A Special Session on Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction : Moving from Theory to Practice was organised at the 4th International Disaster and Risk Conference (IDRC). This session, organized by the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR), explored challenges in applying ecosystem-based approaches to DRR and identify the enabling factors and incentives needed to promote and mainstream ecosystem-based DRR in national and local development planning. It was also discussed how ecosystem-based DRR contributes towards achieving socio-ecological resilience.