Indigenous-led nature-based solutions

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) aim to enhance nature to tackle pressing  challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss. Across the globe, Indigenous Peoples are leading NbS (i.e., Indigenous-led NbS) such as Indigenous Protected Conserved Areas and Indigenous Guardians programs. Previous studies have explored their potential environmental outcomes. Our study builds on these studies to understand how government financial support to Indigenous-led NbS influences carbon storage in plants and soil and biodiversity conservation. We focus on Canada as it offers valuable insights about the ways substantial government support may influence Indigenous led NbS. Our results show that Indigenous led NbS carbon storage and biodiversity conservation outcomes are similar to existing Protected Areas. Moreover, government funding to Indigenous-led NbS was related to lower carbon emissions from land use change compared to  Protected Areas. By analyzing Indigenous-led NbS project descriptions, we found that environmental outcomes emerge from reciprocal relationships between people and the natural world. For example, knowledge exchange between youth and elders is essential for environmental health. Overall, government support for Indigenous-led NbS may align climate and biodiversity benefits with some aspects of Indigenous self-determination, but these positive outcomes will only continue with long-term financial commitment and full recognition of Indigenous rights.

About the speaker

Camilo Alejo is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Canada Hub of FutureEarth and in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University. He is interested in understanding the current and potential nature-based solutions emerging from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities across the American continent. Camilo holds a B.Sc. in Biology from Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia), M.Sc. in Biodiversity Conservation and Use from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia), and a Ph.D. (c) in Biology from McGill University (Canada).

Camilo will be presenting work published in collaboration with Graem Reed (Assembly of First Nations and York University) and Damon Matthews (Concordia University).

Alejo, C., Reed, G. and Matthews, H.D., 2025. Indigenous‐led nature‐based solutions align net‐zero emissions and biodiversity targets in Canada. Earth's Future, 13(10), p.e2025EF006427.