Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA

This research paper examines ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) interventions in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) coastal region, focusing on how these projects can provide livelihood opportunities and be scaled. The authors identify an incremental, community-led model—starting with periodic fishery closures to meet immediate food needs before expanding to broader conservation—as a highly effective approach for achieving sustainable outcomes.

• The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region has suffered significant ecological losses due to climate change, including a 40% reduction in coral cover between 1998 and 2016 caused by marine heatwaves and a decrease in phytoplankton biomass that is believed to negatively affect tuna catches.
• An incremental approach to EbA, which prioritizes immediate livelihood needs as a 'gateway' to further conservation, has proven successful in the WIO. This model typically begins with periodic fishery closures (PFCs) for species with short lifecycles, such as octopus, providing rapid food security gains that encourage communities to adopt longer-term management and spatial expansion.
• Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) serve as a vehicle for scaling community-based resource management. In Madagascar, the MIHARI network now includes over 80 LMMAs comprising 219 fishing communities, managing nearly 20% of the country's coastline.
• The Velondriake project in Madagascar demonstrates a comprehensive scaling model that evolved from temporary closures to a 683km2 area including permanent reserves, seaweed and sea cucumber aquaculture, mangrove beekeeping, and the Tahiry Honko carbon conservation project.
• Financial sustainability for EbA livelihoods is often achieved through micro-lending, eco-credit schemes, or payment for ecosystem services. Examples include the 'Mkuba' eco-credit scheme in Tanzania, which provides loans to fishers who commit to sustainable marine resource plans.
• Large-scale, resource-intensive projects funded by entities like the Green Climate Fund or GEF can deliver significant spatial and temporal scale, but there are concerns regarding the sustainability of livelihood benefits once project funding ends.
• There is a notable lack of documented coastal or marine EbA programs with livelihood co-benefits in Namibia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), though the authors note this may be due to a paucity of available information rather than a total absence of interventions.
• Training and skills development are universal features of the analyzed EbA cases, focusing on restoration activities, alternative livelihoods (e.g., beekeeping, eco-tourism), community governance, and small business management.

APA

PRICE, P., & BOULLE, T. (2023). Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP_347_LivelihoodOpportunitiesEbA.pdf

Chicago

PRICE, PENELOPE, and THÉRÈSE BOULLE. Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2023. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP_347_LivelihoodOpportunitiesEbA.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=PRICE |first1=PENELOPE |last2=BOULLE |first2=THÉRÈSE |title=Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP_347_LivelihoodOpportunitiesEbA.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{price2023livelihood, author = {PRICE, PENELOPE and BOULLE, THÉRÈSE}, title = {{Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP_347_LivelihoodOpportunitiesEbA.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }