As the climate crisis intensifies, nature-based solutions (NbS) have emerged as one of the most effective and impactful tools available to us.
From restoring forests and mangroves to protecting peatlands and wetlands, these strategies work with nature to absorb carbon, protect biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience in communities.
While the environmental benefits of restoring nature are undeniable, when it comes to nature-based solutions, the impact extends far beyond just carbon storage. These solutions also create long-term economic value, generate local jobs, and empower women, particularly in climate-vulnerable communities.
Nature-Based Solutions are About More Than Just Carbon Storage
Nature-based solutions are perhaps best known for their ability to capture and store carbon. Forests, mangroves, wetlands, and other ecosystems naturally absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in plants and soil, making them vital tools in the fight against global warming.
It’s estimated that investing in these solutions could deliver up to 37% of the global carbon emissions reductions we need by 2023 to keep global warming under 2°C, at a fraction of the cost of technological solutions.
While this carbon storage is invaluable, the environmental impact goes much further:
- Protecting biodiversity: Restored ecosystems provide habitat for wildlife, support pollinator populations, and preserve genetic diversity.
- Regulating water systems: Trees and mangroves improve water retention, reduce runoff, and help mitigate flooding.
- Preventing soil erosion: Roots stabilise soil, prevent desertification, and restore fertility to degraded land.
- Cooling urban and rural areas: Reforestation and green corridors lower surface temperatures and improve local climates.
Nature-based solutions don’t just tackle emissions; they build ecosystem resilience and safeguard the natural systems we all depend on.
Investing in Nature Benefits Our Economy
Investing in nature isn’t just good for the planet, it’s also good for long-term economic stability.
A 2021 report by the World Economic Forum found that $44 trillion of economic value generation, more than half of global GDP, is highly dependent on nature.
By protecting and restoring ecosystems, we are also preserving the natural capital that underpins agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and water security.
For businesses, supporting nature-based restoration can also enhance reputation, reduce supply chain risk, and align with growing ESG and CSR requirements. Consumers and investors are increasingly scrutinising climate claims and rewarding businesses that invest in real, measurable impact.
Building Climate Resilience from the Ground Up
One of the most overlooked benefits of nature-based solutions is their ability to create employment, particularly in rural and climate-affected regions.
The World Economic Forum estimates that NbS could generate up to 395 million jobs by 2030.
These are not just temporary or extractive roles, they are regenerative jobs that contribute to land care, conservation, climate resilience, and community well-being.
Through our holistic restoration projects, at Leaving a Legacy, we see this in action every day.
Through our grassroots partners in Kenya, we:
- Employ local teams to prepare, plant, and maintain restoration sites.
- Support native seed collection and nursery management.
- Invest in ongoing monitoring and ecosystem stewardship carried out by local community organisations.
- Enable the creation of sustainable livelihoods, such as ethical beekeeping initiatives, which allow women in nearby communities to generate income through ethical honey and wax production linked to restored forest ecosystems.
These jobs create financial stability in areas where livelihoods are often threatened by climate change and land degradation. As they are community-based, they are far more likely to result in long-term stewardship and ecosystem protection.
Restoring Equity Alongside Ecosystems
Climate change disproportionately affects women, particularly in rural communities where they are responsible for food, water, and household resources. Yet women are also key to creating sustainable solutions.
Nature-based projects can be powerful tools for women’s empowerment when designed to include gender equity and economic participation.
We ensure that our restoration work supports women meaningfully. Through our partnerships:
- Women are employed in restoration, nursery management, and community engagement roles.
- Beekeeping initiatives linked to our forest projects create alternative, sustainable income streams for women.
- Women gain skills, confidence, and access to decision-making spaces that extend beyond the project itself.
By integrating gender equity into nature-based solutions, we ensure that restoration not only restores landscapes but also strengthens communities.
Investing in Nature-Based Solutions is Good for Business
Supporting nature-based solutions is not a donation, it’s an investment in long-term, shared value.
For businesses, the benefits include:
- Meeting ESG and CSR goals with credible, science-backed action.
- Strengthening brand reputation and customer loyalty through transparent impact.
- Supporting climate adaptation and resilience in vulnerable supply chain regions.
- Aligning with stakeholder expectations, including employees, investors, and customers.
At Leaving a Legacy, we offer businesses a way to take meaningful, measurable climate action through the sponsorship of holistic restoration projects. Every acre restored supports ecosystems, livelihoods, and long-term resilience, not just carbon numbers.
Start Leaving Your Business Legacy
If your organisation is ready to take climate action that delivers real environmental and social impact, we’d love to partner with you.
For £500 per year, you can sponsor an acre of reforestation or mangrove restoration in Kenya, led by local communities, monitored transparently, and designed for long-term success.
Learn more about our projects and how your business can get involved: https://leavingalegacy.co/corporate/