In order to support decision makers for planning and prioritizing coastal protection measures based on latest evidence, several methods were developed and tested. Along 400 km shores at the coast of the Mekong Delta, ‘coastal numerical modelling’ and some recent investigations on currents, waves and tides have shown where breakwater fences are an appropriate solution to halt erosion and where other solutions are needed. The ‘video shoreline assessment’ is an in-expensive method to gather up-to-date information on threatening erosion hot spots and shoreline condition. With this tool, more than 470 km of coast in Kien Giang and Ca Mau have been classified as stable or in different stages of erosion. ‘Historical mapping’ looks back into the course of the shoreline about 130 years ago and was piloted in Soc Trang. This tool helps decision makers to understand the natural dynamics of the coastline and its dramatic retreat during this period. The ‘sea-dyke quick scan assessment’ is supporting the authorities in provinces and national ministries to prioritize sea-dyke construction in a resourceful and sustainable way. The results of these decision support tools are an the pre-condition for the planning of the coastal protection system.

Key impediments to sustainable lowland development are the lack of integration of coastal zone management policies and approaches, and limited translation into practice and limited community engagement during design and implementation of plans. The Indonesian government has embarked on various integrated master planning processes and established taskforces and working groups to address these challenges. A large proportion of the solution is dedicated to supporting this policy dialogue process, creating an enabling environment. At community level, project partners have been invited by the target communities to facilitate the development of 10 year village development plans and regulations that guide resources management. These will define ambitions for sustainable aquaculture and coastal security. Community-village plans will contribute to implementation of the provincial master plan, addressing community priorities and needs. This alignment greatly increases community ownership with regards to decision making and engagement in implementation of development plans. After the project, representatives of all 10 target communities will have actively become involved in government-led planning.

The DEA NRM land user incentive programme, along with co finance from CSA donors, allows CSA to fund alien clearing in priority catchments. Eco rangers then employed to work with farmers, on rotation grazing, they control grazing of livestock and ensure rotational grazing is enforced. They keep areas alien free, they help protect cattle through mobile kraaling and also gather data on cattle and biodiversity and monitor veld condition and determine when an area needs to be closed from grazing. They also ensure compliance with rested areas and report those not compliant. They also ensure protection of biodiversity against poaching. Also ecorangers play a crucial role in ensuring that alien invasive plants do not come back and are responsible for pulling out seedlings that grow back. It is their responsibility as well to rehabilitate degraded areas where erosion dongas are beginning to appear. Incentives for land owners include not only ecorangers but also vaccinations and access to markets through auctions. Springs and streams that have dried started flowing again after these approaches have been implemented.

CSA used the Lets Respond Toolkit and a facilitation resource they have developed to assist with the implementation of the toolkit in order to assist the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in mainstreaming climate change into their district and support the development of an enabling environment for EbA. CSA developed a Vulnerability assessment with the Alfred Nzo District Municipality which included ecological, social and institutional vulnerability to climate change. In the process the layers of vulnerability were translated into GIS and an overarching EbA priority map was developed which guides decision-making within the district. The VA also contains an index which is used to monitor the vulnerability over time. CSA then also assisted the ANDM to develop a Climate Change Response Strategy guided by the VA and the maps in order to develop key adaptation (and mitigation) priorities of which EbA was part. It was critical to then integrate this plan within ANDM and the use of the ANDM climate change committee was integral to this as well as for the monitoring of vulnerability.

Conservation SA has been actively involved in the development of national level vulnerability assessments and policy development related to climate change, this has enabled CSA to share lessons from their participatory processes with communities and from implementation at demonstration sites into national planning. This also guides the support we provide local government around mainstreaming of climate change. Through this national level policy development, we have seen how this policy can be an enabler for action on the ground and supports the Local Government to implement EbA.

Given the existing general orientation provided by the Plan 4C, one crucial task has been to identify and prioritize key EbA measures. This planning process involved approx. 40 institutions from Cartagena and the national level. During an expert workshop, the following 4-step approach was applied. Step 1: Identification of priority ecosystems and ecosystem services Step 2: Identification of major climate threats Step 3: Assessment of exposure and localization of priority threats Step 4: Prioritization of measures considering social, environmental and econimic criteria The methodology was based on a combination of tested methods for the identification of adaptation needs and options (Adaptive MAnagement of vulnerability and RISk at COnservation sites - MARISCO) and a multi-criteria analysis to identify priority measures (Prioritization tool for selecting adapation measures, Government of Mexico, supported by GIZ). A study on the biotic characteristics of the pilot area helped to underpin the outcome of the participatory planning and provided valuable recommendations for the implementation.

This building block includes development and introduction of sustainable aquaculture and livelihoods diversification (seaweed cultivation, crab & shrimp farming). –10 community groups are supported through farmer field schools and by providing resources to initiate new aquaculture management practices and livelihood diversification. –these improved practices will directly revitalize 300 ha of land for 300 households (based on a conservative estimate of 1 ha per household), increasing average aquaculture productivity with 50%, by adjusting pond lay-out and management, by reducing fertilizer and pesticide inputs, by making optimal use of mangrove services like water purification and by diversifying livelihoods activities. Based on experiences in Indonesia and Vietnam, income derived from the ponds is expected to have risen to 5000 EUR ha by year 5. –community funds will be established that: i) absorb savings from increased pond productivity (5%) in support of long-term coastal belt maintenance and up-scaling of sustainable land-use management measures beyond the project lifetime; ii) can absorb government support to local communities for coastal protection and sustainable land-use.

Given the many uncertainties associated with climate change, political and community support for so-called ‘no-regret’ adaptation measures can often be higher than for alternative approaches whose (cost-)effectiveness depends on the degree of future climate change. The no-regret approach focuses on maximizing positive and minimizing negative aspects delivered by EbA, and selecting actions that yield a range of benefits even in the absence of such change. In the case of the Kamen green-blue-corridor, the ecological improvement of the stream in combination with disconnecting the storm water from surrounding properties was determined to have positive impacts regardless of whether rainfall will increase in the long-term or not. Should rainfall intensify and become more frequent, flood risks will be reduced; if temperatures increase in the summer, the stored water will benefit the mircroclimate. Regardless of climate, however, the EbA measures can be considered as ‘no-regret’ as they create amenity and recreational benefits for the community and visitors, increase awareness levels, contribute to the EU Water Framework Directive and biodiversity conservation, and reduce water discharge fees for local inhabitants.

Successful implementation of EbA sometimes necessitates the involvement and support of private actors in cases where the measures are to take place on their land. This can create a challenge as the process of convincing individual stakeholders to participate in implementation activities often requires significant time investments, financial resources, and public outreach efforts. In the case of Kamen, it was necessary to determine the value of decoupling private citizens’ rainwater from the sewage system and then to convey this information in a convincing manner to those involved. Two public information meetings were followed by one-on-one planning sessions in which a technician visited individual homes and drafted catered solutions for disconnection that met the needs of each citizen. Furthermore, financial incentives were provided to the residents in the form of expenses per decoupled square meter to motivate participation.