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This innovative tool helps identify and prioritise the most impactful nature-based solutions across Norfolk’s chalk catchments—guiding investments that deliver the greatest benefits for biodiversity, nutrient mitigation, and water security.

Proud to support Water Resources East, Norfolk County Council, Anglian Water Services, and The Nature Conservancy Conservancy in bringing this work to life.

Photo credits: iStock

The Mendoza Water Fund has launched its Business Case, laying out a path to secure water in one of Argentina’s most critical basins.

The analysis shows that restoring high-Andean wetlands and advancing sustainable agriculture could add up to 29 hm³ of water annually, while generating benefits nearly three times greater than costs.

This is a powerful example of how nature-based solutions deliver resilience for people, agriculture, and ecosystems.

Photo credits: Frederick Clindt/TNC photo Contest 2022

This International Youth Day, we're celebrating inspiring young leaders in Kenya who are harnessing the power of technology to support their local farmers and protect community water sources.

In Eldoret, Kenya, where water demand is already outpacing supply, and the impacts of climate change are accelerating, the Eldoret-Iten Water Fund is using drones to rapidly monitor watershed health and more quickly improve local water security.

This tech-driven approach to monitoring is not only efficient, it’s inspiring a new generation of conservationists. Youth drone pilots are capturing real-time data that helps protect rivers, wetlands, and wildlife and supporting their community in the process.

Now they’re showing the world what’s possible with the help of technology and a little creativity.

Follow the link to watch our new short film - The View From Above - and to find out how nature-based solutions are implemented at the Eldoret-Iten Water Fund.
 

Photo credits: Roshni Lodhia

The Nature for Water team was in Santiago, Dominican Republic to share the results of our project: “Nature-Based Solutions for the Upper Yaque del Norte Watershed: Restoring Ecosystems and Strengthening Water Security.”

In collaboration with the Yaque del Norte Water Fund, we presented biophysical and economic modeling tools that help visualize and prioritize interventions, supporting evidence-based decision making across the watershed.

The workshop included hands-on training with SIGA CAL and SIGA Tools, opening the door for partners to explore results, build shared understanding, and plan future phases of work.

We’re grateful to all the local actors who joined us in this effort and excited to see the growing momentum for Nature-based Solutions in the Dominican Republic

Photo credits: Miguel Cañón

The business case for nature in the Warwickshire Avon catchment is now live. A pioneering partnership - led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Warwickshire County Council, Severn Trent, and the Environment Agency, with support from Nature for Water - sets out an ambitious, evidence-based vision: Nature-based Solutions can reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and build long-term climate resilience, benefitting nature, people, and the economy.

With £700M in investment over 30 years, the proposed Program could generate up to £2B in economic benefits. A roadmap for collective action, regenerative growth, and community wellbeing, grounded in science, and designed for impact.

Photo credits: Lola Grundmann

Congratulations to Kevin Shafer, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), on receiving the 2025 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award from Ducks Unlimited.

Kevin Shafer transformed MMSD into a global leader in sustainable wastewater management by integrating watershed-scale wetland restoration into the region’s infrastructure. His 25-year strategic plan focuses on eliminating sewer overflows by 2035 and includes ambitious goals such as restoring 4,000 acres of wetlands and planting 6 million trees. Under Shafer's leadership, MMSD launched the Reforestation and Wetland Restoration Program and the Green Seams program, securing 3,000 acres of land for restoration. In collaboration with DU and other partners, these programs have improved the region's natural infrastructure and water quality while creating significant wildlife habitat accessible to diverse user groups. Shafer’s ability to leverage capital and build effective partnerships is instrumental in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region’s wetlands and ecosystems. His innovative approach and dedication to integrating wetland restoration into wastewater management set a global example for environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Nature for Water is proud to support MMSD in this work and thrilled to see this recognition of impact well-earned.

Photo credits: Shutterstock

In partnership with the World Bank's Climate Investment Fund and NbS Invest teams, Nature for Water co-designed and delivered a week-long training for government officials from 15 African countries focused on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation.

Over 3 days of interactive sessions (plus a site visit to a local regenerative agriculture project), participants explored how NbS can unlock climate, biodiversity, and livelihood benefits—moving from concepts to practical tools for designing investment-ready programs.

From water and energy to food and climate, the training equipped 60+ participants with a landscape approach to drive inclusive, collective action. Huge thanks to our partners and participants for making this such a meaningful learning experience!

Are you a results-oriented individual passionate about applying scientific solutions to real-world water security challenges? Do you possess a strong foundation in spatial analysis and hydrological modeling, and thrive in a collaborative environment working with diverse partners?

If you're eager to contribute to the prioritization of NbS for watersheds and develop innovative management tools, we want to hear from you! Nature for Water seeks a talented Science Associate to join our team.

The position is fully remote and can be based in any country where TNC can hire in Africa (Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia)

Science Associate posting (3+ years desired experience).

In recent years, the world has seen a growing interest in using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to manage water risks—from floods and landslides to quantity and quality of water supply. But has all this buzz translated into real investment on the ground? 

Join The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Forest Trends Association as we answer this question and more with the launch of the new report Doubling Down on Nature, the most comprehensive global assessment to date of investment flowing towards NbS projects with water-related objectives.

Date: June 10, 2025 | 9:00 AM ET

Achieving transformational outcomes for climate resilience and biodiversity conservation requires a systems thinking approach. Success hinges on driving policy change across local, national, and global levels—alongside improvements in corporate practices and innovation in financial and philanthropic sectors.

Join The Nature Conservancy's Resilient Watershed for a dynamic conversation exploring how conservation initiatives collaborate with national, state, and local governments to advance policy solutions that benefit both people and nature. Cases from South Africa, Kenya, Ecuador, Brazil, and the USA will be available.
 

Date: 3 June 2025
Time: 5 PM Nairobi time/10 am EST

Join the Resilient Watersheds Network, a global community of practitioners driving nature-based solutions for water security.

Founded by The Nature Conservancy in 2014, the network offers:
* Access to cutting-edge tools and resources
* Invitations to quarterly webinars
* Peer mentoring and coaching
* Training opportunities and technical support via Nature for Water

Whether you're just getting started or scaling a program—this is your space to connect, learn, and grow.

Free and open to all

Over the last year, Professor Kevin Balkwill of Wits and Simon Attwood have identified a new taxon of Thorncroftia growing in the Blyde River Canyon.

The species was first recorded and collected in 1953 by renowned botanist Leslie Codd on the slopes of Hebronberg, south of Mariepskop. He did not have good colour photography and close up images to compare the plants and considered them to be the same as another species, Thorncroftia succulenta, which is a Soutpansberg endemic species.

With current digital photography and research being conducted by Balkwill for a comprehensive revision of genus it has become apparent that the Blyde population is in fact a different species with different hairs on the leaves and that has flowers with a substantially longer corolla tube. Both species are very particular in habitat preference, occurring in misty high-altitude grasslands and growing on cliffs, rocks and boulders where they can find refuge from the frequent natural veld fires that are part of the landscape.

In the 1970s, the area where Codd collected the Thorncroftia south of Mariepskop was planted with commercial pine plantations. In the 1990's the plantation was abandoned, and the slopes became heavily invaded with alien invasive pines and eucalyptus trees which were later cleared by teams from Kruger to Canyons. Over the last few years, the land has also been handed over from DFFE to be included in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.

Despite the massive disturbance to the ecosystem, some plants of the Thorncroftia survived on large boulders where the pines hadn't shaded them out yet. Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region NPC has made a big contribution to protecting this new species by removing alien invasive plants from a large portion of its habitat.

In 2024 Professor Balkwill was able to relocate the plants on these slopes and in April 2025 Nick Theron and Simon Attwood returned to photograph the plant in full bloom there.

Photo Credits: Professor Kevin Balkwill (Wits University) and Simon Attwood

Nature for Water is looking for a Junior Data Analyst / Developer to join our Program Intelligence team. This role will help design and manage data systems that power insights across our global watershed investment programs—linking on-the-ground results to long-term conservation impact.

This full-time, fully remote position is open to candidates in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa where TNC can hire. If you have experience in Python, SQL, and data visualization tools like PowerBI, and you’re eager to help drive evidence-based solutions for water security, we’d love to hear from you!

Are you passionate about advancing Nature-based Solutions and driving real-world impact? Nature for Water is looking for an Engagement Manager to lead place-based projects and guide commercial, governance, stakeholder, and economic analysis for watershed investment programs.

This is a full-time, fully remote role open to candidates based in Latin America (Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru) and the Caribbean (The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands).

If you have a background in project finance, capital markets, or management consultancy and want to help shape the future of water security, we want to hear from you!

The Lower Kafue Sub-catchment in Zambia is critical for long-term water security—and Nature-based Solutions can play a key role in protecting it.

Together with Zambia’s Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, Nature for Water supported a Feasibility Study to explore the potential for a Watershed Investment Program in the catchment.

A Summary Report of the study outlines priority Nature-based Solutions supporting long-term water availability, the environmental and socio-economic benefits, and the investment case for collective action. A step forward for long-term sustainable water and landscape management in Zambia!

Photo credits: Karine Aigner

Water Resources Commission, Ghana (WRC) officially launched the business case for the Black Volta Watershed in Ghana – a major milestone in the journey to protect one of West Africa’s most critical river basins.

Nature for Water is proud to have supported WRC in developing this case, which outlines how nature-based solutions can help tackle growing water quality challenges driven by agricultural expansion, deforestation of riparian buffers, and illegal mining. These solutions not only protect water resources but also delivering numerous co-benefits for local communities, biodiversity and climate resilience. With WRC’s leadership and the potential to tap into Ghana’s national water tariff as a sustainable funding source, this model could scale across the country, driving long-term impact.

Photo credits: Michael Vice

The N4W Call for Proposals is officially open! If you're working on Nature-Based Solutions to address water scarcity, flooding, or water quality challenges, this is your chance to receive pro-bono technical assistance from our team to develop and scale your program.
 

The Resilient Watershed Network and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are hosting a webinar on the governance models that drive successful Watershed Investment Programs.

Date: 25th of March 2025
Time: 9:00am ET

Watershed Investment Programs take many forms, from water funds to hosted programs and umbrella agreements. This session will explore:
Different governance models and how they shape implementation
The role of utilities, corporates, and government entities
Case studies, challenges, and lessons learned
 

Around the world, watershed investment programs are helping communities address pressing water security challenges. In the process, they’re also delivering multiple benefits to people and nature.

That’s the case in Quito, Ecuador, where the world’s first water fund was launched 25 years ago - Fondo para la Protección del Agua - FONAG

Here, watershed restoration efforts have not only cost-effectively improved water security, they’ve succeeded in restoring significant portions of the local landscape—and helped biodiversity rebound.

Explore the Quito Water Fund here and discover the beauty of the paramos landscape it’s helping protect. 

Photo credits: Sebastian Di Domenico

Nature-Based Solutions in Action: Norfolk Water Fund Featured in The Nature Conservancy Magazine

It’s inspiring to see the Norfolk Water Fund and its partners featured in The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Magazine—a major milestone in advancing nature-based solutions for water security in Europe.

This initiative is bringing together farmers, local authorities, and conservationists to restore Norfolk’s globally rare chalk streams, proving that investing in nature benefits both people and businesses. With pilot projects already in motion, this work is laying the foundation for long-term water resilience, biodiversity restoration, and sustainable land management.