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The fact sheet highlights a growing trend of incorporating nature-based solutions (NbS) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). While most NAPs identify biodiversity and ecosystems as priority sectors and a high percentage link climate change to biodiversity loss, there is a gap in referencing national biodiversity strategies. The document provides data on the specific ecosystems and types of actions (such as sustainable management and restoration) most frequently mentioned in NAPs and suggests action points to improve coordination and investment in under-represented ecosystems.

The document argues that marine and coastal ecosystems in Africa are under severe threat from climate change, including sea level rise and tropical storms, but can support community adaptation if protected and restored. It defines Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to enhance resilience to climate shocks. The statement provides eight key recommendations for COP27, focusing on incorporating EbA into Nationally Determined Contributions, securing innovative financing, improving community-led governance, and promoting nature-based solutions in coastal cities.

The document advocates for the use of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to help African coastal and island communities adapt to climate change impacts such as sea level rise and tropical storms. It provides a set of nine key recommendations for SADC stakeholders to integrate EbA into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), align biodiversity and ocean policies, and ensure the inclusion of local communities and gender equity in project design. The statement emphasizes the need for a regional SADC EbA strategy and a resource mobilisation plan to support sustainable investments across the region.

The document identifies heatwaves, flooding, droughts, and tropical cyclones as primary threats to agriculture and water in the Greater Mekong Subregion, leading to crop failure and infrastructure damage. While National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) exist in various stages across the region, implementation is hindered by institutional fragmentation, knowledge gaps, and a lack of consistent financing. The brief recommends strengthening policy integration, improving knowledge dissemination, and diversifying financial instruments—including grants and inclusive insurance—to support vulnerable communities.

The document evaluates Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), identifying successful practices such as agroforestry, mangrove rehabilitation, and circular farming. It highlights significant policy gaps in water resources and disaster risk management (DRM), alongside barriers including poverty, tenure insecurity, and a preference for 'grey' infrastructure. The study emphasizes the need for cross-sectoral coordination, innovative financing like Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), and the integration of local and indigenous knowledge to scale resilience.

The document argues that the success of nature-based solutions (NbS) depends on the inclusion of women, yet gender dynamics are often overlooked in favor of biophysical or technical analysis. It examines four specific NbS approaches—natural climate solutions, forest landscape restoration, ecosystem-based adaptation, and payments for ecosystem services—and uses case studies of PES projects to provide recommendations for increasing rural women's agency in climate-resilient agroecosystems.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) developed a collaborative, technologically agnostic monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for four IKEA Foundation grantee partners—One Acre Fund, Practical Action, SELCO Foundation, and Rainforest Alliance—under the Good Cause Campaign (GCC). The framework utilizes an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach and the Energy Delivery Model to track impacts across poverty reduction, education, livelihoods, and health. To ensure data uniformity across diverse projects, WRI identified five 'enablers': reliability and affordability, technology suitability, market outreach, product and services, and a market-linked ecosystem. The framework measures specific parameters including reduced CO2 emissions, decreased energy expenditure, increased study hours, and expanded health service hours.

The document argues that ecosystems are often managed for short-term gain because their non-marketed services—such as climate and water regulation—are treated as having no value. To address this, it outlines six pathways: mainstreaming ecosystem values in national economic accounts, improving local decision-making through an 'ecosystem service corps', scaling up natural infrastructure for water and coastal defense, increasing corporate investments in the food and beverage sector, using 'restoration bonds' for agricultural landscapes, and utilizing strategic communication following natural disasters to highlight community resilience.

Following severe floods in 1998, the Chinese government shifted from building larger levees to a 'soft path' of environmental restoration in the Yangtze River basin. This approach, guided by the '32 Character Policy' and coordinated by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), involved restoring 2,900 square kilometers of floodplains and relocating 2.4 million people to higher ground. These measures increased floodwater retention capacity by 13 billion m3, improved biodiversity, and diversified local livelihoods. The strategy was later incorporated into the 2007 National Climate Change Programme as a 'no regrets' adaptation measure, though challenges remain regarding institutional rivalry and a lingering preference for hard engineering solutions.

The study concludes that human-induced climate change approximately doubled the probability of the April 2022 extreme rainfall event in Eastern South Africa and increased its intensity by 4-8%. While the event had a return time of about 20 years in the current climate, it would have been rarer in a 1.2°C cooler world. The disaster's impact was severely exacerbated by structural vulnerabilities, including the legacy of apartheid spatial planning and the prevalence of informal settlements in high-risk areas.

The 'Recharge Pakistan' project, implemented by WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with the government, addresses Pakistan's vulnerability to climate-induced floods and droughts. The project focuses on the Sindh province, specifically in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, and the districts of Sindh, employing a mix of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and grey infrastructure. Key interventions include restoring floodplains, constructing flood-protection embankments, and implementing climate-resilient agriculture. The framework emphasizes social safeguards, including the 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent' (FPIC) of tribal communities and the use of a grievance redress mechanism to manage conflicts over land and resource use.

The document outlines four critical barriers to the adoption of nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation: lack of awareness, policy and governance gaps, knowledge and capacity deficits, and financial challenges. It argues that NbS, also known as Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), are underutilized despite their ability to reduce disaster risk and enhance resilience. To address these issues, WWF and partners are developing a global NbS platform to provide tailored technical assistance to governments, particularly in the Global South, to help them mainstream NbS into national strategies like NDCs and NAPs.

WWF Colombia is working to expand and manage the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP), notably through the Herencia Colombia (HECO) initiative. Launched in June 2022, HECO aims to secure $245 million to protect nearly 29 million hectares of landscapes and seascapes, supporting Colombia's 30X30 goal. A specific GCF project under HECO focuses on climate-resilient management for 5.72 million hectares, benefiting over 329,000 people directly and approximately 16.9 million people indirectly through ecosystem-based adaptation.

WWF US reviewed 151 NDCs from 179 countries to evaluate the integration of protected areas into national climate strategies. The analysis found that while 37% of countries explicitly mention protected areas, there is significant under-reporting of nature-based solutions, particularly regarding carbon sequestration and ecosystem-based adaptation. Developing nations generally demonstrated higher ambition than developed economies. The report provides five recommendations for Parties to enhance their NDCs, including setting measurable targets for area expansion and managing protected areas for future climate risks.

WWF Colombia is supporting the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP) through policy formulation, financial sustainability, and governance. A central pillar of this effort is the 'Herencia Colombia' (HECO) program, which aims to secure $245 million to protect 29 million hectares of land and sea, contributing to Colombia's 30x30 goal. Within HECO, a GCF-funded project focuses on climate-resilient landscape management across 5.72 million hectares to sequester carbon, regulate water, and improve the resilience of local communities.

The ESMP for Activity 1.1.1 of the Recharge Pakistan project outlines the mitigation of environmental, social, and security risks associated with restoring 2,050 hectares of land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Key measures include a contingency-based forest fire management plan, a structured security protocol for high-risk areas, and the use of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) through Terms of Partnership (ToP) with tribal communities. The plan emphasizes local labor hiring, the establishment of Village Development Committees (VDCs), and a multi-level Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to ensure community ownership and safety in the D.I. Khan, Tank, and South Waziristan regions.

The document establishes a comprehensive management plan for Activity 1.1.1 of the 'Recharge Pakistan' project, funded by the Green Climate Fund. It focuses on restoring 2,050 hectares of land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to improve watershed resilience against floods and climate change. Key components include a Forest Fire Management Plan, a detailed Security Management Plan for high-risk areas like South Waziristan, and a framework for Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with tribal communities. The plan mandates the use of local labor, GPS-tracked travel during daylight, and the establishment of Village Development Committees (VDCs) to ensure community ownership and long-term sustainability.

The document outlines a comprehensive management plan for the rehabilitation of Badri Pond in Pakistan's Ramak watershed. It identifies key environmental risks such as soil erosion and water quality degradation, and social risks including restricted community water access and regional security volatility. To mitigate these, the plan mandates the construction of five check dams, the implementation of a Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP) to ensure water availability, and a strict Security Management Plan. The project, funded by the Green Climate Fund, employs Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to enhance climate resilience. Governance includes a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and a five-year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) plan extending to 2031, with oversight provided by WWF-Pakistan and the Provincial Irrigation Department.

The ESMP outlines the environmental and social safeguards for a project involving the dredging of 415 meters of water flow paths, cleaning of one pond, and strengthening of 211 meters of embankments in Dabri village, DI Khan. It identifies risks such as soil erosion, land sliding, and restricted community access to water, proposing mitigation measures including the construction of five check dams to control flow velocity and reduce erosion. The plan mandates the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for workers, the establishment of a Community-Based Organization (CBO) for local participation, and a four-tier Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). A long-term Operation and Maintenance (O&M) plan is set for 2027-2031 to ensure the sustainability of the 29,404 cubic meter water storage capacity.

The document outlines the safeguards and operational frameworks for the Coral Reef Rescue Project (CRRP) in Fiji's Great Sea Reef. It details the project's goals to protect coral reefs through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS), while ensuring the rights of iTaukei and Indo-Fijian communities. The framework includes detailed risk mitigation for environmental damage, social displacement, and gender-based violence, alongside a comprehensive Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and a Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process for indigenous peoples.