Introduction to the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas Initiative

The Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) Initiative was a three-and-a-half-year project (2023–2026) designed to address the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Recognising that protected areas—including national parks, nature reserves, and community conservancies—are vital tools for resilience, the project implemented gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive nature-based solutions (NbS) across diverse landscapes. These included Belize, Fiji, the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL), and the Kavango–Zambezi (KAZA) Landscape.

The initiative delivered significant quantitative results, including the direct benefit to more than 13,000 people, of whom 53% were women. Over 4,000 individuals received training in livelihood activities supporting NbS. Furthermore, thousands of hectares of critical ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, and rivers, were restored using local knowledge and native species. The project was implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), with financial support from Global Affairs Canada.

Protected areas and the promise of NbS

Protected areas currently cover roughly 18.5% of the planet’s terrestrial and inland waters and 10% of marine ecosystems. The initiative aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s target to conserve 30% of land and sea by 2030. NbS for adaptation are defined as actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems to strengthen the resilience of both humans and nature. To guide high-quality implementation, the CAPA team identified six core principles, ensuring designs were grounded in participatory risk assessments, addressed differentiated vulnerabilities, and remained conflict-sensitive while complementing traditional engineered solutions.

What we’ve learned: Challenges and enabling conditions

The project identified several persistent barriers to the successful delivery of NbS. A primary challenge was the fragmentation of knowledge, where scientific data and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) rarely connect in formal planning. This is often exacerbated by gender-based inequalities and social exclusion, which limit the influence of women and youth in decision-making. Other major obstacles included limited institutional and technical capacities, inadequate community engagement, and financial barriers, as development finance often favours large-scale projects over community-led initiatives with longer-term ecological timelines.

Enabling conditions for successful implementation

To overcome these challenges, the CAPA team focused on cultivating specific enabling conditions. Integrated climate risk assessments served as the foundation, mapping hazards and vulnerabilities at the outset. In Fiji, the initiative co-produced a case study on how TEK assists in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. In the GVL, project partners deferred to local knowledge on tree species and growing cycles to restore hundreds of hectares of forest degraded by wildfire and encroachment.

Meaningful community engagement was secured through the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process. This ensured that activities were aligned with local priorities before implementation. Gender responsiveness was integrated through intersectional analyses, empowering women to lead in Belize’s fisheries and driving inclusive river restoration in Zambia. Peer learning and exchange further amplified impact; for example, the Fiji team drew inspiration from WCS Belize to develop a radio drama focused on NbS, while the Belize team applied reforestation approaches piloted in the GVL.

Capacity building was essential for long-term success. CAPA delivered NbS for adaptation trainings across all four landscapes to strengthen the skills of conservation practitioners and local authorities. To address financial gaps, the CAPA Innovation Fund provided small, flexible grants to grassroots groups, such as community-based organisations in Zambia and Zimbabwe. These grants enabled local groups to lead their own NbS interventions while building project management and financial tracking skills.

Strategic communication also played a critical role, generating over 200,000 tracked interactions on the initiative’s website and using tools like participant-led photovoice storytelling to share lessons. Finally, the initiative focused on integrating climate adaptation into long-term protected area management. This included supporting the update of general management plans for parks such as Mosi-oa-Tunya and the Rwenzori Mountains, ensuring that climate risk is mainstreamed into conservation mandates.

Conclusion

In an era of rapid environmental change, protected areas are essential platforms for climate resilience. When NbS are grounded in participatory assessments and local realities, they offer a necessary pathway toward a more equitable and nature-positive future. The CAPA project demonstrates that integrating climate adaptation into the heart of conservation management can help both people and nature thrive together.