CHAPTER 2 Essential 8: Environmental Protection and Strengthening of Ecosystems
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Promote green growth and ecosystem protection in planning for sustainable livelihoods and development • Review the environmental consequences of existing plans, policies and programmes; integrate ecosystem considerations into future planning processes; and tackle drivers of degradation. • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the transition to a green economy; and invest in risk reduction and ecosystem-based measures to adapt to climate change.
Establish alliances with environmental managers and the private sector • Build capacity with partners to carry out risk and vulnerability assessments, environmental assessments and scientific monitoring, expanding governance capacities for ecosystem-based disaster risk management through multi-sector, multidisciplinary platforms, involving local stakeholders in decision making. • Build partnerships with the private sector to leverage technical and financial resources and ensure that private investments follow environmental and risk reduction norms.
Strengthen existing ecosystem management instruments or establish them where they do not exist • Establish a sustainable watershed management programme to balance water needs; protect the ability to capture, store and release water; control sedimentation; maintain downstream flows for environmental needs and mitigate water-related hazards. • Incorporate ecosystem-based flood reduction measures into engineered infrastructure to support coastal protection, upstream reforestation, wetland and river bank restoration, and floodplain regulation to achieve urban development goals.
San Francisco Municipality, Camotes Island, Philippines: Their ambitious “two million trees project” engages communities, improves the ecosystem and reduces emission of greenhouse gases.