Assessing Adaptation Knowledge in Europe: Ecosystem-Based Adaptation

This report focuses on the implementation of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). It provides a wide standing overview on EbA measures and case studies which are categorised across six different land use and land cover types: agriculture, forestry, coastal, urban, and water management (rivers, lakes, wetlands and watersheds).

For each EbA category success and limitation factors for EbA measures have been identified as well as a common set of factors across all categories. In addition, the report provides information on the biophysical as well as economic impacts of EbA measures. The biophysical effects are often context specific and the available information does not cover adaptation outcomes as measures may have been implemented for purposes others than adaptation (e.g. haltering biodiversity loss, water quality or agricultural and forest management). In assessing the economic impact, there is the difficulty that information about economic benefits was rarely available. Nevertheless, the cost-benefit assessment, and the different sources of funding have been identified as one key driver for the implementation of EbA measures.