FIRST INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY-BASED ADAPTATION:

The first international workshop on community-based adaptation took place two years ago on 16-18 January 2005, also in Dhaka. Jointly organized by BCAS, IIED, RING and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the workshop was attended by more than 80 experts, policymakers, NGO representatives and grassroots practitioners who discussed possible impacts of climate change on local communities living in vulnerable areas and how to enable them to adapt to climate change in the future.
SECOND INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY-BASED ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE:
24-28 FEBRUARY 2007
The second international workshop on community-based adaptation to climate change was held at the Radisson Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 24-28 February 2007. Organized jointly by the Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS), International Institute for Environment and
Development (IIED) and RING Alliance of Policy Research Organizations, the workshop consisted of two days of field trips to visit community-based adaptation initiatives followed by three days of discussions in Dhaka. The workshop aimed to share the latest developments in community-based adaptation programmes, priorities and solutions with a view to integrating the lessons into national and international development
programmes. More than 110 policymakers and representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research and policy institutes, as well as development practitioners and media were in attendance.
During the first two days, site visits to four different locations in Bangladesh were organized to give participants a closer look at local adaptation initiatives and to enable the communities to share their knowledge of adaptation and climate change. Locations included: drought-prone areas in Parbatipur
in the Chapai Nawabgonj District of northwest Bangladesh; flood and river erosion areas in Gidari and Kamarjani in the Gaibandha District, also in northwest Bangladesh; flood and water logging areas in Kotalipara and Rajoir in the Madaripur and Gopalgonj Districts in south-central Bangladesh; and
regions prone to increased salinity and cyclones in Munshigonj in the Satkhira District in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh.

The subsequent three days of discussions in Dhaka were structured around two themes: climate change science and adaptation, and mainstreaming and partnership. Introductory panels were followed by parallel technical sessions consisting of presentations and discussions. Reports from the technical sessions were then presented to plenary, and followed by observations by panelists. Under climate change science and adaptation, technical sessions addressed: agriculture, drought and food security; extreme events; and health and climate change. Under mainstreaming and partnership, technical sessions addressed: tools and methods; extreme events; communication and knowledge; and mainstreaming and partnerships. A final panel discussion revolved around two themes: scaling up, capacity building, partnership and mainstreaming; and supporting community-based adaptation.

This was followed by concluding remarks from keynote speakers and guests. Workshop outputs include: a two-page summary with key points from the discussions; a 10-15 page report; an edited volume of collected papers presented at the workshop; and the formation of a community-based adaptation network (CBA Network).