Ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) is the use of nature’s goods and services to help people adapt to the expected impacts of climate change.  Coastal EBA includes a range of actions for the management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems such as mangroves, coastal wetlands, coral reefs, shellfish reefs, and sea grass beds in order to help reduce the vulnerability and increase the resilience of coastal human communities in the face of climate change. Coastal EBA has the potential to be a cost-effective and accessible means of adaptation that can help address multiple threats and local priorities.

Strategy Description
The need for immediate and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the impacts of climate change and avoid catastrophic consequences in the long term is now indisputable. But even as countries work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, climate change related impacts will continue and increase over the short to medium term, making adaptation an urgent need for many, particularly vulnerable coastal communities.

Robust, resilient coastal ecosystems are part of the solution. They can serve as protective buffers for human communities from sea level rise and increased storm events, while continuing to provide sources of food, fuel, fiber and livelihoods—provided we manage them well

Mangroves, marshes, oyster reefs and coral reefs are already under enormous human pressure and climate change is adding additional major threats. Rising seas, increased storm intensity, warming temperatures and acidifying waters will further compromise the ability of coastal ecosystems to provide ongoing critical ecosystem services for people.  

Ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) is the use of nature’s goods and services to help people adapt to the expected impacts of climate change.  It includes a range of actions for the management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems in order to reduce the vulnerability and increase the resilience of human communities in the face of climate change. Coastal EBA has the potential to be a cost-effective and accessible means of adaptation that can help address multiple threats and local priorities.

The Nature Conservancy focuses on bringing the best science and latest knowledge to planners, managers, governments and communities so that they can make informed decisions about managing current and future climate change impacts across a variety of ecosystems. Through our marine conservation work, we are implementing tangible solutions on the shore and in the water and supporting communities in their climate change adaptation efforts.