Piloting the Locally Led, Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Tool: insights from conservation practice in Nicaragua

This report presents findings from piloting the integrated Locally Led, Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Tool in Nicaragua, including practical recommendations and lessons learned.

Developed by Fauna & Flora in collaboration with IIED, the holistic assessment tool integrates environmental, social and climate dimensions essential for effective adaptation, to help strengthen evidence on climate adaptation progress and support accountability along the finance delivery chain.

It builds on the well-recognised ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) framework and the locally led adaptation (LLA) principles, and has also been harmonised with IIED’s ‘360-degree accountability approach’ and the LLA scorecards to ensure close alignment and to better tailor adaptation metrics to conservation contexts.

The tool was piloted with Fauna & Flora’s long-standing project and partner, Biometepe, in Nicaragua. Building on the lessons from this case study, the report provides recommendations for practitioners, policymakers and funders ahead of COP30.  

The report features a foreword from Lucas Di Pietro, former board chair of the Adaptation Fund.