adaptation to Climate Change – key message 2Climate Change – key message 2

• The maintanence and restoration of resilience is The maintanence and restoration of resilience is an essential element of adaptation to sustain the an essential element of adaptation to sustain the delivery of ecosystem goods and services. delivery of ecosystem goods and services.

• Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain functions after being perturbed. maintain functions after being perturbed. Resilience decreases an ecosystem’s sensitivityResilience decreases an ecosystem’s sensitivity

• Biological factors, which confer resilience, Biological factors, which confer resilience, include:include:

• genetic heterogeneitygenetic heterogeneity

• population size and distributionpopulation size and distribution

• ecosystem connectivityecosystem connectivity

Biodiversity and Adaptation to Biodiversity and Adaptation to Climate Change – key message 3Climate Change – key message 3

Effective collaboration and networking Effective collaboration and networking between biodiversity and climate change between biodiversity and climate change communities at all levels is essential for the communities at all levels is essential for the successful implementation of adapation successful implementation of adapation activities for biodiversityactivities for biodiversity