The main objectives of this study are to provide recommendations about how the actions needed to conserve biodiversity and adapt to climate change can be better integrated, and thereby lead to mutually-beneficial synergies that will create more effective programming. The study team reviewed relevant literature, compared assessment methodologies of a range of conservation and development organizations, and reviewed recent U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Biodiversity and Tropical Forestry and Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessments.
The relationship between climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation goes in two directions: biodiversity might be threatened by climate change, and conserving biodiversity might help societies adapt to the effects of climate change. We found general consensus that assessments and programming need to address the following items:
•Climate change adaptation for biodiversity conservation
•Biodiversity conservation for societal adaptation to climate change
•Avoiding harm to biodiversity from adaptation actions

USAID’s policies and guidance generally describe both climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation as cross-cutting, cross-sectoral issues and needs. We found, however, that in practice these topics are sometimes treated as “sectors” for programming. We compared 15 recent climate change assessment methodologies, frameworks, or guidelines from a representative range of governmental and nongovernmental organizations on some key dimensions related to the integration of climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation. We found several good examples of conceptual frameworks for integrating climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation that can serve as models for further development and testing of an integrated approach.