State of Investment in Nature-based Solutions for Water Security 2024

State of Investment in Nature-based Solutions for Water Security 2024

Welcome to the Survey
About the Report

The results from this survey will inform a report on the State of Investment in Finance for Nature Based Solutions for Water.
The report will provide a global benchmark by exploring:
- How much is being invested in NBS for water around the world?
- Where are NBS investments growing compared to 10 years ago? Where are they not?
- Who is investing in NBS for water security?
- Are new financing sources or mechanisms in play that were not 10 years ago?
- What respective roles are the private sector, water users, and government agencies playing in NBS?
- What motivates investments in NBS for water?
The report will be published in early 2025.

About the Survey

You may save your responses as a draft and come back to submit at any time. The deadline for survey submissions is September 30th 2024.

Data confidentiality

This data is being collected to inform internal research by Forest Trends and The Nature Conservancy. We will NEVER share any raw data points with external third parties without obtaining prior permission. Data will be aggregated before publishing to provide privacy (minimum 3 data points per aggregate). Individual names and contact information will not be published or given out to third parties without prior permission. If you have additional privacy concerns for your data, please email us at msmith@forest-trends.org.

Scope

This report includes programs and projects that executed funds in the period 2013-2023 on nature-based solutions that meet the following three criteria:

1. The funds directly supported nature-based interventions on the ground to:

- conserve or protect ecosystems;
- rehabilitate or restore ecosystems; or
- manage, enhance, or create natural processes in modified or artificial ecosystems.

2. For the purposes of an explicit water security objective.

3. In a terrestrial or freshwater ecosystem. Brackish areas that are connected to freshwater ecosystems will also be included.

We intend to capture direct investments in implementation, such as construction and monitoring costs. On their own, intangible activities like capacity building, project development, policy changes, or other actions intended to improve enabling conditions for nature-based solutions are not included in the scope of this study.

Exclusions

The scope of the study does not include programs or projects primarily focused on:
- Urban green and stormwater infrastructure, such as green roofs, bioswales, green streets, rain gardens, permeable pavement, urban greenways, and street trees
- Nature based solutions in marine ecosystems, such as mangroves and coral reefs
Examples

Examples of nature-based solutions for water include, but are not limited to:
- Protection and/or restoration of forests to enhance water and soil retention.
- Protection and/or restoration of riparian ecosystems to stabilize streambanks, reduce sedimentation, and reduce flooding.
- Protection and/or restoration of natural wetlands to improve water quality and reduce flooding.
- Constructing artificial wetlands to support water filtration and flood mitigation.
- Fire management of forests to reduce fires and protect water quality (e.g. prescribed burning or tree thinning).
- Managed aquifer recharge through ancestral practices including infiltration canals, terracing, or permeable micro-reservoirs.
- Grazing management (e.g., rotational grazing or fencing) on grasslands to reduce soil compaction and maintain natural water infiltration and groundwater recharge.
- Restoring a river or flood plain through dam removal.
- Removing invasive species to restore ecosystem functioning.
FAQs

What if I have significant amounts of data?

Get in touch with us directly if you have multiple programs to report on. We can put together an excel sheet or schedule an interview that makes your life easier! Please contact Mia Smith at msmith@forest-trends.org.

How does the survey address double counting?

We’re conscious of double counting and conduct due diligence to ensure that it doesn’t take place, which is why we ask you to identify your partners throughout the survey.

Contact Info of Survey Respondent
What is your name?*
What is your email address?*
example@example.com
What is your organization's name?*
Are you submitting for a program or a project?*
A project is a single, focused endeavor with a specific goal or outcome and defined start and end dates. A program focuses on the coordination of a number of related projects and other activities over time to deliver its objectives.

Expenditures
Please report all expenditures that meet the three criteria defined in our scope (click 'Instructions (scope)' tab above for reference).

If the project's main objective is for nature-based solutions for water security, please report all expenditures below.

If the project's main objective is not nature-based solutions for water security (e.g. grey infrastructure projects that include some NBS for water interventions), please report only the expenditures for the NBS for water component.
Currency:*
Total expenditures made in 2023*
If you do not yet have information for 2023, leave this blank and submit data for 2022 on the line below.
Total expenditures made in 2022*
Total expenditures made in 2021
Total expenditures made in 2020
Total expenditures made in 2019
Total expenditures made in 2018
Total expenditures made in 2017
Total expenditures made in 2016
Total expenditures made in 2015
Total expenditures made in 2014
Total expenditures made in 2013
Coverage of Interventions
Total area under active management as of 2023
Using units selected below
Units

AcresHectaresOther

Please estimate the percent of land participating in the project that falls under each type of land tenure/management.

	%
Private ownership & management – single landowner
Private ownership & management – many landowners/smallholders
Private ownership & management – commercial credit bank
Government ownership & management
Land-use concessions by government or private entity
Collective or customary ownership & management
Other/Not sure

Total length of interventions as of 2023
Using units selected below.
Units

miles of river reachkm of river reachmiles of riparian fencingkm of riparian fencingOther

	Rank (Input values 1, 2, and 3 below for your top 3 choices)
Water risk mitigation: water supply (quantity and quality)
Water-related disaster risk management (e.g., flooding, landslides)
Adaptation to climate change
Resilience
Biodiversity conservation
Carbon: climate change mitigation
Cost reductions/savings in operations or capital expenditures
Social benefits, including for livelihoods, health, and culture
Governance benefits for water risk management
Conflict risk mitigation
Brand value and reputation enhancement
Meeting corporate policies/targets on water stewardship
Meeting compliance with laws / regulations
Other

	Rank (Input values 1, 2, and 3 below for your top 3 choices)
Water risk mitigation: water supply (quantity and quality)
Water-related disaster risk management (e.g., flooding, landslides)
Adaptation to climate change
Resilience
Biodiversity conservation
Carbon: climate change mitigation
Cost reductions/savings in operations or capital expenditures
Social benefits, including for livelihoods, health, and culture
Governance benefits for water risk management
Conflict risk mitigation
Brand value and reputation enhancement
Meeting corporate policies/targets on water stewardship
Meeting compliance with laws / regulations
Other

	Rank (Input values 1, 2, and 3 below for your top 3 choices)
Water risk mitigation: water supply (quantity and quality)
Water-related disaster risk management (e.g., flooding, landslides)
Adaptation to climate change
Resilience
Biodiversity conservation
Carbon: climate change mitigation
Cost reductions/savings in operations or capital expenditures
Social benefits, including for livelihoods, health, and culture
Governance benefits for water risk management
Conflict risk mitigation
Brand value and reputation enhancement
Meeting corporate policies/targets on water stewardship
Meeting compliance with laws / regulations
Other

Expenditures
Please report all expenditures that meet the three criteria defined in our scope (click 'Instructions (scope)' tab above for reference).

If the program's main objective is for nature-based solutions for water security, please report all expenditures below.

If the program's main objective is not nature-based solutions for water security (e.g. grey infrastructure projects that include some NBS for water interventions), please only report expenditures for the NBS for water component.
Currency:*
Total expenditures made in 2023*
If you do not yet have information for 2023, leave this blank and submit data for 2022 on the line below.
Total expenditures made in 2022*
Total expenditures made in 2021
Total expenditures made in 2020
Total expenditures made in 2019
Total expenditures made in 2018
Total expenditures made in 2017
Total expenditures made in 2016
Total expenditures made in 2015
Total expenditures made in 2014
Total expenditures made in 2013
Coverage of Interventions
Total area under active management as of 2023
Using units selected below
Units

AcresHectaresOther

Please estimate the percent of land participating in the program that falls under each type of land tenure/management.

	%
Private ownership & management – single landowner
Private ownership & management – many landowners/smallholders
Private ownership & management – commercial credit bank
Government ownership & management
Land-use concessions by government or private entity
Collective or customary ownership & management
Other/Not sure

Total length of interventions as of 2023
Using units selected below.
Units

miles of river reachkm of river reachmiles of riparian fencingkm of riparian fencingOther

	Rank (Input values 1, 2, and 3 below for your top 3 choices)
Water risk mitigation: water supply (quantity and quality)
Water-related disaster risk management (e.g., flooding, landslides)
Adaptation to climate change
Resilience
Biodiversity conservation
Carbon: climate change mitigation
Cost reductions/savings in operations or capital expenditures
Social benefits, including for livelihoods, health, and culture
Governance benefits for water risk management
Conflict risk mitigation
Brand value and reputation enhancement
Meeting corporate policies/targets on water stewardship
Meeting compliance with laws / regulations
Other

	Rank (Input values 1, 2, and 3 below for your top 3 choices)
Water risk mitigation: water supply (quantity and quality)
Water-related disaster risk management (e.g., flooding, landslides)
Adaptation to climate change
Resilience
Biodiversity conservation
Carbon: climate change mitigation
Cost reductions/savings in operations or capital expenditures
Social benefits, including for livelihoods, health, and culture
Governance benefits for water risk management
Conflict risk mitigation
Brand value and reputation enhancement
Meeting corporate policies/targets on water stewardship
Meeting compliance with laws / regulations
Other

	Rank (Input values 1, 2, and 3 below for your top 3 choices)
Water risk mitigation: water supply (quantity and quality)
Water-related disaster risk management (e.g., flooding, landslides)
Adaptation to climate change
Resilience
Biodiversity conservation
Carbon: climate change mitigation
Cost reductions/savings in operations or capital expenditures
Social benefits, including for livelihoods, health, and culture
Governance benefits for water risk management
Conflict risk mitigation
Brand value and reputation enhancement
Meeting corporate policies/targets on water stewardship
Meeting compliance with laws / regulations
Other

Data Management and Confidentiality

Organization-specific data that is not currently publicly available (including prices, trade data, and other financial data) will only be reported at an aggregate, regional level or with permission. We never publish findings for which there are fewer than three data points at the regional/state or market level. Individual names and contact information will not be published or given out to third parties without prior permission. Survey responses are only viewed by Forest Trends or The Nature Conservancy employees or consultants who are directly engaged in report analysis and fact checking. If you have additional concerns about confidentiality, please contact our team.
Please check yes to proceed. If you have additional privacy concerns for your data, please email us at msmith@forest-trends.org.*

Yes, I understand the information I submit will be published.

Recommendations

Would you recommend other contacts who should complete this survey for other programs or projects? Please provide us with contact details so we can get in touch with them.
Photo Contest

Submit photos of nature-based solutions for water security below to enter into our photo contest! You may submit more than one photo. Please number them in the file name, so that you can provide the corresponding appropriate details below. By submitting photos, you authorize Forest Trends' to publish the photo in the report and/or any associated dissemination materials.
File Upload

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Photo description
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Additional projects or programs
Would you like to submit information for another project or program?*

Yes, I'd like to submit information for another projectYes, I'd like to submit information for another programNo, I've finished the survey
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State of Investment in Nature-based Solutions for Water Security 2024

About the Report

About the Survey

Data confidentiality

Scope

Examples

FAQs

Contact Info of Survey Respondent

Project Manager

Basic Project Info

Project Location

Interventions

Expenditures

Coverage of Interventions

Sources of funding

Implementation mechanisms

Financing instruments

Project design in 2023

Trends and outlook

Program Manager

Basic Program Info

Program Location

Interventions

Expenditures

Coverage of Interventions

Sources of funding

Implementation mechanisms

Financing instruments

Program design in 2023

Trends and outlook

Data Management and Confidentiality

Recommendations

Photo Contest

Subscribe

Additional projects or programs