Nature-based Solutions in Action:

Lessons from the Frontline

Harnessing nature to address the triple emergency of
poverty, climate change and biodiversity loss

July 2021
1 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021
In collaboration with:

Acknowledgements:
This paper has been produced by the above listed partners, with substantial contributions from members of the Climate Action
Network UK (CAN-UK) Nature-Based Solutions Working Group (CAN-UK was formerly the Bond Development and Environment
Group, DEG), and has been funded by IIED, WCS, RSPB, WWF-UK, Practical Action, Farm Africa and Tree Aid.

The case studies have been provided and written by the listed organisations.

This paper builds on the earlier Bond DEG paper ‘Addressing the triple Emergency: Poverty, Climate Change, and Environmental
Degradation’.

Thanks go to the following people for their contributions to this report.

Compiled by: Xiaoting Hou-Jones, Dilys Roe and Ebony Holland, IIED

Contributors of case studies and others who provided comments:

Paul DeMerritt-Verrone, Care International
Dwain Lucktung, Excellent Development
Nick Kempson and Leila Ndiema, Farm Africa
Yiching Song, Yanyan Zhang and Yufen Chuang, Farmers’ Seed Network (China)
Nicholas Spencer, IBIS Rice Conservation Co.
Chiara Ambrosino, Plan International
Chris Henderson and Elzein Bashir, Practical Action
Fiona Dobson and Melanie Coath, RSPB
Pietro Carpena and Amadou Tangara, Tree Aid
Jason Garrett, World Vision UK
Rab Nawaz, WWF-Pakistan
Clement Metivier, WWF-UK

How to cite:
Hou-Jones, X, Roe, D and Holland, E (2021) Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline. London. Bond.

Contact:
Xiaoting Hou-Jones, Senior Researcher, IIED
Email: [email protected]

Cover photos:
Front: © WWF-Pakistan Back: © Practical Action, practicalaction.org

2 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

Foreword
At the G7 Summit in June 2021, world leaders agreed an ambitious “Nature Compact” to address the interlinked
challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change. The Compact recognises that climate change is one of the key drivers
of biodiversity loss, but that at the same time, protecting, conserving and restoring biodiversity can make a significant
contribution to tackling climate change and to helping local people adapt to its impacts. Biodiversity loss and climate
change are two of three interlinked emergencies — the other being poverty alleviation and sustainable, equitable
development — and the Compact highlights how tackling biodiversity loss and climate change can contribute to the
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and a green, inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19.
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are one mechanism for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change and poverty in
an integrated manner. The Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity highlighted the need for much greater
investment in nature in order to deliver sustainable development. NbS — interventions that protect, restore or sustainably
manage nature — can provide a framework for that investment. However they have to be done well. They have to live up to
their framing as interventions that tackle climate change and other societal challenges while also delivering benefits for
biodiversity. Essentially, they have to be good for people — particularly those who are marginalised and Indigenous People
and local communities. Too often, NbS are designed and implemented in ways that are bad for biodiversity (for example
planting of a monoculture or exotic trees), bad for climate change (when they are used as a green-wash for business-as-
usual fossil fuel extraction) and bad for people (when they result in land grabbing or when they undermine cultural links to
nature).
Academic and policy literature abounds with the theory of NbS. This collection of stories documents NbS in action, on the
ground. It presents the stories of people that have sought to implement NbS and of the environment and development
organisations that have supported them. The fact that these stories have been contributed by both environment and
development organisations is in itself testament to the common thread that NbS can provide between nature and
development, climate and biodiversity. We hope it will provide inspiration for other practitioners as well as for those who
drive climate, nature and development policy, particularly in this critical “super year” for nature, climate and people.

Andrew Norton Stephanie Draper

Director Chief Executive
IIED Bond

3 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

Contents
Foreword 3
Summary 5
1. Introduction 7
2. Case studies 12
1. China: community-based seed banks and agroecology practices 13
2. Ethiopia: farmer-managed forest landscape restoration 16
3. Ghana: farmer-managed and community-based dryland restoration 19
4. Kenya: community-based mangrove forest restoration 22
5. Mali: community-based dryland restoration 25
6. Peru: sustainable watershed management in glacial mountain ecosystems 29
7. Ethiopia: an Eco-regional approach to ecosystem conservation and livelihoods in
the Bale eco-region 32
8. Cambodia: increasing rice profitability to reduce forest and wetland clearance 36
9. The Greater Gola Landscape, Sierra Leone and Liberia: forest conservation for
nature, climate and people 39
10. Kenya: transforming lives and land with sand dams and climate-smart agriculture 42
11. Pakistan: mangrove protection in the Indus Delta 45
12. Sudan: community-based land and water management 49
13. UK: coastal managed realignment 53
3. NbS to address the triple emergency: key success factors 57
4. Recommendations 60

4 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

Summary
The world is facing a triple emergency of climate change, address societal challenges effectively and adaptively,
nature loss, and rising poverty and inequality. These simultaneously providing human well-being and
interdependent emergencies do not just represent three biodiversity benefits”1, high quality NbS involve working
pressing challenges to humanity; they are interconnected with, through, and for nature, people and climate. NbS offer
in their causes and consequences, but therefore also in a cost-effective approach that can deliver multiple benefits
their solutions. when done well.
As the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates what was already NbS now regularly feature in international and national
a ‘triple emergency’, we urgently need holistic approaches policies and plans, world leaders are increasingly making
and solutions that work on these interdependencies. NbS commitments, and experts across many fields are
The world has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to highlighting the approach’s credibility. Many have also
fundamentally shift the course of human development to raised concerns, particularly about the potential for NbS
secure a lasting, prosperous, safe and just future for all. to be used by businesses or nations to replace or delay
the deep decarbonisation of our economies that we know
2021 offers a potential turning point. This year, leaders
is urgently needed; that the approach could be seen as
will make crucial decisions across global processes,
the commoditisation of nature; and that without adequate
addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and
standards and safeguards activities done in the name of
sustainable development. We need to see greater ambition
NbS could harm people and nature. So how do we use the
to act at this year’s many major international meetings,
positive commitments to NbS to drive action that works
including the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the
for people, nature and climate? This report is intended
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
to present real-life evidence of how high quality NbS can
(UNFCCC) in Glasgow, Scotland; the UN Food Systems
deliver positive outcomes for climate, nature and people.
Summit in Rome, Italy; the 15th Conference of the
It highlights common success factors to ensure that NbS
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15
are implemented well for the benefit of people, nature and
of the CBD) planned for Kunming, China; the UN General
climate.
Assembly, as well as other major meetings. The decisions
made this year will shape the next decade of action for The 13 case studies in this report have been contributed
climate, nature and people. by environment, development and local community
organisations. They show NbS in action in a wide range
Decision makers across government, business and
of contexts, from a Farmers’ Seed Network in China that
communities are increasingly recognising that nature-
supports agroecology by conserving traditional seeds, to
based solutions (NbS) can contribute to addressing the
large-scale watershed management in glacial mountain
crises. Defined by the International Union for Conservation
ecosystems in Peru and managing flood risk in the UK.
of Nature (IUCN) as “actions to protect, sustainably
manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that

The case studies reveal several ‘success factors’ that can put NbS on firm foundations.
These include:
• Integrated approaches that conserve, restore and • Participatory approaches that ensure strong community
sustainably work with nature ownership and engagement
• Landscape approaches that build on long-term multi- • Combining short-term and long-term benefits, and
stakeholder partnerships securing them through sustainable finance strategies
• Long-term engagements and planning that combine • Developing policies that can remove barriers and drive
science with local and traditional knowledge systemic changes at large scales, and
• Action on gender equality and women’s rights.

1 https://www.iucn.org/theme/nature-based-solutions

5 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

This report makes seven key policy recommendations for action in 2021:
1. Support local communities to champion NbS: if done right, can contribute to addressing the triple
Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) emergency. However, despite supportive political
depend on healthy ecosystems for their livelihoods, rhetoric, NbS receive only a small share of global
and the natural environment often has deep cultural climate finance.4 Furthermore, the world needs to invest
and spiritual significance for them. Nature is their US$589–824 billion extra per year if we are to reverse
first and often only defence system against changing the devastating decline in nature by 2030.5 We need
circumstances, including disruptive climate change increased public and private sector finance for NbS. The
and extreme weather events. Local and traditional quality of funding is also key. Emerging commitments
knowledge is indispensable and needs to be at to scale up finance for NbS should put in place large-
the heart of NbS. All 13 case studies highlight the scale, long-term change and help finance the transition
importance of supporting local communities for to sustainable, productive and resilient landscapes. We
successful NbS. Governments should uphold IPLCs’ need to shift financial flows away from activities that
rights, especially land tenure rights; prioritise funding destroy natural habitats and repurpose these harmful
for NbS that is locally led; provide the policies needed; subsidies so that they instead support NbS.
and provide funding and support for community-based
5. Prioritise multi-purpose NbS at landscape scale and
organisations that can ensure long-term community
with a long-term vision: All the case studies show that
involvement.
NbS need landscape/seascape multi-purpose planning
2. Include strict safeguards and standards to avoid and management if they are to deliver large-scale and
unintentional negative impacts or greenwashing: NbS game-changing benefits for people, nature and climate.
should benefit climate, nature and people and should NbS that have a narrow purpose and focus only on one
not be used to mask the true impacts of business-as- type of land use can do more harm than good. Funding
usual approaches. Clear safeguards should guarantee for NbS should prioritise interventions at the landscape
nature-positive outcomes, action on climate change, and scale that deliver benefits for different communities and
involvement of IPLCs. NbS must uphold IPLCs’ rights, be the marginalised people within those communities.
informed by IPLCs and be delivered by IPLCs wherever
6. Facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships to implement
possible. NbS should also adhere to existing standards
NbS: Different stakeholders need to be involved and to
and guidelines, such as the four widely endorsed NbS
work together in the design and implementation of NbS,
Guidelines developed by the Nature-based Solutions
including local communities, government, private sector
Initiative2 and IUCN’s Global Standard for Nature-based
and other civil society actors. Governments can play
Solutions.3
an important role in facilitating and investing in cross-
3. Shift to a systemic approach addressing the pressures sectoral collaborations and enable interdisciplinary
of unsustainable production and consumption: Even research that goes beyond siloed thinking and sectoral
scaled-up NbS will fail to have significant impacts boundaries.
unless unsustainable production and consumption are
7. Integrate NbS as part of post-COVID-19 recovery:
also addressed, especially in the food and agricultural
We need both governments and the private sector to
sectors. For NbS to provide successful, sustainable
invest more money in smarter ways so that nature can
responses to the nature, climate, and poverty and
drive a green and fair economy and reduce pandemic
inequality crises, it is critical to eliminate systemic
risks. As highlighted in the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature,
barriers (such as unsustainable supply chains, harmful
NbS that work for people, nature and climate should
agricultural subsidies and a lack of finance) and also
be prioritised in governments’ COVID-19 recovery
to provide an enabling environment (through funding,
plans and stimulus packages. Now is the opportunity
markets and good governance).
to genuinely ‘build back better’ rather than reverting to
4. Increase long-term funding for NbS, both in quantity business as usual.
and quality: The case studies clearly show that NbS,

This year, we need to drive high-quality NbS forward in international processes and strengthen
the links between people, climate and nature in negotiations. This report is an important part
of that journey — the case studies showcase NbS’ real-life potential and how they are changing
people’s lives, protecting or restoring nature and driving climate action. This foundational
evidence should help leaders embed high-quality NbS firmly in their decisions and plans this
year and for many years to come.

2 The four NbS principles (https://nbsguidelines.info/) were originally developed in February 2020 as a letter from 20 organisations to the President of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP26, then adopted by the Together With Nature campaign in May 2020, and refined in February 2021.
Additional signatories from research, conservation, and development organisations across the globe are now being invited.
3 The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions lists criteria and indicators, as adopted by the Council’s 98th meeting (in 2020).
4 unglobalcompact.org/take-action/events/climate-action-summit-2019/nature-based-solutions
5 https://www.paulsoninstitute.org/key-initiatives/financing-nature-report/

6 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

1. Introduction
1.1 Climate, nature, and poverty and inequality — three interlinked emergencies
The world is facing unprecedented and intertwined global Reports. In its 2021 edition, biodiversity loss scored third
emergencies — climate change, loss of nature, and rising (behind weapons of mass destruction and state collapse)
poverty and inequality. Now the COVID-19 pandemic has as an existential threat.13 Furthermore, there is strong
added another layer of difficulty. These crises demand evidence that habitat loss and degradation — particularly
urgent, coordinated responses and actions so that future deforestation and land conversion for industrialised
generations won’t bear the unfair burden of solving the agriculture — drive emergent zoonotic diseases such as
problems we have created today. COVID-19.14
People: Though the global economy has doubled since Interlinkages between the three emergencies: These
the early 1990s, almost half of the world’s population still three pressing crises for humanity are interconnected
lives on less than US$5.5 per day, since most of the growth in their causes and consequences (see figure 1) and
has benefitted only the wealthiest.6 Some 1.2 billion jobs solutions. People who live on less than US$5.5 per day
in sectors such as farming, fisheries, forestry and tourism often rely very heavily on natural resources and have
depend on healthy ecosystems.7 The COVID-19 pandemic fewer opportunities and resources to adapt to climate
has exacerbated the chasm between the rich and poor, change, which impacts them most while they are least
pushed more than 250 million people to the brink of responsible for causing it. Meanwhile, unsustainable
starvation and rendered the Sustainable Development Goal agricultural practices globally and unequal social systems
(SDG) of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 a much more are resulting in low productivity and population pressures
difficult task.8 that are expanding agricultural frontiers and driving land-
use change and ecosystem loss.
Climate change: 2020 tied with 2016 as the earth’s
hottest year on record and saw more than 50 million More than half of global GDP (around US$44 trillion) is
people affected by a record number of floods, droughts, highly or moderately dependent on nature15 and 70% of
wildfires and storms.9,10 Without more ambitious policies the world’s poor live in rural areas, depending directly on
and actions, the world will warm even further and is on a natural resources for their food, fuel, medicine, shelter and
trajectory for almost 3°C of warming above pre-industrial income.16 Climate change is contributing to biodiversity
levels by the end of the century.11 Current levels of loss while also exacerbating poverty, undermining people’s
warming are already having devastating consequences for livelihoods, safety and ability to thrive and leading them to
both nature and people, and warming of this magnitude draw more heavily and unsustainably on nature, polluting
will exceed communities’ and ecosystems’ abilities to and unsustainable practices, and debt — causing a vicious
adapt and will result in large-scale irreversible losses and cycle. For example, drought-intensified wildfires devastate
damage. people’s lives, livelihoods and sources of food, kill and
displace wildlife and drive up greenhouse gas emissions.
Nature: All over the world, nature is declining at an
Rising temperatures lead to more carbon dioxide being
accelerating and dangerous pace. We are losing habitats
dissolved into oceans, making seas more acidic, harming
and species at unprecedented rates. People have
coastal ecosystems, and diminishing fish stocks upon
significantly altered three quarters of the terrestrial land
which 116 million low-income country citizens depend
area and about two thirds of the marine environment.
for their livelihoods.17 People living in poverty often can’t
Degradation has cut the productivity of the global land
afford to buy replacements for previously free natural
surface by nearly a quarter and in 2015 at least a third of
resources (such as food, fuel and fertilisers) and can’t
marine fish stocks were being harvested at unsustainable
easily wait for natural services (such as the flood and
levels.12 In the past few years, biodiversity loss has ranked
landslide defences provided by healthy ecosystems) to
high in the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risk
recover or be replaced.

6 https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session44/Pages/ListReports.aspx
7 https://www.ilo.org/employment/units/emp-invest/rural-urban-job-creation/WCMS_757823/lang--en/index.htm
8 https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26043&LangID=E
9 https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/2020-tied-for-warmest-year-on-record-nasa-analysis-shows
10 https://www.cas2021.com/press/documents/reports/2021/01/22/state-and-trends-in-adaptation-report-2020
11 https://climateactiontracker.org/global/temperatures/
12 https://ipbes.net/ipbes-global-assessment-report-biodiversity-ecosystem-services
13 http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Global_Risks_Report_2021.pdf
14 https://www.ipbes.net/sites/default/files/2020-12/IPBES%20Workshop%20on%20Biodiversity%20and%20Pandemics%20Report_0.pdf
15 http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_New_Nature_Economy_Report_2020.pdf
16 https://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/development/poverty-alleviation-booklet-en.pdf
17 http://www.fao.org/voluntary-guidelines-small-scale-fisheries/en/

7 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

Just as climate change is contributing to biodiversity and enhance carbon sinks, with an estimated mitigation
loss, so biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation — potential of around 10 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide
including that of forest, grasslands, wetlands and marine equivalent per year. However, these actions need to
ecosystems — contribute to climate change through be carried out alongside rapid decarbonisation of the
the release of greenhouse gases. Land-use change economy if we are to limit global temperature rise to
accounts for a third of current global carbon emissions.18 1.5°C.21
Over-consumption in high-income countries is driving
Nature is also a crucial factor in enabling adaption to
unsustainable land-use practices in low- and middle-
climate change and building resilience.22 For example,
income nations, in turn worsening both climate change
forests and other natural vegetation can stabilise slopes,
and nature’s decline, which further exacerbate poverty
prevent landslides, regulate water flow and prevent flash
and inequality.19 For example, 100–300 million people are
floods. Wetlands and floodplains can buffer floods and
at increased risk of floods and hurricane damage because
maintain water flow and quality in the face of changing
protective coastal habitats have been lost.20
rainfall patterns. Coastal mangrove and salt marshes can
Conversely, healthy ecosystems can provide resources dissipate wave energy during powerful storms. Diverse
and services to help people to survive and thrive. They agroforestry and farming systems can improve water
can help to mitigate climate change. Protecting our intact retention and minimise impacts from drought and pest
ecosystems, better managing our working lands, and outbreaks.
restoring native ecosystems helps to avoid emissions

FIGURE 1- INTERACTIONS BETWEEN POVERTY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURE LOSS (SOURCE: DEG TRIPLE
EMERGENCY REPORT, DIAGRAM UPDATED 2021)

Interactions between poverty, climate change and nature loss, updated 2021
Source: DEG Triple emergency report

CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES NATURE LOSS HUMAN ACTIVITIES DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change has direct impacts on Activities include burning coal, oil and gas
ecosystems and can worsen other for energy, conversion of natural
stressors. Impacts include higher ecosystems, and high impact
temperatures, more frequent/severe CLIMATE unsustainable agricultural
extreme events, and sea level rise. CHANGE systems.

CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THE

NATURE LOSS DRIVES CLIMATE CHANGE POOREST FIRST AND WORST
Land-use conversion of natural grasslands, Current and future impacts from sea level rise,
forests, and wetlands can release stored more frequent/severe extreme weather events,
carbon as CO₂ into the atmosphere, and and changing agricultural seasons, increases
reduces vital sinks. risks, entrenches poverty and threatens
THE TRIPLE development gains.
EMERGENCY

NATURE LOSS AFFECTS THE HUMAN ACTIVITIES

NATURE POOREST FIRST AND WORST DRIVE NATURE LOSS POVERTY
LOSS Ecosystem services that people Unsustainable & PEOPLE
rely on for food, water, fuel, practices and
medicine and spiritual and consumption leads to
cultural identity, and for habitat destruction,
resilience to floods and storms overexploitation,
are lost. disease outbreak and
pollution.

18 https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/TAR-03.pdf
19 https://www.bond.org.uk/resources/addressing-the-triple-emergency-poverty-climate-change-and-environmental-degradation
20 https://ipbes.net/ipbes-global-assessment-report-biodiversity-ecosystem-services
21 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01241-2#:~:text=Analysis%20suggests%20that%20to%20limit,and%20land%20for%20the%20future
22 https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/17636IIED.pdf

8 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

1.2. Nature-based solutions: an integrated approach for interlinked emergencies
The interconnected climate, nature and poverty and sustainably manage and restore natural or modified
inequality emergency require holistic solutions. NbS ecosystems to address societal challenges”23
offer such an approach, involving “actions that protect, (See Figure 2).

FIGURE 2: DEFINING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS (SOURCE: IUCN24)

23 serval.unil.ch/resource/serval:BIB_93FD38C8836B.P001/REF
24 https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2020.09.en

9 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

By slowing, halting, or even reversing nature’s decline, social and environmental benefits for the world’s poorest
NbS can help people mitigate and adapt to climate change and most vulnerable.25 Box 1 elaborates on some of these
at relatively low costs, while delivering diverse economic, opportunities.

BOX 1: OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE IMPACT FROM NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

People: NbS offer an opportunity to create green jobs to reduce poverty. In addition, investing in natural habitat
restoration can also deliver vital ecosystem services for people and businesses, which can support achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals, especially in relation to poverty alleviation, food and water security, human health,
and climate action. A review of hundreds of interventions to protect, manage, restore or harness nature highlights a
wide range of local development outcomes for people in need of support.26

Climate change: If paired with the immediate decarbonisation of the global economy, NbS could provide a reduction
of global warming by around 0.3°C if warming peaks towards the end of the century.27

NbS can grow natural carbon sinks, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry and other
land use. NbS can also reduce exposure and vulnerability to climate change impacts including extreme weather-
related events. For example, creating and restoring tidal marshes or mangroves can protect coastal communities
from storm surges. Similarly, increasing the trees and other plants in urban areas can reduce air pollution and assist
with urban cooling.

Nature: The world’s biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate. Existing conservation measures, while extremely
valuable, are insufficient and under-supported. But understanding the wider climate-related and developmental
benefits available through NbS could make a stronger case for investing in nature conservation and restoration.

NbS are becoming increasingly prominent in international Contributions.33 Over 80 countries have endorsed a
biodiversity and climate change policy forums. Both the ‘Leaders’ Pledge for Nature’, where they commit to
Global Assessment28 of the Intergovernmental Science- reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, scaling up NbS and
Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services addressing the interlinked societal challenges.34 The UK
(IPBES) and the Climate Change and Land Report of the presidency of UNFCCC COP26 has presented nature as
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)29 one of the priorities for the 2021 climate talks. And the 0.5
highlight the important role of ecosystems in addressing Draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to be
the climate emergency. In addition, the recently published finalised and adopted under the Convention on Biological
IPCC/IPBES Joint Working Group report underlines the Diversity (CBD) at its COP15 highlights that NbS should be
importance of tackling the climate and biodiversity scaled up for climate change mitigation and adaptation.35
emergencies in tandem. It emphasises the importance of
While these political commitments are a good first step, we
synergies in doing so, and avoiding trade-offs.30 The Global
now need ambitious and integrated actions to transform
Adaptation Commission and UN Climate Action Summit
how we treat and live with nature. NbS can provide a
have specific ‘action tracks’ for NbS.31,32 More than two
synergistic and integrated approach to addressing climate
thirds of signatories to the UNFCCC’s Paris Agreement
change and biodiversity loss, while supporting sustainable
include NbS in their climate change mitigation and/or
development. However, NbS also have risks and challenges
adaptation strategies; and all low-income countries
(see Box 2) that must be factored into planning.
include NbS prominently in their Nationally Determined

25 https://pubs.iied.org/17651IIED
26 https://pubs.iied.org/20206iied
27 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01241-2#:~:text=Analysis%20suggests%20that%20to%20limit,and%20land%20for%20the%20future.
28 ipbes.net/global-assessment
29 ipcc.ch/srccl/
30 https://www.ipbes.net/events/launch-ipbes-ipcc-co-sponsored-workshop-report-biodiversity-and-climate-change
31 gca.org/global-commission-on-adaptation/action-tracks/natural-environment
32 un.org/en/climatechange/un-climate-summit-2019.shtml
33 portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2019-030-En.pdf
34 https://www.leaderspledgefornature.org/
35 https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/2021-05/20201iied.pdf

10 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

BOX 2: CHALLENGES AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

Careful planning is needed to ensure NbS can be implemented successfully, and deliver for climate, nature and
people. Implemented poorly, NbS can unintentionally cause harm or maladaptation, and exacerbate poverty, inequality
or insecurity. There is a high risk that they can be used as ‘greenwash’ for business as usual, or as a driver of land-
grabbing from marginalised communities. Making sure NbS ‘work’ for climate, nature and people requires attention
to potential risks and challenges:

NbS efforts should not distract from the need to immediately decarbonise economies and halt activities that are
harming biodiversity.

Practitioners, investors and governments must guard against ‘greenwashing’, especially where investments in
poor-quality NbS or NbS projects are used to offset or distract from business-as-usual emissions and practices.
Failing to do this will eliminate climate benefits and could further damage livelihoods and biodiversity, as well as trust,
and could harm future investment in such approaches.

Many NbS commitments and pledges have focused on tree planting. But this distracts from the urgent need to protect
and restore existing habitats and ecosystems, and overlooks other key terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems.

Planting trees in the wrong places, such as existing high carbon stores like peatland, is also a significant risk and
is counterproductive from a carbon sequestration perspective.

Benefits for adaptation, nature and people can be overlooked where NbS are presented as a tool primarily for climate
change mitigation, leading at best to missed opportunities and co-benefits, and at worst to harm and maladaptation.

Some NbS have disadvantaged already-marginalised IPLCs, who have been excluded from decision-making processes,
had their rights denied, and their lands appropriated.

Some projects implemented for climate-related purposes have led to perverse outcomes for biodiversity. For
example, non-native trees are sometimes planted in biodiversity-rich ecosystems, or extensive monocultures are
planted in place of natural vegetation.

NbS activities will only deliver long-term benefits for climate, biodiversity and people if the pressures of unsustainable
production and consumption are addressed at the same time, especially in the food and agricultural sectors.

Multiple definitions and standards exist, sometimes making it difficult to determine which projects are NbS, and
potentially complicating efforts to monitor and evaluate NbS activities.

The term ‘nature-based solutions’ doesn’t resonate with all groups. For example, IPLCs are crucial and expert
custodians of the natural world in biodiversity rich-and highly vulnerable locations around the world, yet some feel
the term and practices do not adequately reflect the cultural aspects of their relationships with nature.

NbS projects need to include clear safeguards to contribute to a green and just recovery from the COVID-19
guarantee positive outcomes for nature, people and pandemic. These rich ‘on the ground’ experiences reveal
climate, to uphold IPLCs’ rights and leadership, to address important common success factors and point to clear next
systemic barriers that hinder NbS’ deployment, and to steps.
ensure they are compatible with science and the goals of
In 2021, the world is poised to adopt a new Global
the Paris Agreement. NbS also need to be judged against
Biodiversity Framework at the CBD COP 15 and set new
rigorous definitions and standards in order to counter
climate ambitions at the UNFCCC COP 26. Decisions
‘greenwashing’. The four widely endorsed NbS Guidelines
taken now will affect us all. The evidence and key
developed by the Nature-based Solutions Initiative36 and
messages reported here show how important it is for key
IUCN’s Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions37 offer
international conventions to adopt coordinated responses
good options.
and support integrated approaches. Now is the time to
In this report, 13 case studies from a range of contexts and translate political ambition on NbS into transformative
countries (including the UK) provide strong evidence that, actions and to drive systemic change that goes beyond
done well, NbS can help address the interlinked crises of ‘islands of success’, delivering benefits for climate, nature
climate change, nature loss, and poverty and inequality. and people.
The case studies also demonstrate how NbS could help

36 The four NbS principles were originally developed in February 2020 as a letter from 20 organisations to the President of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) COP26, then adopted by the Together With Nature campaign in May 2020, and refined in February 2021. Additional signatories from research,
conservation, and development organisations across the globe are now being invited.
37 The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions lists criteria and indicators, as adopted by the Council’s 98th meeting (in 2020).

11 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

2. CASE STUDIES
Nature-based solutions to address the
triple emergency:
Evidence and lessons from change-makers
on the ground

Nature-based solutions case studies: locations

UK

China

Sudan
Mali Pakistan

Cambodia
Sierra Leone Ethiopia
Ghana
Liberia

Kenya
Peru

12 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | China: Community-based seed banks and agroecology practices

1. CHINA:
Community-based seed banks and
agroecology practices

NGO: Farmers’ Seed Network, China

Implementing
Research institute: UNEP-IEMP (international Ecosystem Management Partnership) in
partners
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Location Mountain regions in Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces in China
Ecosystem Mountain ecosystem including forests, agriculture land and freshwater (rivers, lakes and
types ponds)
Operational
18 villages managing 337 hectares of land
scale
Time frame 2000 to present (evidence collated between 2000–2016)

© Shichun Yang

13 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | China: Community-based seed banks and agroecology practices

The Challenge
Climate change: Mountain regions in Yunnan and Guangxi Yunnan provinces lost 50 local food crop varieties before
Provinces have seen declines of total rainfall, changes in the project began.38 Traditional knowledge of farming and
rainfall patterns, increased and prolonged drought (for foods related to those crops has also disappeared. Natural
example, droughts during 2010–2012 in Guangxi province habitat and biodiversity were also lost when hilly land and
and during 2010–2014 in Yunnan province), and more forests were burnt or ploughed up to plant monoculture
intense floods (for example, drought followed by floods in crops and trees.
2015); as well as pest outbreaks such as snout moth, and
People: Poverty levels are among the highest in China
new pests and diseases due to climate change.
in mountain communities that are highly dependent on
Deforestation and degradation of land due to unsustainable natural resources for their livelihoods. Floods and droughts
farming practices is increasing carbon emissions. have decreased production and communities’ income: for
example, the 2015 floods reduced rice production by 50%.39
Nature: Agrobiodiversity is decreasing as industrial
monoculture agriculture expands. For example, villages in

NbS implemented
The solutions implemented focus on agroecology practices biopesticides using local wild herbs and chilli peppers;
that increase biodiversity on farms, and community-based reviving intercropping; shifting farming; combining crop
collective actions. Specific activities include: production with duck and fish cultivation to control pests
and provide natural fertiliser; reintroducing trees on
Participatory plant breeding. Scientists worked with
farms to help with soil conservation and adding additional
farmers to conserve traditional seeds, increase crop
income from non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as
and seed diversity, and bring back indigenous crops and
nuts.
improve farmers’ old varieties that are better adapted to
climate change impacts such as drought and pests, based Interventions have also included reforestation and
on traditional knowledge. sustainable forest management on mountain slopes
around the farms, centred around Indigenous Peoples’
Traditional diversified farming practices to control pests
traditional practices of water and soil management which
and conserve water and soil. Reducing or eliminating the
are based on their indigenous value system.
use of pesticides and harmful fertilisers by reintroducing

Achievements
Climate change: Climate change adaptation. The diversity community seed banks in Yunnan conserve more than 200
of crops and seeds conserved provides options for varieties of seed.43
adaptation and secures community access to seeds, and
Reduced pesticide and fertiliser use improves the soil
relying on their own seed system supports communities’
microbiome and reduces harmful impacts to insects and
recovery from extreme events.40 More trees on mountain
animals.44
slopes for water and soil management aid adaptation to
drought and reduce landslide risks in floods.41 Forest resource management has improved, and more
bamboos and trees have been planted on community land
Climate change mitigation: planting more trees on farms
and mountain slopes.45
and mountain slopes, and agroecology practices improve
soil carbon provide mitigation benefits, though not Agroecology practices have improved water resource
quantified.42 management by reducing water use and water pollution.46
Nature: Agrobiodiversity is improved, and more diversity People: The solutions have supported improved
of local crops and seeds is conserved: for example, productivity, diversified livelihoods and increased income

38 Reid H. and Zhang Y., (2018) Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation: strengthening the evidence and informing policy. Research results from the Participatory
Plant Breeding and Community Supported Agriculture project, China. Project report. IIED, London. https://pubs.iied.org/17624IIED/
39 Reid H. and Zhang Y., (2018) Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation: strengthening the evidence and informing policy. Research results from the Participatory
Plant Breeding and Community Supported Agriculture project, China. Project report. IIED, London.[ https://pubs.iied.org/17624IIED/ ]
40 Reilly, J. and K. Swiderska (2016). Biocultural Adaptation in Mountain Communities. Third INMIP International Learning Exchange, Stone Village, China. Event report.
IIED, London. [https://pubs.iied.org/14669iied]
41 Reid H. Zhang Y., 2018 (n39)
42 Reid H. Zhang Y., 2018 (n39)
43 Reilly and Swiderska 2016, Xin Song etc. 2021
44 Reid H. Zhang Y., 2018 (n39)
45 Reid H. Zhang Y., 2018 (n39)
46 Reid H. Zhang Y., 2018 (n39)

14 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | China: Community-based seed banks and agroecology practices

for farmers: new maize varieties developed through Significantly higher food self-sufficiency: compared to
participatory plant breeding processes have a 15–30% other villages in the same province, those implementing
higher yield than landraces and are more tolerant to agroecology activities are relying significantly more on
drought and more resistant to pests. Overall, staple local and indigenous food resources, and are more self-
food crops have seen productivity increase by 15–20% sufficient in food provision (this is extremely important for
and incomes have tripled. Farmers are also using more those mountain communities that are far from markets
intercropping and growing trees on farms which allows and lack secure access to extension services)48.
them to not only have incomes from crops but also from
fish, ducks and nuts from trees47.

Success factors
Establishing direct market links for diversified farm agroecology are better for their communities in the long
products helped to ensure farmers can financially benefit term, providing better income, access to natural resources
from NbS by giving them secure and stable access to and helping them to adapt to climate change in the long
high-value niche markets, for example, farmers’ markets, term.
environment-friendly consumer groups, or direct
Strengthening community-based organisations to
purchase/contracts from restaurants in cities.
foster collective actions: women leaders were supported
Traditional knowledge supported by modern science: to establish informal groups to support each other in
traditional knowledge of plant diversity, ecological farming conservation farming and to strengthen communities
and collective water management was crucially important and bonds within and among groups. Those groups
for the fast uptake and spread of those nature-based expanded into five registered farmers’ cooperatives that
activities in communities. Working together with scientists, help enhance access to market and finance and continued
communities can improve their old varieties and even exchanging lessons on how to implement NbS for climate
breed new varieties that can help them adapt to climate change. Revived traditional knowledge and customary law
change based on traditional knowledge. They also gain also helps cultivate and nurture collective responsibility to
more understanding of how traditional practices and care for common goods.

Resources
Reid H. and Zhang Y., (2018) Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation: strengthening the evidence and informing policy.
Research results from the Participatory Plant Breeding and Community Supported Agriculture project, China. Project
report. IIED, London.
Reilly, J. and K. Swiderska (2016) Biocultural Adaptation in Mountain Communities. Third INMIP International Learning
Exchange, Stone Village, China. Event report. IIED, London.
Song, Y., Y. Zhang, X. Song and L. Buckley (2015) Emerging Biocultural Innovations for Climate Resilience in Southwest
China. SIFOR qualitative baseline study. IIED, London.
Song, Y., Y. Zhang, X. Song and K. Swiderska (2016) Smallholder farming systems in southwest China Exploring key trends
and innovations for resilience. IIED, London.
Blog: Working with nature to build back better from COVID-19: inspirations from farmers in China
Photo gallery: EbA and COVID-19
Video: Interview with farmers in Yunnan

Contact
For more information visit IIED’s web page on this work or contact
Xiaoting Hou Jones, Senior Researcher (biodiversity), Natural Resources Group, IIED
Email: [email protected]

47 Song et al. 2016

48 Song et al. 2015

15 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

2. ETHIOPIA:
Farmer-managed forest landscape
restoration

NGO: World Vision Ethiopia

Implementing Government: Government of Ethiopia
partners Community-based organisations: seven village cooperatives
Other: World Bank
Location Humbo, Ethiopia
Ecosystem
Mountain ecosystems with forests and agriculture land
types
Operational
2,728 hectares
scale
Time frame 2005–2014

© World Vision. Left: Before image, 2000. Right: After image, 2007

16 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Ethiopia: Farmer-managed forest landscape restoration

The Challenge
Climate change: Humbo’s mountainous terrain was highly efforts to build up assets and invest in a better future for
degraded, rugged and chronically drought-prone. High themselves and their families.
levels of deforestation were threatening groundwater
Nature: The forests surrounding Humbo had largely been
reserves that were the main source of drinking water
destroyed by the late 1960s. Deforestation was mainly
for 65,000 local residents. Soil erosion coupled with
caused by poverty, hunger and increasing demand for
heavy rainfall and cyclones regularly led to flooding and
agricultural land. By the time of this project, less than 4%
mudslides in the highlands. These killed people and
of native forests in Ethiopia remained and wildlife had
livestock, and damaged crops, roads, bridges and other
decreased significantly due to habitat loss.
infrastructure. Prolonged drought conditions have also
been exacerbated in the lowlands. In a country where People: Prior to the start of the project, there were 48,893
90% of the population depends on agriculture for their people living in the Humbo area. According to a World
livelihood, recurrent drought and flood events create Vision survey, 85% were living in poverty, where the
poverty traps for many households, constantly thwarting average per capita annual income was less than US$100.

NbS implemented
World Vision Ethiopia trained farmers to practice farmer- due to overgrazing and overcutting. World Vision facilitated
managed natural regeneration (FMNR), a low-cost, local communities and authorities to sign agreements
innovative technique used to restore and regenerate trees to close off degraded communal hillside areas and
from the stumps of previously cut-down but still living only permit FMNR practices to enable the forests to be
trees. Farmers are trained in the pruning and coppicing restored. Compared to planting seedlings, the forests
techniques that can stimulate faster regrowth. They are were regenerated much more quickly and at lower cost
encouraged to select a variety of trees to regenerate, through FMNR, thanks to the large existing root systems.
including native species, fruit trees, and other varieties The regenerated forests have helped to recharge ground
that help to fix nitrogen in the soil or produce fuelwood water, including springs, and reduce flash flooding, land
or fodder. Farmers then can use pruned materials as degradation and soil erosion.
firewood and fodder.
World Vision Ethiopia also supported farmers to establish
The project organised farmers to practice FMNR on nurseries and plant both native species and commercially
communally owned hillsides that were heavily degraded viable tree species to supplement their income.

Achievements
Climate change: The Humbo project became World Vision’s leaf litter fall and the return of grass to the hillsides, there
first Clean Development Mechanism project, and the first is significantly less flooding, erosion and siltation of their
of its kind in Africa to be registered by the World Bank. farmlands located downstream from the project area. With
the likelihood that climate change may cause increased
By June 2009, 2,728 hectares of degraded forest had
rainfall in Ethiopia’s highlands, soil stability is essential for
been protected and were being restored and sustainably
reducing vulnerability to flash flooding and stabilising soil
managed. Over the 30-year period for capturing carbon
for agricultural production.
credits, it is estimated that over 870,000 tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent will be removed from the atmosphere, Nature: In the first 36 months after project activities
making a significant contribution to mitigating climate commenced, the change in vegetative cover was so
change. pronounced as to draw the attention of all levels of
government, universities, other development partners and
By 2018, the project had sequestered 165,000 tonnes of
communities visiting the project site. Community members
CO2, generating more than US$ 500,000 as carbon offsets
have observed an increased presence of wildlife and birds
for the community, through the World Bank’s BioCarbon
in the forest and have sighted native wildlife that had
Fund. The project has now ended but the community are
previously left the area including antelopes and wild goats.
still generating and selling carbon credits and will continue
to do so. The carbon revenue has improved livelihoods by Native vegetation has increased: by June 2009, 2,728ha
supporting the local community to build eight flour mills of degraded forest have been protected, restored and
and nine grain stores, purchase 240 solar panels and give sustainably managed. Tree regrowth had reached 2–5m,
access to micro-credit services to over 1,200 households from stumps at ground level, since project inception.
for investment in different businesses. Within the 2,728ha, more than 700ha of the area under
management had been pruned using FMNR techniques.
Reforestation is also reducing land degradation and soil
In addition, some 230ha unsuitable for FMNR had been
erosion. Water infiltration is improving, resulting in the
replanted with indigenous and commercial species with a
recharging of ground water and reduced flash flooding.
survival rate of 79%.
Community members have noted that, due to increased

17 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Ethiopia: Farmer-managed forest landscape restoration

Residents of the communities have observed that contributing to household economies. Improved land
fruit from five indigenous tree species are becoming management has stimulated grass growth, providing
increasingly available as the trees grow. fodder for livestock and a resource that can be cut and
sold as an additional source of income. At one site, Bola,
People: The regeneration of the Humbo forest produced
300 bundles of grass were harvested and sold during the
tangible benefits for the well-being of local communities.
first year of the project.
In a preliminary study in July 2008 (three years after
the project began), a common sentiment expressed by Crops near reforested areas also benefit through
community members was: “We never expected to see so modification of the microclimate, which comes about
much grass growing from these rocky, barren slopes, to through a combination of reduced wind speed, lower
see trees growing so quickly or to harvest firewood so temperatures, higher humidity and greater infiltration
early in the programme”. of water into the soil. The resulting healthier crops and
livestock are essential to community members’ good
Increased production of non-timber forest products,
nutritional status, health and livelihoods.
including honey, medicine, fibres, fruit and wildlife, is

Success factors
A foundation of community trust: this project built on 18 appraisals in each community, to assess interest and
years of prior development work undertaken by World willingness to make the necessary changes to land use
Vision in the Humbo District. The trust established between that would be required to adopt FMNR. The NGO’s office
World Vision and the community delivered a platform for in Ethiopia and the support office in Australia formed a
presenting the concept of a carbon and forestry project strong partnership and worked closely with specialists
and gave the community confidence. from the BioCarbon Fund of the World Bank and the
consultancy Joanneum Research.
Realising early success: community support for the
project improved as the project progressed. Even so, Institutional support from inception: letters of support for
it was not until actual physical benefits were realised the project from Woreda state and regional governments
that most community members fully believed that they were secured. A letter of no objection and letter of
were the primary beneficiaries, and that the degree approval were subsequently granted from the Ethiopian
of their participation would affect how much they Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Designated
benefitted. As communities began harvesting and utilising National Authority. The BioCarbon fund team at the World
fodder and firewood according to their management Bank was effective in supporting this process, and in
plan, even those who had been ambivalent became more realising additional start-up funding for capacity building
actively involved in the project. and technical support.
Collaboration and teamwork: from the outset, Compliance: a clear awareness of the requirements of the
the Humbo project focused on collaboration among Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) process from the
community, local, state and national authorities. Focus beginning of the project was essential to ensure collection
groups were engaged through participatory rural of relevant data and appropriate actions.

Resources
Donaldson, K (2009). Humbo Community managed Forestry project, Ethiopia. World Vision Australia
Buckingham, K and Hanson, C. (2015). The Restoration Diagnostic, Case example: Humbo, Ethiopia. World Resources
Institute
Brown, D & Dettmann, P et al. (2010). Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Restoration Using the Clean Development
Mechanism: A Case Study from Humbo, Ethiopia. In Environmental Management. 48. 322–33. DOI: 10.1007/s00267-010-
9590-3.
Rinaudo, T, Muller, M et al. (2019). Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Manual. World Vision Australia
Video: Clean development Projects, World Vision
Video: Tanya Pinto in Ethiopia – Humbo Reforestation
Video: Trees of Life: Humbo Reforestation project

Contact
For more information visit the FMNR Hub website or World Vision’s website
or contact Jason Garrett, Senior Resilience Programmes Advisor, World Vision UK
Email: [email protected]

18 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

3. GHANA:
Farmer-managed and community-based
dryland restoration

Implementing
NGO: World Vision Ghana
partner
Location Talensi, Ghana
Ecosystem types Dryland ecosystem with forests, agriculture, savanna, shrubland and grassland
Operational scale 50,000 hectares
Time frame 2009–2020 (evidence collated for 2009–2017)

© Jason Amoo, World Vision

19 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Ghana: Farmer managed and community-based dryland restoration

The Challenge
Climate change: Talensi lies in an environmentally Dry season bushfires and field burning were preventing
fragile dryland area of Eastern Ghana. In recent decades, natural and assisted restoration and recovery of tree
its population, mainly subsistence rain-fed farmers or growth, grass and other natural habitats. The destructive
pastoralist families, has seen annual rainfall decline fires discouraged the planting of productive trees.
due to climate change, forest cover loss, and associated
People: Talensi is in the Upper East Region of Ghana, a
biodiversity disappearance and loss of productivity from
rural location with the third highest poverty rate in the
increasingly infertile soil.
country. Despite the availability of arable land, there are
Erratic rainfall patterns have reduced the predictability of a number of complex factors that prevent farmers from
the rainy season, with extended dry spells and intensified moving out of poverty. Ghana’s Ministry of Food and
downpours. These climatic changes make it difficult for Agriculture has reported consistently (in 2007, 2015 and
farmers to know when to plant, causing significant crop 2018) that the land is facing increasing degradation from
losses. climate change and deforestation, poor farming practices,
overgrazing, felling of trees for wood and charcoal, and
Nature: World Vision Ghana’s pre-project assessment
bush fires to clear land for farming. This has left fragile
and the baseline survey in 2010 found that unsustainable
soils exposed to erosion and poor water retention which
farming methods and over-exploitation of forests for fuel
has led to poor crop yields and food insecurity, with
and construction materials caused loss of soil fertility,
farmers becoming poorer.
declining yields and decreased tree cover and associated
biodiversity/natural resources.

NbS implemented
To reverse deteriorating soil fertility and natural resources, The project also trained farmers to adopt sustainable
the project mobilised communities to use Farmer Managed agriculture techniques such as bulk composting, field
Natural Regeneration (FMNR) to restore multi-purpose mulching and ox ploughing. It supported communities
trees to rural landscapes. FMNR is a low-cost, innovative to adopt diversified income-generating activities
technique to restore and regenerate trees from the stumps including planting fruit trees, honey production and the
of previously cut-down (but still living) trees. In Talensi, establishment of community savings groups.
farmers are trained to use FMNR to regenerate tress on
The project facilitated the formation of community
farmers’ crop and pastoral fields; as well as in community
volunteer fire brigades to manage bushfires, reduce field
managed FMNR forests, where tree densities were much
burning and enhance natural regeneration. The project also
higher than in crop fields. As farmers prune trees to
facilitated community agreements and the establishment
stimulate natural regeneration, more leaves and branches
of community by-laws to limit tree cutting and reduce field
from the pruning process are left on site, and they improve
burning.
soil quality and reduce soil erosion.

Achievements
World Vision’s FMNR project in Talensi began in 2009, Restored soil and trees on farms help increase water
and an evaluation was conducted in 2018, covering retention and reduce soil erosion in heavy downpours,
implementation up to 2017. reducing farmers’ vulnerability to irregular rainfall
patterns due to climate change.
Climate change: The evaluation showed that there was
very high uptake of FMNR among farmers in Talensi, with Nature: As a result of the project, the communities had
96% of survey respondents reporting that they practised restored 718 hectares of degraded land using FMNR and
FMNR on their farms. The survey showed that the number these were protected by the enforcement of community
of farmers implementing tree management practices and by-laws .
protecting trees from bush fires had also increased. Eighty
The managed forests now contain around 568,580 trees.
percent of farmers reported an increase in the number of
Of these, some 377,000 indigenous trees can be counted
trees in the community, and only 12.5% were still burning
as additional due to the project, with an average density of
their fields. The new practices all contribute to a reducing
2,343 trees per hectare (compared to a baseline of around
carbon emission from unsustainable land use.
10 trees per hectare).
Use of improved soil management practices increased,
Aside from natural tree regeneration, the project also
with 94% of farmers managing the quality of their soil, and
directly contributed to the planting of 23,000 additional
64% reporting an increase in soil fertility. Soil erosion was
fruit trees in the project area.
reported to have declined over the course of the project,
with 57% of farmers at the evaluation noting a decline and People: The percentage of households reporting one or
82% reporting no degraded land. more hungry months during the year reduced from 87% at

20 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Ghana: Farmer managed and community-based dryland restoration

the project baseline to 63% at the time of the evaluation in This contributed to the proportion of households having
2017. There were no households reporting ‘severe hunger’ access to at least one source of credit increasing from 21%
at the evaluation, compared to 6% at the baseline. to 58%.
The proportion of households reporting a diversity of FMNR activities have built strong community resilience.
income sources increased from 56% at baseline to 95% Restoring degraded land and increasing tree cover
at the evaluation. While not necessarily increasing actual helped reduce the impact of droughts, with trees serving
income, having a more diverse source of income is likely as windbreaks to protect crops and topsoil. Incidences
to lead to increased resilience. The increase in soil fertility of bushfires and soil erosion have also decreased,
and tree cover may have contributed to this increase in contributing to an overall decline in the number and
income diversity by enabling a greater range of food crops severity of shocks that project participants experienced.
to be grown, and also by increasing the availability of fruit For instance, the percentage of households experiencing
from fruit trees regenerated by FMNR. crop failure reduced from 49.8% to 38.4%, while the
percentage of households experiencing loss of main
The project also established savings groups, and we
income reduced from 7.1% to 2.5%.
saw the proportion of households belonging to a group
increasing from 8% to 76% over the course of the project.

Success factors
Combining short-term and long-term benefits: The Communities have seen the benefits of sustainable and
FMNR activities in Talensi were integrated with other resilient approaches to agriculture and as a result have
initiatives that helped to alleviate the poverty in the developed their own community sustainability plans. This
area. This enabled communities to see the impact of the forward planning is likely to lift environmental and
whole project engage with the FMNR activities alongside economic benefits further after the project ends. In all 25
the other project activities. communities, by-laws have been developed and are now at
various stages of implementation.
The strength of FMNR as an approach is that it links
strongly with agriculture, food security and livelihoods, Fostering collective responsibilities and action:
through the impact it has on soil quality, water absorption The FMNR approach has strengthened community bonds
and agricultural production. The technique is extremely and cohesion across the different groups and families
low cost and simple to apply, making it easy for farmers participating in agricultural value chains. The two main
and communities to adopt. An added advantage is ethnic groups in Talensi work together collaboratively
that it involves the pruning and coppicing of new on land management, while the inclusion and valued
growth rather than requiring a regime of no cutting, participation of women and youth in agriculture and
which is sometimes imposed on communities to reduce associated industries has been noted broadly in focus
deforestation. groups and interviews.

Resources
World Vision (2018). Evaluation Brief Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration. World Vision Australia
World vision (2013). Talensi FMNR Project end-of-phase evaluation report. World Vision Australia
Weston, P and Hong, R (2012). Social Return on Investment Report Talensi Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration
Project in Ghana. World Vision Australia

Contact
For more information visit World Vision’s FMNR hub website or contact
Jason Garrett, Senior Resilience Programmes Advisor, World Vision UK
Email: [email protected]

21 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

4. KENYA:
Community-based mangrove forest
restoration

NGO: Plan International Kenya

Implementing Government: Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute; Kenya Forest Service
partners Community-based organisations: Beach Management Units
Other: Plan International UK
Location Kwale County, Kenya
Ecosystem types Coastal ecosystems with mangroves, forests and agricultural lands
Operational scale Four communities covering approximately 17 hectares
Time frame 2017–2020

© Chiara Ambrosino - Plan International

22 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Kenya: Community-based mangrove forest restoration

The Challenge
Climate change: The southern coastal region of Kwale unregulated and inadequate sewage systems) also have a
County has seen changes in rainfall patterns, including deleterious effect on the local coastal ecology.
declining average seasonal rainfall and increasing
Since 2000, Kwale County has also witnessed the loss of
intensity and frequency of heavy rains, which increases
20% of its tree cover.49 Local communities fell trees for
soil erosion inland. Storm surges occur more frequently
myriad reasons: agricultural expansion, living space for
and are stronger, and heatwaves are more frequent and
rapidly growing populations, charcoal production, because
last longer. These climatic changes have led to increased
of weak governance, overreliance on wood energy and, to a
food and water insecurity.
lesser extent, for mining.50 Deforestation contributes to soil
Nature: Mangrove forests in Kwale have been subject erosion, soil degradation, water resource loss and leaves
to alarming levels of destruction over recent decades, vulnerable populations more exposed to climatic events.
mainly due to demand from charcoal production and
People: Before the project started, the most recent data
timber use. Mangrove loss reduces coastal protection from
showed Kwale County had an estimated population of
extreme weather and shrinks the breeding habitats for a
783,261, of which 74.9% lived in poverty. The coastal
diverse array of marine species. According to the National
community is highly reliant on natural resources
Mangrove Ecosystem Management Plan (Government of
(agriculture and fishing) which are adversely affected by
Kenya, 2017) the mangroves of Kwale County comprise the
climate change and environmental degradation. Coastal
Vanga-Funzi, Gazi Bay, and Ukunda areas covering an area
communities reported a declining trend in fish productivity
of approximately 8,354 hectares, with 45% of this area
and diversity, and low levels of income diversification
consisting of mangroves requiring rehabilitation.
among coastal households. This increased their
Overfishing, illegal fishing (using dragnets and poisoning) vulnerability to climate-related events, household-specific
and destruction of coral reefs (caused by pollution from shocks such as injury and illness, and economic stresses.

NbS implemented
Mangrove forest restoration: four community-based resources. Seaweed farming is non-invasive, non-polluting
groups (comprised of equal numbers of men and women) and, if done correctly, is an environmentally sustainable
have been growing and replanting mangrove seedlings livelihood activity. Seaweed farming is also low investment
along the Kwale coastline — growing a total of 243,000 and low risk and a preferred income-generating activity
seedlings to date. among women.
Seaweed farming: three community-based groups Tree replanting: two community-based groups and two
engaged in seaweed farming, providing an alternative schools have planted a total of 15,360 seedlings in various
livelihood to fishing, agriculture or charcoal production — sites across the four communities.
activities that put pressure on already-stressed natural

Achievements
Climate change: the project has supported alternative project formally closed. Additionally, 820 people (women,
and supplemental livelihood strategies that can enhance girls, boys and men — again with 50% female participation)
the ability of local communities to withstand climate and have planted 7,940 seedlings for regrowth of fruit trees,
economic risks. Mangrove forest restoration and seaweed native forest species and charcoal replacement trees.
farming have been protecting the coastlines from coastal Although there has been some attrition rate with seedlings
flooding, storm surges and coastal erosion. Inland, in the being lost at the beginning due to poor management, the
upstream communities, tree replanting is contributing to survival rate has been, on average, 80%.
reducing the risk of soil erosion.
People: Based on local households’ preferences,51 the
Nature: Led by community mangrove groups and tree project diversified and enhanced existing livelihood options
planting groups in upstream communities, the project’s for community households, particularly focusing on
planting activities have returned increasing yields in terms seaweed farming.
of numbers of trees grown and their survival rate. Over the
At the end of the project, the number of functioning
two-year period, 127 people across four groups, (of which
seaweed farms had reached 91, spread across three
50% were women), planted 137,000 mangrove seedlings.
community groups and producing 10.73–20.3 tonnes per
A further 56,000 seedlings have been planted since the

49 https://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/archive/Kenya.htm
50 Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (2013) Analysis of drivers and underlying causes of forest cover change in the various forest types of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
http://www.kenyaforestservice.org/documents/redd/Analysis%20%20of%20Drivers%20of%20Deforestation%20&forest%20Degradation%20in%20Kenya.pdf
51 Nyawade BO, Okeyo-Owuor JB, Were PK, Paul JO (2019) Drivers and barriers for adoption of alternative environmentally sustainable livelihood options among
coastal communities of Kwale, Kenya. Plan International Kenya, Nairobi. Unpublished

23 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Kenya: Community-based mangrove forest restoration

year. Initially, mainly women were engaging in seaweed profitable for the groups, farms and individuals engaged in
farming. However, by the end of the project, as the interest it. The average net profit from seaweed farming has been
in the business opportunity grew, 236 men were recorded reported as KSh 13,866.66 per farm. The net profit per
as working on seaweed production, as well as 243 women. cycle is, on average. KSh 2,000.
The seaweed crop cycle is approximately 45 days long and
At the end of the project, women reported that they were
farms are able to complete up to seven cycles per year.
able to invest their earnings into paying for their children’s
Each farm produces on average 0.6 tonnes per cycle. The
school fees, health-related expenses and improving their
cost of production per farm is between KSh1,200–7,000
quality of life (for example, safe water access, house
per year. The farmers spend on average KSh1,133 per
improvements). The end-of-project survey also revealed
farm per cycle.
improvements in children’s welfare.
All groups sell their produce at KSh25 per kilogram. It is
observed that seaweed farming is turning out to be highly

Success factors
Strong community engagement was vital. The emphasis long-term well-being of the wider household and
given to the role of the local communities in catalysing social, community (for example, children’s education and health-
economic and ecological transformation has been central related expenses), thereby contributing to strengthening
to the project, as it aims to promote a sense of ownership household and community resilience. As primary
of the local natural capital and transparency in its caretakers of their household, women play a critical role
management while valuing and strengthening existing in the sustainable management of the local environment
traditional knowledge and local people’s ability to identify and biodiversity. These investments improve household
solutions. ability to withstand the risks arising from climate
change and shifts to different livelihoods.
Participatory approaches have enhanced the sense of
ownership of project activities and contributed towards a Local government co-operation is particularly important
strong foundation for sustainability. to ensure that continued technical support and innovation
is promoted to local groups, and to ensure that approaches
Gender inclusion has contributed to resilience. When
and evidence are informing policy, regulatory and
women have agency in sustainably managing natural
legal changes. In this regard the support of the county
resources and have better control over household income,
government, KMFRI, Kenya Forestry Services, NEMA and
it results in concrete benefit to the natural environment,
Beach Management Units were integral to contributing to
community well-being and the local economy. Women are
the successes of the project.
more likely to use improved earnings to invest in the

Resources
Ambrosino, C., Hufton, B et al. (2020). Integrating climate adaptation, poverty reduction and environmental conservation
through a people-centred approach in coastal Kwale County, Kenya; in African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation;
Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-42091-8_118-1
Video: Conservation and sustainable use of Marine Ecosystems in Kenya

Contact
For more information visit Plan International UK or contact
Chiara Ambrosino, Climate, Environment and Resilience Advisor, Plan International UK
Email: [email protected]

24 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

5. MALI:
Community-based dryland restoration

Implementing partner NGO: Tree Aid

Location Segou Region, Mali

Ecosystem types Dryland ecosystems with forest, savannah and agriculture land

Operational scale 20,404 hectares

Timeframe July 2017–June 2020

© Tree Aid 2020

25 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Mali: Community-based dryland restoration

Context
Climate change: The region is particularly vulnerable to has shifted 25–35km southwards, resulting in biodiversity
climate change due to its location south of the Sahara loss and conversion of arable land to sand dunes. Habitat
Desert and the strong dependency of the population on and biodiversity losses disrupt food chains, multiplying
rain-fed agriculture. Increasing temperatures, changes in negative impacts. The project area, the Duwa and Sutebwo
rainfall patterns, as well as more frequent and extreme forests, are an example of this severe degradation:
climate events (floods and droughts), result in loss of between 2000–2015, an estimated 3,300 hectares of dense
assets and crops as well as food price shocks that worsen tree cover have been lost across the two forests. This has
an already difficult situation of high poverty levels and food been replaced by open savannah woodland, most of it now
insecurity. For example, temperatures across the Sahel degraded, and agricultural land.
have increased by nearly one degree Celsius since 1970,
People: The project worked with 2,672 rural households
nearly twice the global average.52 This has increased the
affected by poverty and food insecurity. At the start of the
risk of forest and bushfires which release more carbon into
intervention, 86% of the project population were living
the atmosphere.
below the poverty line53 and 20% were below the calorie
Nature: Regional ecosystems are degraded due to line.54,55 Project participants included 30% of women,
prolonged drought, agricultural expansion, forest who are significantly more affected by poverty and
degradation and deforestation, erosion and biodiversity environmental degradation than men because of their
loss from poaching. As a result of long-term declines in limited opportunities to access and control productive
rainfall from the 1970s–1990s, the Sahel ecological zone resources and markets.

Nature-based solutions implemented

The project aimed to protect and restore the biodiversity These solutions restored and sustainably managed forests,
of the Duwa and Sutebwo forests (20,404 hectares in total) which also provide a variety of NTFPs such as fruits, nuts,
while increasing household incomes and contributing to oils, butters, traditional medicines and nutritious foods
poverty reduction in 41 local communities in the district of for local communities. Products from shea trees, baobab
Tominian. and African locust beans as well as honey production help
diversify community incomes and improve the autonomy
The project supported tree planting and care, farmer-
of women who otherwise have limited cash-generating
managed natural regeneration (FMNR) and agroforestry.
opportunities.
FMNR involves farmers to regularly prune a tree to
stimulate growth. After pruning, cut leaves are left on farm The intervention also helped to establish firebreaks around
to reduce erosion and return nutrients to soil and pruned restored areas to prevent the destruction of existing
stems can be used as firewood, reducing pressure on forests and new trees.
forests.

Achievements
Climate change: Climate change mitigation. Promotion
of trees on farmland and improved tree cover in wooded Interactions between poverty, climate change and nature loss, updated 2021

savannah has increased above-ground carbon storage, Source: DEG Triple emergency report

providing mitigation benefits. Though overall improved CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES NATURE LOSS
Climate change has direct impacts on
ecosystems and can worsen other
HUMAN ACTIVITIES DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE
Activities include burning coal, oil and gas
for energy, conversion of natural
carbon storage capacity is not quantified, data shows that stressors. Impacts include higher
temperatures, more frequent/severe
extreme events, and sea level rise.
CLIMATE
ecosystems, and high impact
unsustainable agricultural
systems.
CHANGE
in fallow agricultural land and open savannah woodland,
there has been a marked improvement in the tree density, NATURE LOSS DRIVES CLIMATE CHANGE
CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THE
POOREST FIRST AND WORST
Current and future impacts from sea level rise,
Land-use conversion of natural grasslands,
increasing from an average of 168 trees/ha to an average forests, and wetlands can release stored
carbon as CO₂ into the atmosphere, and
reduces vital sinks.
more frequent/severe extreme weather events,
and changing agricultural seasons, increases
risks, entrenches poverty and threatens
THE TRIPLE
of 182 trees/ha. EMERGENCY
development gains.

Climate change adaptation. The project supported

Nature: Despite NATURE
the LOSS short AFFECTSimplementation timeframe,
climate change adaptation by promoting more inclusive THE HUMAN ACTIVITIES
NATURE POOREST FIRST AND WORST DRIVE NATURE LOSS POVERTY
20,404ha
LOSS
of landEcosystem
relyare now under improved
services that people
management
Unsustainable & PEOPLE
practices and
and participatory local structures for managing natural on for food, water, fuel,
medicine and spiritual and consumption leads to
plans. Overall, 11,619ha benefitted
cultural identity, and for
from improved natural
habitat destruction,
overexploitation,
resources. Seventy-five percent of beneficiaries believe resilience to floods and
are lost.
storms
disease outbreak and
resource management techniques, suchpollution. as FMNR, planting
they now have fairer and more equal access to local forest
of indigenous tree species and soil and water conservation
resources, helping to make communities more resilient.
practices and composting pits (zaï) to improve soil fertility

52 Source: June 2015; Alec Crawford; Climate change and state fragility in the Sahel
53 ($1.90 a day/Adult Male Equivalent) based on Total Value of Activities (Cash Income + Products consumed converted into local cash equivalents)
54 2,500 Kcal per day/Adult Male Equivalent
55 Data collected through socioeconomic household level survey (https://www.rhomis.org/) and ecological survey conducted at project baseline (2017) and endline
(2020).

26 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Mali: Community-based dryland restoration

and water retention. More than 345,000 new trees were

planted, and 327,000 trees restored. In addition, 8,300 Interactions between poverty, climate change and nature loss, updated 2021

hectares of degraded forest land were restored to improve

Source: DEG Triple emergency report

CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES NATURE LOSS HUMAN ACTIVITIES DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE
water retention and soil fertility. Climate change has direct impacts on
ecosystems and can worsen other
Activities include burning coal, oil and gas
for energy, conversion of natural
stressors. Impacts include higher ecosystems, and high impact
temperatures, more frequent/severe CLIMATE unsustainable agricultural
Biodiversity has improved across all land-use systems: the extreme events, and sea level rise. CHANGE systems.

number of tree species increased from 37 species in 2017 CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THE
NATURE LOSS DRIVES CLIMATE CHANGE POOREST FIRST AND WORST
to 43 species in 2020. Six species have been returned to Land-use conversion of natural grasslands,
forests, and wetlands can release stored
Current and future impacts from sea level rise,
more frequent/severe extreme weather events,
and changing agricultural seasons, increases
carbon as CO₂ into the atmosphere, and
the area. Among them, Cordyla pinnata, a locally identified reduces vital sinks.
THE TRIPLE
risks, entrenches poverty and threatens
development gains.
EMERGENCY
threatened species of significant importance to the
community for both food and livelihood opportunities, was
NATURE LOSS AFFECTS THE HUMAN ACTIVITIES
NATURE
particularly welcome. LOSS
POOREST FIRST AND WORST
Ecosystem services that people
DRIVE NATURE LOSS
Unsustainable
POVERTY
& PEOPLE
rely on for food, water, fuel, practices and
medicine and spiritual and consumption leads to

People: The project helped establish 44 viable community-

cultural identity, and for habitat destruction,
resilience to floods and storms overexploitation,
are lost. disease outbreak and
Interactions between poverty, climate change and nature loss, updated 2021
led small NTFP-based businesses called Village Tree
pollution.

Source: DEG Triple emergency report

Enterprises (VTEs), where local people work in groups

CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES NATURE LOSS HUMAN ACTIVITIES DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change has direct impacts on
ecosystems and can worsen other
Activities include burning coal, oil and gas
for energy, conversion of natural to develop products and share the benefits equally
stressors. Impacts include higher ecosystems, and high impact
temperatures, more frequent/severe
extreme events, and sea level rise.
CLIMATE
CHANGE
unsustainable agricultural
systems. (mainly from shea trees and honey). Enterprises received
organisational and technical support to improve production
CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THE
NATURE LOSS DRIVES CLIMATE CHANGE
Land-use conversion of natural grasslands,
POOREST FIRST AND WORST
Current and future impacts from sea level rise, processes, product quality, and business and financial
forests, and wetlands can release stored more frequent/severe extreme weather events,
carbon as CO₂ into the atmosphere, and
reduces vital sinks.
and changing agricultural seasons, increases
risks, entrenches poverty and threatens skills. VTEs also received materials to improve packaging
THE TRIPLE development gains.
EMERGENCY and labelling. They can support each other, running savings
A study of tree distribution by diameter class has shown and loans schemes, and trade as one entity — through
that fewer trees
NATURE with a WORST
NATURE LOSS AFFECTS THE
POOREST FIRST AND circumference
DRIVE NATUREabove
HUMAN ACTIVITIES
LOSS 30cm are
POVERTY which they can often negotiate better prices for all their
LOSS Ecosystem services that people Unsustainable & PEOPLE
being lost. In 2020, the percentage
rely on for food, water, fuel,
medicine and spiritual and of trees
practices and
consumption leads to with a diameter members.
cultural identity, and for habitat destruction,
above 30 cm rose to 22.1%,
resilience to floods and storms
from a figure
overexploitation,
of 16.8% in 2017.
are lost. disease outbreak and
pollution. For example, the two inter-communal cooperatives
As a result of improved forest management, there were
of Farakunna and Hirosin received modern shea and
also more trees in the 80–99 cm circumference category in
honey-processing units and training to increase product
2020.
volume, quality and sales. Members took part in marketing
Interactions between poverty, climate change and nature loss, updated 2021 skills training and learning exchanges. Local radio stations
Source: DEG Triple emergency report
were used to provide market information and improve the
CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES NATURE LOSS
Climate change has direct impacts on
HUMAN ACTIVITIES DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE
Activities include burning coal, oil and gas flow of data between producers and buyers about products
ecosystems and can worsen other for energy, conversion of natural
stressors. Impacts include higher
temperatures, more frequent/severe
extreme events, and sea level rise.
CLIMATE
ecosystems, and high impact
unsustainable agricultural
systems.
and prices.
CHANGE

CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THE

At the beginning of project, neither cooperative had access
POOREST FIRST AND WORST
NATURE LOSS DRIVES CLIMATE CHANGE
Land-use conversion of natural grasslands,
forests, and wetlands can release stored
Current and future impacts from sea level rise,
more frequent/severe extreme weather events,
to national or international markets. By 2020, both co-
and changing agricultural seasons, increases
operatives reported access to national markets due to
carbon as CO₂ into the atmosphere, and
reduces vital sinks. risks, entrenches poverty and threatens
THE TRIPLE development gains.
EMERGENCY project support, with Farakunna reporting 50% of its honey
sales at national level, while 25% of Hirosin’s sales of shea
and 7% of its honey sales were made at a national level.
NATURE LOSS AFFECTS THE HUMAN ACTIVITIES
NATURE POOREST FIRST AND WORST DRIVE NATURE LOSS POVERTY
LOSS Ecosystem services that people Unsustainable & PEOPLE
Hirosin also reported 3% of its honey sales were at an
rely on for food, water, fuel, practices and
medicine and spiritual and consumption leads to
cultural identity, and for habitat destruction,
overexploitation,
resilience to floods and storms
are lost. disease outbreak and
pollution.
international level.
By the end of the project, 52% of the project population
were below the poverty line ($1.90 a day/Adult Male
Equivalent) based on Total Value of Activities (Cash
These are extremely positive results that suggest a high
Income + Products consumed converted into local cash
rate of adoption by farmers of improved sustainable
equivalents) — a reduction of 34%. Fifteen percent of the
land-management practices. By the end of project, 1,435
project population were below the calorie line (2,500 Kcal
farmers had participated in FNRM best practices training.
per day/Adult Male Equivalent), a reduction of 5%.
and the proportion of households using FMNR techniques
had increased from 33% to 86%.

Success factors
Participatory approach: The project established more an open forum for discussion and addressing conflicts that
participatory and inclusive forest governance, where may arise over natural resource use. Two hundred and
decision-making processes are decentralised and promote eighty one brigade members (including 82 women) from
the rights and responsibilities of local forest users who local communities were trained to collect data in order to
depend on the forests. Local communities (organised monitor forest stewardship efforts.
through two cooperatives) were supported to take on
Improving incomes and market access by implementing
stewardship of two communal forests through a forest
NbS: The project helped set up 44 community-led,
dialogue group and a steering committee. These provided

27 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Mali: Community-based dryland restoration

NTFP-based businesses and supported them to improve improved access to NTFPs. This opened the way for
production and expand market access. women from poorer households to generate their own
incomes. Women are more likely to invest in the long-term
Women’s participation: The intervention provided women
well-being of their households, for example by building up
with an inclusive platform where they could meaningfully
savings that can provide a buffer against climate shocks.
participate in managing forest resources and gain

Resources
Tree Aid (2020). Strengthening forest management to protect biodiversity and alleviate poverty in Mali, West Africa.
Tree Aid
Web pages: project updates and blog

Contact
For more information visit the Tree Aid website or contact
Pietro Carpena or Amadou Tangara at Tree Aid
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

© Tree Aid 2020

28 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

6. PERU:
Sustainable watershed management in
glacial mountain ecosystems

NGO: CARE Peru

Financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Project executed in consortium with the University of Zurich
Government: Glaciology Unit of the National Water Authority, Regional
Governments of Ancash, Cusco and Lima, Peru Ministry of Environment, Peru
Implementing partners
Ministry of Economics and Finance
Community-based organisations: communities of Cusco and the Nor Yauyos-
Cochas Landscape Reserve in Cañete, Lima
Other: Meteodat, the Alpine Environment Research Center (CREALP), and the
Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL)

Location Ancash, Cusco, and Lima, Peru

Highland glacial mountain ecosystems with a mosaic of glacial lagoons, glacier-
Ecosystem types
fed lakes and rivers, grassland and human settlements downstream
163 hectares in the Ancash, Cusco, and Lima provinces, covering many towns and
Operational scale landscapes, with potential benefits for human settlements and ecosystems many
kilometers downstream
Time frame 2011–2019

© CARE PERÚ

29 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Peru: Sustainable watershed management in glacial mountain ecosystems

The Challenge
Climate change: 71% of the world’s tropical glaciers are People: Ice and rock landslides from glacier melt generate
found in Peru. Over the last 40 years, due to the impacts waves that form deadly flash floods, inundating population
of climate change, the glacial surface of 18 snow-capped centers and displacing communities, with women, children,
mountain ranges in the country has been reduced by poor, and indigenous communities most disproportionately
53%. The accelerated retreat of the glaciers often creates affected.
unstable lagoons and causes natural disasters such as
The provision of water in Peru depends on the
alluvium landslides and deadly flash foods.
conservation of high mountain ecosystems that are
Nature: Many of Peru’s freshwater ecosystems are fed responsible for the regulation, storage, and provision
by glaciers. Glacial melt is disrupting water flow and of water for consumption and irrigation by the entire
quality, posing a threat to the flora and fauna that rely on country. Water deficits and droughts resulting from the
freshwater environments. Unsustainable management loss of glaciers as a dependable form of water storage
of fragile glacier ecosystems is causing environmental have worsened the food security situation, threatened
degradation and biodiversity loss. For example, in Cusco, the livelihoods of Andean farmers and multiplied the
many highland pasture areas have been degraded by socioeconomic threats facing poor communities who rely
overgrazing. This, coupled with increasing temperatures, on glaciers not only for water, but for food and energy
has led to increased rates of evaporation from highland production. For example, rivers fed by glacial meltwater
grassland, reducing available water in the landscape. are a critical source of irrigation for agriculture and energy
for hydropower companies.

NbS implemented
The Proyecto Glaciares saw community-led, multi- species on water banks to protect water resources. They
stakeholder coalitions of scientists, public and private have also established sustainable communal grazing plans
sector actors collaboratively develop water resources to prevent overgrazing.
management plans to sustainably manage more than
The project also trained smallholder farmers to carry out
200 new lakes. The project benefitted downstream
sustainable farming practices including the sustainable
communities and protected fragile high-altitude
use of water. These NbS were combined with other
freshwater ecosystems. As part of those water resources
measures: for example, building dams to harvest water
management plans, communities working with other
from periglacial lagoons for the storage of rainwater and
stakeholders have protected and restored wetland by
protection of wetlands, and the design and implementation
replanting native species, protecting grassland and
of early disaster warning systems.
forests around important spring water resources, fencing
tributaries for restoration of vegetation, and planting native

Achievements
Climate change: Restored and better-managed water water and sanitation service boards to store water
resources and glacier ecosystems have helped to reduce and recharge and maintain wetlands.
the risk of landslides and flash floods for more than 70,000
The improved water supply has allowed new watering
people living downstream. In addition, women, Indigenous
holes for wildlife to be created and mountain meadows to
People and poor communities, who led these nature-based
be restored.
solutions, now benefit from access to climate information
services, helping to protect their lives and livelihoods from People: Communities now have better access to water,
natural disasters. improved income and strengthened capability and
knowledge to manage climate change risks and water
Nature: The project included the creation or strengthening
resources. Improved scientific knowledge, better public
of 34 water and sanitation service boards to sustainably
policies and local implementation skills also contribute
manage natural and water resources. In addition:
to long-term poverty alleviation in Peru. Some of the
• 143ha of wetland have been protected and restored achievements include:
• 11ha of springs have been protected • 1,000 small-scale farmers have gained greater skills
in climate adaption, disaster risk management and
• 200 new lakes have been created and sustainably
integrated management of water resources;
managed.
• 73 farmers have been trained in good agricultural
• 30ha of water surface area have been restored in ten
practices that sustainably and efficiently use
periglacial lagoons or rustic dams in high mountain
highland water resources such as the periglacial
areas. These are managed by communities and
lagoons;

30 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Peru: Sustainable watershed management in glacial mountain ecosystems

• Four women-owned and operated companies have • Nearly 70,000 people living downstream from the
been created to sustainably produce and market glaciers have benefitted from early warning systems
products such as coffee, granadilla and honey for landslides.

Success factors
Combining scientific knowledge with traditional in sustainable water resources management. Increased
knowledge helped to ensure that the design of the NbS monitoring capacity supported by the government of Peru
solutions incorporated both local indigenous knowledge enables more data to be used by researchers to inform
and robust scientific data. Combining science with local the design of NbS and other measures, creating a virtuous
knowledge of flood risks also led to the creation of an cycle of long-term planning and implementation.
early warning system for floods through the community
Strengthening of capabilities at the three levels
mapping of flood-prone areas and evacuation routes. This
of government (national, regional and local) and in
system also helps communities and researchers collect
academia has raised awareness of the importance
and monitor data in the long term to inform the design of
of glaciers and the integrated management of water
appropriate NbS and other measures to adapt to climate
resources for political actors. Likewise, it has allowed
change impacts.
dialogue and the exchange of knowledge between
Combining NbS and grey infrastructure to meet a the scientific community and the public sector
diverse set of short-term and long-term needs: As and increased the integration of scientific information
glaciers continue to retreat at a fast rate, NbS alone are into development plans, strategies, methodological
not enough to sustainably manage water resources in a tools and investment projects, such as in the use
way that can meet the increasing demands for human of flooding and landslide hazard risk maps. In addition,
consumption while preventing further loss of crucial scientific information on the effects of climate change
habitats like wetlands. Combining the restoration of native on glaciers and other natural resources has been
vegetations and sustainable use of natural resources in incorporated into territorial development plans, led to the
key watersheds with grey infrastructure such as dams can creation of the National Institute of Glaciers and Mountain
help ensure long-term sustainable management of water Ecosystems, helped in the formulation of the multipurpose
resources while meeting immediate needs for irrigation, public investment projects for environmental protection
fishing and energy generation. This type of hybrid and management, and allowed for the integration
management can meet and balance water needs and of community-based adaptation, disaster risk reduction,
generate broader stakeholder support for NbS. The NbS and integrated water resources management approaches
contributed to the adaptive capacity of the communities in development plans agreed at the regional level.
and utilised gender-sensitive CVCA methodology to identify
Engaging women in natural resource management:
adaptation measures aligned with Peru’s NDC.
Women are more aware of natural resource distribution
Multi-stakeholder partnership: Close collaboration and long-term risks and often bear most responsibility
amongst communities, researchers and government for securing long-term access to water for their families.
officials has strengthened collective management By supporting women to be more active in communal
of resources and climate risks. Scientific and local decision making, communities are more likely to monitor
knowledge on NbS is now integrated into government and assess long-term risks and manage their natural
development plans, strategies, and investments. This resources sustainably for long-term benefits.
has led to increased public and private investment

Resources
The Proyecto Glaciares website hosts a range of resources, including infographics, videos and photo galleries
DeMerritt-Verrone, P. (2020). Taking care of our Mountains. Care International.
Proyecto Glaciares (2020). Modelling Future Lakes in Glacier Beds: First Experience in Peru. Proyecto Glaciares.

Contact
For more information visit the Care Peru website or contact
María Mercedes Medina Muñoz, Climate Change, Amazon and Water Resources
Program Manager, CARE Perú Email: [email protected] or
Paul DeMerritt-Verrone, Water and Ecosystems Program Officer, CARE
Email: [email protected]

31 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

7. ETHIOPIA:
An eco-regional approach to ecosystem
conservation and livelihoods in the Bale Eco-
region
NGO: Farm Africa
Government: Government of Ethiopia, Oromia State Authorities
Implementing
Other partners: SOS Sahel, FZS, PHEEC, IWMI
partners
Funding: European Union’s Supporting Horn of Africa Resilience (SHARE) initiative,
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Location Bale Eco-region (BER), Ethiopia
The Bale Eco-region covers a wide range of ecosystems:
Ecosystem Mountain ecosystem (highland areas) including forests, grassland, and freshwater
types Lowland areas include grassland, freshwater and agriculture ecosystems
The Eco-region includes the area of the Bale Mountains National Park
First phase of integrated landscape management intervention (SHARE 1):
850,000-hectare forest and rangeland area working with seven woredas, in addition to
Operational the circa 214,000ha of the Bale Mountain National Park
scale
SHARE 2: about nine million ha, with potential to benefit about 12 million people across
the region
SHARE 1: 2014–2018
Time frame of
SHARE 2: 2019–present
the case study
Note: both build on Farm Africa’s work in Bale Eco-region since the 1990s

© Lisa Murray

32 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Ethiopia: An eco-regional approach to ecosystem conservation and livelihoods in the Bale Eco-region

The Challenge
Climate change: The Bale Eco-region (BER), and the were being rapidly converted to agricultural use,
south-eastern part of the pastoral and agro-pastoral putting pressure on traditional grazing practices and
setting in particular, are susceptible to frequent droughts transhumance. Unregulated use of grassland and forest
and erratic and unpredictable rainfall. Forest and resources and land conversion have resulted in soil
rangeland communities’ resilience to these climatic erosion, flooding, drought and a negative impact on BER
changes is limited. Climate-related events also contribute water table levels.
to significant soil and water erosion. Deforestation and
People: The above challenges, particularly disruption of
degradation of land are increasing carbon emissions,
the hydrological cycle for both upstream and low stream
and the alteration of hydrological cycles due to land
communities, combined with weak policy implementation
degradation further increases vulnerability.
and lack of cross-sector integrated policies resulted in
Nature: The upland catchments of the BER are under communities being chronically food insecure, vulnerable to
strong anthropogenic pressure with high rates of climate change impacts and exposed to disruption of their
degradation and deforestation. Highland grazing areas means of production.

NbS implemented
In the first phase (2014–2018), the overall objectives of • Livestock interventions, including improved breeding
the intervention were: to enhance drought resilience and via AI, development of forage, support for community
the food and nutrition security of vulnerable populations animal health workers (CAHWS) and improved water
in South Eastern Ethiopia; to protect biodiversity, access
ecosystem functions and services in BER; and to increase
• Better management of grazing lands and livestock
the resilience and well-being of highland /lowland
health
communities.
• Development of ten nature-based water platforms
Nature-based activities implemented include:
(including four community ponds) for both humans
• Diversifing crops and enhancing productivity of and livestock.
existing agricultural land through agroforestry and
In a second phase (ongoing), the successful integrated
climate-smart agricultural techniques (including
NRM package is being scaled up to the entire region. The
diversified farming, row planting, mulching, terracing
institutional capability of the government to plan and
and improved seeds) to improve resilience and
co-ordinate integrated sustainable natural resources
nutrition without the need to expand farmland
management, protected area management and
• Conservation and sustainable use of forests through interdependent inclusive livelihoods development in the
training local communities to better produce non- BER is being enhanced. Best practices for protected area
timber forests products like honey, bamboo, forest management, watershed systems, and improvement of
coffee and natural oils in order to diversify livelihoods local livelihoods through market approaches are being
away from agriculture and livestock-keeping which scaled up, with larger-scale evidence being collected on
are key drivers of deforestation the impact of this integrated eco-regional approach.

Achievements
Climate change: The SHARE project supported • The reduction of household fuel wood consumption
adaptation by achieving: per week by almost 50%.
• Improved resilience and adaptation for 878,000 Nature:
households through more resilient crop varieties,
• Brought 500,000 hectares of forest under
improved livestock breeds and improved water
participatory forest management schemes to reduce
access
pressure on the forest and support natural habitat
• Construction of three monitoring stations to support regeneration and biodiversity
enhanced monitoring of and adaptation responses
• More than 350,000 hectares were allocated for
to climatic impacts on water supplies, particularly
participatory land-use plans, involving 10 villages
sediment.
and 14 participatory rangeland management
It supported mitigation through: cooperatives.
• The reduction of the deforestation rate by 62% versus • The density of trees <1m height in core forest areas
the predicted model increased from 64,115 trees/ha to 76,939 trees/ha
• The reduction of land-use conversion of forest and • Government and community institutions have
grassland to agriculture increased their involvement in sustainable
conservation and management

33 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Ethiopia: An eco-regional approach to ecosystem conservation and livelihoods in the Bale Eco-region

• Community Controlled Hunting Areas (CCHA) brought • Increased overall crop productivity due to improved
38,528 hectares of land under joint managed control, varieties and improved farming practices.
with hunting revenue shared with the community. Productivity improved for five key crops (see below)
The incentives provided by the benefit-sharing
• Increased livestock productivity — an 18% increase in
arrangement led to a reduction in forest usage and
milk production per cow
supported improved biodiversity.
People: Crop Baseline (mT/ha) Endline (mT/ha)
The SHARE project implemented integrated livelihood Wheat 3.0 4.0
interventions across seven catchment areas comprising a
Barley 3.0 3.8
total of 1,406 households (HH). Final evaluation shows the
following improvements: Maize 3.2 4.2
• Increased net household income from ETB 6,867 Sorghum 2.8 3.6
($174) at baseline to ETB 18,961 ($482) at endline
Lentils 1.6 2.2
• Increase of 33% in dietary diversity scores and an
increase in household food security, shown in an • Reduced animal disease occurrences, narrowing the
increase in average meals per day critical food shortage periods

• Diversified livelihood opportunities for the targeted • Improved access to safe water (from 26% to 38%
1,406 HH of targeted HH) and reduction of water shortage
episodes, reducing the migration in search for water
— for both humans and livestock.

Success factors
A participatory approach: The involvement of multiple Creating more supportive government policies at
communities who depend on the resources across a regional and federal levels: SHARE 1 played a critical
variety of ecosystems is essential to their sustainable role in the Ethiopian government’s decision to adopt
management, and communities and government participatory forest management (PFM) as a vehicle for
require support and frameworks to facilitate their joint REDD+ implementation; it contributed to the government’s
engagement. sustainable and green growth initiatives via the
development of national policies for PFM and the support
A holistic and multi-sector approach to conservation:
for REDD+ implementation.
The approaches designed recognised highland-lowland
linkages between forest and rangeland ecosystems, and The research conducted under the SHARE project is also
the multifaceted nature of natural resource management currently contributing to the development of a national
problems across changing landscapes and regions. The policy framework for payment for ecosystem services
Bale Eco-region Development Framework (BERDF) adopted schemes.
follows a geographical/ecological boundary, rather than
Integrated population, health and environment
an administrative one, and recognises that the interaction
approaches: An integrated approach engaged
between ecosystems needs to be considered to ensure
communities on interlinked challenges and helped to shift
positive outcomes from interventions.
communities’ perceptions, especially concerning health
The eco-regional approach to manage trade-offs: and family planning. Longstanding sociocultural taboos
Different sectors and stakeholders have different and were addressed, and attitudinal change in family planning
sometimes competing priorities and dependencies on is contributing to livelihood improvement and sustainable
ecosystems and natural resources. The eco-regional natural resource management by reducing population
approach recognises those differences and tries to pressure on natural resources.
manage trade-offs amongst them through multi-sectoral
and multi-agency engagements.

Resources
Lemenih, M, Allan, C, et al. (2015). Making forest conservation benefit local communities: participatory forest
management in Ethiopia. Farm Africa
Lemenih, M and Biot, Y 92017). Reducing Deforestation and Emissions in What’s the incentive for local communities?.
Farm Africa.
Hagos, F and van Rooijen, D (2018). Investigation of the Modalities for an Innovative Financing Mechanism for
Participatory Natural Resource Management in the Bale Eco-region, Ethiopia. IMI Working Paper. DOI: 10.5337/2018.215

34 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Ethiopia: An eco-regional approach to ecosystem conservation and livelihoods in the Bale Eco-region

Contact
For more information visit Farm Africa’s website or contact
Nick Kempson, Director of Programme Quality, Farm Africa
Email: [email protected]

© Farm Africa, Nathan Siegel

35 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

8. CAMBODIA:
Increasing rice profitability to reduce
forest and wetland clearance

NGO: Wildlife Conservation Society WCS (INGO), Sansom Mlup Prey SMP (local)
Implementing Government: Ministry of Environment
partners Private sector: IBIS Rice Conservation Co., Ltd (IRCC)
Community-based organisations: village marketing networks
Cambodia, across three provinces (Preah Vihear, Stung Treng and Mondulkiri) and six
Location wildlife Sanctuaries (Kulen Promtep, Preah Rokha, Chheap, Western Siem Pang, Keo
Seima)
Ecosystem Dry tropical forest, semi-evergreen and evergreen tropical forest, community
types agricultural land within
Operational 4,530 hectares of agricultural land under monitoring and compliance affecting 974,000
scale hectares of wildlife sanctuary
Time frame of
2009–present
the case study

© Mardy Sean

36 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Cambodia: Increasing rice profitability to reduce forest and wetland clearance

The Challenge
Climate change: Climate change has resulted in shouldered ibises. Taken together, four protected areas
increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns. Local in this region (Chaepp Wildlife Sanctuary, Kulen Promtep
communities, who depend on rain-fed paddy or upland Wildlife Sanctuary, Preah Rokha Wildlife Sanctuary) cover
rice fields for their livelihoods, are extremely vulnerable to more than 300,000 hectares of forest and wetland that
those changes as they rely on rain for irrigation and lack also support more than 20,000 people. Over-hunting and
access to good quality seeds that are tolerant of rainfall conversion of forests to agricultural lands are the key
variability. Due to unsustainable farming practices, many threats to biodiversity in this region.
fields also have poor ability to retain water in the soil.
People: The people living in this region are amongst the
Nature: The forests and wetlands of northern Cambodia very poorest in Cambodia and depend on the forest and
and the Tonle Sap region are of exceptional importance land resources of the parks for their livelihoods. The main
for biodiversity conservation. They support more than cash crop is rain-fed rice, but farmers have limited access
50 species of global conservation concern, including six to markets and opportunities to sell are inconsistent, with
critically endangered birds, among them giant and white- the result that purchasing power remains with middlemen.

NbS implemented
The IBIS Rice approach, initiated in 2009, was conceived jasmine rice) — provided that required quality standards,
as a means of generating incentives to reduce forest and including organic certification, are met. This provides
wetland clearance by benefiting local people. Crucially, certainty to producers and a 40% premium above the
these incentives are created by increasing the profitability market price for their rice. Multiple climate resilience
of rice production, the principal livelihood activity of interventions also support the sustainability of production,
smallholder farmers within the project area. including land levelling for water control, cover crops
to improve soil fertility, structure and water retention.
Under the programme, each participating household signs
In addition, the project gives farmers free access to
a conservation agreement which commits the household
high-quality, traditional rice varieties which can adapt to
not to expand their existing land or clear additional areas
different planting and harvesting schedules, depending on
of forest. Households who implement the conservation
rainfall.
agreement are guaranteed a minimum price for their rice
crop — phka rumduol (a local award-winning variant of

Achievements
Climate change: Climate change adaptation. More than increased, and hunting has been reduced by linking
1,400 households now receive high-quality seed that can premium payments to compliance.
be replaced if lost to drought or flood. Rice fields were
People: Participation in IBIS Rice increases household
mechanically levelled to improve water management,
economic well-being and household rice surplus for
and green manure crops were applied to more than 800
sale (that is, annual production minus household
hectares of farmland to improve water retention and
consumption57). The average annual earnings of those
improve yields. Reduced deforestation around target
participating in the programme have more than doubled:
villages and key water sources also improves access
increasing from US$455 in 2009–2011 to US$1020
to water when rainfall patterns become increasingly
in 2015–2017. This was achieved through improving
unpredictable.
productivity as well as an increase in market premium
Nature: Participant farmers are four times less likely to from 40% to 70% above market price, which was made
clear new areas of forest or expand existing agricultural possible by reaching export markets that valued the
land than non-participant farmers (1.8% annual clearance quality, certifications and conservation story.
probability vs 7.2%56). Awareness of critical species has

Success factors
Linking benefits to people with benefits to nature by sustain and improve a premium. This has been achieved
establishing successful businesses that sustain those by taking a businesslike approach to the product and
benefits: Success has come from a focus on the crop reaching an export market. Those premiums are only
that is most relevant to the communities targeted and paid to participating households that sign a conservation
the ability to link this to a high-end market that can agreement.

56 Clements et al. 2020

57 Clements et al. 2020

37 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Cambodia: Increasing rice profitability to reduce forest and wetland clearance

Multi-stakeholder partnership: This speaks also to the • A science-based organisation managing monitoring,
importance of having partnerships that allow stakeholders landscape management and compliance (WCS)
to specialise and play to their strengths. In this case, these
• A local organisation that imbeds itself in the
were:
community to build capabilities and improve
• An ambitious private sector partner that imbeds agronomy
positive impacts on people, nature and climate into
• Government buy-in to the intervention and real
their unique selling point (IRCC)
benefits and transparent approach for communities.

Resources
Clements, T, Neang, M, et al. (2020). Measuring impacts of conservation interventions on human wellbeing and the
environment in Northern Cambodia, 3ie Impact Evaluation Report 106. New Delhi: International Initiative for Impact
Evaluation (3ie). DOI: 10.23846/DPW1IE106
IBIS Rice website and Facebook page

Contact
For more information visit the IBIS Rice website or contact
Nicholas Spencer, CEO, IBIS Rice Conservation Co. Ltd.
Email: [email protected]

© IBIS Rice SMP Cambodia

38 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

9. THE GREATER GOLA
LANDSCAPE, SIERRA LEONE
AND LIBERIA:
Forest conservation for nature, climate and
people

NGOs: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Conservation

Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), Society for the Conservation of Nature of
Liberia (SCNL), BirdLife International
Implementing partners Government: Government of Sierra Leone, Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry, and National Protected Area Authority; Government of Liberia,
Forestry Development Authority
Other: Gola Rainforest Conservation Limited by Guarantee (GRC LG)
Location The Greater Gola Landscape, Sierra Leone and Liberia
Ecosystem types Tropical forest
Operational scale Over 500,000 hectares
In Sierra Leone, 2015 to present
Time frame of the case study In Liberia: 2014–2020
Note: both build on RSPB’s work in the Greater Gola Landscape since 1994

© Guy Shorrock, RSPB Images

39 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | The Greater Gola Landscape, Sierra Leone and Liberia: forest conservation for nature, climate and people

The Challenge
Climate change: Sierra Leone and Liberia are vulnerable are vital for threatened species, many of which are found
to more frequent extreme weather events (including nowhere else. Over 60 of Gola’s species are globally
heatwaves and storms) and increased irregularity of threatened, including the Endangered Gola malimbe and
rainfall due to climate change.58 Extensive tree cover loss pygmy hippopotamus.
in the region also releases stored carbon, fuelling climate
People: Sierra Leone and Liberia are among the world’s
change.
most fragile countries. Forest communities are highly
Nature: The Upper Guinean Forest Eco-region (part of dependent on natural resources, and subsistence
only three forested biodiversity hotspots in Africa) has agriculture accounts for a large proportion of livelihoods.
lost 90% of its forest since 1900 and has been identified The civil wars — together over a decade long from the
as one of 20 ‘deforestation fronts’.59 Of what remains, 49% 1990s to early 2000s — decimated a whole generation,
is in Liberia and 4% in Sierra Leone. The Greater Gola contributing to loss of traditional knowledge and skills (for
Landscape comprises the largest remnant of this critical example in cocoa farming). In some areas, degradation of
ecosystem in a mosaic of protected forest, community agricultural lands and poverty drive communities to clear
forest, and agricultural lands. These wildlife corridors forest for farming.

NbS implemented
We are working with partners and communities across This was a partnership between forest communities, the
Sierra Leone and Liberia on projects designed to protect Government of Liberia, and the international conservation
and sustainably manage the Greater Gola Landscape, community. Two legally recognised community forests
using a landscape-scale and transboundary perspective. were established, connecting the GRNP, GFNP, and the Foya
Proposed Protected Area (165,000ha). There are plans
Developing effectively managed and well-connected
to establish five other community forests in Liberia (all
protected areas across borders: RSPB and its partners,
10,000–30,000ha) and 15 others (<1,000ha each) in Sierra
including CSSL, SCNL and GRC, have been working with
Leone.
governments and local communities across both countries
to support the creation of legally protected areas. Supporting rainforest-friendly livelihoods: RSPB and
partners run initiatives supporting rainforest-friendly
In Sierra Leone, the Gola Rainforest National Park (GRNP)
livelihoods with communities adjacent to the GRNP and
was inaugurated in 2011, covering 71,042 hectares
GFNP. Activities include promoting sustainable agriculture
with the surrounding forest-edge communities adding
techniques and alternate livelihood activities such as
70,000ha. In Liberia, the Gola Forest National Park (GFNP)
beekeeping, running farmer field schools, and hosting
was created in 2016, protecting 89,033ha. The two
microfinance and literacy programmes. In Sierra Leone,
countries signed an MOU (signed 2011, updated 2020)
GRC is supporting a gender-inclusive cocoa producers’
committing to the conservation of the Gola Peace Park,
organisation to rehabilitate cocoa farming around the
encompassing the GRNP and the GFNP.
GRNP and to market quality, sustainably grown forest-
In Sierra Leone the Gola Rainforest Conservation Company friendly cocoa to international markets. GRC also provides
(GRC LG) manages the GRNP.60 The GRC employs park nitrogen fixing plants and shade trees for cocoa farms.
rangers to combat illegal activities, undertakes annual Work to establish a similar forest-friendly value chain in
monitoring programs to assess deforestation and key Liberia is ongoing.
species trends, and supports local volunteers. In Liberia a
Activities in Sierra Leone are supported by a REDD+
management plan for the GFNP was recently validated and
(Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation)
activities will initially focus on law enforcement.
project which encompasses the GRNP and the surrounding
Ensuring forest connectivity and community support: In seven chiefdoms.61 In Liberia, activities are underpinned by
Liberia, a project run between 2014–2020 aimed to secure community forest management agreements and financial
forest connectivity through community forest management sustainability business plans.
of the section of the Gola Forest outside protected areas.

58 https://www.adaptation-undp.org/resources/project-brief-fact-sheet/sierra-leone-fact-sheet-sep-2013
https://www.adaptation-undp.org/resources/project-brief-fact-sheet/national-adaptation-plan-process-focus-lessons-liberia
59 https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/deforestation_fronts___drivers_and_responses_in_a_changing_world___full_report_1.pdf
60 GRC LG is a not-for profit company comprised of a partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone, RSPB, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL)
and local forest-edge communities.
61 The REDD+ project is validated under the Verified Carbon Standard, and the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Alliance standard.

40 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | The Greater Gola Landscape, Sierra Leone and Liberia: forest conservation for nature, climate and people

Achievements
Climate change: The long-term conservation of the chiefdoms (Malema) shows that the deforestation rate was
forests is now more secure, and the forests can continue half that of outside the project zone.
as an important carbon store. In Sierra Leone, between
People: The projects are benefitting over 50,000 people in
2012–2019, the net estimated emission removals
forests adjacent to the GRNP and GFNP.
(through sequestration) in the REDD+ project area
was 460,000 tCO2e, and the net estimated emissions In Sierra Leone, project income has employed over
reductions (avoided emissions) was over 3 million tCO2e. 150 local staff and helped to develop sustainable and
Modelling suggests that avoiding deforestation across improved livelihoods for over 24,000 people across
the Gola Landscape can lead to avoided greenhouse gas 122 communities. For example, over 2,000 community
emissions in the order of >800,000 tonnes a year. The members have attended farmer field schools, half of
project is also improving the forests’ resilience to climate them women, and 1,750 cocoa farmers are now Fairtrade
change stresses and strengthening the resilience of local certified. GRC has exported 92 tonnes of forest-friendly
communities through supporting diversified livelihoods cocoa into the international market on behalf of the
and education. farmers’ association, and income from the sales of RSPB
Gola forest-friendly chocolate is ringfenced for the Gola
Nature: The project helps to preserve Gola’s wide
project. Benefit-sharing agreements have given each of the
biodiversity, including 327 bird species, 650 endemic plant
Gola chiefdoms in Sierra Leone the funds to develop local
species, over 600 butterfly species, and 49 species of
projects of their choice, including building infrastructure
large mammals. Monitoring suggests that seven Critically
like hospitals, water pumps and schools, and funding
Endangered or Endangered species are benefitting
secondary school scholarships (over 700 a year).
from reduced threats. For example, Gola’s chimpanzee
population is stable, making it the only site in West Africa In Liberia, project activities from the community forests
where the population is not decreasing. program have decreased poverty levels and increased
well-being. In a survey at the end of the project, 56% of
In Sierra Leone, the REDD+ project was awarded Double
households stated that their well-being had improved, 74%
Gold certification for its direct benefits to biodiversity
said they’ve acquired new skills or knowledge, and 70%
and climate change. It has resulted in an estimated 9,228
reported improved income.
hectares of reduced forest loss, and 2,190 ha of non-forest
land with improved land management. Data for one of the

Success factors
A participatory approach and collaborative working: establishing National Parks, the forests would have been
From the start, the projects have followed participatory at great risk of loss to agriculture, mining, forestry and
approaches with a diverse range of local community poaching. The RSPB is committed to the Gola Forest in the
members. Collaborative transboundary working long term; in the UK and in Sierra Leone, trust funds aim to
will continue to be key for effective landscape-scale ensure that climate, biodiversity and community benefits
conservation and community support. extend beyond the life of the REDD+ project.
Scientific underpinning: The projects are based on Continued work in times of crisis: The project continued
detailed, systematic scientific studies. during civil wars and the Ebola crisis. During the latter,
staff salaries were paid throughout, although there was
Developing sustainable financing mechanisms: The Sierra
a lockdown and the crisis lasted for some time. This was
Leonean and Liberian governments don’t have the revenue
possible due to ongoing donor and grant projects and the
to protect their forest alongside competing development
significant amount that RSPB invested annually. This was
interests. Without financing from the REDD+ project, RSPB
similarly the case during the more recent COVID-19 crisis.
support, grant money, and the legal frameworks created by

Resources
Storymap: Conserving West Africa’s Forests for Nature, People and Climate
RSPB webpage, Working for the Greater Gola Landscape
Website: Gola Rainforest National Park
Website: Society for the Conservation of Nature in Liberia (SCNL)

Contact
For more information visit RSPB’s website or contact Fiona Dobson, International
Policy Officer, RSPB Email: [email protected] ENYA:

41 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

10. KENYA
Transforming lives and land with sand dams
and climate-smart agriculture

NGO: Excellent Development and Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF)

Implementing partners
Community-based organisations: community self-help groups (SHGs)
Location Three counties in southeast Kenya: Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui
Ecosystem types Semi-arid drylands, agricultural land
60 communities across the three counties on around 4,320 hectares of
Operational scale
farmland
2010 to present
Time frame of the case study
(Evidence collated between 2011–2021)

© Polly Braden

42 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Kenya: Transforming lives and land with sand dams and climate-smart agriculture

The Challenge
Climate change: Increasingly erratic rainfall has resulted 50% of households in the 60 communities live below the
in prolonged periods of drought, which are frequently and poverty line (with household income of less than 3,000
increasingly followed by flooding when the rains arrive. Kenyan Shillings (US$30) per month).
Nature: Grasses and trees have been lost due to drought, 100% of the households have to employ at least one food
and unsustainable farming, and overcutting of trees has saving strategy, for example skipping meals or reducing
resulted in topsoil loss, further reducing the land’s ability meal sizes, and 48% do not have a balanced diet.
to retain water.
Community members are spending on average 5–6 hours
People: Successive droughts compounded by poverty have to collect water. The time taken can increase further in
led to persistently unstable water supplies and declining the dry season, a burden that usually falls on women and
agricultural productivity in semi-arid regions of southeast children, causing children to miss school.
Kenya.

NbS implemented
Sand dams are a sustainable, low-cost rainwater rainy season to provide year-round water. Only 1–3% of
harvesting technique, highly effective at transforming the total rainfall is stored behind the dam; around 97%
drylands. A sand dam is a reinforced stone masonry wall continues downstream, so that the dams do not negatively
built across a seasonal sandy river. They have almost no impact downstream users. Sand dams enhance the
maintenance costs and can last for upwards of 60 years resilience of the marginal environment and increase the
(the oldest known sand dam in operation is over 100 years adaptive capacity of drylands. They raise groundwater
old). levels, enabling vegetation regrowth, reducing soil erosion,
reversing land degradation and increasing the productivity
Built in seasonal river channels, they result in a gradual
of the land. Once the sand dams are built, nature does the
accumulation of sand in the river over the course of one or
rest!
two rainy seasons. The sand, which is washed down during
the rainy season, then protects water from contamination As part of this intervention, local communities are also
and evaporation. trained in sustainable farming practices, including using
drought-tolerant seed varieties and avoiding an over-
Water behind a sand dam raises the water table in the
reliance on maize. Communities additionally employ soil
surrounding area, which improves the soil, creating better
conservation measures such as terracing the land and the
conditions for crops and grazing. More trees can be planted
riverbanks near the dam to prevent soil run-off, and also
which ensures that more water infiltrates the ground, and
to prevent the dam from silting up. Tree nurseries are also
less soil is washed away — creating a virtuous cycle of soil
established, and communities are encouraged to plant
and water conservation.
trees around the dam sites and on their own farms.
The sand that is accumulated behind the dam can store
up to 40 million litres of water and is replenished every

Achievements
Climate change: Sand dams have provided a local, clean There is also anecdotal evidence from communities (and
water source for communities, which has helped alleviate ASDF staff) about re-greening of areas, more shade and
the impact of droughts. The use of drought-tolerant seeds increased biodiversity of both flora and fauna, with more
has increased community seed and food security, whilst butterflies and birds in the area.
tree planting and other soil protection measures have
People: Over the last ten years, there has been a 74%
increased communities’ adaptive capacity and reduced
reduction in the number of households living below the
their vulnerability to climate change.
poverty line. Only 11% of households now have to employ a
Nature: There has been a 263% increase in the proportion food-saving strategy, compared with 100% at baseline. And
of households planting trees. Approximately 1,800 only 22% households still do not have a balanced diet —
households were included in this study. Around 432 compared to 48% at baseline.
households were planting trees at the start of the project;
The time needed for water collection has reduced
this figure has risen to around 1,548 households planting
significantly and is now around an hour, enabling children
trees now. These are native trees: a mix of species such as
to go to school and women to engage in income-generating
mango, citrus, acacia and many others.
activities.

43 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Kenya: Transforming lives and land with sand dams and climate-smart agriculture

Success factors
Community-ownership: ASDF only work with organised restoration measures such as terracing and tree planting.
self-help groups who actively request support, thereby Sand dams are a simple, low-cost and low-maintenance
ensuring full buy-in from the community. replicable technology. They have a natural ability to
raise the local water table and re-green areas. Because
Long term support: Communities are engaged in the
they don’t require maintenance, the dams will continue
project for 3–5 years to ensure new practices are well
to benefit areas for decades to come without further
embedded.
intervention.
A holistic model: Sand dams were combined with
sustainable farming techniques and environmental

Resources
Ryan, C, Elsner, P (2016). The potential for sand dams to increase the adaptive capacity of East African drylands to
climate change, in Regional Environmental Change 16, 2087–2096 (2016). DOI: 10.1007/s10113-016-0938-y
Quinn, R et al.(2018). An Assessment of the Microbiological Water Quality of Sand Dams in South-eastern Kenya. In Water,
10(6), p.708. DOI: 10.3390/w10060708.
Excellent Development Annual Report 2019/20
Excellent’s 2020/21 Annual Report will be published in September 2021
Taylor, J, Ogonjo, O et al. (2016). Food security through increased access to water and food production in Kenya. (External
Evaluation on the DFID-funded programme 2013–2016). Sahel Consulting.
Animation: What is sand dam?
Web pages providing impact stories (multiple)

Contact
For more information visit Excellent Development’s website or contact
Dwain Lucktung, Communications Manager, Excellent Development
Email: [email protected]

© Polly Braden

44 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 11. PAKISTAN:
Mangrove protection in the Indus Delta
NGO: WWF-Pakistan, IUCN Pakistan
Government: Sindh Forest Department, Sindh Coastal Development Authority, Planning
and Development Department, Sindh Fisheries Department, Sindh Wildlife Department,
Pakistan Council for Renewable energy and Technology (PCRET)
Implementing Private sector: Several corporate donors such as Southern Sui Gas Company and Engro
partners Foundation
Community-based organisations: Several local community-based organisations based in
the Indus Delta
Other: Several academic institutes
Donors: Royal Embassy of Netherlands, European Union, BMZ
Location Indus Delta, Sindh Province, Pakistan
Ecosystem
Mangrove, estuarine and littoral habitats
types
Operational
42,000 hectares
scale
Time frame of
From 2007 to present62
the case study

© WWF-Pakistan

62 WWF-Pakistan has been working in the Indus Delta since 1980.

45 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Pakistan: Mangrove protection in the Indus Delta

The challenge
Climate change: In the past three decades, the Indus Delta Approximately 60% of the mangrove cover across the Delta
has faced severe pressures due to climate change, such has been lost during the last 70 years, and what remains is
as erratic rainfall, severe drought, increased incidence of low-density forest. Today, only four out of eight mangrove
cyclones and storms and increased rate of erosion and species are found in the delta.67,68 Many fish species have
accretion due to sea level rise.63 As a consequence, the declined in numbers, and some are locally extinct. The
land adjoining the delta has lost its fertility and remains population of the hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha), once a symbolic
waterlogged, with persisting hyper-saline conditions fish of the delta and a delicacy in Sindh, has declined by up
throughout the year.64 Groundwater recharge is low, to 90%.69
depleting due to a significant reduction in freshwater
People: The average monthly income of most households
flow in the Indus River. According to the Pakistan Water
is PKR6,000 per month, which is less than US$2 a day.
Apportionment Accord of 1991, the Indus Delta should
Most communities in the delta live below the poverty
receive at least ten million acre-feet (MAF) of water
line with very little access to basic services such as safe
annually. However, currently not even one MAF reaches the
drinking water, electricity, health facilities and education.
delta.65 This is the reason why nearly one million people
As fishing resources deplete, fishing becomes a costly
living in the region still do not have reliable access to safe
business with low returns. Local communities which rely
drinking water. More than 25,000 inhabitants in the Delta’s
heavily on fishing for their livelihoods often have to take
coastal towns in Thatta district are extremely vulnerable to
loans from middlemen through informal contracts to
sea level rise and storm surges. Households living along
cover the costs of fishing and subsistence. Fishers are
the tidal creeks are exposed to risks of severe damage,
often charged exorbitantly high interest rates (as much
making the coastal communities highly vulnerable to
as 164%). In order to repay the loans, they have to fish
climatic shocks as the degradation and overexploitation of
more, exacerbating the pressure on a rapidly depleting
mangroves continues.
resource.70 There are few opportunities to diversify
Nature: The Indus Delta covers an area of 600,000ha livelihoods from fisheries; traditional agriculture has been
and is rich in biodiversity.66 Mangrove forests are the significantly reduced due to the lack of freshwater and
flagship species and provide habitat for 63 species of fish, the hyper-saline and waterlogged conditions of the land.
24 shellfish species and a wide variety of birds, marine Government and private investments in mariculture/
mammals and other marine fauna. They are also an aquaculture are very low, despite the significant potential
important habitat for hundreds of thousands of migratory in the Indus Delta.
birds.

NbS implemented
WWF-Pakistan supported local communities to develop have replaced fuelwood, at least for lighting purposes.
sustainable natural resource management strategies. Active collaboration between WWF-Pakistan and local
These included establishing cold storage systems to communities has created a strong network of community
reduce post-harvest losses in fisheries; reducing the use champions for NbS, and this continues to inspire more
of small mesh nets, and encouraging sustainable crab communities to engage in sustainable management of
harvesting and aquaculture for increasing sizes (including mangroves.
fattening of previously discarded small specimens).
In collaboration with the Sindh Forest Department and
WWF-Pakistan raised public awareness of the important
conservation organisations, a mangrove planting campaign
role of mangrove forests in coastal ecosystems and
was carried out to restore 42,000ha of mangroves to
supported 11 local fishing communities to plant and
capture carbon, mitigate climate change impacts, restore
manage ten hectares of mangroves per household across
habitats for wildlife and provide livelihood options for local
five villages. Communities have established mangrove
communities.
management areas, where fuelwood collection is
reduced, and renewable energy sources like solar power

63 (Robin et al., 1993).

64 (Mahar and Zaigham. 2021).
65 (Hasan et al., 2019).
66 Meynell, P. and T. Qureshi (1993) Sustainable management of mangroves in the Indus Delta, Pakistan’, in David, T. (ed) Towards the Wise Use of Wetlands, Ramsar
Bureau, Gland.
67 Meynell and Qureshi 1993 (N 5); Sindh Forest Department; IUCN Pakistan 2005; WWF-Pakistan 2008).
68 Amjad, A. S., I. Kasawani, and J.Kamaruzaman (2007). Degradation of Indus Delta mangroves in Pakistan. International Journal of Geology. Issue 3. Vol 1.
69 (Amanullah et al., 2014).
70 (WWF, 2007).

46 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Pakistan: Mangrove protection in the Indus Delta

Achievements
Climate change and nature: GIS assessment indicates which has in turn, has reduced the pressure on fish stocks
that the mangrove cover increased from 86,000 hectares and diversified livelihood opportunities for local fishing
to approximately 139,000ha in two decades in the Indus communities. Income generation activities in the target
delta.71 Mangrove rehabilitation has improved coastal groups have increased by 30% compared to the 2007
ecology and biodiversity. Native mangrove species have baseline, and around a quarter of the increased income is
been restored across the delta, including the species due to diversified livelihoods. In some villages, where crab
Rhizophora mucronata in large quantities and Aegiceras fattening is undertaken at the household level, monthly
corniculatum and Ceriops tagal in smaller quantities. income generation has increased significantly, by as much
These mangrove forests not only capture carbon but also as 21% depending on market rates. Anecdotal information
help to reduce the risks posed to local communities by sea suggests that around 10% of the fishermen are now free
storms and cyclones, and also support the nutrient cycle in of debts related to loans from middlemen. Households
the mudflats. are now able to make investments to improve health and
hygiene, for example,through the constructing of toilets.
People: The number of economically important marine
species (such as shrimp and mud crabs) has increased,

Success factors
Building consensus amongst different natural resource Strong multi-stakeholder collaborations: Strong
users: WWF frequently acted as a mediator; for example, collaboration between key stakeholders, such as the
in disputes between local communities and camel grazers. forestry department, the coastal development authority
Both these groups utilised the mangroves but for different and IUCN, ensured a coordinated approach and synergy
purposes, which led to conflict, and subsequently weak among the activities led by different stakeholders. Locally
management of the mangroves. Building consensus placed core staff members from WWF also ensured
amongst different natural resource users helped continuous engagement and strong collaboration with
to develop shared management plans that are now local communities.
implemented by all users.
Robust communication strategy: This not only helped
Linking benefits for nature with benefits for people: engage local communities but also society at large.
Ensuring that mangrove restoration and protection also For example, WWF worked with women who are on the
delivered increased income for local communities was key frontline of mangrove rehabilitation work to showcase
to securing their involvement and support. ‘climate sheroes’ and use their stories to inspire other
community members and educate the general public.

Resources
Amjad, A. S., I. Kasawani, and J. Kamaruzaman (2007). Degradation of Indus Delta mangroves in Pakistan. International
Journal of Geology. Issue 3. Vol 1.
Hassan, Daniyal, Burian, S.J., Bano, R., et al. (2019). An Assessment of the Pakistan Water Apportionment Accord of
1991 in Resources 8, no. 3: 120. DOI: 10.3390/resources8030120 (cited on 2 July 2021, 6:54 pm)
Shahid, U. (2012). A Case Study of Camel Grazing of Mangroves at Keti Bunder, Thatta.
Mangroves of Pakistan: Status and Management WWF-Pakistan (2008). Natural Vegetation Assessment (Unpublished
Report).
Leichenko, R.M. and Wescoat Jr, J.L. (1993) ‘Environmental impacts of climate change and water development in the Indus
delta region’, in International Journal of Water Resources Development, 9:3, 247-261, DOI: 10.1080/07900629308722587
Mahar G. A. & N. A. Zaigham (2021). The Impact of environmental changes on indigenous agriculture in the Indus Delta
Pakistan: a spatio-temporal assessment. In Arabian Journal of Geosciences 14: 303.
Meynell, P. and T. Qureshi (1993) Sustainable management of mangroves in the Indus Delta, Pakistan’, in David, T. (ed)
Towards the Wise Use of Wetlands, Ramsar Bureau, Gland.
Website: ForeverIndus
Web page: Making a sustainable living from fishing in the Indus Delta
Web story: Ocean Witness: Salim
Video: Making money out of mud

71 (Gilani et al,. 2020).

47 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Pakistan: Mangrove protection in the Indus Delta

News report: Pakistan’s coastal villagers retreat as seas gobble land

Web page: Government of Sindh Forestry Department: Mangroves

Contact
For more information visit the WWF-Pakistan website or contact Rab Nawaz, Senior
Director Programmes, WWF Pakistan
Email: [email protected].

© WWF-Pakistan

48 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

12. SUDAN:
Community-based land and water
management
Implementing
NGO: Practical Action
partners

Location North Darfur State, Sudan: Wadi El Ku in the South and Kabkabiya in the North

Ecosystem Semi-arid rangeland, the wadis (ephemeral rivers/valleys) and their watersheds (the
types catchment of the rivers)

Wadi El Ku watershed in the southern part of North Darfur in Sudan: a catchment of

Operational 2,700,000 hectares, and a length of more than 100 kilometres
scale Wadi Bargo catchment of Kabkabiya, a district to the east of the State capital, Al-Fashia, in
the northern part of North Darfur of Sudan

Wadi El Ku: 2012 to present

Time frame
Kabkabiya: 2013 to present

© Practical Action, practicalaction.org

49 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Sudan: Community-based land and water management

The Challenge
Climate change: In North Darfur in Sudan, rainfall has desertification and reduces the habitats of wildlife, putting
become less reliable (in terms of seasonality, intensity even more pressure on rangeland. Deforestation is also
and overall levels) due to climate change. Most farmers in exacerbated by an increasing demand for fuelwood and
this area rely heavily on rainfed farming for hardy crops timber.
like millet and sorghum. At the same time, everyone relies
People: The UNHDI 2017 ranks Sudan amongst the least
on underground water to supply their animals and for
developed countries of the world (167th of 189 countries).
domestic use. In areas of high demand, the availability of
Within Sudan, North Darfur State is the poorest, with 69%
underground water has become increasingly limited. In
of its population living below the poverty line. According to
areas where there is insufficient water and land, unreliable
OCHA-Sudan72, more than 1.4 million people are in need of
rainfall has caused agriculture yields to diminish and
humanitarian aid in North Darfur.
settlements to be abandoned, as farmers can no longer
grow sufficient crops nor raise their livestock. Competition over natural resources, including water, has
triggered communal and tribal conflicts. Those conflicts
Nature: Declining rainfall has reduced plant density and
are partly why half a million people in North Darfur are
diversity in rangelands; the grasses that can survive
considered internally displaced people (IDPs). Around a
prolonged drought now dominate and these tend to be
fifth of the IDPs in North Darfur are in Kabkabiya, and they
less nutritious and productive for animals. As a result,
rely on wood for fuel and their livelihoods. As a result,
pastoralists and their livestock no longer have sufficient
deforestation has been more severe and rapid in areas
forage and have to move more. Overgrazing also degrades
near IDP camps.
and deforests land, reducing biodiversity and increasing
the risk of desertification. Competition over water combined with local and national
politics, including the division of Sudan into two countries,
Diminishing agricultural yields, largely caused by
has also disrupted many traditional migratory routes used
climate change, have forced farmers to expand into
by pastoralists.
forest or rangeland areas. This deforestation increases

NbS implemented
The NbS activities implemented are integrated water nurture or plant the local gum arabic tree (Acacia senegal)
resource management (IWRM) approaches that combine and realise financial benefits from it as part of their farm
NbS with ‘gray infrastructure’ interventions to restore the and land management.
land in and beyond the low-lying fertile wadis. Earth dams
The local communities (including pastoralists and farmers)
and crescent terraces are constructed to reduce run-
have established inclusive natural resource management
off, increase infiltration and prevent gully formation. As
committees (representing different livelihood/tribal
part of rangeland rehabilitation, good-quality indigenous
groups, as well as women, youth and so on). Through
grass seeds were planted. Practical Action also supported
those inclusive committees, local communities plan
communities to plant trees to restore communal forested
and manage rangeland, farmland and water resources
areas and sustainably manage rangelands. The approach
together to ensure equal and fair access, thereby reducing
supports communities to see trees as a vital part of the
conflicts.
rangeland and farmland — that is, to adopt an agroforestry
approach. For example, communities were supported to

Achievements
Climate change: The most significant benefit has been or construction of 17 boreholes (seven of which are now
the replenishment of underground water: for example, equipped with solar pumping systems). Farmers have also
dry water points are becoming productive again and other been trained to operate pumps and sustainably manage
water points can now provide water all year round, even water resources to adapt to climate change.
when demand is high in the summer season.
In both locations, as groundwater recharges, local
In Wadi El Ku, earth dams and crescent terraces help communities have more secure access to water to irrigate
recharge underground water and increase the survival their crops and sustain their livestock.
rates of trees and shrubs planted on the banks of wadis.
Through participatory natural resource management
Those trees and shrubs in turn help to stabilise banks,
committees, migratory corridors have been demarcated to
combat land degradation and desertification and further
allow free movement of livestock. This reduces conflicts
recharge underground water, creating a virtuous circle. In
between pastoralists and farmers. The corridors also
Kabkabiya, Practical Action supported the repair of 29 hand
provide pastoralists with better access to water, despite
pumps, the improvement of 12 wells and the upgrading

72 HNO, Dec 2020

50 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | Sudan: Community-based land and water management

climate change, because they can move more freely to the improved land management — from cropping, livestock
take advantage of areas that have better rainfall and better and forested areas. Interventions in Kabkabiya work in
grass yield. a similar way with training carried out not only on IWRM
but also on finance and gender. These activities aim to
Nature: Local communities now sustainably manage
influence the lives of people across 35 villages.
their land and water in both areas of North Darfur (Wadi
El Ku and Kabkabiya). Overgrazing has been reduced, Social cohesion and co-existence between farmers and
which helps reduce the degradation and desertification pastoralists improved as the different groups started
of rangelands. Forests have been restored, and farmland to share existing resources. Improved land and water
and rangeland have become more productive through management improved yields and allowed communities
restoration and agroforestry practices. to grow crops on previously degraded land rather than
expanding into forests. In Wadi El Ku, eight villages have
For example, as part of Practical Action’s work in Wadi El
better access to water, thanks to the rehabilitation of two
Ku, more than 18,000 tree seedlings were successfully
‘haffirs’ (traditional ponds usually excavated in natural
planted on the sides of the wadi, and ten community
depressions, which have soils that hold the water). At
forests covering around ten hectares in total have been
the same time, over 34 kilometres of livestock migratory
created. More than 70% of households were involved in
corridors have been demarcated, enabling pastoralists to
conservation or reforestation activities. The quality and
improve their livelihoods.
quantity of grass for livestock has improved through
the re-introduction of indigenous grasses from other In several villages in Wadi El Ku, household food security
less severely drought-affected areas. One hundred lead has improved as farmers were able to use irrigation to
farmers now actively promote agroforestry. In Kabkabiya, undertake farming activities outside the normal rainy
10,000 tree seedlings were produced and four community season. An estimated 4,500 households benefitted from
forests covering around 4ha in total have been created. the three water harvesting structures constructed by
Farmers were trained to undertake water conservation and Practical Action. Fifty-four percent of these households
agroforestry. reported an increase in crop yields of 50% or more as a
result of improved access to water on their farms along
People: Current interventions in Wadi El Ku are working
the wadi.
directly with around 15,000 households (nearly 100,000
people — farmers and pastoralists) in 29 villages. The It is noticeable that because of reduced conflict over water
interventions indirectly benefit the wider population and land, many people living in IDP camps are beginning to
(estimated at 700,000) in Wadi El Ku, because the return to their villages, especially during the crop-farming
recharged underground groundwater supports 110 water season.
points. This is in addition to the people who benefit from

Success factors
Building consensus and catalysing collaborations: land can be managed sustainably. Building on indigenous
Conflicts among local communities and tribes were knowledge, local technical authorities and communities
causing unsustainable use of natural resources by developed joint mapping of natural resources and
different user groups. Facilitating dialogues and building catchment management plans that laid a foundation from
trust among different user groups allowed communities to which all stakeholders could collaboratively implement
resolve conflicts and reach consensus on how water and NbS.

Resources
Web page: Nurturing livelihoods and peace through shared resources in Sudan’s North Darfur
Web page: Turning the tables on Climate Change
Web page: How communities in Darfur are re-greening their lands for crops, forests and the future
Video: Sudan: Participatory 3D mapping in North Darfur (part of the Wadi Elku IWRM project)
Video: Sudan: Water Harvesting (Wadi Elku project)
Video: Sudan, Wadi Partners Food Security and Disaster Resilience (WEK project)

Contact
For more information, visit Practical Action’s website or contact
Chris Henderson at Practical Action, UK
Email: [email protected]

51 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

13. UK:
Coastal managed realignment

Implementing NGO: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

partners Government: Environment Agency (UK Government)
Location Medmerry, West Sussex coast, UK
Coastal ecosystem including intertidal mudflats and saltmarsh, grassland, farmland,
Ecosystem types saline lagoons, freshwater ponds and ditches, reedbed, scrub, shingle beach (many
of these habitats were created as a result of the work undertaken)
Operational scale 184 hectares
Time frame 2009–2013, building on years of planning and management work on the site

© Environment Agency

52 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | UK: Coastal managed realignment

The Challenge
Climate change: This section of England’s southern importance as they are key for wildlife species, especially
coastline, including the small town of Selsey, was in wetland birds and shorebirds.
extreme danger of flooding from high tides and storms.
People: The Selsey area has a high percentage of older
Projections suggest that the UK will lose almost 3,000
people living on a low income. Many of these people don’t
hectares of intertidal habitat by 2050 due to climate
have access to a car and suffer from health inequality.76
change, sea level rise and increased coastal erosion.73
The area also has one of the highest percentages of
Natural intertidal habitats such as saltmarshes and
children in low-income households.77 Access to nature is
mudflats would ordinarily absorb strong waves to reduce
important for health and well-being, but access can be
the depth and length of peak water levels and erosion
variable. For example, a recent study shows that children
from storm surges. When this habitat is lost, or when it is
from ethnic minorities and from lower-income households
not able to roll naturally inland as sea levels rise, coastal
spend less time outdoors.78
communities are put at much greater risk of flooding. It
is estimated that one in six people in England are living in In the town of Selsey, more than 300 houses, a main road
properties which are at risk.74 and a water treatment works were extremely vulnerable
to flood risks, causing emotional and economic stress to
Nature: Since World War II, the UK has lost over 15% of its
residents. Maintenance of the previous coastal defences, a
saltmarsh, 18% of its sand dunes, and 46% of its shingle
three kilometre shingle bank, was costing the Environment
habitat, and the state of the remaining habitats is poor.75
Agency £300,000 per year.
Many of these habitats are of international conservation

NbS implemented
Managed realignment involves building new sea defences The new flood bank was built using 450,000 cubic metres
inland from the coast and allowing a new ‘intertidal’ area of clay which was extracted from within the site. In the
to form seaward of the new defences. This new intertidal process, along with the new saltmarsh intertidal habitat,
area is exposed at low tide and covered by the sea during a series of new freshwater ponds and reedbeds were
high tide. The Medmerry project involved the construction created.
of seven kilometres of new flood bank inland from the
The saltmarsh is grazed at a low density, with sheep and
sea, between the settlements of Selsey and Bracklesham
cattle managed by tenant farmers, maintaining grasses to
Bay. Once the bank was complete, the existing shingle sea
a height that allows wildlife to thrive. Additionally, with the
defence was breached, allowing the sea to flow inland and
help of farmers on environmental stewardship schemes,
creating 184 hectares of intertidal habitat. The Medmerry
cereals and special wild bird seed mixes are grown on land
project is one of the largest managed realignment
next to the saltmarsh to benefit wildlife, helping to provide
schemes on the open coast in Europe.
food and cover throughout the year for yellowhammers
and other farmland birds.

Achievements
Climate change: The intertidal habitat created by the Nature: Since the creation of the site, bird populations
Medmerry project, including saltmarsh, acts as a blue have flourished. For example, in 2019, there were peak
carbon store, helping to mitigate climate change. Per unit counts of 72 shoveler in February (9% of the county total),
area, coastal blue carbon ecosystems can sequester and 152 shelduck (21%) and 1321 teal in December (21%).81
store more carbon dioxide than any other ecosystem79 The breeding and wintering populations of wading birds
and saltmarshes bury carbon around 55 times faster such as avocets, lapwings and oystercatchers have all
than tropical rainforests.80 Furthermore, the managed increased significantly. Notably, avocets first bred at RSPB
realignment itself acts as a nature-based approach to Medmerry in 2014, and in 2019, 22 pairs nested. Also in
adapting to the effects of climate change, making the local 2014, black-winged stilts bred, only the third successful
area much more resilient to sea level rise and storms. breeding record in the whole of the UK.

73 RSPB Sustainable Shores Report, 2018

74 https://www.confused.com/home-insurance/living-on-the-edge
75 RSPB Sustainable Shores Report, 2018
76 http://www.chichester.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=10810&p=0
77 http://www.chichester.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=10810&p=0
78 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/survey-reveals-inequality-in-children-spending-time-outside-during-pandemic#:~:text=Natural%20England's%20
'People%20and%20Nature,with%2057%25%20of%20white%20children
79 Rogers et al., 2019 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-0951-7
80 Macreadie et al., 2013 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3704532/
81 Sussex Bird Report, 2019

53 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | UK: Coastal managed realignment

Wildlife-friendly ditch management — where banks and public footpaths, cycle paths, and free car parks. Local
ditches are managed in rotation without compromising people are using this new, easily accessible green space
drainage function — is undertaken to optimise freshwater to exercise and socialise and collectively help manage the
habitats for water voles, amphibians and dragonflies. reserve, which all help improve their health and mental
The agricultural land within the area is also managed for well-being83. The project has also helped to attract green
nature, with approximately 24 hectares of arable land tourism; based on the use of the car parks alone, it is
managed specifically for wildlife (with wild bird seed estimated that there are at least 30,000 visitors a year.
mixes, nectar flower mixes, and cultivated uncropped
Local farmers can get higher prices for the beef produced
areas for nesting birds). A further 129ha of arable land
from the cattle that graze the salt marsh grasses on site,
is sustainably farmed by tenants (with commercial crops
given that the beef has a higher percentage of salt, which
being grown, either as part of a government-funded agri-
is favoured by consumers.
environment scheme option such as for spring cereals,
or with elements such as grassed margins for wildlife Medmerry is now part of the English school curriculum as
surrounding the fields). an example of coastal management and climate change
adaptation. It is included in RSPB’s schools programme,
People: The project is providing flood protection to 348
helping to educate children from all backgrounds about the
properties, a water treatment facility and a road serving
importance of working with nature to help tackle climate
5,000 residents. Anecdotally, this has helped to relieve the
change challenges.
emotional stress faced by vulnerable communities. It will
also help to relieve economic pressures such as those The project has received over 16 major national and
associated with maintaining the previous shingle bank. The international awards for engineering, environmental
overall estimated benefits are £90 million compared with enhancement and community engagement. A highlight
project cost of £28 million.82 was winning the prestigious Prime Minister’s Better Public
Building Award in 2014, where the scheme was described
Medmerry Nature Reserve is within walking distance
by the panel as “ground-breaking” and “innovative.84
of the town of Selsey and has an extensive network of

Success factors
Working closely with local residents: The Medmerry Long-term planning: This project was identified through
Stakeholders Advisory Group included representatives of a an opportunity-mapping exercise more than ten years
wide range of community interests,from residents’ groups before the work was carried out. Rigorous strategy design
and local authorities to tourism providers, access groups, processes, plan development, community
farmers, business owners and environmental groups. This engagement and implementation ensured that the project
helped to allay concerns about the flood risks to homes was well thought out and had good levels of support
and businesses across relevant parties prior to implementation.
Close collaboration between the government, private Scientific underpinning: This project involved detailed,
and civil society: This ensured that the right players systematic scientific studies to ensure the best benefits for
were involved to create a transformative large-scale people, property and wildlife. Lessons were learned from
nature-based solution, especially in terms of funding and the failure of the defences used in the past.
supportive policies.

Resources
Rosie Miles and Nathan Richardson (2018). Sustainable Shores Technical Report. RSPB
IUCN (2020). ‘Case study: Demonstrating biodiversity gains: Large-scale coastal re-alignment using NbS can (re)create
biodiversity habitats’ in Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions. A user-friendly framework for the verification, design
and scaling up of NbS. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.
RSPB (2021) Harnessing the power of nature to tackle climate change: 5 lessons based on what works. RSPB
Web page: Environment Agency page about Medmerry
Web page: RSPB page about Medmerry
Medmerry is an example in the England National Curriculum for geography; web pages:
Geographical Association: Managed realignment & BBC Bitesize Managing our Coastlines
Video: Medmerry managed realignment scheme

82 https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2016/10/17/building-a-greener-future/
83 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3
84 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-ministers-better-public-building-award-2014

54 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

 Case Studies | UK: Coastal managed realignment

Contact
For more information visit the RSPB website or contact
Fiona Dobson, International Policy Officer, RSPB,
Email: [email protected]

© RSPB

55 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

3. NbS to address the triple emergency:
Key success factors
The case studies in Section 2 highlight ‘success factors’ that could help NbS successfully
contribute to protecting nature, tackling climate change and supporting local peoples’ well-being.
They are briefly discussed below.

Integrated approaches that protect, restore and sustainably work with nature
All the case studies combine protection, restoration and environmental benefits provided by healthy nature. Simply
sustainable harnessing of nature to achieve multiple focusing on climate or nature without considering local
objectives. For example: in Cambodia, a project combined communities’ livelihoods and needs risks causing harm,
sustainable farming practices with conserving natural undermining access to or availability of key livelihood
habitats around the farms; in Pakistan and Kenya, resources, causing maladaptation, and exacerbating
mangrove restoration was combined with sustainable existing inequalities, poverty, marginalisation and conflict.
fishery and livestock farming; in Kenya, sand dams were Similarly, development or climate solutions that do not
combined with sustainable farming and land restoration; protect, restore and sustainably work with nature will
and in the UK coastal habitat restoration ran alongside probably fail in the long term as over-stressed nature
sustainable cattle grazing. becomes less able to offer valuable natural resources and
crucial ecosystem services (for example water supplies,
These integrated approaches can, in many cases, make
crop pollination, and natural defences against drought,
local communities more resilient to climate change,
floods and landslides) that people depend on.
sequester carbon, enhance biodiversity and also ensure
local communities can enjoy the economic, social and

Landscape approaches that build on long-term multi-stakeholder partnerships

Landscape-wide approaches work best. Whether expertise as well as actual project implementation draw
implemented within a 17-hectare coastal zone in Kenya on complementary skills and knowledge. Cooperation
or an entire nine-million-hectare mountainous eco-region is critical for ensuring long-term positive outcomes
in Ethiopia, successful NbS take account of the complex for climate, nature and people. For example, the WWF-
interrelationships between land and watercourses, forests supported mangrove restoration initiative in Pakistan
and farms, fresh and marine waters, urban and rural highlighted how very strong collaboration between the
settings, or highland and lowland environments. Integrated forest department, coastal development authority and
landscape approaches acknowledge that an ecosystem IUCN ensured a coordinated approach to mangrove
contains living and non-living elements that interact rehabilitation and created synergies. Similarly, the Gola
together, and that NbS must work with those complex Rainforest Conservation Partnership in Sierra Leone
interrelationships to be effective and create resilience brings together representatives from the Sierra Leone
within the system. A landscape approach also brings national government, local and international conservation
together stakeholders across different sectors (and, in organisations and paramount chiefs from local
the case of the Greater Gola Landscape, across countries) communities. They exchange perspectives and expertise
to discuss and form partnerships. This helps manage and jointly make decisions on how to implement NbS in
trade-offs and address the multifaceted and deep-rooted the region. Meanwhile, in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia,
problems of environmental degradation, poverty, inequality experiences show that multi-sectoral and multi-agency
and climate change. approaches can be effective in addressing the multifaceted
and deep-rooted problems of deforestation, degradation,
Multi-stakeholder partnerships of communities,
food insecurity and poverty.
researchers, NGOs, governments and the private sector
can also make sure research, policy and financing

Long-term engagements and planning that combine science with local and traditional
knowledge
Many successful case studies involve long-term For example, RSPB has worked with local communities in
investments and more than a decade of continuous work the Greater Gola landscape in Sierra Leone for decades,
in the same region. This allows long-term planning for as have Farm Africa in the Bale Eco-region of Ethiopia,
NbS and an adaptive approach that ‘learns from doing’. and World Vision in the Humbo District of Ethiopia. Such

56 | Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline | July 2021

long-term engagement helps build trust among all data and research. The case study from China shows
stakeholders, including local communities. It ensures how scientists and communities have worked together to
intervention designs are tailored to the unique local socio- improve traditional watershed management and seed-
economic and political circumstances and to addressing breeding techniques to better adapt to climate change. In
the drivers of negative impacts locally. Through long- Peru, data from community mapping of flood-prone areas
term engagement, local communities, implementing and evacuation routes was combined with monitoring
organisations and scientists can collaborate to devise NbS systems to create an early warning system for floods.
that combine local, traditional knowledge with long-term

Participatory approaches that ensure strong community ownership

All the case studies emphasise that strong local take on stewardship of communal forests via a forest
community leadership for NbS is ‘make-or-break’ dialogue group and a steering committee. These bodies
for success. Participatory approaches were used involved all local stakeholders and provided open forums
throughout the design, implementation, and monitoring for discussions and space to address conflicts and adopt
of the projects to encourage community ownership. In joint plans. In Sudan, the participatory process of mapping
Excellent Development’s Kenya project, African Sand Dam natural resources, developing catchment management
Foundation works via already established local ‘self-help plans and demarcating migratory routes helped to revive
groups’ within the community rather than by creating the broken but historically symbiotic relationship between
new project structures. This ensures the intervention is pastoralists and farmers.
part of community life and the structures over which they
Putting communities at the heart of all these projects
have agency and control. Many case study projects also
ensured that what was implemented actually worked
sought to work through — and in doing so, strengthen —
in the local context, and that benefits were accrued to
existing community-based organisations and governance
local people. Bringing public authorities into community
structures, or establish and support the development
engagement processes can also deliver benefits and
of new ones where they did not already exist. These
strengthen relationships.
facilitate collective decision making and foster collective
actions. In Mali, local communities were supported to

Combining short-term and long-term benefits that are secured through sustainable finance
strategies
Some benefits from NbS may take a long time to term sustainable management of water resources while
materialise, especially where nature has been severely meeting immediate needs for irrigation, fishing, and energy
degraded and/or is suffering from severe climate change generation. Similarly, in Kenya, Excellent Development has
impacts. For example, agroforestry practices may take implemented dams that build up sand in ephemeral rivers,
years to restore degraded soil and deliver more crops for massively boosting local water storage capacity. This type
local farmers. Restoring overgrazed highland meadows of hybrid management can also balance many sectors’
or forests on slopes, so that they retain more water water needs and gain broad stakeholder support for NbS.
and suffer fewer landslides, may necessitate long-
Many case studies included activities that offered
term limitations on their use, especially if drought and
support to local small businesses. These can help
wildfires slow restoration. To address this challenge, many
sustain economic benefits in the long term. In Cambodia,
organisations in the case studies have adopted strategies
local farmers get training on growing organic rice. They
that seek both short-term and long-term benefits for
organise into village networks and are offered a premium
local and poor communities. In World Vision’s initiative
price and secure access to markets when they commit to
in Ethiopia and Tree Aid’s initiative in Mali, for example,
conserving forests around their land. In Mali, community-
communities can prune trees to get fodder and firewood
led small businesses have formed to sustainably
and enjoy non-timber forest products (NTFPs) like honey in
produce and sell NTFPs like shea and honey. These small
the short term. In the longer term, forests on communally
businesses support each other to increase product volume
owned land regenerate to provide incomes from carbon
and combine their negotiating power, achieving better
storage and also help protect communities from landslides
prices for all their members. Improved income from NTFPs
and soil erosion. In Peru, dams are combined with native
then provides communities with incentives to protect and
vegetation restoration and sustainable use of natural
sustainably use their forests.
resources in key watersheds. This helps ensure long-

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Developing enabling policies that can drive systemic changes on a large scale
The case studies demonstrate the importance of working the lessons learned can inform regional plans and national
closely with local, regional and/or national governments. policies, helping to scale up approaches elsewhere. The
These relationships ensure long-term enabling policies Farm Africa eco-regional approach in Ethiopia is now
are put in place, or generate funding that can help drive being scaled up to the entire region and has a focus
systemic changes and support NbS implementation on integration with government planning. It has also
at a large scale. For example, in Kenya, a community- contributed to the Government of Ethiopia’s development
based mangrove restoration initiative supported by of national policies for participatory forest management
Plan International currently covers 17 hectares. Close and support for REDD+ implementation.
collaboration with local and county governments means

Action on gender equality

Ensuring meaningful participation and leadership by However, women often face barriers when accessing
women is crucial to success. The case studies suggest that land, credit and decision-making processes. This makes
activities that tackle gender inequality are a fundamental them more vulnerable to both biodiversity loss and
building block for successful NbS. In many developing climate change. Improving gender equality, and increasing
countries, women are important natural resource women’s participation/prominence in communal decision-
managers. For example, the case studies from Peru, making and leadership roles and in local governance
Kenya and Mali highlight how women are predominantly structures, will ensure that NbS effectively respond to the
responsible for providing water, fuel and food for their needs of women and girls. Women’s equal participation at
families and communities, and are likely to use improved every level is crucial for NbS to deliver positive long-term
earnings to invest in the long-term well-being of their outcomes for entire communities.
households and wider communities. Women have
first-hand experience of addressing natural resource
distribution issues and long-term risks as they plan for
the future of their families, while at the same time they
possess much of the local knowledge and skills vital to
addressing these challenges. Their long-term perspectives
can contribute to better monitoring of risks and outcomes.

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4. Recommendations
The case studies and analysis of success factors lead us to seven recommendations for
harnessing NbS.
1. Support local communities to champion NbS: Healthy studies clearly show that well-executed NbS can
ecosystems provide livelihoods for Indigenous Peoples address the triple emergencies of climate, nature
and local communities, and are at the heart of many of degradation and rising poverty and inequality. But
their cultural and spiritual beliefs. Nature is their first despite supportive political rhetoric, NbS receive only
— and often only — defence system against climate a small share of global climate finance.87 Furthermore,
changes and extreme weather events. Their traditional the world needs to invest US$589–824 billion extra
knowledge is indispensable to successful NbS. All the per year if we are to reverse the devastating decline
case studies highlight the importance of actions to in nature by 2030.88 We need increased overseas
support local communities. Governments should uphold development finance and private sector finance for
IPLC rights, especially land tenure rights; prioritise NbS. The quality of funding is also key. Emerging
funding for NbS that is locally-led; provide policies that commitments to scale up finance for NbS should put
support communities to lead, participate in and support in place plans for large-scale, long-term change and
NbS; and provide funding and support for community- help to finance the transition to sustainable, productive
based organisations that can ensure long-term landscapes. We need to shift financial flows away from
community involvement. activities that destroy natural habitats and repurpose
harmful subsidies so that they instead support NbS.
2. Include strict safeguards and standards to avoid
unintentional negative impacts or greenwashing: 5. Prioritise multi-purpose NbS at landscape scale and
NbS should benefit climate, nature and people, and with a long-term vision: All the case studies show that
should not be used to mask business-as-usual NbS need landscape/seascape multi-purpose planning
approaches. Clear safeguards should guarantee nature- and management if they are to deliver large-scale and
positive outcomes, action on climate change, and the game-changing benefits for people, nature and climate.
involvement of IPLCs. NbS must uphold IPLCs’ rights, be NbS that have a narrow purpose and focus only on one
informed by IPLCs and be delivered by IPLCs wherever type of land use can do more harm than good. Funding
possible. NbS should work with IPLC groups to for NbS should prioritise interventions at the landscape
implement activities on their land once consent is given scale that deliver benefits for different communities and
and governance and decision-making arrangements marginalised people within those communities.
are established. NbS should also adhere to existing
6. Facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships to
standards and guidelines, such as the four widely
implement NbS: Different stakeholders, including local
endorsed NbS Guidelines developed by the Nature-
communities, government, private sector and civil
based Solutions Initiative85 and IUCN’s Global Standard
society organisations need to be involved and work
for Nature-based Solutions.86
together to design and implement NbS. Governments
3. Shift to a systemic approach addressing the pressures can facilitate and invest in cross-sectoral collaborations
of unsustainable production and consumption: Even and enable interdisciplinary research that goes beyond
scaled-up NbS will fail to have significant impacts siloed thinking and sectoral boundaries.
unless unsustainable production and consumption
7. Integrate NbS as part of the post-COVID-19 recovery:
are also addressed, especially in the food and
We need both governments and the private sector to
agricultural sectors. For NbS to provide successful,
invest more money in smarter ways so that nature can
sustainable responses to the nature, climate and
drive a green and fair economy. NbS can help make
poverty emergencies, it is critical to eliminate systemic
local people more resilient to crises such as COVID-19.
barriers (such as unsustainable supply chains, harmful
They can also protect habitats and reduce the risk of
agricultural subsidies and a lack of finance) and also
diseases emerging in the first place. NbS that work
provide an enabling environment (through funding,
for people, nature and climate should be prioritised in
markets and good governance).
governments’ COVID-19 recovery plans and stimulus
4. Increase long-term funding for NbS, both in quantity packages — as highlighted in the Leaders’ Pledge for
and quality: Experiences and evidence from all case Nature.89

85 The four NbS principles (https://nbsguidelines.info/) were originally developed in February 2020 as a letter from 20 organisations to the President of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP26, then adopted by the Together With Nature campaign in May 2020, and refined in February 2021.
Additional signatories from research, conservation, and development organisations across the globe are now being invited.
86 The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions lists criteria and indicators, as adopted by the Council’s 98th meeting (in 2020).
87 unglobalcompact.org/take-action/events/climate-action-summit-2019/nature-based-solutions
88 https://www.paulsoninstitute.org/key-initiatives/financing-nature-report/
89 https://www.leaderspledgefornature.org/

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