Nature-Based Climate Solutions
Healthy natural ecosystems help create strong and resilient landscapes that support people and communities. With extreme weather events increasing, efforts to conserve, manage, and restore nature have never been more important. However, until recently the potential to reduce emissions and sequester carbon through nature-based solutions has been largely overlooked. With a primary focus in Canada, we support partners who work with governments, industry, and stewards of the land to support solutions that benefit people, planet, and the climate.
Our strategy is guided by:
Canada’s globally significant role in nature-based solutions
Canada’s landscapes contain some of the richest carbon stores in the world. The country’s forestry and agricultural exports are relevant at a global scale and sustain livelihoods and communities from coast to coast to coast. We support efforts to conserve, manage, and restore nature in Canada – for the benefit of Canadians and the world.
Supporting Indigenous-led conservation
In Canada, Indigenous peoples are leading an ambitious agenda to reassert their authority and capacity for stewardship and conservation for generations to come. We support conservation initiatives that are led by Indigenous Nations in partnership with provincial, territorial, and federal governments, industry, civil society, and philanthropy. This support represents an important contribution to reconciliation in Canada and serves as a global model.
Focus on solutions that work for the people and planet
People are deeply reliant on nature. Nature has an impact on human health, food and water security, economies, and culture. Communities that rely on nature are at greater risk from increasing extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, extreme heat, and wildfires. Our work acknowledges the important connections between nature and people and supports solutions that build resilience for both.
What We Support:
- Leadership on nature-based solutions: We believe the work done in Canada can provide leading models which can be replicated to accelerate the adoption of nature-based solutions globally. We support efforts to advance the science on nature-based solutions and interlace it with Indigenous knowledge; apply this evidence base to the development of sound policies and practices; and develop globally leading governance and financing models to support Indigenous-led stewardship and conservation. Our primary partner to lead this work is Nature United.
- Indigenous-led wildfire management and stewardship: Wildfires are integral to promoting the health and ecological diversity of Canada’s forests. However, drier conditions, pest infestations, and fire suppression are contributing to longer wildfire seasons and more extreme wildfires, harming local communities and ecosystems, and emitting higher amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We recognize that Indigenous communities are on the frontlines of many of these fires, and support initiatives that enable First Nations to reassert their leadership and knowledge to play a central role in how Canada manages wildfires in the decades ahead.
- Sustainable agriculture: Agriculture and food systems contribute to global emissions while also facing significant disruptions due to growing climatic impacts, such as droughts, floods, and changing temperatures. We work to advance sustainable agricultural practices that improve soil health, build resilience to more extreme weather conditions, and result in cost savings for farmers.
Grantee Spotlight
-
Nature United
Nature United creates solutions for people and nature by building diverse partnerships to protect lands and waters and ensure nature is the foundation of healthy communities, economies, and future opportunities. They achieve this by advancing the latest science on nature-based climate solutions, building sustainable policies and practices with communities and stakeholders, and supporting Indigenous-led initiatives…
Clayoquot Sound. Photo credit: Brian Evans / TNC