Building Peace with Nature in the Colombian Amazon

The Colombian Amazon is a biome of extraordinary biocultural richness that provides vital ecosystem services and faces complex socio-environmental pressures. There, traditional practices of Indigenous Peoples coexist with the productive systems of peasant, Afro-Colombian, and peace-signatory communities, as well as extractive activities and armed conflict.

There are also socio-environmental conflicts driven by socioeconomic inequalities among its inhabitants, which contribute to deforestation and affect ecological connectivity. In contrast, there is a tradition of community-led processes that sustainably manage the territory.

This solution presents the results of the Sustainable Amazon for Peace project, which strengthened environmental governance for #PeaceWithNature through conservation practices and the sustainable use of biodiversity in the northwestern Amazon (areas with the highest deforestation rates); supported by public policies formulated by institutions contributing to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Agreement and climate action.

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Green Value Chain Development through Restoration, Dja et Mpomo Model Forest

Cameroon’s forests face pressures from logging, agricultural expansion, population growth, and climate change. These challenges are made worse by inadequate forest management. In response, the Dja and Mpomo Model Forest (FOMOD) in eastern Cameroon developed an agroforestry model across its 1.6 million-hectare Congo Basin landscape. This began in 2011 with two pilot micro-enterprises. The first focused on Moringa cultivation, valued for its ecological co-benefits. This success led to the expansion into four municipal level enterprises. These were later consolidated through the “Eco Agricultural Business for the Adaptation to Changes in Climate (B-ADAPT)” project on eco-agricultural adaptation to climate change. FOMOD has sought to increase institutional visibility, combat endemic poverty, strengthen governance for vulnerable groups (Indigenous peoples, women, and youth), and build financial self-sufficiency through agroforestry and new partnerships. Core to building self-sufficiency is the development of green value chains.

Community Empowerment to Conserve Forests and Water Sources in Cerro San Gil, Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala

The Motagua River Basin Integrated Environmental Management Project aims to reduce land-based pollution and unintentional emissions of POPs that affect aquatic ecosystems—particularly marine and coastal ecosystems—through integrated watershed management and capacity building in Guatemala and Honduras. Within this framework, a pilot project was implemented to protect and restore water recharge areas in the Cerro San Gil Springs Protected Reserve, Puerto Barrios, Izabal, within the Las Escobas River basin, the municipality’s main water source. Through partnerships between public institutions, conservation organizations, and local communities, ecological restoration efforts, patrols, and conservation agreements were promoted. A total of 85 hectares were restored and 1,800 hectares were protected. The initiative benefited more than 32,000 residents and strengthened local governance for water and ecosystem conservation.

Strengthening the Environmental Public Fund to Finance Biodiversity Projects in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico

Mexico is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, home to rich fauna and flora and considered a biocultural hotspot. However, ecosystem degradation and climate change have threatened biodiversity across the country.

Amid this situation, the Ministry of Environment and Land-use Planning of the state of Guanajuato, with support from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), strengthened the management and mobilization strategy of Guanajuato’s Environmental Public Fund. Following these reforms, the fund’s annual revenue increased by USD 545,110 (MXN 10,000,000), improving its capacity to finance biodiversity-relatedprojects.

This initiative is part of a broad strategy to implement the BIOFIN methodology at the subnational level across 15 state governments in Mexico, enhancing biodiversity finance while adapting to the context and priorities of each state.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLES

The sea turtle nesting monitoring program in Galápagos National Park began in the early 2000s and has established itself as a long-term practice. It is based on three main pillars: active volunteering, which allows for night patrols and camps throughout the season; stable funding, which guarantees logistics, food, and adequate conditions for participants; and standardized protocols, which facilitate the integration of national and international volunteers and ensure data quality. These conditions have allowed the work to continue for more than two decades and generate valuable information for the region. The exchange of data with other countries amplifies the impact of the practice beyond the Galapagos, positioning it as a sustainable, replicable model with regional relevance.

Building Peace with Nature in the Colombian Amazon

The Colombian Amazon is a biome of extremely high biocultural richness that provides vital ecosystem services while also facing complex socio-environmental pressures. There, traditional uses of Indigenous Peoples, productive systems of peasant, Afro and peace signatory communities, extractive activities and armed conflict coexist.

There are also socio-environmental conflicts driven by the socioeconomic inequalities of its inhabitants, which increase deforestation and affect ecological connectivity. In contrast, there is a tradition of community processes that sustainably manage the territory.

This solution presents the results of the Sustainable Amazon for Peace project, which strengthened environmental governance for #PazConLaNaturaleza, through conservation practices and sustainable use of biodiversity in the northwestern Amazon (where there are high deforestation rates); with the support of public policies formulated by the institutions contributing to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and climate action.

‘Food from Our Ancestors’: A solution to inter-related food, nature and cultural socio-ecological challenges

At !Khwa ttu, an indigenous San heritage centre on 850ha in South Africa’s Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve, food tells a story. The team asked: What if our restaurant truly reflected San culture? With guidance from regenerative chef Christiaan Campbell, they redesigned the space, rethought the menu, and embraced the idea: “Serving heritage on every plate.” Meals now carry flavours of the land—wild herbs, seasonal plants, and tastes once used by San hunter-gatherers. While they can’t gather large amounts daily, every dish has at least a touch of the indigenous—a spice, a leaf, a flavour connecting guests to land and people. Visitors can explore further on tours showcasing how the San blend ancient knowledge with modern agroecology to restore plants and wildlife in a changing climate. The menu also builds relationships: !Khwa ttu works with 40+ local producers, grows herbs, blends teas and forages wild foods. Nothing is wasted. Food here is more than a meal—it connects past, land, and community—a recipe for a healthy planet.

Planning Lead Service Line Replacement to Advance Safe Drinking Water, Public Health, and Climate Resilience

Planning and financing lead service line replacement is a critical challenge for utilities and governments working to protect public health, restore freshwater systems, and support climate-resilient water infrastructure. This solution documents an applied planning approach developed by Environmental & Public Health International (EPHI) that supports utilities, regulators, and local governments in systematically estimating, prioritizing, and planning lead service line replacement programs.

The approach integrates public health considerations, infrastructure planning, and equity-oriented program design to assist decision-makers in addressing legacy lead contamination in drinking water systems while aligning with regulatory requirements and long-term resilience objectives. The solution can be applied across diverse regulatory and utility contexts and supports transparent cost estimation, program structuring, and stakeholder engagement in lead service line replacement planning.

Repurposing old wells for Bukhara deer in Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reservat – Kazakhstan

Since 2018, as part of the “INtroduction of the Amur tiger tot he Ile River Delta”, Bukhara deer has been actively reintroduced to the rezervat (through joint efforts of WWF and the Kazakh government). The current population is estimated at 200 individuals, however, maintaining a stable population is challenging due to prolonged drought stressing important forage species. Bukhara deer also require access to freshwater, and Lake Balkhash is highly saline. To address these issues, ACBK, in collaboration with staff the nature rezervat and experts from the Institute of Zoology Kazakhstan, worked to repurpose drinking water wells originally developed during the soviet era for geo-exploration to be used as wildlife watering holes. More than 50 years have passed since the wells were drilled, and 2 wells were restored in areas with high deer concentrations. Pumping equipment is powered by solar panels and, although it can be fully automated remotely. Rezervat staff can monitor wells during their routine inspections.

SMART-Informed Approach to Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict in Indonesia

This solution applies an integrated, multi-level approach to mitigating human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in Indonesia under the CONSERVE Project, implemented in Aceh and Bengkulu. In Sumatra, such conflicts threaten both biodiversity and community livelihoods. The approach is SMART-informed, using systematic patrols beyond protected areas to generate data on species presence, conflict hotspots, and threat dynamics across multiple-use landscapes. These findings inform targeted interventions at both policy and field levels. Monitoring results support policy development, multi-stakeholder coordination, and task force establishment. At the operational level, SMART data guide the use of GPS collars as early-warning systems, installation of electric fences, construction of tiger-proof enclosures, and promotion of elephant-unpalatable crops as natural barriers. Overall, the solution strengthens evidence-based decision making, coordination, and coexistence outcomes.

Safe Passage for Pond Turtles

The project aims to protect the pond European pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis), Serbia’s only native aquatic turtle species, by addressing threats such as habitat fragmentation, mortality due to motor vehicles, and agricultural disturbances. The supported project focuses on revitalizing movement corridors and facilitating the crossing of a local road, to ensure safe nesting and movement for the turtles at the Deliblatsko lake. Additionally, the project involves community engagement, educational activities, dissemination of information, and raising conservation awareness through workshops, informational materials, and public events.

The overall objective of the project is to conserve and improve habitats and movement corridors for the European pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis) within Special Nature Reserve (SNR) “Kraljevac.

Kehatiku: Where Wildlife Conservation Pays

KehatiKu is Borneo Futures’ flagship community-based wildlife conservation pilot, testing a novel approach of paying for wildlife data across 9 villages in Indonesia. Over 800 non-specialist villagers act as data collectors. KehatiKu provides real-time wildlife population metrics, currently based on >160,000 wildlife observations, allowing our team to conduct occupancy analyses that contribute to a growing database of species presence to support effective, outcome-based conservation. Observers voluntarily gather wildlife records during routine activities, using mobile phones. Observations may be photos, videos, or sound recordings. Observations are uploaded to our server and verified by our biodiversity experts. Once verified, observers receive a payment corresponding to species rarity and difficulty of observing them, providing sustainable income. The program is very popular and has resulted in spontaneous wildlife protection. We have evidence that now forests and wildlife is valued more for conservation than exploitation.

Reducing human-jaguar conflicts through an integrated coexistence strategy in Iguaçu

The Iguaçu region, located at the tri-border area between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, is home to one of the last viable populations of jaguars in the Atlantic Forest. Interaction with human activities, particularly agriculture and livestock farming, has led to conflicts, economic losses, and negative perceptions of the species, thereby increasing hunting pressure on it. To address this challenge, Iguaçu National Park, through the Onças do Iguaçu Project, has implemented an integrated strategy for the coexistence of big cats with local communities in the region. The approach combines responses to predation incidents, preventive measures, training, community engagement, and institutional coordination. A structured protocol guides these actions, including assessment, mitigation, and continuous monitoring. On a regional scale, the Tri-national Coexistence Network strengthens cooperation between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The solution helps reduce conflicts, increase tolerance, and promote the conservation of the jaguar in the landscape.