Documenting strategies and success evaluation
Any effective ecosystem-based strategies and implementation activities, need a strong documentation process and field monitoring activities in the field. Collating data from the field is key for 1) documenting the factors of success and failure of the techniques, and 2) for demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of ecosystem-based approaches. Such science-based evidences are necessary for making the case for nature based solutions to climate change adaptation. As part of EPIC, the following research activities have been undertaken so far:
- Ecosystems and vegetation mapping and study of soil characteristics in the district of Djilor (in partnership with Cheikh Anta Diop University)
- Development of training modules on ANR and other local adaptation techniques (in partnership with the National Forestry Research Centre and the Institute of Environmental Sciences)
- Mapping of agricultural techniques for climate change adaptation and study of the impacts of disaster risk on local livelihood in the Foundiougne region (in partnership with a French school of engineers, ISTOM)
As far as possible, research institutes should be identified and involved from the start of the project, so as to understand the big picture of the project and its objectives
- Defining research objectives and scope of the study is important to make sure that the research will respond to key questions relevant to the project.
- Creating partnership with schools and universities is a win-win situation: students can undertake their research and the project manager obtain scientific results and knowledge that are helpful for the implementation of the activities or for raising awareness on a specific topic.
- Science based evidences and facts are key for reaching policy makers, as it allows them to get a clear picture of how the adaptation strategy works and what benefits it can provide.
- Research partnerships don’t need to be necessarily designed in the short term, and can lead to longer term collaboration with universities and schools, where students (or PhDs) can be involved in future projects.
- Results need to be accessible to all, for instance by summarizing them in a way that is easily understandable by external people