The CBD Ecosystem Approach (EA)

The Convention on Biological Diversity’s Ecosystem Approach is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water, and living resources to promote conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. It is the primary framework for such action under the CBD and it contains 12 core principles. The Ecosystem Approach Sourcebook contains a Beginner’s Guide, Advanced Guide, Tools and resources, a Case Study Database, and Operational guidance for applying the 12 principles of the Ecosystem Approach.

How to use

To access the EA Sourcebook and operational guides: https://www.cbd.int/ecosystem/

To download and subscribe to the CBD Ecosystem Newsletter: https://www.cbd.int/ecosystem/ea-newsletters/

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Revitalization of water and wet habitats in SRP Obedska bara

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.

Green Pastures for Green Transition

The project focuses on restoring grassland habitats in the Special Nature Reserve (SNR) Kraljevac by providing the local community with thirty sheep, a solar powered shepherd’s hut and an electrical fence which shall all be used for controlled grazing over 16.5 hectares to prevent habitat succession and support species like the endangered European ground squirrel. Two hectares along Lake Kraljevac have been afforested with native trees such as pedunculate oak, white willow, and poplar. A monitoring system for the European ground squirrel population has been established in order to define the ecological corridors for the species.

Apart from creating favorable conditions for a stable European ground squirrel population, the provision of 30 autochthonous sheep benefits the local community, the local shepherds in particular, and ensures the involvement of the local community in the sustainable management of the critical grassland habitat, whilst enhancing public awareness of the importance of grassland ecosystem conservatio

Diverse Culture Based on the Satoyama Initiative of Shuanglianpi Pond (Yilan, Taiwan)

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.

Building community-led restoration capacity through an operational indigenous plant nursery

This Solution centres on establishing an operational indigenous plant nursery as part of an active restoration programme in the Grootvadersbosch landscape, South Africa. The nursery is used not only to propagate locally appropriate indigenous plants, but also as a practical training hub for community members involved in restoration.

The approach addresses key challenges including invasive alien plants, degraded riparian and forest-edge habitats, limited local restoration skills, and shortages of suitable planting material. By integrating training with hands-on nursery work and field implementation, the project has produced thousands of indigenous plants, restored degraded sites, and built lasting restoration capacity within the local community.

Integrated river restoration and community stewardship to protect the Critically Endangered Tradouw Redfin

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.

The new guardians of the páramo: Voluntary Agreements that transform the practices of farming families.

Chingaza National Park, with more than 77,000 hectares, is one of the most strategic protected areas of the Colombian National Natural Park System, as it is the main source of drinking water for 10 million people in the Bogotá DC and surrounding municipalities. It also protects moorland and Andean forest ecosystems that are key to regulating water resources in the Orinoco macro-basin, conserves endemic and/or nationally and globally threatened species of fauna and flora, and safeguards important sites for the indigenous communities that inhabited the territory. To guarantee its protection, the park has established conservation agreements with peasant families as part of a conservation pact. This participatory strategy allows communities to improve their productive practices while guaranteeing the protection of key ecosystems for the provision of ecosystem services, achieving a local collective effort that guarantees water security for future generations.

Cross-Sectoral Exchange For Improved Management Of Natural Resources In Rwanda

The Cross-Sector Taskforce (CSTF) was established in 2015 to coordinate Rwanda’s response to the Bonn Challenge and enhance Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) efforts. Comprising 35 member organizations, including government bodies, NGOs, private sector actors, and research institutions, the CSTF fosters collaboration, shares technical knowledge, and harmonizes FLR monitoring systems. It provides a platform for addressing deforestation, land degradation, and biodiversity loss while aligning restoration efforts with national and international strategies like the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS), AFR100, and the Paris Agreement. Recent meetings have focused on integrating FLR with sustainable food systems, improving monitoring tools, and incentivizing local farmers. By facilitating knowledge exchange and improving governance, the CSTF enhances restoration efforts and strengthens Rwanda’s ability to meet its target of restoring 2 million hectares of land by 2030.

2025

IUCN Pakistan annual report 2023

2025

Guidelines for rewilding

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.

Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management in Rwanda’s Sebeya Catchment

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.

Jabal Shada Protected Area – Where Nature and Communities Thrive Together

Jabal Shada is an isolated twin-mountain granite massif with spectacular scenery characterized by jagged spires, pinnacles, and traditional agricultural terraces. Located in the Al-Baha region in southwestern Saudi Arabia, it supports exceptionally rich floral diversity (nearly 493 recorded plant species) and traditionally important highland crops notably Shadawi coffee. The mountain is both an ecologically isolated element and a cultural landscape. It was declared as a protected area in year 2002 to secure unique biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods and providing nature-based tourism opportunities. Recent management planning emphasizes biodiversity monitoring, community partnerships (including agricultural support and farm-experience tourism), and identification of hiking/ecotourism trails to deliver conservation and socio-economic benefits.

The Green Project Model: Regreening Rwanda Bugesera for People and Nature

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.