Ecosystem-based climate adaptation: building on the positives in El Salvador

The governments of developing nations — which are disproportionately affected by climate change — must identify effective ways to help their people adapt to the new and evolving climate realities. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is an increasingly popular approach, which has been applied in El Salvador to help restore mangrove ecosystems in the Paz River, while strengthening community livelihoods at the same time. This briefing looks at the Adaptation, Vulnerability and Ecosystems Project in El Salvador; through it we explore how to judge EbA effectiveness and discuss some of the policy, institutional and capacity-related hurdles — and opportunities — to rolling out EbA more fully across the country. We suggest key next steps needed to overcome the challenges and so to maximise the potential EbA has already shown in the Paz River project.