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

This policy brief examines the role of resilient ecosystems in climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR), specifically for coastal cities in Africa. It advocates for nature-based solutions, such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR), to reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events. The document highlights a significant gap in African regional policies that explicitly link biodiversity conservation with DRR and provides recommendations for mainstreaming these approaches into national and regional development strategies.

• Healthy ecosystems, including wetlands, forests, mangroves, and sand dunes, reduce the physical exposure of people and assets to natural hazards by acting as protective barriers and buffers, while also providing essential services like food and water that reduce overall vulnerability.
• Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) are nature-based solutions that offer cost-effective alternatives to traditional engineered infrastructure. While EbA focuses on biodiversity and long-term climate change, Eco-DRR is broader, incorporating early warning, preparedness, response, and recovery planning.
• There is a critical lack of regional policies in Africa that explicitly connect biodiversity conservation and resilient ecosystems with disaster risk reduction, despite the existence of some regional DRR strategies.
• The implementation of Eco-DRR in Africa faces several constraints, including weak governance, a disconnect between international conventions and local activities, insufficient localized funding, and a lack of cross-sectorial 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.
• The document identifies specific practical applications of Eco-DRR, such as the use of forests for flood and landslide regulation in watershed management, and the protection of wetlands and dunes in the Eden District Municipality of South Africa to manage disaster risk.

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} }