Reflections on the role of, and potential for nature-based solutions to strengthen adaptation in mountain regions, and how we can leverage the synergies between climate, ecosystem, and biodiversity actions.

Mountain regions – home to 50% of global biodiversity hotspots and the world’s ‘water towers’ – supply a wealth of ecosystem services, supporting the livelihoods of millions of people around the globe. Yet mountains and their ecosystems are also at the frontlines of climate change. Rising temperatures, melting glaciers and changing precipitation patterns are disrupting water flows and affecting ecosystems and biodiversity, creating and worsening natural hazards, and threatening livelihoods and communities both within mountains and downstream.

Nature-based solutions – defined as ‘actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits (IUCN, 2016) – and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches provide opportunities to both address the impacts of climate change and enhance the resilience of mountain communities and the ecosystems upon which they depend. How can nature-based solutions be better harnessed going forwards to strengthen adaptation in mountain regions?

In this A@A Knowledge Network learning event, expert panellists will share reflections on the role of, and potential for nature-based solutions to strengthen adaptation in mountain regions, and how we can leverage the synergies between climate, ecosystem, and biodiversity actions. This will be followed by an interactive Q&A session with audience participants.