Centring Human Rights in Ecosystem-based Adaptation

The document advocates for a human rights-based approach (HRBA) to ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), emphasizing that biodiversity-led climate strategies are most effective when they address power imbalances and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities. It highlights Section C of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) as a critical guide for ensuring equity and avoiding maladaptation. Case studies from Benin, focusing on the protection of sacred forests through Indigenous knowledge, and Kenya, focusing on rangeland restoration in Mount Marsabit via pastoralist stewardship, demonstrate how inclusive practices enhance resilience. The brief recommends establishing national coordination mechanisms to track EbA across sectors and increasing climate finance for locally led actions, noting that currently less than 0.2% of such finance specifically targets locally led outcomes.

• Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) can be more cost-effective, scalable, and equitable than conventional top-down adaptation, but its success depends on implementation and the use of a human rights-based approach (HRBA) to address power imbalances.
• Section C of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) provides essential guidance for EbA to avoid maladaptation and the entrenchment of inequalities, specifically regarding the rights of Indigenous peoples, gender equity, and financial access.
• In Benin, the integration of Indigenous knowledge regarding sacred forests into formal biodiversity policy and district development plans helps safeguard biodiversity and local livelihoods.
• In Mount Marsabit, Kenya, the use of the 'ramat' (stewardship) model and the Herder Conservation Network (HCN) has enabled the restoration of 600ha of degraded land by integrating traditional pastoralist practices with GIS technology.
• There is a significant gap in climate finance for local action, with less than one-third of total climate finance supporting local action and less than 0.2% specifically targeting locally led outcomes.
• Effective EbA requires robust national coordination mechanisms to align biodiversity and climate goals across different ministries and policy instruments, such as NDCs, NAPs, and NBSAPs.

APA

SACK, H., & SITAS, N. (2026). Centring Human Rights in Ecosystem-based Adaptation. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SAIIA_PB-321_CentringHumanRights.pdf

Chicago

SACK, HANNAH, and NADIA SITAS. Centring Human Rights in Ecosystem-based Adaptation. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2026. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SAIIA_PB-321_CentringHumanRights.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=SACK |first1=HANNAH |last2=SITAS |first2=NADIA |title=Centring Human Rights in Ecosystem-based Adaptation |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=June 2026 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SAIIA_PB-321_CentringHumanRights.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sack2026centring, author = {SACK, HANNAH and SITAS, NADIA}, title = {{Centring Human Rights in Ecosystem-based Adaptation}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SAIIA_PB-321_CentringHumanRights.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }