EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Ecosystems Protecting Infrastructure and Communities (EPIC) is a global initiative implemented from 2012 to 2017 to promote the use of ecosystem-based approaches and protect communities from disasters and the negative impacts of climate change. It also aimed to have ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction recognised in key global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Author: Ann Moey, Head of Communications, IUCN Asia with contribution from Anushae Parakh, Programme Assistant for Mangroves for the Future

Near the Sundarbans, home to the largest mangrove forest in the world, Promila makes her living by making mats out of a grass-like wetlands plant called ‘reed’. Depending on size, these mats are sold at US$1 to $7 through a community enterprise established by Promila and her friends.

This publication discusses several cases of collaborations between various stakeholders to achieve resilience to disaster risk. In fact it explains how collaboration among business, government and NGOs could be the key to living with turbulence and change in the 21st Century These collaborations combine the capacities, talents, reach and resources of the public and private sectors and civil society to activate change. Collaboration is chosen because of growing recognition that the sectors have overlapping interests and there are mutual gains to be made.

This report presents tools and methods of a vulnerability and impacts assessment (VIA) of both climatic and non-climatic changes on ecosystem services and community livelihoods in the Panchase Mountain Ecological Region (PMER). The assessment was conducted to develop the information and knowledge needed for human-centered adaptation strategies in order to develop a sustainable ecosystem management plan for the PMER and its surrounding areas. These types of strategies would reduce climate risks and enhance the resilience of local communities and ecosystems.

Advice for disaster risk reduction specialists and protected area managers on how best to use protected area systems as effective buffers, to prevent natural hazards from developing into unnatural disasters

Nigel Dudley, Camille Buyck, Naoya Furuta, Claire Pedrot, Fabrice Renaud and Karen Sudmeier-Rieux

PREFACE