Holistic, integrated and scale-sensitive approaches to ecosystem-based adaptation enable communities and resource managers to consider a wide range of potential hazards and the connectivity between component parts of the socio-ecological system. Ridge to Reef (R2R) and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) are two such approaches, which seek to connect environmental, social, cultural, governance and economic aspects of management with the spatially relevant scale, most typically referred to as catchment, basin or watershed scale.
Ridge to Reef (R2R): The R2R philosophy in the Pacific recognises the connected nature of land, freshwater and coastal resources. Furthermore, R2R relates to the cultural and physical geography of many Pacific Island nations, with management connecting natural and social systems from the ‘ridges’ of volcanic islands all the way to ‘reef’ environments fringing the coast.
Importantly, R2R is inherently integrative. It combines land, freshwater and coastal resource management through the lens of communities and conservation objectives, seeking to achieve sustainable development. The involvement of community members in the planning and management of resources is incorporated into R2R projects and links between the community and Provincial and National Governments are also emphasised to harmonise decision making across all scales.
Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM): IWRM is a process supporting integrated and inter-sectoral decision-making for water for people and human health through explicit consideration of competing water-use sectors such as agriculture, industry, and the environment. IWRM requires consideration of the relationships between all activities in a catchment and because it adopts a systems approach, all pressures and drivers can be considered concurrently and not independently of each other.
Like R2R, IWRM is based on the concept of sustainability and seeks to achieve balance between economic, social and environmental objectives. The traditional application of IWRM focuses on historical and current issues, but it can easily be applied to forward-looking challenges like climate change impacts and adaptation.
Ridge to reef implementation is difficult to cost as they are a guiding approach or set of principles rather than specific actions.
Approaches focused on a single sector or single climate change hazard can sometimes result in maladaptive decision making. Through the adoption of a spatially (R2R) and temporally (past, current, and future) integrated approach, based on IWRM principles, Pacific communities will be able to develop sustainable practices in the medium to long term that do not compromise other aspects of their lives or increase their vulnerability to climate change threats.
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Ridge to reefs. See https://www.ridgetoreefs.org/about
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Ridge and reef. See https://www.iucn.org/theme/water/our-work/current-projects/ridge-reef
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Pacific R2R – Ridge to reef. See https://www.pacific-r2r.org/
Case study
GEF (Global Environment Fund) R2R Programme
Building on the success of GEF’s IWRM projects, the Pacific R2R Program embraces the connections between land and sea and natural and social systems in Pacific Island Countries. The Program consists of four key elements, designed to support engagement, integration and scale-sensitive implementation between communities and National Governments of R2R projects:
- National multi-focal area demonstrations in all Pacific Island Countries.
- Improved Governance for integrated and climate resilient land, water, forest and coastal management.
- Regional and National/Local Ridge-to-Reef Indicators, M&E and Knowledge Management.
- Regional Program Coordination.
The Program focused on 14 countries across the Pacific region with around 15 projects and an investment of US$ 90 million. The Program is currently undertaking its final reporting, after which a clearer view of impacts will be available (check below link for latest monitoring reports).
Reference: Pacific R2R Ridge to reef, https://www.pacific-r2r.org/
