What Does Climate Adaptation Look Like in Action? Here are nine locally led, nature-based ideas

Nature-based solutions (NbS) for adaptation are actions that manage, protect, conserve, restore, and sustainably use the natural environment to strengthen the resilience of communities and nature to the impacts of climate change.

NbS involve assessing how climate change will affect natural ecosystems and people of all genders and social backgrounds. When deciding which NbS for adaptation interventions to implement, it is important to ask the right questions and consider if the options will be effective, inclusive, and sustainable. One way to achieve this is to support locally led and locally driven ideas because no one understands the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss better than those who experience it firsthand. Locals and Indigenous Peoples are best positioned to explain how these challenges affect them and what solutions will work in their unique contexts, given their in-depth knowledge of their communities. Interventions such as these also promote sustainability and participation; when communities and local groups are involved from the start, they are more likely to take ownership, resulting in long-lasting benefits.

No one understands the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss better than those who experience it firsthand. Locals and Indigenous Peoples are best positioned to explain what solutions will work in their unique contexts.

Embracing this approach, nine organizations led by women and other underrepresented groups are pioneering local adaptation around the world through nature-based solutions (NbS) projects. From seaweed seeds to planting native trees, these groups from Belize, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, in partnership with the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas initiative are bringing their locally-driven NbS ideas to life.

Seaweed Seed Bank and Farm Tour: The Belize Women Seaweed Farmers Association is creating a seaweed seed bank, developing a seaweed farm tour, and increasing market access for seaweed products. Climate change impacts, particularly shifting rainfall patterns and rising sea temperatures, have slowed seaweed growth and reduced productivity. This project, located near South Water Caye and Glover’s Reef Marine Reserves, focuses on regenerative and sustainable seaweed farming that enhances marine ecosystems and fish nurseries. The innovative seaweed farm tour will also help to diversify income sources by leveraging the tourism potential of the southern half of Belize’s coast.

Debris Removal and Mangrove Planting: The Hopkins Fishermen Association is tackling flooding and ecosystem degradation in Hopkins Village, near the South Water Caye and Glover’s Reef Marine Reserves in Belize. The group is doing this by clearing debris from waterways and using traditional planting knowledge to restore mangroves, which serve as natural buffers to storms and mitigate coastal erosion. The initiative hopes to restore fish habitats, reduce flood risks, and enhance coastal resilience by improving water flow in estuaries and lagoons. The project also engages the community to ensure long-term environmental and social benefits through ecosystem conservation and sustainable resource management. 

Soil and Water Conservation Through Contour Trenches: The Nyambuko Development Group in Uganda addresses flooding, soil erosion, prolonged drought, and declining agricultural productivity in the village of Nyambuko inside the Queen Elizabeth National Park. This project involves creating 15 km of trenches to control the flow of water and protect against landslides. It will also include planting vetiver grass to stabilize soil and conserve water in a highland farming area prone to mudslides and drought. Using this approach, the project aims to enhance soil fertility and improve crop yields, directly benefiting local farmers vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Rainwater Harvesting for Erosion Control: The Bwitho Men and Women’s Development Group is combating landslides that sweep away the vegetation and farm biodiversity in Uganda’s hilly landscapes by introducing rainwater harvesting systems made from locally sourced materials. Water tanks constructed with soil-burnt bricks and river sand will capture runoff from homes within the Queen Elizabeth National Park, preventing soil loss and conserving water for gardens and farming. Overflow water will be directed to conservation trenches, mitigating erosion and promoting sustainable land and water use.

Planting native trees: Several groups supported by the CAPA Innovation Fund are taking new approaches to planting native trees to restore degraded ecosystems and address climate risks.

• The Community Baboon Sanctuary Women’s Group in Belize is restoring degraded riparian forests within the Maya Forest Corridor by planting native trees and introducing the drought- and hurricane-resistant Maya Nut tree. This project aims to address erosion, flooding, and habitat loss caused by cattle ranching and farm expansion. The Maya Nut is known for its adaptation to tropical climates and offers multiple benefits, such as providing feed for livestock, shade for cattle, and natural habitat for mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects; improving soil and water quality; and helping to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration.

• The Kyankwanzi Bakyara Tukorere Hamwe Biika Oguze Group, based in Kyankwanzi District inside the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, is aiming to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts by planting native trees, including fruit trees, along community boundaries near wildlife reserves. This initiative aims to create multi-sensory barriers to deter elephants and other wildlife from exiting protected areas and damaging crops and property. The group will be combining native thorny species like fagara with citrus trees such as lemon to create a deterrent that uses both physical barriers (thorns) and strong odours to keep wildlife at bay. These trees are long-lasting, self-regenerating, and low maintenance, making them cost-effective solutions.

• The Matoya Cooperative Nursery Project, located in the Nsongwe area of Zambia, aims to restore the spring-fed Nsongwe River and riparian ecosystems outside the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park by planting native tree species. These ecosystems are historically adapted to the region’s climate and soil conditions. The Matoya Cooperative Nursery will focus on native species to rejuvenate these areas and introduce bamboo cultivation techniques like propagating bamboo from cuttings, which is a first for the community. The bamboo will contribute to environmental restoration and provide a sustainable livelihood option for the community.

• The Kalobolelwa Community Group is partnering with the Kalobolelwa Multipurpose Cooperative Society to create two demonstration plots for their community within the Sioma Ngwezi National Park in Uganda. One will be a forest plot where sustainable forest management techniques, including fire management, will be demonstrated. This project will equip community members with the practical skills they need to manage the community’s two gazetted forests. The second plot will demonstrate the use of natural herbs for pest management and organic fertilizer. The project will also involve the development of a nursery for the native Devil’s Claw and Lungwatanga (Citrulllus naudinianus) seedlings, which community members are encouraged to plant at home, reducing the harvesting pressure within the gazetted community forests. 

• The Asizameni Omama Cooperative in Zimbabwe is encouraging the propagation of drought-resistant native trees at the household level, which can be used for livelihood activities like basket and mat weaving. It aims to address increasing temperatures and droughts, reducing the pressure on natural resources by creating alternative livelihoods for district women in Monde Village on the outskirts of the Victoria Falls National Park. The cooperative plans to prioritize expanding tree nurseries for native trees, including fruit trees.

NbS for adaptation can help communities build resilience to climate change. By investing in locally led NbS approaches and supporting local groups to bring their innovative ideas to life, we can create sustainable interventions that are suitable to the local context and benefit both communities and ecosystems.

To learn more about the CAPA Initiative, please visit iisd.org/capa.