Risk perception for participatory ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change in the mata Atlântica of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Abstract

A perception analysis is an important approach for developing adequate sensitization activities and increasing the participation of local populations in ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). These concepts have great potential in the study area, the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro state, where a disaster in 2011 showed once more that landslides, mudslides and floods are recurrent. Although degradation of the natural ecosystems is one of the main reasons for the high vulnerability of the local population, ecosystem-based measures to reduce disaster risks and to adapt to climate change are still uncommon. Valuing the benefits of nature through community-based adaptation measures is one promising approach to reduce landscape and ecosystem degradation and vulnerability, but a high level of community awareness is needed to generate their active participation in protecting and restoring ecosystems. To analyze the degree of awareness and the reasons for the barriers to participation, a perception analysis was conducted based on collected quantitative and qualitative data. Results show that people (a) have a high perception of their vulnerability, but (b) have poor knowledge about the relation between risks and ecosystem services, (c) do not feel responsible for participating, and (d) do not see possibilities for a better engagement in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. We conclude that these three gaps (b, c and d) need to be addressed as a main component of a sensitization concept for Eco-DRR and EbA in the region.