Dialogues
NAbSA Dialogues is a platform for experts and stakeholders interested in the practical integration of biodiversity conservation and gender considerations for the design and application of effective NbS for climate adaptation and community resilience. Join us to explore how preserving the diversity of life on Earth is crucial for a sustainable future on our ever-changing and dynamic planet
This was the focus of the third and final session of the Wednesdays of Finance webinar series, “Actionable Finance: Turning Investments into Inclusive Outcomes”. Bringing together practitioners from Africa, Latin America and global policy initiatives, the discussion explored how innovative finance mechanisms can move beyond theory and become practical tools for climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and community resilience.
Throughout the conversation, one message emerged clearly: finance alone is not enough. Lasting impact depends on trust, participation, local ownership, and systems that place communities at the centre of decision-making.
That question sat at the heart of the second session of the Wednesdays of Finance webinar series, “How Biodiversity Drives Finance,” convened by NAbSA and its Land & Natural Resource Management Task Force last week and moderated by Quilin Liu, IUCN Programme Officer.
Bringing together experts from academia, finance, and policy, the session explored the rapidly evolving landscape of biodiversity finance — from green bonds and debt-for-nature swaps to biodiversity credits and financial system reform. Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized that while finance mechanisms are evolving quickly, the real challenge lies in ensuring that finance serves biodiversity — not the other way around.
Bringing together practitioners, researchers, and finance experts from across the climate and conservation community, the session — “Demystifying Carbon Finance” — unpacked how carbon markets work, why integrity matters, and what it takes to ensure that carbon finance contributes meaningfully to Nature-based Solutions (NbS), biodiversity, and community resilience.
As climate and biodiversity finance landscapes evolve rapidly, participants explored both the opportunities and the tensions surrounding carbon markets — from technical questions around standards and verification to broader concerns about equity, governance, and long-term impact.
With participants from development cooperation, the private sector, local communities, and global organizations, the conversation shifted from what’s working to how it can be scaled. The emphasis was clear—finance, governance, and social inclusion must be aligned if we are to build resilient, gender-responsive climate solutions that last.
Day 2 opened with inspiring videos from Indigenous Peoples honouring the leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in confronting climate change.
It was then followed by the unveiling of PODONG, a new global initiative by IUCN that recognises and supports the vital contributions of Indigenous Peoples to biodiversity conservation and climate solutions. Originating from Indigenous leaders themselves, PODONG—meaning basket in the Marma language of Bangladesh—symbolises the collective strength and knowledge carried by Indigenous communities. As highlighted during the launch, Indigenous knowledge has long remained at the margins of nature and climate discourse; PODONG seeks to shift that dynamic by putting Indigenous leadership front and centre. The logo, co-developed with Indigenous artists and communities, captures this spirit of collaboration and visibility.
The Nature, Climate and Gender Symposium 2025 opened with a compelling call to action: Nature-based Solutions (NbS) must centre both ecosystems and human rights. Keynote speakers emphasised that gender is not just a women’s issue, but a societal concern—one that includes men, women, youth, and elders. Particular attention was given to the role of Indigenous Peoples, especially women, who have long contributed to environmental stewardship and policy processes. Speakers stressed the need to connect gender, community knowledge, and climate action to ensure lived experiences inform decision-making at every level.
From halting species extinctions to preventing ecosystem collapse and restoring natural capital, this Science Wednesdays series provided a deep dive into the science-backed tools shaping conservation strategies today. Held over three sessions from March 19 to April 2, 2025, the series showcased leading approaches developed or supported by IUCN and its partners, including the STAR (Species Threat Abatement and Restoration) metric, the Mapping Biodiversity Priorities framework, the Red List of Ecosystems (RLE), and Natural Capital Accounting (NCA). Each session brought together experts at the forefront of biodiversity science, who demonstrated how these tools are being applied to inform national policy, guide local actions, and monitor progress toward global biodiversity targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The NAbSA Dialogue series concluded with a timely discussion on “Financing Nature-based Solutions (NbS),” highlighting strategies to channel increased climate finance toward NbS, ensure equity, and amplify their impact on local communities and biodiversity. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are powerful tools for addressing global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. However, the path to mobilizing financial resources for these solutions often poses significant challenges.
This Dialogue will highlight the perspectives of 3 organizations – UPA DI, Plan international and IISD – each working on gender-responsive NbS in their respective ecosystems and communities. Through a panel discussion, these 3 speakers will share the work they are currently doing, project and institutional perspectives, community mobilization methods, and future outlooks into the financing space. An interactive Q&A session followed the panel for attendees to share their thoughts and questions.
In the seventh dialogue of the NAbSA Dialogues series, Partnering for Climate (P4C) projects and experts beyond this community discussed “Policy and Governance for NbS” and its integral role in climate change adaptation. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer a transformative approach to addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. However, implementing NbS at scale requires more than just innovative practices – it demands robust policy frameworks and effective governance.
As the three Rio Conventions rapidly approach, this NAbSA Dialogue focused on experiences from 5 Partnering for Climate projects, each working in different Sub-Saharan countries and ecosystems, and how they work to integrate NbS into national and international policy frameworks, address challenges and opportunities in governance of NbS, and use collaboration between governments and stakeholders to drive effective NbS governance.
The sixth NAbSA Dialogue explored the critical role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in safeguarding coastal ecosystems and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts. The session focused on the implementation of NbS in mangrove ecosystems, emphasizing their potential to protect communities from disasters, sequester carbon, and provide cost-effective alternatives to traditional infrastructure.
The Dialogue featured presentations from the Partnering for Climate (P4C) projects: Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (COSME), Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate, and Nature (ReSea), and Natur’ELLES. These projects showcased how NbS can be used to enhance resilience in various Sub-Saharan African coastal ecosystems while promoting gender equality, social inclusion, and biodiversity protection. A panel discussion followed, providing an opportunity for in-depth discussion and Q&A. The NAbSA Dialogues series serves as a platform for experts and stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences on the practical implementation of gender-responsive NbS for coastal resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa.