Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Agriculture, Water Resources and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Greater Mekong Subregion

The document evaluates Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), identifying successful practices such as agroforestry, mangrove rehabilitation, and circular farming. It highlights significant policy gaps in water resources and disaster risk management (DRM), alongside barriers including poverty, tenure insecurity, and a preference for 'grey' infrastructure. The study emphasizes the need for cross-sectoral coordination, innovative financing like Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), and the integration of local and indigenous knowledge to scale resilience.

• EbA practices in the GMS, including circular farming, mangrove rehabilitation, and natural water storage, demonstrate the ability to address climate and development impacts while providing cost savings and co-benefits.
• There are notable policy gaps in the GMS, specifically a lack of EbA integration within disaster risk management (DRM) and weaker coverage in the water resources sector compared to agriculture.
• Scaling EbA is hindered by a lack of cross-sectoral coordination, limited understanding of long-term benefits, and farmer constraints related to poverty and tenure insecurity.
• Many successful EbA implementations rely on traditional practices and indigenous knowledge rather than new technological innovations.
• Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is a promising mechanism for incentivizing smallholders, but its application in the GMS is currently over-emphasized in the forestry sector and absent in Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
• The REDD+ framework in Viet Nam has faced issues with 'displacement,' where reforestation in one country is offset by the displacement of deforestation to others, such as Lao PDR and Cambodia.
• There is a systemic preference for traditional 'grey' infrastructure over EbA solutions like natural pools and wetland restoration due to higher initial costs and a fear of risk-taking.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Agriculture, Water Resources and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Greater Mekong Subregion. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/attachment-2-2-ccesp-policy-study-eba-in-water-and-agriculture.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Agriculture, Water Resources and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Greater Mekong Subregion. n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/attachment-2-2-ccesp-policy-study-eba-in-water-and-agriculture.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Agriculture, Water Resources and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Greater Mekong Subregion |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/attachment-2-2-ccesp-policy-study-eba-in-water-and-agriculture.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendecosystembased, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Agriculture, Water Resources and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Greater Mekong Subregion}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/attachment-2-2-ccesp-policy-study-eba-in-water-and-agriculture.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }