Developing an Ecosystem-based Adaptation Feasibility Tool (DEFT)

Supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) under the Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Fund, CSTEP is Developing an EbA Feasibility Tool (DEFT) project in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The project aims to enhance urban resilience through evidence-based planning and integration of ecosystem-based adaptation into city development processes. DEFT seeks to design a decision-support tool that helps urban planners, policymakers, and local institutions assess the feasibility of EbA interventions—linking ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities.

 

Storymaps: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/7ad026ff29b9435fa62015b2606ea64d?item=39

 

1. Develop a geospatial decision-support tool to assess EbA feasibility for diverse contexts in Bengaluru Urban District.
2. Map and evaluate blue-green systems, biodiversity, and ecosystem services in the region
3. Identify priority areas and nature-based interventions to reduce climate risks such as floods and heat stress in the city
4. Strengthen institutional understanding and capacity for integrating EbA into urban planning.

 

1. Urban ecosystem and risk mapping: Compile and analyse data on hydrology, land use, biodiversity, and socio-economic vulnerability to identify high-risk and high-potential zones for EbA.
2. Stakeholder consultations: Engage with government departments, research institutions, and civil society to co-define EbA typologies and indicators.
3. Tool development: Design the DEFT—an interactive, GIS-based tool that integrates ecological, social, and infrastructural parameters to support feasibility assessments.
4. Capacity building and dissemination: Conduct workshops and dialogues to strengthen technical and institutional uptake of EbA in city planning.

 

1. A replicable and scalable EbA Feasibility Tool (DEFT) to support climate-resilient urban planning.
2. Comprehensive maps and assessments of blue-green systems and urban ecosystem services.
3. Strengthened institutional awareness and technical capacity for integrating nature-based solutions.
4. Policy recommendations and knowledge products to guide EbA mainstreaming at city and regional levels.

 

This initiative positions Bengaluru as a replicable urban model for embedding ecosystem-based adaptation into pre-emptive urban planning for climate resilience.

 

Stakeholder Engagement Workshop – Developing an EbA Feasibility Tool (DEFT): A Case Study of Hebbal

Synthesis Note