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 Biodiversity

Why does biodiversity and climate change adaptation, focusing on forest and grassland ecosystems, matter?
Biodiversity underpins the ecosystem processes and functions that provide critical services to society. In turn actions that help conserve, restore or sustainably make use of biodiversity and ecosystems can provide adaptation benefits while also contributing to multiple facets of sustainable development. These include climate change mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and the maintenance of essential ecosystem services. As a result, biodiversity, including forests and grasslands, is one of the priority areas under the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP) as mandated by SBSTA 48 and SBSTA 50.
 
Forest and grassland ecosystems provide floodwater retention and slope stabilization and serve as windbreaks, while also providing food, fodder and innumerable recreational and cultural services. Actions to restore and conserve forest and grassland biodiversity and ecosystems also provide co-benefits to human health and well-being, including reducing the risk of disease transmission by reducing contact and the exchange of pathogens between humans and wildlife.

In response to the mandates provided to the NWP, twenty-five expert organizations were invited to join the thematic expert group on forest and grassland biodiversity and climate change adaptation. The group constitution can be found below.   
 
The NWP knowledge-to-action approach

The Nairobi work programme (NWP), the UNFCCC knowledge-to-action hub for climate adaptation and resilience, uses a knowledge-to-action methodology (see figure below) that guides knowledge co-development through partnerships. This collaborative approach responds to the adaptation needs of Parties, with an emphasis on developing countries, and supports the formulation of national adaptation plans and relevant mandates of UNFCCC constituted bodies. 

 


Step 1: Scoping

  • Draft an initial paper to review and synthesize existing knowledge on biodiversity and climate change adaptation, with an emphasis on forest and grassland ecosystems

Step 2: Identify and engage with expert groups

Step 3: Refine knowledge

  • Develop a draft scoping paper with technical guidance from the expert groups and constituted bodies
  • Organize a webinar to showcase findings from the draft scoping paper 

Step 4: Co-design actions with expert groups, constituted bodies, and partners

  • Convene a second meeting of the expert group, including constituted bodies to co-design and implement collaborative acitons to address identified knowledge gaps

Step 5: Facilitate partnerships for action

Step 6: Report and disseminate findings

Step 7: Implement actions (Parties and partners)

Figure 1: The NWP knowledge-to-action approach
 
Find out more​


Get involved 
  1. Share your knowledge resources on biodiversity and climate change adaptation with a focus on forests and grassland ecosystems on the Adaptation Knowledge Portal including case studies, tools and methods, and other resources
  2. Make an action pledge to support adaptation planning and implementation related to biodiversity and climate change adaptation
  3. Send us news about upcoming publications and events at nwp@unfccc.int
  4. Become a NWP partner organization
 
 Photo credit: Will Parson/Flickr
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