Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change: Data Collection

Actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.

About this data collection

Protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing nature can provide one third of the solution needed to mitigate climate change, while also providing additional benefits for climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that humanity has less than 10 years left to take action on climate change and prevent planetary warning from exceeding 1.5°C, while the Intergovernmental Panel on BIodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) report cites an unprecedented decline in nature with over 1 million species at risk of extinction. If action is not taken immediately to protect, sustainably manage and restore nature, not only will nature continue to decline, but so will human well-being, as nature provides a safety net of resources and ecosystem services for billions of people. Nature-based solutions are defined as “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits”.

How to use this data collection

The Nature-based Solutions for Climate Collection examines nature-based actions for protection, sustainable management, and restoration across different ecosystems to support achievement of the three Rio Conventions - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance - and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Explore the collection in three easy steps:

Browse the key policy questions provided below.
Select a question of interest to view a description of the map available, input data layers, and policy relevance.
Click view data to view a map that provides input to address the question.

Note: These policy-relevant questions and associated data layers are provided for users to develop their own prioritization when pursuing nature-based solutions for climate change. While global layers from the UNBL public platform are used here, users may also want to consider using national data to create similar overlays via our UNBL workspaces.

ⓘ Data layers to address policy-relevant questions

What is the density and distribution of above ground biomass carbon?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Included layers
Biomass carbon	This map presents above and below ground biomass carbon density showing extent and distribution	UNFCCC	All	UNEP-WCMC terrestrial carbon density NASA aboveground biomass carbon NASA belowground biomass carbon NatureMap live biomass carbon density

What is the extent, density and distribution of soil organics carbon?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Included layers
Soil carbon	This map presents soil organic carbon density showing extent and distribution	UNFCCC	All	UNEP-WCMC soil organic carbon density GLOSIS soil organic carbon NatureMap vulnerable soil carbon density

What is the combined density and distribution of belowground biomass carbon and soil carbon?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Included layers
Total carbon Density (soil + biomass)	This map presents combined carbon density showing extent and distribution	UNFCCC	All	UNEP-WCMC terrestrial carbon density – soil organic and biomass carbon

Where could sustainable management of forest conserve carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Forests and carbon storage	This map presents forest ecosystems and carbon storage, identifying opportunities for conservation and sustainable management of forests with carbon benefits.	CBD, UNFCCC	Forests	Manage, Protect	Global tree cover 2000 NatureMap live biomass carbon density NatureMap vulnerable soil carbon density

How stable are forests in protected areas and OECMs? Where could new protected areas or OECMs conserve intact forest landscapes? Where could new protected areas or OECMs conserve carbon stocks and biodiversity in forests?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Forests, protected areas and OECMs, carbon storage and biodiversity	This map presents forest ecosystems, protected areas, carbon stocks and biodiversity, identifying opportunities for safeguarding remaining intact forest ecosystems, especially with high carbon stocks and biodiversity.	CBD, UNFCCC	Forests	Protect	Global tree cover 2000 Protected areas Other effective area-based conservation measures Tree cover loss Forest landscape integrity index NatureMap live biomass carbon density NatureMap vulnerable soil carbon density NatureMap areas of global significance for biodiversity conservation and carbon storage Global Safety Net: Climate stabilisation Areas

Where could forest restoration recover forest intactness and connectivity and reduce forest fragmentation? Where could forest restoration conserve high carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Forests, restoration and carbon storage	This map presents forest ecosystems, restoration and carbon, identifying opportunities for restoring degraded or fragmented forest ecosystems and high carbon stocks.	CBD, UNFCCC	Forests	Restore	NatureMap Areas of Global Significance for Restoration NatureMap potential natural vegetation Tree cover loss Forest Structural Integrity Index (of tropical areas) Forest connectivity Forest landscape integrity index

Where could conservation and sustainable management of wetlands conserve high carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Wetlands and carbon storage	This map presents wetland ecosystems and carbon storage, identifying opportunities for conservation and sustainable management of wetlands for carbon.	CBD, UNFCCC, Ramsar	Wetlands	Manage	Global wetlands: Tropical and subtropical wetlands distribution Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites) JRC Global Surface Water - Occurrence 1984-2018 UNEP-WCMC terrestrial carbon density NatureMap live biomass carbon density NatureMap vulnerable soil carbon density Mangrove forests Global mangrove soil carbon

Where could new protected areas or OECMs conserve wetland ecosystems? Where could new protected areas or OECMs conserve carbon stocks and biodiversity in wetlands?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Wetlands, protected areas and OECMs, carbon	This map presents wetland ecosystems, protected areas, carbon stocks and biodiversity, identifying opportunities for safeguarding remaining wetland ecosystems, especially with high carbon stocks and biodiversity.	CBD, UNFCCC, Ramsar	Wetlands	Protect	Global wetlands: Tropical and subtropical wetlands distribution Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites) JRC Global Surface Water 1984-2018 NatureMap areas of global significance for biodiversity conservation and carbon Storage Protected areas Other effective area-based conservation measures NatureMap live biomass carbon density Global Safety Net: Climate stabilisation areas Mangrove forests Global mangrove soil carbon

Where could wetlands restoration conserve high carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Wetland restoration, and carbon storage	This map presents wetland ecosystems, restoration, and carbon, identifying opportunities for restoring wetlands with high carbon stocks.	CBD, UNFCCC, Ramsar	Wetlands	Restore	Global wetlands: Tropical and subtropical wetlands distribution Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites) JRC Global Surface Water 1984-2018 data NatureMap areas of global significance for restoration NatureMap live biomass carbon density NatureMap potential natural vegetation Mangrove forests Global mangrove soil carbon

Where could conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems conserve high carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Marine and coastal ecosystems and carbon storage	This map presents marine and coastal ecosystems distribution and carbon storage, identifying opportunities for sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems for carbon.	CBD, UNFCCC	Coastal Ecosystems	Manage	Mangrove forests Global distribution of seagrasses Global distribution of cold-water corals Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs Global mangrove soil carbon Global patterns in marine sediment carbon stocks Marine priorities for carbon

Where could new protected areas or OECMs conserve marine and coastal ecosystems? Where could new protected areas or OECMs conserve carbon stocks and biodiversity in marine and coastal ecosystems?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Marine and coastal ecosystems, protected areas and OECMs, biodiversity, and carbon storage	This map presents marine and coastal ecosystems, protected areas and carbon stocks, identifying opportunities for sustainable safeguarding remaining marine and coastal ecosystems, especially with high carbon stocks.	CBD, UNFCCC	Coastal Ecosystems	Protect	Marine protected areas Marine OECMs Ecologically Or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) Mangrove forests Global distribution of seagrasses Global distribution of cold-water corals Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs Global mangrove soil carbon Global patterns in marine sediment carbon stocks Marine priorities for carbon Marine priority areas For biodiversity

Where could restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems recover carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Marine and coastal ecosystem restoration, and carbon storage	This map presents marine and coastal ecosystems, restoration and carbon, identifying opportunities for restoring wetland with high carbon stocks.	CBD, UNFCCC	Coastal Ecosystems	Restore	NatureMap Areas of global significance for restoration Mangrove forests Seagrass (protected and conserved areas) Global distribution of seagrasses Global distribution of cold-water corals Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs Global mangrove soil carbon Global patterns in marine sediment carbon stocks Marine priorities for carbon

Where could sustainably management of croplands conserve high carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Croplands and carbon storage	This map presents croplands and carbon, identifying where croplands overlap with areas of high carbon storage.	CBD, UNFCCC	Croplands	Manage	Increase in soil organic carbon in croplands after 20 years ESRI land cover 10m (crops)

Where does the existing protected area system overlap with croplands? Where could protection of croplands conserve carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Croplands, protected areas and OECMs, and carbon storage	This map presents croplands, protected areas, carbon stocks and biodiversity, identifying where croplands coincide with protected areas and offer opportunities for safeguarding high levels of carbon stocks.	CBD, UNFCCC	Croplands	Manage	ESRI land cover 10m (crops) Global Safety Net: Climate stabilisation areas GLOSIS - Global soil organic carbon Increase in soil organic carbon in croplands after 20 years Protected areas OECMs

Where could rehabilitation of croplands enhance soil health and sustainable, productive agriculture? Where could rehabilitation of croplands restore and conserve carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Croplands rehabilitation and carbon storage	This map presents croplands, restoration and carbon, identifying opportunities for rehabilitating croplands with high carbon stocks.	CBD, UNFCCC	Croplands	Restore	ESRI land cover 10m (crops) GLOSIS - Global soil organic carbon Increase in soil organic carbon in croplands after 20 years JRC world atlas on desertification - convergence of evidence

Where could sustainable management of grasslands conserve high carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Grasslands and carbon storage	This map presents grasslands and carbon storage, identifying opportunities for sustainable management of grasslands for carbon.	CBD, UNFCCC	Grasslands	Manage	ESA CCI land cover 2020 (grasslands) NatureMap vulnerable soil carbon density GLOSIS - Global soil organic carbon Total biomass carbon in grasslands

Where could new protected areas or OECMs conserve grasslands? Where could new protected areas or OECMs in grasslands conserve carbon stocks and biodiversity?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Grasslands, protected areas and OECMs, carbon storage and biodiversity	This map presents grasslands, protected areas, carbon stocks and biodiversity, identifying opportunities for safeguarding remaining grasslands, especially with high carbon stocks and biodiversity.	CBD, UNFCCC	Grasslands	Manage	ESRI landcover 10m (grass) ESA CCI land cover 2020 (grasslands) NatureMap vulnerable soil carbon density GLOSIS - Global soil organic carbon Total biomass carbon in grasslands Protected areas OECMs Global Safety Net: Climate stabilisation areas

Where could restoration of grasslands recover high carbon stocks?

Name	Description	Policy relevance	Ecosystems	Action	Included layers
Grasslands restoration and carbon storage	This map presents grasslands, restoration, and carbon, identifying opportunities for restoring grasslands with high carbon stocks.	CBD, UNFCCC	Grasslands	Restore	NatureMap areas of global significance for restoration NatureMap potential natural vegetation ESRI land cover 10m (grass) ESA CCI land cover 2020 (grasslands) NatureMap vulnerable soil carbon density GLOSIS - Global soil organic carbon Total biomass carbon in grasslands

The World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) was established in 2019, following the adoption of the OECM definition (https://www.cbd.int/decisions/cop/14/8) in 2018. Given that the database and definition were only recently developed, many governments have not yet reported data on OECMs, or have reported only a subset of their OECMs. Users should consider this when using the WD-OECM, and should not assume that countries without OECM data lack OECMs in reality, or that countries with OECM data have reported their full complement of OECMs. Users wishing to provide data on OECMs should contact UNEP-WCMC at OECM@unep-wcmc.org.