Nature-based Solutions

Nature-based solutions are interventions that protect, sustainably manage or restore natural ecosystems while simultaneously addressing societal challenges such as climate change, food security, water security and disaster risk reduction. The approach harnesses the power of nature to deliver environmental, social and economic benefits, often at lower cost than engineered alternatives. Key activities include reforestation and afforestation, wetland restoration, sustainable land management, coastal ecosystem protection and the creation of green infrastructure in urban areas. Nature-based solutions play a central role in climate mitigation by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through forests, soils, mangroves and other natural carbon sinks. They also contribute to climate adaptation by enhancing ecosystem resilience, reducing flood risk, stabilising soils and buffering communities against extreme weather events. The concept has gained prominence in international climate policy, with growing recognition in frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and in voluntary carbon markets where nature-based credits are traded. In Africa, nature-based solutions are increasingly integrated into national development strategies, supported by multilateral institutions and seen as a pathway to unlock climate finance while delivering co-benefits for biodiversity, livelihoods and food systems. The term encompasses a spectrum of interventions, from large-scale landscape restoration programmes to community-led conservation and regenerative agriculture practices. Proponents emphasise the need for robust governance, equitable benefit-sharing and long-term monitoring to ensure that nature-based solutions deliver durable climate and development outcomes.