Resilient Ecosystems and Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities for Coastal Cities in Africa

The document argues that healthy ecosystems, such as mangroves and wetlands, act as critical buffers that reduce the physical exposure of African coastal cities to natural hazards. It promotes the adoption of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) as cost-effective, nature-based solutions. While international frameworks like the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement provide support, the author notes that regional policies in Africa linking biodiversity conservation to disaster risk reduction are virtually non-existent. The brief identifies significant barriers to implementation, including weak governance, fragmented sectoral approaches, and a lack of funding for capacity development, recommending a holistic, multi-sectoral integration of nature-based solutions into national development strategies.

• Healthy ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and coastal areas like mangroves and sand dunes, reduce disaster risk by acting as physical barriers and providing essential services that support livelihoods.
• Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) are similar nature-based solutions, but differ in scope: EbA focuses on biodiversity and long-term climate change, while Eco-DRR includes immediate disaster components like early warning, preparedness, and recovery.
• There is a critical lack of regional policies in Africa that explicitly connect biodiversity conservation and resilient ecosystems with disaster risk reduction.
• The implementation of Eco-DRR in Africa is hindered by institutional and governance challenges, including a disconnect between international conventions and local activities, as well as a lack of cross-sectoral integration within national governments.
• Nature-based solutions are often undervalued compared to engineering options because their benefits take several years to materialize, leading to their exclusion from strategic and budget planning.
• Specific examples of Eco-DRR application include wetland and dune restoration in South Africa's Eden District Municipality, flood mitigation in the Msimbazi Basin of Dar es Salaam, and catchment management in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Lukaya River.

APA

Sauka, S. (2020). Resilient Ecosystems and Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities for Coastal Cities in Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PI-79-GARP-sauka-FINAL-WEB.pdf

Chicago

Sauka, Siyasanga. Resilient Ecosystems and Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities for Coastal Cities in Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PI-79-GARP-sauka-FINAL-WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sauka |first1=Siyasanga |title=Resilient Ecosystems and Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities for Coastal Cities in Africa |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=March 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PI-79-GARP-sauka-FINAL-WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sauka2020resilient, author = {Sauka, Siyasanga}, title = {{Resilient Ecosystems and Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities for Coastal Cities in Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PI-79-GARP-sauka-FINAL-WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }