CHAPTER 3 THE ROLE OF ECOSYSTEMS IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION Noralene Uy and Rajib Shaw ABSTRACT In the context of natural disasters and climate change, ecosystems are critical natural capital because of their ability to regulate climate and natural hazards. This chapter examines the important role of ecosystems and their services in disaster risk reduction and climate change adapta- tion. It discusses the relevance of adopting ecosystem-based approaches in managing risks brought about by a changing climate. Keywords: Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction; ecosystem-based adaptation INTRODUCTION In recent years, the value of intact and well-functioning ecosystems has been increasingly recognized in disaster risk reduction and climate change Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management, Volume 12, 41–59 Copyright r 2012 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited All rights of reproduction in any form reserved ISSN: 2040-7262/doi:10.1108/S2040-7262(2012)0000012009 41