Building Climate Resilience Through Protected Areas
On May 21, IISD hosted a webinar in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to unpack what protected areas are, the benefits they offer for both people and nature, and why they are a vital part of climate adaptation. The webinar also showcased real-world examples of how nature-based solutions, local community engagement, and climate adaptation efforts can work together to build more resilient ecosystems and livelihoods.
About the event
Protected areas are powerful tools for tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. They help protect ecosystems, support local livelihoods, and offer natural solutions to adapt to a changing climate.
Recognizing this critical role, the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas Initiative (CAPA) focuses on strengthening the resilience of protected areas and the communities that rely on them. By ensuring climate risks are considered in how these areas are managed, CAPA promotes nature-based solutions (NbS) that integrate conservation, community priorities, and climate action—recognizing that effective climate adaptation should benefit both ecosystems and the communities who depend on them.
This one-hour webinar:
- Highlighted the importance and relevance of protected areas in building climate resilience
- Showcased real-world examples of how conservation, climate adaptation, and local communities’ involvement can support more resilient ecosystems and livelihoods
- Shared insights from CAPA’s work in Belize, Fiji, and two key African landscapes
- Fostered knowledge exchange among practitioners, policymakers, and researchers
Moderator
- Onyinye Oguntoye - Communications Officer, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
Panel
- Alec Crawford - Director, Nature for Resilience, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
- Annet Tumwine - Project Manager, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Uganda
- Nicole Auil Gomez - Country Director, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Belize
Upcoming events
Natural Solutions for Water Security: Canada’s Policy Path Forward
This 2-day forum aims to advance strategic priorities and define practical next steps to accelerate the adoption of natural infrastructure as the new normal.
Weathering the Waters: Building climate resilience that pays off
Join us to explore Canada’s adaptation progress, the rising costs of delay (water, floods, drought), and new ways to finance resilience.
Connected Waters: Bridging communities and ideas (IAGLR-SCAS 2026 joint conference)
We're hosting the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) conference, along with the Society of Canadian Aquatic Scientists (SCAS) conference, May 25–29, 2026—right here in Winnipeg.