Epple, C., Dunning, E. (2014). Ecosystem resilience to climate change: What is it and how can it be addressed in the context of climate change adaptation? Technical report for the Mountain EbA Project. UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre: Cambridge (UK).
This technical report produced for the Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Mountain Ecosystems Project sets out the key terms and concepts that are relevant for analyzing and describing the role of ecosystem resilience in climate change adaptation. It points out differences in the use of these terms by various authors and makes recommendations on the use of terms in the context of planning for ecosystem-based adaptation. The report further explores the state of knowledge on the factors that affect ecosystem resilience to climate change with particular regard to the resilience of some key ecosystem services and the ecosystem functions that underpin them. Proposals are made on how to address ecosystem resilience in the design and implementation of climate change adaptation initiatives. The Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Mountain Ecosystems Project is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety and jointly implemented by UNEP, UNDP and IUCN.