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Tackle Climate Change

Adaptation & Resilience

Building lasting resilience toward our shared future.

mangroves along coast as seen from above.
Jamaica mangroves Blue waters, coral reef, mangroves, and buildings along the coast line on the North Shore of Jamaica. © © Steve Schill

In the face of climate change, nature plays a critical role in how we all adapt. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners align global solutions with local priorities to safeguard climate-vulnerable communities and habitats.

Adaption & Resilience in Action

Nature-based solutions—such as restoring reefs and wetlands that buffer coastal communities from storms, managing forests to reduce wildfire risk and planting hardier crops—have tremendous potential to help communities build their resilience while adapting to the impacts of climate change.

TNC partners with communities around the world to co-create equitable nature-based adaptation solutions. By fostering inclusive decision making, we aim for solutions with multiple benefits in addition to resilience to climate change—such as improved food and water security, alternative livelihoods, fairer governance and reduced poverty.

person in firefighting gear stands in green forest setting with fire burning in background.
Prescribed Fire in Action Central Florida land conservation manager Adam Peterson oversees a prescribed fire at Florida's Disney Wilderness Preserve. © Kevin Main
woman in headscarf tends to mangrove plants beneath a structure made of branches.
Mangrove Restoration in Kenya Zulfa Hassan checks on one of the nurseries at the mangrove restoration site in Mtangawanda, Lamu, Kenya. Hassan is the founder and chairwoman of the Mtangawanda Women’s Association, a group that manages mangrove restoration off the coast of Lamu County. © Sarah Waiswa
Prescribed Fire in Action Central Florida land conservation manager Adam Peterson oversees a prescribed fire at Florida's Disney Wilderness Preserve. © Kevin Main
Mangrove Restoration in Kenya Zulfa Hassan checks on one of the nurseries at the mangrove restoration site in Mtangawanda, Lamu, Kenya. Hassan is the founder and chairwoman of the Mtangawanda Women’s Association, a group that manages mangrove restoration off the coast of Lamu County. © Sarah Waiswa

Our Priority Pillars

women tending to mangrove plants.
Mangrove Restoration in Kenya Ramla Abuu and Zulfa Hassan (center), together with other members of the Mtangawanda Women’s Association, arrange stuffed bags of mud to be used for mangrove plantings on the grounds near a mangrove restoration site in Mtangawanda, Lamu, Kenya. The association is a group that manages mangrove restoration off the coast of Lamu County. The county is home to nearly 60% of Kenya's mangrove forest, an important ecosystem that also defends coastlines from storms and stores carbon. © Sarah Waiswa
cluster of cacao growing on trees.
Agroforestry Cacaos at Rosely’s farm, APA Triunfo Xingu, Xadá region, São Felix do Xingu, Pará state, Brazil. May 5, 2023. © TNC/Maíra Erlich
healthy coral reef.
Palmyra Atoll coral reef with pink crustose coralline algae Corals in the shallow waters of Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northern Pacific Ocean. Palmyra is part of the larger Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument which was established on January 6, 2009. © Tandem Stills + Motion
women tending to mangrove plants.
Mangrove Restoration in Kenya Ramla Abuu and Zulfa Hassan (center), together with other members of the Mtangawanda Women’s Association, arrange stuffed bags of mud to be used for mangrove plantings on the grounds near a mangrove restoration site in Mtangawanda, Lamu, Kenya. The association is a group that manages mangrove restoration off the coast of Lamu County. The county is home to nearly 60% of Kenya's mangrove forest, an important ecosystem that also defends coastlines from storms and stores carbon. © Sarah Waiswa

Partners

Enduring Impact, Grounded in Community 

Through cross-sector partnership rooted in community leadership, we implement lasting, locally led adaptation & resilience solutions that safeguard the health of people, nature and the systems they rely on.

cluster of cacao growing on trees.
Agroforestry Cacaos at Rosely’s farm, APA Triunfo Xingu, Xadá region, São Felix do Xingu, Pará state, Brazil. May 5, 2023. © TNC/Maíra Erlich

Policy

Accelerating Adaptation with Policy & Partnerships

Driving action and scale by promoting our partners' insights and successes, developing best practices and integrating adaptation into climate-smart, inclusive and lasting policies.

healthy coral reef.
Palmyra Atoll coral reef with pink crustose coralline algae Corals in the shallow waters of Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northern Pacific Ocean. Palmyra is part of the larger Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument which was established on January 6, 2009. © Tandem Stills + Motion

Finance

Financing for a Stronger Tomorrow

We bring together public, private and community partners to increase investment in resilience. By developing financing approaches that reduce risk and create opportunities, we help scale projects that strengthen ecosystems and local economies.

Our 2030 Goals

To achieve our goals, we work side-by-side with partners, communities and decision-makers across the globe.

  • icon shows group of people and a fish.

    50M

    50M people benefit from nature for adaptation & resilience

  • icon of hands cupping leaf.

    5M

    Sustainable place-based economic opportunities for 5M people

  • cash icon.

    $1B

    $1B USD mobilized for adaptation

  • sea turtle icon.

    12M Ha

    Improve management of 12M Ha of ocean & terrestrial habitat

Scaling Solutions Around the World

Explore some examples of TNC’s community-centered adaptation and resilience initiatives.

Project Examples

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Restoring Seabeds in Western Australia
× seagrass bed underwater.

Restoring Seabeds in Western Australia

In Western Australia, Blue Carbon Plus (BC+) partners with local organizations that are growing and harvesting sea cucumber species in and around seagrass ecosystems, improving seabed health, supporting carbon sequestration and providing valuable income for coastal communities.

Read more about BC+
Monitoring Mangrove Loss in Kenya
× mangroves growing in muddy landscape.

Monitoring Mangrove Loss in Kenya

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is using high-resolution imagery from Global Mangrove Watch to validate real-time mangrove loss alerts in the Lamu-Tana area. Global Mangrove Alliance Kenya National Chapter helped KFS set up a command centre to reduce patrol costs by remotely verifying alerts before dispatching teams to the field. KFS plans to replicate this program in five coastal counties.

Learn more about the project
Community Mapping of Seagrass in Indonesia
× fisherman in conical hat cleans wooden boat at a lakeshore.

Community Mapping of Seagrass in Indonesia

Participatory mapping in Indonesia centers community knowledge on how seagrass ecosystems support fisheries, food security, cultural practices and coastal protection. By documenting these locally experienced benefits, it captures values often overlooked, revealing seagrass meadows as ecosystems that sustain livelihoods and well‑being—not just carbon sinks.

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Resilience Finance in New Jersey
× aerial view of salt marsh and manmade channel next to residential houses.

Resilience Finance in New Jersey

New Jersey is highly vulnerable to storm‑driven flooding, as starkly demonstrated by Hurricane Sandy and increasingly frequent coastal flood events. Working with partners in the Barnegat Bay region, we are identifying priority marsh restoration sites where resilience finance can support implementation and long‑term management, delivering sustained protection for coastal communities.

Learn more
Amazon Alliance—Roots to Resilience
× aerial view of rainforest canopy.

Amazon Alliance—Roots to Resilience

A 10-year commitment, the Amazon Alliance aims to transform the Amazon into a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive territory, strengthening local leadership and regional cooperation, guided by the ancestral and traditional wisdom of its peoples. The effort will include activities in support of anticipatory climate action, sustainable and resilient livelihoods and community well-being.

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The First Insurance Policy for Nature in the U.S.
× aerial view of coastal reef.

The First Insurance Policy for Nature in the U.S.

TNC launched the first coral reef insurance policy in the United States in 2022 to fund rapid reef repair and restoration immediately after a hurricane or tropical storm. In 2025, the policy was renewed and the minimum payout increased to $200,000 to provide coverage across reefs surrounding the eight main Hawaiian Islands.

More on Insurance for Nature
Mangrove Breakthrough in Jamaica
× clear waters, coral reef, mangroves, and buildings along a coastline.

Mangrove Breakthrough in Jamaica

Jamaica is advancing mangrove protection through its national climate plan, committing to safeguard about two-thirds of its mangrove forests by 2033 and restore 7,000 hectares by 2027. This effort highlights the role of coastal wetlands in strengthening resilience and supporting nature-based climate solutions.

Learn more
Seagrass Restoration in Virginia
× boat moves through corridor in seagrass meadows seen from above.

Seagrass Restoration in Virginia

The Virginia Coast Reserve Seagrass Restoration project is the largest successful seagrass attempt in the world, and soon to be the world's first seagrass carbon market project. The project showcases collaboration across state agency, nonprofit, academia and private-sector partners to bring this project to market.

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Seagrass Mapping Blueprint in Greece
× sunlight through underwater seagrass.

Seagrass Mapping Blueprint in Greece

In the Mediterranean, TNC and partners are launching the first scalable seagrass mapping blueprint. Using satellite imagery, field observations and expert insight, we’re creating transparent, high-quality methods for mapping seagrass globally. Our mapping protects the planet by diving deeper, creating a blueprint that is both scalable and repeatable across environments.

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Mexico: A World First With Proven Success
× coral colony.

Mexico: A World First With Proven Success

TNC partnered with the Mexican state of Quintana Roo to create the world’s first insurance policy for coral reefs and beaches. When Hurricane Delta struck, the policy delivered immediate results: nearly $850,000 was paid out to help repair and restore natural assets.

Learn more
An Innovative Solution in California
× wildfire on crest of mountains seen from out on water.

An Innovative Solution in California

As wildfire risk and damage have intensified in the U.S., so has the pressure on the insurance industry. TNC partnered with Willis to improve the availability and affordability of insurance for a community in California. This wildfire resilience insurance policy accounts for forest management efforts leading to a 39% lower premium and 89% lower deductible.

Learn more
A Nature-based Solution in Portugal
× rock pools, clear water and vegetation around island coast.

A Nature-based Solution in Portugal

BC+ is working with local businesses to help communities restore saltmarshes, measure their climate and biodiversity impacts, attract greater private finance and establish a business model that can be adopted by others.

Visit BC+
Betting on Sea Cucumbers in Vanuatu
× shady beach with wooden support frames in shallow, clear water.

Betting on Sea Cucumbers in Vanuatu

Sea cucumbers help recycle nutrients and improve sediment health in seagrass beds, which are critical for coastal protection, biodiversity and carbon storage. With this in mind, BC+ is helping expand a market for sustainably harvested sandfish, supporting models where healthy ecosystems underpin profitable, community-owned businesses like Vanuatu-based Aore Aquaculture.

Image © BC+

Learn more
A Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap in Papua New Guinea
× group of people on fishing boat full of firewood from mangroves.

A Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap in Papua New Guinea

TNC, among other partners, supported the government of Papua New Guinea to develop a Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap (2025-2028), which provides a strategic pathway for developing and implementing a national policy to conserve and sustainably manage blue carbon ecosystems.

View the roadmap
farmer loads harvested cacao into a wheelbarrow.

Protecting the Amazon

The Amazon Rainforest is Earth's greatest reserve of life. Explore how our lives are tied to this unique place and how we can protect it.

Read more
mangrove forest from above, with vegetation and water winding through it and boats on the shore.

Global Mangrove Alliance

The Global Mangrove Alliance is restoring and conserving mangroves by tailoring approaches to local needs while incorporating local ecological knowledge and community input.

Monitor Mangroves
person in firefighting gear on burned landscape holds two-way radio.

From Oregon to Zambia: Sharing Fire Knowledge

Hear from TNC's Oregon fire program director as they discuss their work with local partners on fire management practices at Kafue National Park.

Read more
illustration of indigenous peoples in latin america.

Indigenous Visions for Climate Justice

Climate and conservation policy has often excluded Indigenous Peoples. This project analyzes Indigenous perspectives on climate justice in Chile and Peru and their interaction with state policies, aiming to ensure these perspectives are reflected in decisions.

Watch the Video

Watch: Adaptation in Practice

Accelerating Coral Reef Conservation

Learn how The Nature Conservancy and its innovative partners are achieving an ambitious vision to accelerate the pace and scale of coral conservation and restoration. (12:58)

Seagrass Mapping

Dive into the waters of Crete to see how The Nature Conservancy and its partners are mapping one of Earth’s most economically valuable ecosystems to further protection and restoration efforts. (3:44)

Reports & Tools

Explore recent Adaptation and Resilience tools and publications from around the world.

Insuring Nature to Ensure a Resilient Future

Integrated solutions linking nature and insurance can help to reduce risk and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Coastal Resilience Methodology

TNC and partners launch first of its kind methodology, modeling the value of nature-based solutions before disaster strikes. Together we are defending our coastlines while benefiting the environment.

Challenges of Climate Change in the Amazon: Freshwater (Executive Summary—Español)

This briefing highlights how increasing droughts, floods and ecosystem degradation are intensifying freshwater challenges in the Amazon and calls for water-centered, locally informed adaptation strategies to strengthen resilience for ecosystems and communities.

The Price Isn’t Right: Financing Our Blue Carbon Future

The Nature Conservancy launches first-of-its-kind blue carbon cost tool, realizing a new era of effective market investment.

Briefing Paper: Considerations for Marine and Coastal Indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation

Outlines recommendations for including marine and coastal ecosystems—such as mangroves and reefs—in global adaptation indicators, emphasizing their critical role in climate resilience and the need to better reflect coastal realities in tracking progress under the Global Goal on Adaptation.

By Agnes Africa

Introducing BC+: a trailblazing initiative to make thriving coastal blue carbon ecosystems a pillar of economic success

The Nature Conservancy & Conservation International join forces to accelerate regenerative business models that support coastal conservation

Could Insuring Mangroves Save Them—and Protect Coastal Communities?

New research demonstrates the feasibility of mangrove insurance projects in the Gulf of America and the Caribbean, as well as identifying the most cost-effective locations to start.

State of the World's Mangroves

A comprehensive new report shows the benefits mangroves deliver to people and nature—and how they can be saved.
egret bird stands in mangrove vegetation.
Safeguarding habitat Eastern great egret standing in mangroves in Jamaica. © Steve Schill