The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and the CGIAR research program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA) organised a session on “A systems approach to the integration of the agriculture sectors in the NAPs: what will it take?” during NAP Expo in Incheon, South Korea, 11 April. The purpose of the session was to discuss cross cutting opportunities and challenges between different agriculture sectors, as well as with other sectors.

A wide range of stakeholders participated in the event, including high level champion Thomasz Chruszczow, the COP24 Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Carlos Fuller, former chair of SBSTA, as well as representatives from 14 countries, both from Ministries of Agriculture and Environment and from regional and international organizations, including UNFCCC, UNOSD, WMO and FAO, and from research and academia.

During the session, speakers and participants exchanged experiences and proposals on systemic approaches for coordination between the agriculture sectors and other sectors (for instance land use planning, water, energy, biodiversity conservation) in the preparation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

The session was chaired by Zhang Daowei, Team Leader in the Forestry department in FAO, who set the scene by presenting the Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans programme (NAP-Ag) joinly led by FAO and UNDP.

In his introductory presentation on forests, trees and agroforestry in National Adaptation Plans, Alexandre Meybeck, CIFOR/FTA, explained what a system approach can bring to a better integration of forests and trees in NAPs. Among other aspects, he highlighted that forests play a considerable role of buffer against shocks, including weather-induced disasters, a role that will increase with climate change. When looking at the already published NAPs, many sectors include measures that rely on forests and trees for adaptation, for example the planting of trees. At the same time, there is often a lack of consideration of what it takes for forests and trees to play their adaptation role. There is therefore a need for strengthening the dialogue between the forestry sector and other sectors that can benefit from forests and trees for adaptation. Like that, the forestry sector can integrate additional objectives in its management plans and communicate what is needed to make it possible.

Three NAP-Ag partner countries, Viet Nam, Thailand and Uganda - shared their experiences and approaches towards ensuring that adaptation priorities in the agricultural sector are addressed in overall NAP processes.

Dr. Chu Van Chuong, Deputy Director General, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam, presented the role of NAPs in achieving adaptation priorities for agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Vietnam. He emphasized the importance of the agriculture subsectors for the economy and employment in Vietnam and the commitments in terms of reduction of greenhouse gases as well as the main objectives of the NDC in terms of adaptation: proactively respond to natural disasters and strengthen climate surveillance;  ensure social safety nets; and respond to sea level rise and urban inundation. He further showed how the various policies to cope with climate change in agriculture and the key forest policies contribute to these objectives.

Ms. Annuciata Hakuza, Senior Agricultural Economist, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda, presented Uganda experiences on national adaptation planning for the agriculture sector. The Uganda National Adaptation Plan for the Agriculture sector (NAP-Ag) was launched on 28 November 2018 and identifies over 20 priority climate change adaptation options and actions in the agriculture sector. Hakuza reflected upon what made the NAP-Ag successful, which is a mix of political commitment, strong interest by other partners and collaborators, and expertise and experiences from UNDP and FAO. Barriers and challenges to be overcome are that climate change is a cross-cutting issue and hence agriculture NAPs need concerted efforts and collaboration with many stakeholders making the process costly.

Mr. Napat Ouicharoen, Economist, Office of Agricultural Economics, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, presented Thailand’s experience, focusing on the integration of agriculture in the various planning processes. He showed how the Agriculture Strategic Plan on Climate Change (ASPC) articulates with other national and sectoral plans that are themselves linked to commitments in international settings (NDC and SDGs). He also described the NAP process in relation with the agricultural strategic plan on climate change. The various plans and strategies all feed in the NAP process that in turn is declined in sectoral approaches which will be implemented at subnational-levels. In 2017, adaptation was integrated in pilot areas/sectors giving way to the development of an action plan in 2018.

During the session, countries emphasized different approaches and coordination mechanisms, such as legal frameworks, institutional linkages, and stakeholder involvement. It was demonstrated that support towards different stages of the integration process – capacity building, prioritization, stakeholder engagement – helped agricultural sectors as they contributed to their overall NAP processes, no matter what stage it was in. 

The participants were particularly interested in actions that address climate change effects that challenged one subsector and benefited another. Uganda shared that flooding impacts for example could be ameliorated by one of the actions in the NAP for Agriculture – properly constructed fish ponds to prevent fish losses. Another question was on the simultaneity of actions, for example whether budgeting should be conducted at the same time as planning, with the response from Viet Nam that a long-term vision from the beginning is critical to align adaptation actions.

The session ended with Thomasz Chruszczow, the Special envoy for Climate Change, High Level Climate Champion, stating the importance of NAPs as a foundation for planning not just in rural areas but also for adaptation in cities. He pointed out that forests and agriculture, as well as protection of water resources, are part of the wider system for using land and natural resources.