Webinar on integrating biodiversity and disaster risk reduction

🌿 Protecting nature protects us from disasters — but it takes coherence across biodiversity and disaster risk management. When biodiversity and disaster risk reduction work hand in hand, healthy ecosystems can buffer hazards, sustain livelihoods, and build resilience in a changing climate. Yet coherence between these agendas remains limited. Many countries face: 1️⃣ Limited understanding – nature’s role in DRR undervalued 2️⃣ Limited cooperation – silos and low local inclusion 3️⃣ Limited value – weak valuation of nature-based solutions 4️⃣ Limited capacity – short-term focus and scarce resources UNDRR’s new guidance aligns biodiversity action with the Sendai Framework, identifying four ways forward: 💡 Understand and tackle the drivers of disaster risk and biodiversity loss 🏛️ Strengthen whole-of-government and whole-of-society governance of environmental risk 💰 Increase investments in resilience through ecosystem protection, restoration, and sustainable management 🌱 Catalyse action and transformational change through greener recovery and Build Back Better Discover UNDRR's recommendations and guidance for governments on Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Biodiversity into National Strategies and their Implementation ➡️ https://ow.ly/xEeG50Xg5xj

Nature is not a side-benefit — it’s our frontline defense. This was the clear message from our yesterday dialogue co-organized by EMG and UNDRR on disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, and climate integration. 📉 Since 1970, wildlife populations have dropped by 73% on average — freshwaters by almost 85%. 💰 Every $1 invested in disaster risk reduction saves $15 in avoided losses. Yet national planning still too often separates climate, biodiversity, and DRR policies into silos. The cost is paid in lives, money, and lost resilience. The event introduced the updated Guidance on Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) , showcased country cases from Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Uganda, and promoted the UN Common Approach to Biodiversity as a practical tool for coherence. 🔑 The way forward is clear: From fragmented policies to synergistic strategies From reactive response to prevention From fragmented data to integrated risk systems From separate UN silos to Common Approaches and shared support to Member States A big thank you to our panelists and colleagues across the UN system and governments for making this dialogue so rich. 👉 The EMG will continue to connect dots across the UN family — bringing biodiversity, climate, and disaster risk communities together to support Member States in achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sendai Framework. https://lnkd.in/eXu7JcKy

Integrating disaster risk reduction and biodiversity into national strategies and their implementation: Recommendations and guidance for governments United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) 🇺🇳

🌍Yesterday was International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction🌿 Building resilience starts long before a storm hits and “Sponge measures” can become a protective shield absorbing today’s water to prevent tomorrow’s disasters. 💧All 3 #HorizonEurope SpongeWorks demonstrators face increasing incidents of flooding, droughts and soil erosion. Two years ago, storm Daniel ravaged Thessaly, the Gr pilot with tremendous losses for the local community. One of the most effective ways to reduce climate and water-related disasters is through sponge measures: restoring nature’s ability to absorb, store, and release water naturally. 🌧️ By turning our cities, landscapes, and watersheds into “sponges,” we can: ✅ Reduce the risk and impact of floods ✅ Replenish groundwater to ease droughts ✅ Protect ecosystems and biodiversity ✅ Strengthen community resilience to climate shocks From green bicycle routes in the Hardenberg Municipality (Vecht River Basin (🇳🇱/🇩🇪) to the construction of leaky dams in the Lèze Valley, 🇫🇷 to the introduction of strip-tillage farming in Pinios River Basin, 🇬🇷, sponge solutions blend innovation with nature — offering a smarter, sustainable path to disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. Let’s invest in nature-based solutions that help regions soak up climate risks — creating safer, more resilient futures for all.🌱 For more👉https://lnkd.in/dWS4s7u7 #DisasterRiskReduction #DRRDay #ClimateResilience #SpongeCity #NatureBasedSolutions #WaterSecurity #FloodPrevention #DroughtResilience #ClimateAction #Sustainability Leibniz Universität Hannover Soil & Water Resources Institute, ELGO-DIMITRA Deltares International Office for Water International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO/RIOB) International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) WWF Greece Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (GWP-Med) University of Twente Technische Universität Dresden UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) Ecologic Institut PASECO SP LTD Adict Solutions Chambre D'Agriculture Ariège Chambre d'agriculture de Haute-Garonne CNRS Gemeente Hardenberg Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim Naturschutzstiftung Grafschaft Bentheim Vechteverband ULV 114 Waterschap Vechtstromen Syndicat Mixte Interdépartemental de la Vallée de la Lèze (SMIVAL) Agia Municipality Agrotikos Sinetairismos Paragogis Emporias Metapoiisis Frouton kai Kastanon Melivias Athanati e-trikala SA - Municipality of Trikala TOEV Tavropou Karditsas

🌲 Harnessing Nature for Resilience: Japan’s Eco-DRR Approach Japan, a country shaped by mountains, forests, and coastlines—and frequently tested by earthquakes, typhoons, and floods—is pioneering a nature-based approach to disaster risk reduction: Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR). The latest [guideline from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment](https://lnkd.in/gX8y56aS) highlights how ecosystems like satoyama (traditional rural landscapes), wetlands, and coastal forests can buffer communities against natural hazards while preserving biodiversity and cultural heritage. 🌿 *Satoyama* landscapes support local agriculture and biodiversity while acting as natural barriers against landslides and flooding. 🌊 In Hokkaido, the **Kushiro Wetland** absorbed excess rainfall during the 2016 storm, preventing severe flooding downstream. 🦢 The **Maizuru Retention Basin** in Kyoto Prefecture, originally built for flood control, has evolved into a thriving wetland where endangered red-crowned cranes successfully nested for the first time. These examples show how Japan blends traditional wisdom with modern science, turning ecological restoration into a powerful tool for climate adaptation and disaster resilience. Let’s learn from Japan’s integrated approach to build safer, greener futures—where nature is not just protected, but empowered. 🌳 Please read English version (https://lnkd.in/gzHaqCzp) #EcoDRR #NatureBasedSolutions #DisasterRiskReduction #JapanResilience #Satoyama #WetlandConservation #ClimateAdaptation #Biodiversity #GreenInfrastructure #SustainabilityLeadership

‘Damage and loss’ is too often quantified according to the cost of immediate response, early recovery, and infrastructure rehabilitation. While essential, this view captures only a fraction of the true cost of disasters. To prioritize DRR investment, we must expand this perspective to include biodiversity and ecosystem dimensions. The loss of mangroves, coral reefs, forests, and wetlands weakens natural resilience, amplifies hazard exposure, and erodes the ecological foundations that sustain communities. Without accounting for these invisible losses, how can we truly measure what we stand to protect? This call for integration directly aligns with the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) theme: “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.” Broadening our understanding of damage and loss is key to directing investment where it matters most; toward nature-based and ecosystem-centered solutions that reduce risk, protect people and safeguard livelihoods. Special thanks to UNDRR Las Américas y El Caribe and UN Environment Management Group for the opportunity to share these insights, and the outcomes of our recent national workshop in Trinidad and Tobago, during the UN Common Approach to Biodiversity Webinar Series, alongside Ms. Joanna Kazana, UN Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, and Dr. Lena Dempewolf, Biodiversity Specialist. Together, we reaffirmed that integrating DRR, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), and Biodiversity Conservation under frameworks such as the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is not just policy alignment, it is the pathway to a resilient future. And it can be achieved in practical and systematic steps.

Groundwater in #Nevada is under growing threat, with nearly 40% of thousands of wells analyzed across the state showing significantly declining water levels, according to a scientific paper recently published in the Hydrological Processes. The study warns of mounting risks to groundwater-dependent ecosystems but also offers science-based strategies to protect and restore these vital systems. Read more: bit.ly/nvgwdeclines The Nature Conservancy #Groundwater #drought #ScienceThatMattersNow

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is inviting applications for Project Leader for the GCF project “Scaling up Ecosystem-based Approaches to managing climate-intensified disaster risks in vulnerable regions of South Africa”. The USD 40 million project is funded by the Green Climate Fund, with co-financing from SANBI, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), for a period of 8 years from 2025 to 2033. The goal of the project is to improve the resilience of communities that are vulnerable to climate change-exacerbated floods, droughts and wildfires through the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures. The Project Leader will provide effective and efficient strategic leadership and management of the implementation of the Eco-DRR project. The post is open to SA citizens and those with current residence permits. Applications close 10 October 2025. https://lnkd.in/dHy_sAt6 Image: Daily Maverick

At Läkarmissionen / LM International, we believe that resilience is a process, not just a goal, rooted in local leadership, community-driven development, and inclusive systems.   Today at the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction we want to highlight four critical actions for building resilience in the face of growing climate and humanitarian challenges:   Listen to farmers❗They are not just rights-holders, they are innovators. In our work we’ve seen how small-scale farmers develop climate-smart solutions rooted in indigenous knowledge. Their voices must shape the future of food security and disaster preparedness.   Invest in networks and partnerships❗Initiatives like Africa4Resilience, where we serves as secretariat, show how regional collaboration can amplify good practices, strengthen biodiversity protection, and integrate faith-based and youth-led approaches to resilience.   Close the finance gap❗Resilience requires sustained support. Through our commitment to the Grand Bargain, we advocate for flexible, accessible funding that empowers local actors and removes barriers to meaningful partnerships.   Support indigenous systems❗Our interventions are designed with and for communities, respecting traditional knowledge and promoting climate-smart farming, community-led water management, and local decision-making.   LM International works alongside communities to strengthen their capacity to bounce back from shocks, build sustainable livelihoods, and claim their rights. Our bottom-up approach ensures that resilience is not imposed - it is cultivated.   Let’s invest in people-powered resilience. Let’s fund prevention, not just response. Let’s build a future where no one is left behind. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) GNDR

Parallel Session: Lakes and River Basins 2 November 20, 2025 (Day 3) Session Chair: Dr. Noel G. Sabino Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, UPLB The 5th International Conference on Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (INREM 2025) continues its exploration of freshwater systems through Lakes and River Basins Session 2, highlighting innovative approaches to flood risk reduction, climate modeling, and institutional resilience. Presentations include: • Elucidation of Reforestation Programs and Natural Retention Ponds Coupling as Nature-Based Solution for Flood Mitigation — Gifford Jay L. Agudo, University of the Philippines Resilience Institute • Valuation of Avoided Export Services in the Pantabangan–Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve, Philippines — John Mark Anzia, Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UPLB • Multi-Scenario Flood Risk Assessment of Malogo and Sicaba Watersheds in Negros Occidental, Philippines — Jerico E. Mendoza, University of the Philippines Resilience Institute • Assessment of Institutional Resilience to Disaster Events of Local Government Units and Select Government Agencies in the Quinali A Watershed, Albay — Liezl B. Grefalda, Nagoya University, Japan • Assessment of the Future Diversion Water Requirements Using Global Climate Models under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) of the Santa Maria River Irrigation System in Laguna, Philippines — Renel Angelo M. Taladtad, School of Environmental Science and Management, UPLB Bringing together experts from UPLB, the UP Resilience Institute, and Nagoya University, this session underscores the importance of science-driven water governance and integrated approaches to managing flood risks and sustaining river basin ecosystems in a changing climate. #INREM2025 #UPLBINREM #NatureBasedSolutions #Sustainability #Resilience #WaterSystems #FloodMitigation #WatershedManagement #ClimateAction #CarbonNeutralConference