Building Civil Society Capacity for Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Indian Ocean Islands
The Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands biodiversity hotspot — spanning Madagascar, the Comoros, Mauritius, and the Seychelles — is one of the most unique places on Earth. Over 80% of its plant and animal species are found nowhere else, making it a true global treasure.
Comoros is one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots, hosting a remarkable range of ecosystems — from coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds to forests, wetlands, and savanna shrublands. These habitats support unique and threatened species such as sea turtles, whales, dolphins, lemurs, dugongs, and the iconic coelacanth—a rare “living fossil” that symbolizes the fragile and irreplaceable ecosystems of the Western Indian Ocean. Mohéli Marine Park alone shelters nearly 90% of the country’s seagrass beds, while fringing coral reefs line much of the coasts of Grande Comoro, Anjouan, and Mohéli. Although mangroves cover only about 120 hectares, they remain stable and vital.
These ecosystems are more than havens for wildlife — they regulate freshwater, store carbon to build climate resilience, protect coastlines, and support sustainable fisheries that underpin local livelihoods and national economies. Yet they are increasingly threatened by deforestation, habitat loss, overexploitation, and the impacts of climate change.
In May 2025, the Tropical Biology Association with the support of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) taught a Masterclass on Climate Change and Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Moroni, Comoros. The training brought together 18 participants from Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros, representing civil society organizations working directly with communities on the frontlines of climate change.
Participants collaboratively developing a Vulnerability Risk Assessment Index during the risk assessment exercise
The Masterclass equipped participants with practical skills to integrate Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) into their projects — providing tools to safeguard biodiversity and communities from climate risks, while also strengthening their capacity to communicate and engage effectively with local stakeholders.
Comments from course participants, Comoros
“I would like to thank the entire organizing team for the quality of the content, the participatory methodology, and the field experience at the Coelacanth National Park. This training allowed me to strengthen my knowledge on EbA and motivated me to take action in my region.”
“Based on lived experiences and existing reports on areas and cases of climate change impacts — and following this training — we will launch an online and field-based survey to identify and prioritize the zones, communities, and impacts related to climate change. We will then consult the prioritized communities to further identify, from their perspective, the key impacts and the solutions they envision. Finally, we will synthesize this information to develop an EbA project.”
“I plan to apply these learnings when writing future projects. I had already identified certain climate change-related problems on my island (Anjouan), and the EbA method will help me structure project proposals for fundraising and communicate more effectively about them with those around me.”
This Masterclass has empowered CSOs across the Western Indian Ocean with the knowledge and tools to lead ecosystem-based solutions in their communities. By investing in local capacity, we are ensuring that ecosystems like the coelacanth habitats, turtle nesting beaches, and coastal forests remain vital allies in building resilience against climate change.
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Canada, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.
