Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation in Uganda

This report provides a comprehensive inventory of nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation implemented in Uganda from 2015 to 2026. It analyzes 19 interventions across diverse ecosystems, emphasizing integrated models that combine ecological restoration with livelihood support to address coupled challenges such as food insecurity, water stress, and disaster risk.

• Uganda's NbS for adaptation are distributed across a wide variety of ecosystems rather than being dominated by one, including wetlands, forest landscapes, mountain ecosystems, peatlands, river systems, savannah parklands, and restoration mosaics.
• The most frequent interventions focus on wetland and catchment restoration, forest and protected area management, and landscape restoration, primarily to improve water security and livelihood resilience.
• NbS interventions in Uganda typically employ integrated packages rather than single activities; these include ecosystem rehabilitation, protection of riverbanks and buffer zones, community engagement, and climate-resilient land management.
• Biodiversity benefits in Uganda's NbS portfolio are generally achieved by improving overall ecosystem conditions and reducing pressures—such as wetland encroachment and forest loss—rather than targeting specific species.
• Social inclusion is present but inconsistently documented across projects; some provide explicit evidence of gender-responsive design and focus on marginalized groups like refugees, women, and youth, while others lack public documentation.
• The Greater Virunga Landscape in southwestern Uganda is a primary focal area for NbS, addressing risks such as landslides, flooding, and ecosystem degradation through mountain ecosystem and protected area management.
• In the Mount Elgon region of eastern Uganda, EbA interventions specifically target slope stabilization, agroforestry, and catchment management to combat landslides and soil erosion.
• The GCF FP034 project achieved significant restoration by December 2022, reporting 38,317 ha of degraded wetlands and 1,655 ha of degraded catchment restored, while providing alternative livelihood support to 17,422 households.
• The CAPA Initiative has delivered measurable results in the Greater Virunga Landscape, including reforesting over 350 ha of wildfire-degraded land in Rwenzori Mountains National Park and clearing over 200 ha of invasive species in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• The Awoja Ecosystem Restoration project reported that wetland restoration in its focal landscape increased from 35% to 80% within two years, and vegetation cover rose from 15% to 48%.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation in Uganda. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-06/nature-based-solutions-inventory-uganda.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation in Uganda. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-06/nature-based-solutions-inventory-uganda.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation in Uganda |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-06/nature-based-solutions-inventory-uganda.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndnaturebased, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation in Uganda}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-06/nature-based-solutions-inventory-uganda.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }