NATURE
The rise of community-led nature projects shows a move towards managing the environment with more local control.
Local communities are playing a larger part in protecting biodiversity, restoring habitats and making cities greener.
The UNEP State of Finance for Nature report says that US $ 200bn is invested worldwide each year in nature-based solutions, and more of this money now goes straight to community projects. When local people help manage ecosystems, projects tend to last longer because the community continues to monitor and maintain them.
These projects also help solve land use conflicts by linking biodiversity goals with local economic needs.
Measurable ecological and social returns Getting communities involved in nature-based solutions brings positive ecological results and also helps build social resilience. Research from the International Union for Conservation of Nature
106 September 2026