Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Gains Relevance as Cost-Effective Coastal Defense Strategy

The Hindu - Opinion · 5 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Environment Mains · GS3 Environment and biodiversity High relevance

Mangroves in Odisha's Bhitarkanika demonstrated superior climate resilience compared to engineered seawalls during Cyclone Dana, highlighting Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as a sustainable coastal defense strategy that India underutilizes despite its proven benefits.

Key points

Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) utilizes biodiversity like mangroves and coral reefs as natural buffers against climate impacts, offering cost-effective protection for India's 11,000-km coastline where 250 million people face rising threats.

Coastal States spent ₹2,641 crore on hard infrastructure like seawalls over the past decade while the National Coastal Mission's budget dropped from ₹195 crore (2022-23) to ₹50 crore (2024-25), reflecting misplaced adaptation priorities.

[GS3-Environment] Mangroves in Sundarbans reduced cyclone damage during Amphan and Yaas while supporting livelihoods through honey collection and crab farming, demonstrating EbA's dual climate and economic benefits.

Engineered measures like seawalls in Kerala caused adjacent coastal erosion, proving how grey infrastructure often displaces rather than resolves risks, unlike EbA which addresses root causes.

India hosts globally significant EbA potential with mangroves protecting more people per hectare than most countries, yet these systems remain peripheral in adaptation planning due to institutional fragmentation.

Policy ambiguity around EbA versus Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and other terms leads to undercounting effective interventions like the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats covering 540 sq km across nine states.

[GS2-Governance] The lack of standardized EbA classification hampers outcome monitoring and financing, contradicting Global Goal on Adaptation requirements for measurable climate resilience strategies.

Way Forward: India should institutionalize EbA within coastal zone management plans, create dedicated financing mechanisms, and develop standardized metrics to quantify adaptation benefits of mangrove restoration and other ecosystem interventions.

Key terms

Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)

A climate adaptation strategy that uses biodiversity and ecosystem services to reduce vulnerability to climate impacts. For UPSC, EbA is significant as it aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and India's National Action Plan on Climate Change, offering synergies between adaptation, biodiversity conservation (Biodiversity Act 2002), and livelihood security in coastal regions.

National Coastal Mission

A Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change aimed at conserving coastal ecosystems. Relevant for UPSC as it implements the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2019 and addresses climate vulnerability through initiatives like mangrove afforestation, critical for GS3 environmental governance questions.

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)

Areas regulated under the CRZ Notification 2019 to restrict developmental activities within 500 meters of the High Tide Line. UPSC relevance stems from its balance between ecological protection (Article 48A) and livelihood needs, often appearing in mains questions on environment-development conflicts.

Sundarbans Mangroves

The world's largest contiguous mangrove forest spanning India and Bangladesh, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For UPSC, this exemplifies the Ramsar Convention's wise use principle and demonstrates how EbA can mitigate cyclonic risks (GS1 Geography) while supporting traditional livelihoods (GS3 Environment).