Cities4Forests

People are increasingly recognizing the potential of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, but what does look like in practice and how can it benefit everyone? The monthly NAbSA Dialogue Series, hosted by International Institute for Sustainable Development and IUCN, recently highlighted the #SUNCASA project in their fifth installment. Experts from across the projects joined to answer this question and shared their insights from the project so far. The conversation touched on the urgent need to address water challenges, gender-responsive approaches, and how to develop contextual solutions. Read more about the conversation here: https://bit.ly/3ZnbCkw

The #SUNCASA project has officially launched in Kigali! This project, led by International Institute for Sustainable Development and World Resources Institute, will advance climate adaptation in the city through nature-based solutions like: 1. Establishing new forests on 220 hectares 🌲 2. Reforesting 650 hectares 🌳 3. Planting 125,00 fruit trees and shrubs 🌱 Learn more about the project and launch event: https://bit.ly/41oxXka

Wildfires aren't only a problem in the American West. The evidence is clear that forest fires are getting worse across the Northeast because forest fires are getting worse everywhere. And these conditions are only predicted to intensify globally in the coming years. 🌏 Worsening wildfires effect communities near and far by: ➡️ Creating hazardous air quality ➡️ Fueling climate change ➡️ Threatening water security ➡️ Increasing flooding ➡️ Causing direct and indirect economic losses From the largest city in the U.S. to rugged state parks, from West Coast redwoods to temperate East Coast forests, wildfires can pose a threat to us all. Learn more about the ways wildfires are affecting communities, and the steps cities can take to prevent them 🔗: https://bit.ly/3B6SKhg #wildfires #eastcoast #forestfire #northeast #jenningscreek

Latin America and the Caribbean are global leaders in renewable energy, with over 60% of their energy generation coming from renewable sources. Hydropower makes up around 45% of that renewable energy, with countries like Colombia and Costa Rica relying on hydropower for 64% and 65% of their energy respectively as of 2023. Hydropower is unfortunately also vulnerable to pressure from climate change, as drought and lower levels of rainfall impact water needed to generate electricity. As hydropower becomes a less stable source of energy, countries turn to fossil fuels to fill the gap. Read the latest article from WRI Colombia and Cities4Forests to learn more about how Nature- based Solutions (NBS) can help address the challenges posed by climate change and enhance the resilience of hydropower systems in Latin America and beyond: https://bit.ly/3Z3VhAS

Cities are responsible for more than 70% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change yet are often left out of the larger discussions around national climate commitments (#NDCs). Of 194 total NDCs looked at, only 27% included strong urban components. As NDC’s are a critical part of the Paris Agreement, the discussion around climate must also include a focus on urban areas. WRI Colombia, in partnership with the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities have written an article looking at the potential role of cities and subnational governments in contributing to global climate commitments and encouraging national governments to involve subnational actors in the design and implementation of climate change policies. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4fm7O9H En Español: https://bit.ly/3ACUSNH

Hear from our very own Laura Bulbena at #COP16Colombia on the importance of cities for biodiversity!

Arrived in Cali COP16 Colombia yesterday. And YES, Biodiversity needs immediate Solutions! Cities - where most of us live our lives - have an important role to reestablish a positive relationship with 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. And YES that is possible by: 1. Enhancing urban Forests and Green Space access and finance Nature Based Solutions 2. Watershed Conservation and Restoration 3. Drastically increase Clean Public Transportation and double down on Walking and Cycling for better Air Quality 4. Change behavior and consumption patterns of the urban population and grow the market for De-Forestation Free Commodities 5. Reduce solid waste and litter clogging waterways and contaminating habitats Have a look how almost 100 Cities working on it with Cities4Forests https://lnkd.in/ekswhSWW And have a look at finalists and winners of our #PrizeforCities that brought this into action: 𝗥𝗲-𝗖𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗼, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘇𝗮, 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗹 https://lnkd.in/ensN9938 in-fortaleza-brazil 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 https://lnkd.in/em7AxdSU 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗾𝘂𝗲, 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮 https://lnkd.in/erBNAmDn 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼, 𝗔𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 https://lnkd.in/ewyxadvS 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗨𝗞 https://lnkd.in/efHGTRb3

Nature-based solutions can serve as an excellent complement to traditional infrastructure. Together, they can power economic growth and sustainable development for cities around the world. If you're at #COP16Colombia, mark your calendars for today at 1:15 GMT-5. The World Bank and African Development Bank Group will be hosting an event in the MDB Pavilion on how to accelerate nature-based solutions. The event will showcase several initiatives around the world that are leading the way to scale up adoption of these solutions. World Resources Institute's Crystal Davis will also share preliminary findings from our upcoming report. If you're unable to attend in person, the event will also be livestreamed here: https://lnkd.in/eSDWRSeb

I am in Bogotá which undergoes a period of extreme draught, jeopardizing critical water supply to over 10 million people in the Metro Region. Cities4Forests report from last year is more relevant than ever. Offering to the solution: upfront cost of targeting natural ecosystems -USD 5.3 Million-could generate USD 44.6 Million in water treatment cost savings while protecting and restoring nature. The path is clear for Bogotá and similar paths exist for other cities and regions in the world to address the global water crisis. Available in English and Spanish: https://lnkd.in/g6ZugPi3 Global Commission on the Economics of Water Henk Ovink COP16 Colombia World Resources Institute WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities Fernando Páez Todd Gartner Suzanne Ozment Conservation International Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá Michael Berkowitz University of Miami Climate Resilience Institute Deltares Meike van Ginneken Stientje van Veldhoven

I look forward to visiting the City of Aalborg Kommune in Demark, for the Sustainable Cities and Towns conference this week. I will be presenting Cities4Forests' Sustainable Wood Hub for cities. The concept will help cities and local industry scale-up sustainable wood supply (and demand) -- for local products, like urban tree-to-timber, demolition timber, and international products like #conservationtimber and other well-managed forestry fiber. Participating cities will be able to join a global network of these hubs to share best practices, policy guidance and market leverage. Our goal is to add to the wave of innovation in bio-based, low carbon and forest-positive alternatives to "building as usual". Success will depend on many local actors, sawmills, foresters, and circularity entrepreneurs coming together to share resources and scale-up their climate positive businesses within the urban market. Staffan Schartner, David Östby, Simone Mangili, Hardy Drakeskär, Aaron Kaplan, Kristian Jørgensen, Hester Robertson, Paul Brannen, Paul King, Paul Hodgkiss, Martin Persson, Rania Dimou, PhD, Dr Emma Mellanie Morton, Ingrid Coetzee, Kobie Brand, Marco Allocco, Francesco Tresso, Luca Ballarini, Thais Linhares-Juvenal