2021•11•12     Tokyo

A new UNU-IAS Policy Brief provides recommendations for strengthening resilience in landscapes and seascapes to facilitate transformative recovery from crises such as COVID-19. The brief, Resilience in Landscapes & Seascapes: Building Back Better from COVID-19 highlights opportunities and approaches for reinforcing resilience to build back better through green recovery.

It draws from experiences and lessons learned in applying an assessment tool developed by UNU-IAS, the Indicators of Resilience in Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS). The brief is authored by Maiko Nishi, Yoji Natori, and Devon R. Dublin. It is based on research conducted as part of the UNU-IAS programme Biodiversity & Society, engaging members of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) and other experts from across the globe.

Highlights

Strengthening resilience in landscapes and seascapes facilitates transformative recovery from crises such as COVID-19 and the shift towards a more sustainable future. Resilience assessments at the landscape or seascape level are crucial to recognise changes in human–nature interactions and develop strategies for building resilience while raising the capacities of local communities.

Recommendations:

• Integrate trade-off analysis in resilience assessments, actively incorporating knowledge and expertise related to health and well-being.
• Periodically assess social–ecological resilience to ensure and enhance adaptive management
  of landscapes and seascapes and mobilise resources for building resilience.
• Foster and extend social capital in the form of bonding, bridging, and linking to accelerate recovery from shocks, minimise suffering, and promote preventive strategies.