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Noralene Uy is a PhD candidate in global environmental studies at the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan. Her PhD research focuses on ecosystem-based adaptation as a strategy to enhance climate resilience in rural communities. Her research interests include community-based climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, indigenous knowledge and coastal resources management. She holds master's degrees in development economics from the University of the Philippines and in environmental management from Kyoto University.

Climate change has begun to manifest itself in many ways – from drastic environmental changes to unprecedented climate-related disasters – driving home once again the urgency of undertaking adaptation measures. In this respect, ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation are increasingly being recognized as having important roles in addressing disaster risk and climate change impacts. Not only has science acknowledged these critical roles but also numerous events have demonstrated how vital ecosystems are to human well-being. Making a case for ecosystem-based adaptation is strongly supported because of the huge potential and multiple benefits to be realized by putting ecosystems at the center of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation decision-making and policy.

The key concept of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is how to think of ecosystem in daily lifestyles (both in urban and rural areas), and how ecosystem-based adaptation can be a tool to adapt daily lives in changing climatic conditions. Sustainably managing, conserving, and restoring ecosystems so that they continue to provide the services that allow people to adapt to climate change is known as ecosystem-based adaptation. Summarizing the key observations provided in the earlier chapters, this chapter provides the ways of action-oriented ecosystem-based adaptation.

Ecosystem services are essential for human well-being. The chapter explores the linkages between ecosystems and ecosystem services, biodiversity, and the Millennium Development Goals. Specifically, it focuses on the discussions in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the ecosystem approach within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and ecosystems’ role in the achievement of specific targets of the Millennium Development Goals. It highlights the need for ecosystem-based approaches to ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation, and attainment of human well-being.

The watershed approach is recognized as a holistic approach to ecosystem management. The chapter examines the concept of watershed as an ecosystem in relation to ecosystem management, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. It describes the importance of watersheds in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. It specifically looks at the watershed approach and provides some case studies showing the important role of communities in watershed management. Moreover, it discusses some incentive schemes in managing watersheds.

In the context of natural disasters and climate change, ecosystems are critical natural capital because of their ability to regulate climate and natural hazards. This chapter examines the important role of ecosystems and their services in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. It discusses the relevance of adopting ecosystem-based approaches in managing risks brought about by a changing climate.

Benchmarking ecosystem conditions is a prerequisite to any investigation of ecological systems. It provides a description or better understanding of the system under study. This chapter discusses ecological indicators and the conceptual approaches to ecosystem assessment. It introduces a case study on participatory ecosystem resilience assessment in Infanta, Philippines.