Six nature-based solutions transforming communities and ecosystems in Africa
Nature offers some of the most cost-effective, multi-benefit tools for building resilience - if it is restored, protected, and managed wisely.
Across Africa, countries and communities are using a diverse range of nature-based solutions to address floods, droughts, heatwaves, soil erosion, and more. From restored grasslands to costal erosion prevention, these interventions provide co-benefits for water security, food production, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
The first two examples – Mauritania’s village re-bushing and Kampala’s urban slope re-greening – come from a series of real-world disaster risk reduction success stories collected at the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025). Sessions at GP2025 showcased good practices to inform, inspire, and support peer learning, and to reinforce the global commitment to accelerate risk reduction and leave no one behind.
These six examples from across the continent showcase how experts are working with communities to use nature in innovative ways to reduce disaster risk. Each highlights a distinct approach, demonstrating the versatility of nature-based solutions in tackling diverse hazards while benefitting people and the environment.
Mauritania – Reviving landscapes through village re-bushing
In Mauritania, a flagship nature-based solution is the revival of “village re-bushing,” a community practice dating back to the 1970s that restores degraded land with native vegetation.
The approach is based on indigenous wisdom, and is now being scaled up to incorporate modern technology: drones disperse seeds across vast areas during the rainy season, while geospatial monitoring tracks regrowth and guides adaptive management.
By combining tradition with innovation, Mauritania is regenerating thousands of hectares, reducing vulnerability to drought and desertification, and securing vital resources for rural communities.
This example was shared at the GP2025 Thematic Session 2-2 by the Government of Mauritania.
Uganda – Stabilizing slopes to curb flood risk
Uganda’s capital, Kampala, is challenged by regular wet-season flooding, much of which originates from unchecked runoff cascading down the city’s surrounding hills. To tackle this, communities are spearheading slope stabilization by re-greening hilltops and upper catchments with vegetation that slows water flow and anchors the soil.
Native trees and plants not only reduce flood hazards downstream but also improve local air quality and provide shade in heat-prone neighbourhoods.
By pairing this community stewardship with early warning systems, Kampala demonstrates how restoring green cover on vulnerable slopes can be a powerful, low-cost defense against urban disasters.
This example was shared at the GP2025 at the Thematic Session 2-2 by the Government of Uganda.
Tanzania – Restoring grasslands for food security
In Tanzania’s Arusha region, Maasai communities are reviving 15 acres of degraded rangeland against drought by replanting native grasses, legumes, and herbaceous species.
This ecosystem restoration strengthens pasture quality, ensuring more reliable grazing for livestock and boosting local food security – especially during periods of drought, and in the face other climate-related hazards.
The project combines traditional knowledge with modern conservation methods, and also engages women and youth in seed collection and propagation to create sustainable livelihoods while enhancing the resilience of both people and ecosystems to drought and climate stress.
Senegal – Community-led coastal erosion control
In Senegal's Casamance region, communities are combating coastal erosion by constructing permeable groynes made from locally sourced sticks and palm leaves. This approach reduces wave energy and promotes sand deposition, effectively widening beaches and protecting coastal infrastructure.
Initiated in 2022, the project involved 100 young adults and women from the village of Diogué, working collaboratively in teams. The use of indigenous materials and community involvement ensures sustainability and fosters local ownership.
As a result, around 40 meters of coastline have been reclaimed, halting the encroachment of the sea. A boundary line of newly planted coconut trees marks the reclaimed area – symbolizing a commitment to maintaining the reclaimed shore.
Somalia – Rehabilitating ponds to manage floods
In Mogadishu’s Boondheere District, a long-abandoned catchment pond has been rehabilitated to capture stormwater and reduce chronic flooding. With reinforced walls, repaired gates, and a pumping system directing excess water to the sea, the pond now protects surrounding neighbourhoods and benefits around 24,000 residents, including displaced families.
The project includes regular maintenance and community monitoring, ensuring the pond continues to function effectively during heavy rains and helping build local capacity for urban water management.
This low-cost, scalable intervention serves as a model for urban resilience for flood-prone cities in the region and beyond.
South Africa – Managing alien trees to alleviate drought
In the mountains of South Africa's southwestern Cape, invasive alien trees such as pines and eucalyptus consume far more water than native vegetation, reducing streamflow and worsening drought conditions. By removing these alien species and restoring indigenous plants, communities and conservationists help rivers and streams retain more water, bolstering resilience to dry spells.
This targeted management of invasive trees illustrates how nature-based solutions can directly support water security and climate adaptation in vulnerable mountain catchments.