These guidelines offer both a call for change and general guidance for users. The following five guidelines, adapted from the ten guiding principles for rewilding (Carver et al., 2021), provide a foundation for understanding and taking action to prevent further losses in nature, promote the recovery of biodiversity, and support the restoration of ecological integrity.
The project addresses the issue of water scarcity, which threatens biodiversity and the local community. The project aims to create conditions for controlled water inflow and retention, improving the area’s resilience to climate extremes and enhancing conditions for livestock, wildlife, tourism, and biodiversity conservation, all without jeopardizing the flood defense system.
The project activities were focused on the reconstruction and modernization of parts of the canal network to make it resemble natural water habitats as closely as possible, with sloped banks to allow animals easier access to water, including the construction of overflow weirs to improve the water regime in the Crvenka marsh depressions and control the water level.
The project idea of was to revitalize and manage the wetland habitats in the Special Nature Reserve “Obedska bara” by implementing a nature-based Solution (NbS), namely through extensive grazing by a herd of water buffalo. Managed by a local farmer, and in cooperation with the protected area manager (Public Enterprise Vojvodinašume) and the BirdLife partner (Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia), the problem posed by overgrown vegetation and reduced water flow was greatly reduced.
The main goal of the project was to clear up 25 ha of overgrown wet meadows, ponds, and forest edges by grazing water buffalo and to remove invasive plant species, creating “open water mirrors” and attracting more birds to reside in the area. The project also conducted activities to strengthen and raise the awareness of the local community about the importance of preserving wetland habitats.
In Ethiopia’s lowlands, climate change, erosion and drought degrade land, cut yields and fuel conflicts among agro-pastoralists. The Dry Valley Rehabilitation and Productive Use approach under the global GIZ ProSoil programme integrates technical and socio-ecological measures to restore dry valleys, secure water and promote sustainable land use. The approach uses Water Spreading Weirs, Dry-Stone Measures and biological measures. Water Spreading Weirs span dry riverbeds to spread and slow floods, enhance infiltration, trap nutrient-rich sediments and improve soils and vegetation. Based on a traditional and administrative system, the approach follows 7 steps from satellite-based suitability mapping to participatory planning by user cooperatives, rehabilitation and productive use. GIZ, BMZ, Ethiopian agencies, research bodies and communities collaborated to build 110 Water Spreading Weirs and 205 Dry-Stone Measures in Afar with similar work in Somali and Oromia, restoring 55,500 ha of degraded land and supporting 6,000 people.
The Public Water Management Company “Srbijavode”, in cooperation with the protected area manager “Ecological Society Gradac” achieved significant ecological restoration and educational outreach in the Gradac River area. The project involved riverbed clearing by mechanically removing obstacles to river flow, such as large fallen tree trunks, stumps and over 3,500 m³ of sediment, to enhance river flow and restore ecological balance. PWC “Srbijavode” implemented bioengineering interventions by installing willow-wattle structures to provide a nature-based solution for preventing riverbank erosion along a pilot area of 150 m. Throughout the project, scientists from the Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković” conducted biodiversity assessments to ensure minimal negative impact on the ecosystem and to highlight the Gradac River’s good water quality. The Ecological Society Gradac engaged with over 250 primary school students in the Valjevo area through educational workshops.
In many African countries, agricultural growth remains a key driver of development. Agriculture ensures food security and is a source of rural income and employment. However, most small farms suffer from low productivity due to soil degradation, a lack of inputs and knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices, and the effects of climate change.
In Côte d’Ivoire, these challenges are amplified by deforestation: forest cover has fallen from around 16 million hectares in the 1960s to 2.5 million today, weakening ecosystems and soil fertility while increasing rural vulnerability.
The Participatory Household-Level Restoration Plan (PPR) offers an inclusive approach where each household aligns its vision, needs, and priorities with forest restoration. By placing rural families at the heart of planning, implementation, and monitoring, the PPR promotes sustainable restoration.
The Shuanglianpi Settlement, located in the mountains of Yilan, is named after Shuanglianpi Pond. Known for once hosting a third of Taiwan’s native aquatic plant species, the area was designated as the “Yilan County Shuanglianpi WildlifeRefuge” in 2003 to protect its freshwater plants.
This designation and land expropriation led to longstanding conflicts among residents, public
sectors, and externalgroups. In 2018, the Yilan Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency began interviewing local elders and residents, uncovering a shared memory: the damaged century- old irrigation canal. Most residents expressed support for restoring the canal torebuild relationships, foster communication, and establish a partnership basedon mutual support. To advance sustainable development, the Branch invited local partners to join resilience
assessment workshops (RAWs) in 2022 to identify priorities and formedan interdepartmental platform for ongoing adaptive co-management of Shuanglianpi.
This Solution applies integrated river restoration and community stewardship to reduce key threats to the Critically Endangered Tradouw Redfin in the Huis River, South Africa. It combines invasive alien plant clearing, targeted riparian restoration, water-saving measures and community awareness to improve habitat quality and river resilience.
The approach addresses habitat degradation, invasive vegetation, water pressure and limited local awareness. By restoring riparian structure and coordinating action through a multi-agency Tradouw Redfin Working Group, the project improved river health indicators, restored critical habitat and strengthened long-term protection for the species through a formal Species Action Plan.
This Solution applies integrated river restoration and community stewardship to reduce key threats to the Critically Endangered Tradouw Redfin in the Huis River, South Africa. It combines invasive alien plant clearing, targeted riparian restoration, water-saving measures and community awareness to improve habitat quality and river resilience.
The approach addresses habitat degradation, invasive vegetation, water pressure and limited local awareness. By restoring riparian structure and coordinating action through a multi-agency Tradouw Redfin Working Group, the project improved river health indicators, restored critical habitat and strengthened long-term protection for the species through a formal Species Action Plan.
Cuba’s geological evolution, climate, and insular geography led to highly diverse ecosystems with various endemic species. Nonetheless, declining forest cover and climate change hazards have threatened the country’s rich biodiversity. Moreover, CO2 emissions accelerate the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, in addition to harming human well-being.
To address these challenges, the Cuban government, with support from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ecovalor project, established a payment for environmental services scheme that rewards carbon removal through sustainable forest management.
By March 2025, the scheme disbursed USD 238,000 (CUP 5,709,066) in payment for environmental services, associated with the removal of 999,473 tons of carbon across 12,646 hectares of forest. This initiative contributes to climate mitigation, ecosystem conservation, and the responsible use of natural resources in Cuba.
The Sebeya catchment in Western Rwanda, once prone to recurrent flooding, erosion, and landslides, was transformed through the “Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management in Rwanda (EWMR)” project. Led by Rwanda Water Resources Board and partners, the project applied Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to restore 7,700 hectares using terraces, trenches, riverbank protections, and afforestation. The approach combined land rehabilitation with innovative financing, value chains, and inclusive planning. Over 35,000 green jobs were created, alongside improved soil health, aquifer recharge, agricultural productivity, and livelihoods. By integrating community-driven land use planning into district-level governance, the project laid the foundation for long-term resilience and scalability.
The Green Project in Gashora Sector, Bugesera District, Eastern Rwanda, transformed the country’s driest agro-ecological zone through regenerative, farmer-led land restoration. Facing severe land degradation, poor soil fertility, and widespread poverty, the project implemented agroforestry-based conservation agriculture using shrub-tree hedgerows, rotation cropping, and organic mulching. Designed as a low-cost, inclusive and replicable model, the project improved soil health, enhanced biodiversity, increased yields, and diversified household incomes. Starting with just six farmers, it now engages over 1,000. The intervention shows how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) tailored to local conditions can reverse degradation, boost resilience, and uplift rural livelihoods.
Nosy Hara National Park is part of Madagascar’s network of protected areas. A genetic reservoir of marine biodiversity, it is a sustainable fishing site par excellence, for the fishing community living around the park. Mangrove crabs, octopus and reef fish are the most commonly caught species. The Park is renowned for the production of octopus, fish for local, regional and even national consumption.
Overfishing in accessible areas by small-scale fishermen, the failure of nomadic fishermen to comply with fishing closures, and the lack of park staff for surveillance are among the daily challenges faced by park managers.
Co-management through the effective involvement of the local community in the preservation of the park is an approach adopted, particularly by the women’s community of the village of Ankingameloka, who actively participate in the co-monitoring of mangroves, the restoration of the ecosystem and the monitoring of fishermen’s daily catches.
