Executive Summary
Half of all people live in places where their water sources are being degraded or used up faster than they are being replenished. And when the taps run dry, the most economically disadvantaged people are disproportionally affected.
The Nature Conservancy has a tested solution to address the crisis. Water funds pay for watershed protection and reforestation, restoring cities' watersheds, and helping rural communities by directing resources to improve livelihoods. And they benefit nature by protecting habitat. We have launched 43 successful water funds around the world. With a backlog of partners asking for help, we must scale up.
Through additional support, we can bring this proven solution to a tipping point by empowering 300 cities—10 times our current portfolio—to begin implementing water funds. Along the way, we will improve water supplies for 70 million people, help 150,000 rural people improve their livelihoods, and protect two million hectares—4.9 million acres—of habitat.
Charity, fund, non-governmental organization, religious institution, school, or other entity
Organizations may provide budget and employee data based on this proposal or the organization as a whole. For more information on this proposal or organization, please email us.
Accomplishments
The Nature Conservancy made significant impacts in the past year. We have launched the design of our first water fund in Europe—in Norfolk, England—which will employ nature-based solutions and demand management to deliver win-win environmental and economic benefits to farmers while protecting chalk stream habitat. We also strengthened existing programs, including the Nairobi Water Fund, which helped 8,500 coffee farmers receive Rainforest Alliance Certification, increasing yield by 40 percent with sound agricultural practices.
Measuring the impact of water funds in places such as Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro remained a top priority. We deployed household surveys—via text—installed in-stream equipment and piloted remote sensing. We also worked with partners from the Water Resilience Coalition to release new guidance to help corporations measure the water and carbon benefits of nature-based solutions.
Finally, trainings pivoted to virtual this year. We trained 656 people on nature-based solutions and how to invest collectively in watershed resilience.
