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Groundwater constitutes nearly all of the world's liquid freshwater and is essential for drinking water, agriculture, and maintaining river flows. In the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo basin, groundwater is critically overdrawn and endangered by climate change and population growth, leading to initiatives like WWF-Mexico's nature-based aquifer recharge projects.

The Coca-Cola Company and WWF have partnered since 2007 to improve water stewardship, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and transition to a circular economy for plastics. Key achievements include the restoration of over 5,462 hectares of wetlands along the Danube River, the protection of 200,000 hectares of wetlands in the Yangtze River basin, and the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in Mexico. The partnership has also supported Coca-Cola in setting a science-based target to reduce absolute GHG emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2015 baseline. In agriculture, 56% of priority ingredient volumes were sustainably sourced as of 2020, supported by certifications like Bonsucro for sugarcane. The partnership was renewed in August 2021 for three years to further build natural capital and climate resilience.

Beavers are described as keystone species and "ecosystem engineers" whose dam-building activities create wetlands that sequester carbon and support biodiversity. Their structures regulate water flow to mitigate flooding, replenish groundwater during droughts, and create fire-tolerant zones that suffer only one-third of the damage compared to areas without beavers. In the US Great Plains, where populations were historically depleted by fur traders, initiatives like WWF’s Sustainable Ranching Initiative are using human-made beaver dam analogs in Montana and the Rio Grande basin to restore ecological functions and prepare landscapes for beaver recolonization.

Groundwater is the most abundant freshwater source, supporting 40% of irrigated crop production and over 25% of the global population's drinking water. However, it is being consumed at unsustainable rates, with 20% of river basins currently overdrafted and over 50% at risk by 2050. Over-extraction leads to saltwater intrusion, dried-up wells, and land subsidence. Sustainable management requires measuring extraction, setting volumetric caps, and implementing natural or managed recharge solutions, as demonstrated by the Edwards Aquifer in Texas.

The document outlines practical 'Conservation Starters' from WWF experts to mitigate environmental degradation. It provides specific advice on protecting biodiversity, addressing climate change, conserving forests and freshwater, reducing food waste, eliminating plastic pollution, and protecting wildlife. Key recommendations include advocating for policy changes, adopting sustainable consumer habits, and implementing nature-based home improvements.

In the Madre de Dios region of Peru, WWF Peru and the Wildlife Adaptation Innovation Fund established three 'safe zones' covering 75.5 acres of riparian area to protect water sources for jaguars and other wildlife from livestock degradation. The project combined active reforestation of 30 acres with 5,000 native seedlings and the installation of 2.7 miles of electric fencing to prevent livestock encroachment. Monitoring via camera traps confirmed the absence of livestock and the successful return of jaguars to the project area, where they had not been detected previously. Long-term sustainability is supported by community engagement and financial mechanisms including payments for ecosystem services and ecotourism partnerships.

The report investigates how the expansion of toll and national roads in the RIMBA Ecosystem Corridor (spanning Riau, Jambi, and West Sumatra) fragments wildlife habitats and degrades ecosystem services. It highlights the critical risk to Sumatran tigers and elephants, noting that road infrastructure acts as a driver for land-use change, including conversion to oil palm and rubber plantations. The study finds that while nature-based solutions like animal underpasses have been implemented, they are often insufficient or fail during rainy seasons. It predicts a decline in carbon storage and water reserves by 2030 and recommends strategic habitat corridors and improved governance of animal crossing facilities to mitigate extinction risks and environmental degradation.

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 identifies a significant funding gap for nature-based solutions (NbS), noting that current annual investments of USD 200 billion must increase to USD 542 billion by 2030 to meet global goals. Key barriers include a heavy reliance on public finance (over 80%), a lack of bankable models for ecosystem services, and a dearth of business cases for the private sector. To address these, the brief suggests blended finance to mitigate risk, innovative instruments like green and blue bonds, and the use of natural capital accounting to assign economic value to nature's benefits.

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.

The Resilient Bold Belize project, a public-private partnership led by the Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit, focuses on improving the management of 34 coastal and marine protected areas to enhance fisheries and nature-based tourism. The ESMF identifies critical risks, including the potential for economic displacement of fisherfolk due to access restrictions and the need to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically the Garinagu and Maya. To mitigate these, the project implements a Process Framework for livelihood restoration, an Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework requiring Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), and a multi-level Grievance Redress Mechanism.

The document argues that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are underutilized for climate change adaptation because policy makers and practitioners often perceive them only as biodiversity measures rather than critical tools for flood control, drought mitigation, and coastal protection. It identifies several barriers, including institutional silos, a lack of robust performance metrics, and the prioritization of familiar engineered solutions. To address these, the briefing recommends cross-sectoral communication, the use of participatory and inclusive approaches, and the integration of NbS into educational curricula. It highlights successful initiatives such as the Nature-based Solutions Initiative (NBSI) and specific projects in Grenada, Peru, and Sub-Saharan Africa as models for increasing awareness and mainstreaming NbS.

The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the Herencia Colombia (HECO) project outlines a multi-level strategy to involve national government entities, regional environmental authorities, and local communities in the management of 20 million hectares of strategic landscapes. The project focuses on four primary mosaic landscapes: Caribe, Central Andes, Orinoquía Transition, and the Macarena-Chiribiquete corridor, as well as the declaration of new protected areas in the Serranía de San Lucas. It emphasizes the inclusion of indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, and women, while aligning with Colombia's Peace Agreement and National Determined Contributions (NDC). The plan includes a formal Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and specific protocols for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in ethnic territories.

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.

The document details the environmental threats posed by agriculture and infrastructure, such as the fact that 70% of biodiversity loss and 80% of deforestation are caused by agriculture. WWF's strategy focuses on four pillars: conservation of critical landscapes, creating regenerative and resilient systems, strengthening transboundary governance and sustainable finance, and reducing food loss and waste. By 2030, the organization aims to achieve zero deforestation and land conversion in priority landscapes, halve the environmental footprint of food systems, and protect and restore rivers.

The document outlines how the shipping industry, which handles 80%–90% of world trade, can transition from 'business-as-usual' to a nature-positive model. It identifies key threats posed by the sector, including GHG emissions, noise pollution, and invasive species, and proposes a framework for corporate action based on the AR3T (Avoid, Reduce, Restore/Regenerate, Transform) hierarchy. Specific recommendations are provided for shipbuilding (e.g., sustainable steel and noise reduction), ship operations (e.g., avoiding Marine Protected Areas and managing vessel speed), and shipbreaking (e.g., adhering to the Hong Kong Convention and restoring impacted coastlines).

The executive summary outlines guidelines for linear infrastructure—such as roads, railways, and power lines—in snow leopard habitats. It argues that such infrastructure causes habitat fragmentation and increases human-wildlife conflict, risks which are further exacerbated by climate change. The guidelines advocate for a mitigation hierarchy to avoid, manage, and reduce environmental impacts across a project's entire life cycle, emphasizing environmental sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and the restoration of fragile high-elevation landscapes.

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 document outlines a framework for offshore wind companies to contribute to a 'nature-positive' ocean—defined as halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieving full recovery by 2050. It advocates for the adoption of the AR3T Action Framework (Avoid, Reduce, Restore and Regenerate, Transform) across six business activities: micro-siting, design and manufacture, groundworks and installation, cable laying, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning. Key recommendations include avoiding development in protected areas, adopting nature-inclusive designs to reduce wildlife collisions, and utilizing artificial reef modules for habitat restoration. The briefing emphasizes that prioritizing nature can create economic opportunities, citing a World Economic Forum analysis suggesting up to US $10.1T in new business opportunities and 395 million jobs by 2030.