Large-scale Ecosystem-based Adaptation in The Gambia: developing a climate-resilient, natural resource-based economy

Restoring degraded forests and agricultural landscapes in The Gambia with climate-resilient plants, establishing natural resource-based businesses, and strengthening capacity and policies to implement ecobased adaptation systems.

Climate change is exacerbating the effects of poverty in The Gambia, which is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Large-scale ecosystem adaptation is necessary to build climate resilience of rural Gambian communities, whose livelihoods are threatened by the impacts of climate change. In order to respond to this threat, The Gambia is transitioning towards a sustainable green economy based on climate-resilient livelihoods and rigorous, evidence-based management of natural resources.

Implementing Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is a significant part of this strategy, and its implementation will be enabled through the GCF investment. EbA will both protect the environment and facilitate the development of the sustainable, natural resource-based economy to the benefit of local communities. EbA will be integrated into planning at national, district and village levels. Agricultural landscapes and degraded ecosystems including forests, mangroves and savannahs will be restored using climate-resilient tree and shrub species across an area of at least 10,000 hectares. This will be complemented by the establishment of natural resource-based businesses managed by local communities.

The project has an estimated lifespan of 6 years.