Introducing Nature Based Solutions to Ensure Resilient Ecosystems, Green Recovery and Sustainable Livelihoods

The project aims to integrate biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, and nature-based solutions within two key landscapes across different administrative levels in the country with the objective of introducing nature based solutions to ensure resilient ecosystems, green recovery and sustainable livelihoods. This endeavor will be executed through the implementation of a multi-sectoral spatial planning approach that connects natural ecosystems (forests, wetlands, and watersheds) with managed (agriculture, forestry, and tourism) to ensure ecological balance and sustainable socio-economic development. It will attempt to demonstrate the socio-economic and food security benefits of enhanced conservation and ecosystem services for local communities by promoting good governance, institutional coordination, and equity. This will entail a number of innovative approaches, including in particular, the application of spatial land-use planning to optimize sustainable resource use while preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services, promoting biodiversity-positive production practices in key sectors with significant ecological impact to maintain ecosystem health and sustainable use, including strengthening Forest Stewardship Council certification; establishing inclusive policy, planning, and governance frameworks that align sector interests and provide incentives for biodiversity-positive resource use; empowering communities, including women and marginalized groups, alongside entity, canton and municipal government, private sector and community-based organizations, to play active roles in ecosystem protection and management and ensure equitable opportunities and benefits for women and men and safeguarding socio-economic needs and aspirations of local communities and vulnerable groups during conservation and development actions.


To address these challenges, the project adopts a holistic, multi-disciplinary, and multi-sectoral approach that involves stronger involvement of local communities. Through this integrated approach, the project aims to: (i) improved management effectiveness of 42,587.60 hectares in eighteen existing terrestrial protected areas and creation of around 10,400 hectares of new protected areas; (ii) improved management effectiveness of 100,000 hectares of KBAs as OECMs through national policies and practices and 15,000 hectares of degraded agricultural and pastoral lands under improved practices to benefit biodiversity; (iii) restoration of 264 hectares of degraded forest, agriculture and pasture lands; (iv) mitigate 2,345,820 mt.CO2e over a 20-year period; and (v) directly benefit 10,000 people (5,000 men and 5,000 women) through improved natural resource management, sustainable agricultural, grazing and forest practices, livelihood improvement, small scale enterprises and climate mitigation measures.