HEALTHY PLANET

Building Resilience with Permaculture: Adapting to Climate Change

Published

2 years ago

November 30, 2023

Building Resilience with Permaculture: Adapting to Climate Change

By Saniya Malhotra

The temperature of the earth has risen by 17 degrees Celsius over the last couple of centuries; climate change can no longer be considered a hypothetical possibility. As climate change intensifies, the need for adaptive strategies becomes more apparent.

One such integrated design technique that can aid in building thriving and resilient communities and landscapes is Permaculture Design. It is a valuable toolbox we can incorporate to mitigate the negative effects of expected climate change, and it can be a vital ally in promoting regeneration and resilience in the face of climate change.

This means you can incorporate Permaculture Design and its Ethics and Principles in your next project – not just to develop synergetic, regenerative gardening and farming but also to create systems that can help individuals and communities adapt to the challenges posed by a changing climate.

Understanding Permaculture and its Principles

Three Ethics drive the practice of Permaculture Design: Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share. Earth Care emphasizes the importance of nurturing and respecting the environment, recognizing that all life is interconnected and interdependent. People Care underscores the significance of ensuring the well-being and empowerment of individuals and communities. Fair Share highlights the equitable distribution of resources and the responsibility to use them wisely to meet the needs of both present and future generations.

Permaculture Design is all about mimicking nature and creating regenerative systems that are super resilient. It has Principles that guide the way we design, with each Principle offering valuable insights into regenerative design and ethical land management. These Principles include observing and interacting with nature and learning from its secrets.

Then, we catch and store energy (think solar power, rainwater collection, and more), maximizing the use of renewable resources, like the sun and wind, so we can keep systems thriving for generations. The focus is also on minimizing waste, valuing diversity, and applying self-regulation.

By understanding and applying these Principles, we can create resilient and harmonious systems that support biodiversity, conserve resources, and contribute positively to the planet’s and its inhabitants’ health.

And, of course, we would also want to see some results; that’s why we get a yield on food, materials, or whatever we need to make life wholesome. Permaculture Design is also about teamwork, so we integrate things instead of keeping them apart, putting everything together to work in harmony.

This approach encourages regenerative practices that promote the well-being of both people and the environment, creating systems capable of withstanding the challenges of a changing world.

permaculture farming source agrirep.com — Permaculture Design; Source: agrierp.com

Building Resilience

One of the best practices in Permaculture Design is using local resources to the maximum extent. Instead of relying on external resources, we tap into what our ecosystem has to offer. Local plant varieties and organic composting are the way to go.

And if we harness the power of the sun and rainwater, we can create our own green energy!

Water management is crucial in Permaculture Design. We’ve got techniques like rainwater harvesting, swales, dams, terracing, Keyline Design, and contouring to catch and store water where we need it. So, when a dry spell hits, we’re ready to water our crops and keep them happy and thriving.

Water can be scarce in some places, so we must be smart about irrigation. Drip irrigation is our go-to for delivering water straight to the roots. And hey, let’s not waste any drop; we use mulching to keep that moisture locked in the soil.

Polycultures, guilds, and companion planting are always encouraged in Permaculture Design. Instead of just growing one crop, we bring a bunch of them together in harmony; they all help each other out in various ways. Plus, having this biodiversity makes the ecosystem super strong and resilient.

Another smart thing to do is learn from the people who’ve been farming and homesteading in a given area for ages. Indigenous farming methods have stood the test of time, and it’s all about mixing that traditional wisdom with modern know-how.

Permaculture is all about getting creative with what we have, increasing self-reliance, using water wisely, and creating a beautiful symphony of plants in our gardens. It’s the recipe for a thriving paradise, even when the climate tries to throw us off balance.

Public-Private Partnerships in Permaculture Design can integrate multiple strategies, such as water management, natural building, reforestation, conservation, renewable energy, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, indigenous farming methods, and polyculture, to create abundance for local and regional communities.

But, of course, public-private partnerships aren’t without their challenges. Private partners want to make profits. However, Permaculture Design is about more than just profits; it’s about people and the planet.

So, it is necessary to find an opportunity to do good and do well at the same time.

PPPs have been used to manage renewable energy projects (like solar farms and wind parks), conservation initiatives, and in relocalizing food production. In terms of regenerative, organic agriculture, these types of partnerships have brought new approaches and techniques to the table, giving farmers the tools they need to boost yields and take care of our precious soil naturally. It’s like a dream team of food production, making sure we can feed the world while being gentle with the environment.

The essence of Permaculture Design lies in a holistic approach to resilience building – weaving together water management, indigenous wisdom, regenerative practices, natural living techniques, and polyculture.

This creates resilient and regenerative ecosystems that can take on any challenge posed by climate change.

2. drip irrigation. source agrivi.com — drip irrigation: Source: agrivi.com

Permaculture Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation

A comprehensive evaluation and study of the site’s circumstances is one of the major components of the permaculture design process. In order to obtain useful information on the different factors that affect the site’s potential and constraints, this approach starts with careful observation and investigation.

Climatic information holds significant importance in designing Permaculture systems. We must know our plant-hardiness zone (indicating which plants will likely thrive and which might struggle).

It is easier to choose the right plants and create irrigation plans when variables such as precipitation patterns, growing season length, depth of the frost line, and prevailing winds are considered.

Understanding the climate is crucial for creating resilient and productive systems that can withstand climate-related challenges. Working with the site’s microclimates also offers the chance to develop a variety of useful systems.

Strategic use of microclimates can lengthen the growing season, safeguard delicate plants, and improve environmental conditions for certain crops.

Biophysical site conditions encompass a wide range of elements, including topography, aspect, elevation, infrastructure, buildings, access, vegetation, soils, hydrology, wildlife, and animals; it’s all about getting to know the land like the back of your hand.

These factors collectively shape the design and determine how various elements can be integrated to create a harmonious and functional system. In the process of design, we must envision how everything fits together.

Respecting soil life is key to building a resilient, growing system: Composting, mulching, natural soil amendments, and cover crops can be utilized to give growing plants the best nutrients.

Last but not least, playing by the rules is necessary too.

Regulatory information is essential to ensure the Permaculture Design complies with legal and local policy requirements. Understanding zoning, building laws, setbacks, drainage rules, water rights, and other ordinances is helpful in directing the design in light of the site’s location and intended use.

3. illustration of relevant biophysical constraints source moritz von cossel — Name: An illustration of possible biophysical constraints; Source: An illustration by Moritz von Cossel

A Community-Based Approach

Permaculture Design is not just about plants, trees, and climate; it’s about bringing people together too. When we involve the whole community in these regenerative practices, magic happens.

First off, everyone’s got their unique knowledge, skills, and ideas that can be brought to the table, be it knowing all about the local weather patterns or having some ancient wisdom on traditional farming methods. Combining all these insights means our Permaculture designs become super smart and tailored to the site.

But it’s not just about what we know; it’s about what we can do together. When the forces come together, resources can be pooled, the workload can be shared, and the entire process can be a lot more efficient. Permaculture brings us closer to our roots.

We connect more with our environment, land, neighbors, and ourselves. When we all benefit from these Permaculture projects, it creates this positive chain reaction. Communities and support networks can grow stronger. They can function like resilient webs, catching problems and finding solutions together.

Plus, showing the world how amazing Permaculture Design can be sparks change on a larger scale. People start talking, and policies start shifting towards more regenerative practices.

By focusing on techniques such as guilds, companion planting, soil enrichment, and agroforestry, communities can enhance biodiversity, ensure food security, and adapt to changing climatic conditions; this way we can create a future where regeneration and resilience go hand in hand.

4. permaculture convergence hosted by aranya agricultural alternatives. source foodtank.com — A Permaculture Convergence hosted by Aranya Agricultural Alternatives for the local communities; Source: foodtank.com

Permaculture Design is not just about farming; it’s a philosophy and lifestyle to improve our lives and the planet. It’s about creating resilient systems that can handle anything life throws at us.

From growing food to managing water and building strong communities, Permaculture is our ticket to a greener, happier planet.

If you want to learn more about designing for resilience or how to offer your services more regeneratively, become a certified Permaculture Designer with us!

Flip the Script

Going from trash to treasure

Published

9 months ago

September 24, 2024

Mobilized News

ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION

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9 months ago

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Activism

A conservation market could incentivize global ocean protection

Published

1 year ago

June 23, 2024

Mobilized News

The system might make it easier for countries to meet 30×30 conservation targets

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – SANTA BARBARA

Ocean collage — **IMAGE:** **COLLAGE OF OCEANIC ORGANISMS**view more

CREDIT: HARRISON TASSOF

(Santa Barbara, Calif.) — The countries of the world agreed: Our planet needs more protection from human activity. And with the globe facing an assortment of environmental crises, they realized the plan needed to be ambitious. Thirty-by-thirty was their proposal: protect 30% of the planet by 2030. But while conservation is popular in principle, the costs of actually enacting it often stall even the most earnest efforts.

Three researchers at UC Santa Barbara have proposed a market-based approach to achieving the 30×30 targets in the ocean. They tested whether a system that allowed countries to trade conservation credits could reduce costs, incentivizing nations to actually meet their goals. Allowing voluntary trade always reduced the cost of conservation, sometimes by more than 90%. The study, published in Science, is the first to draft and analyze a conservation market for achieving 30×30 targets in the ocean.

The 30×30 initiative is one aspect of the Convention on Biological Diversity, a multilateral treaty developed in the early 1990s. In fact, it’s target No. 3 of the larger Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted by the 196 countries that convened for the UN Biodiversity Conference in 2022. It calls for the effective protection and management of 30% of the world’s terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine areas by the year 2030 — a goal that many scientists say humanity must achieve to secure our planet’s long-term health. And while the GBF requires countries to commit to conservation targets, it does not outline which areas should be protected, how to do so inclusively or how to pay for it.

“This project started just over four years ago,” said co-author Juan Carlos Villaseñor-Derbez, who completed his doctorate at UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. At this point, countries were falling short of the 10% protection benchmark as they drafted plans for 30% protection. “It seemed like most nations were genuinely committed to marine conservation, but that the costs of conserving were preventing some from engaging in it at all.

“At the same time,” he added, “a lot of research had already shown that if you could get nations to cooperate around conservation, you could substantially reduce the costs of conserving.” He and his co-authors realized the world needed an institution, policy or framework that could support this.

Uneven costs and benefits

The cost of protecting acres of ocean is not the only aspect that differs from place to place. The ecological benefits of conservation also vary based on location. Achieving 30×30 in the ocean will require coastal nations to consider potential trade-offs associated with these protections. Because high-value fisheries can coincide with important marine ecosystems — such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows and kelp forests — meeting the obligation could come at a high cost for some nations but not others. “Without an innovative policy solution, the cost of conservation for many nations could stall progress toward 30×30,” said Villasenor-Derbez.

This variability means that trade could incentivize additional gains. Instead of investing in areas with high conservation costs, or low benefits, nations could exchange their duties to double down on regions where protection yields higher returns.

Environmental economists and scientists at UC Santa Barbara’s Environmental Markets Lab (emLab) wondered if a conservation credit system could help meet 30×30 targets in the ocean. They devised a system whereby nations could trade their conservation obligation with other nations through a “transferable conservation market” policy built around ecological principles.

“Like existing mandates, this approach requires every country to protect a certain fraction (say 30%) of its marine habitat,” said Distinguished Professor Christopher Costello, emLab’s director. “But unlike other approaches, we allow those obligations to be traded across countries, within strict ecological constraints.” In this way, countries with higher conservation costs pay others to increase their conservation efforts. This study estimates the potential global cost savings under various trading constraints.

“For example, Norway, which has valuable fisheries, might pay Palau, a country that has already invested significantly in coastal conservation, to conserve additional areas on Norway’s behalf,” Costello said. This enables Norway to fulfill its conservation obligations in another part of the world.

Achieving 30×30 in the ocean

Costello, Villaseñor-Derbez and co-author Professor Andrew Plantinga developed a model to estimate the potential costs and benefits that could be achieved through a conservation market like this. They combined distribution data for 23,699 marine species with fisheries revenue data to build conservation supply curves for the world’s coastal nations.

They then defined “trade bubbles” based on biological and geographic factors. A country could trade conservation credits only with other nations within these predefined bubbles in order to ensure conservation was equitably spread across Earth’s different marine habitats. The authors examined five bubble policies that allow nations to trade within hemispheres, biogeographic realms, provinces, ecoregions, or globally, to determine potential costs.

Regardless of how they tweaked this setup, a market for marine conservation always reduced the costs of conservation. The model estimated savings could range from 37.4% all the way to 98% under the 30×30 target.

“It just highlighted how inefficient it is to require uniform conservation obligations from each nation,” Villaseñor-Derbez said. “After all, national boundaries don’t really overlap or line-up with the distribution patterns of marine biodiversity.”

Savings were highest in a global market, where every nation stands to gain from trade. But a global market could inadvertently focus conservation efforts on only a single type of habitat, neglecting others. That was precisely why the team introduced the trade bubble constraint.

“When nations facing large costs are allowed to trade, they can ask themselves ‘should I conserve in my waters at this high cost, or can I find someone in my bubble that has habitat just as good as mine but at a lower price?’” Villaseñor-Derbez said. The same would be true for a selling nation. They could decide whether to conserve more than they are required depending on the trading price.

Of course, a country could always go it alone, fulfilling their conservation obligations (and theirs alone) entirely within their own territory. Indeed, this is precisely how the 30×30 initiative currently looks. But the authors’ analysis suggests that very few countries will. Most find it far more economical to either buy or sell conservation obligations.

Conservation colonialism vs fair compensation

If a market system were established, some might wonder what would prevent wealthy nations from simply “paying off” their conservation obligations and offloading them onto poorer nations. For Costello, Villaseñor-Derbez and Plantinga, the market itself offers a solution. “All such exchanges are purely voluntary,” said Plantinga, who heads emLab’s Productive Landscapes Group. “The selling nation (the poor country in this example) only engages in trade if they find it advantageous.”

In fact, the market could be a boon for developing nations. The current 30×30 scheme requires even a cash-poor country with high conservation to conserve 30% of their territorial waters. The market approach offers a degree of flexibility: The country can weigh their finances against their conservation costs. They can then decide how much of their obligation to fulfill within their own waters, how much to buy from another nation, and how much to offer up for sale. This flexibility is not possible under the current approach to 30×30.

This system could also incentivize habitat restoration, target No. 2 of the GBF. Nations that tend to specialize in exploiting marine resources could compensate those who specialize in conserving marine biodiversity. “Our approach provides an explicit payment for conserving marine ecosystems,” Costello said. “Under the current system, there is rarely a payment to conserve.”

Lowering costs incentivizes action. This measurable effect is a central tenet of economics employed by governments, companies and industries across sectors and countries. So why not harness this principle for conservation? According to the authors, these savings could be redirected towards solving other pressing issues.