Co-hostsWorld Bank, IUCN and World Agroforestry Centre The aim of this session is to encourage greater appreciation of the benefits of landscape management and restoration as a key approach to climate change adaptation. Research has shown that well-functioning ecosystems reduce the impact of climate change on societies, such as forests regulating water supply or mangrove forests protecting coastal areas from storm surges and sea-level rise. While many countries have already developed adaptation plans, few consider the role of ecosystems. Ecosystem measures can complement other technical approaches to climate change adaptation that are often based on infrastructure development, and provide a bridge between adaptation and mitigation. Building on the strengths of local communities, landscape restoration can increase both environmental and social resilience by providing livelihood options and an array of benefits, including carbon storage, protection of biodiversity and food security. This session will open with an inspiring film highlighting the benefits of landscape restoration in different countries, and a keynote address by the study leader of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) report. Panellists will discuss the challenges of using ecosystems for adaptation at the landscape level and how best to lock in the benefits of forested landscapes before it is too late.
