EbA Planning Tool ‘ALivE – Adaptation, Livelihoods and Ecosystems’ introduced at South-South knowledge exchange workshop in China

On April 23-24, 2018, the United Nations Environment Programme - International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) and Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS) co-organized a “South-South Exchange Workshop: Ecosystems for Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Livelihoods Knowledge Sharing” in Beijing, China. This workshop was sponsored by UN Environment, Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN), and National Ecosystem Research Network of China (CNERN). The workshop had the overall goal to facilitate exchange of knowledge, experiences and tools on ecosystem-based approaches towards climate change adaptation and improvement of sustainable livelihoods among developing countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). Over 50 representatives from the GMS, namely Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as different international organizations participated in the workshop.

At the workshop, the EbA Planning Tool ‘ALivE – Adaptation, Livelihoods and Ecosystems’, developed under the GEF-funded project EbA South, was introduced with an aim to support the facilitation of uptake and dissemination in other applicable contexts in developing countries. ALivE is designed as a computer-based tool to support EbA project managers and practitioners in organising and analyzing information to plan effective EbA options within a broader EbA planning process. It is a rapid qualitative assessment technique that can be applied in any ecosystem. Ms. Tatirose Vijitpan, EbA South Project Co-Manager at UNEP-IEMP, moderated the session. Ms. Anika Terton from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) gave comprehensive presentation through video connection. The presentation covers the topics: ALivE overview, target users, ALivE development process, how to apply ALivE and next steps, which include training in the EbA South pilot countries (Mauritania, Nepal and Seychelles) and translation of user manual into French and Nepali languages. Although still under its official approval process, ALivE was very well received. Participants were very interested in the tool and expressed their high interest to apply it in their projects as well as possible training for them. There were lively discussions on potential application in different contexts and clarifications on certain functions at the end of the session.

Apart from ALivE, at the workshop Ms. Diwen Tan, EbA South Project Co-Manager at UNEP-IEMP, also gave presentation on EbA interventions in the EbA South project sites in dryland, mountain and coastal ecosystems. The session also received high interest from the participants with active discussions about EbA interventions in their own countries and how to overcome mutual challenges.