New Agriculturist

Natural solutions: Protected areas helping people cope with climate change

Edited by Dudley, Stolton, Belokurov et al.
Published by IUCN-WCPA, TNC, UNDP, WCS, World Bank, WWF
2010, 130pp, ISBN 978 2 88085 308 2, free to download

Warmer temperatures, rising sea-levels and unpredictable rainfall are just some of the consequences of climate change, and according to the authors, protected areas are an essential part of the global response. "Protected areas are uniquely positioned to support national climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies as they benefit from existing policies, laws and institutions that govern their management and on-the-ground capacities and expertise," the report states. "Protected areas are the most efficient management strategy known to avoid conversion to other land uses and loss of carbon and to secure carbon in natural ecosystems."

In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by storing and sequestering carbon, the report states that protected areas are also helping people cope with the impacts of climate change by maintaining essential ecosystem services for disaster reduction, water supply, and food. "Without [protected areas] the challenges would be even greater, and their strengthening will yield one of the most powerful natural solutions to the climate crisis," the authors note.

From increasing the number and size of protected areas, to improving management in order to ensure that ecosystems are protected and not degraded, Natural solutions concludes with six policy recommendations aimed at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and national and local governments to improve the effectiveness of protected areas as a significant tool for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Date published: June 2010