By AIDMI, India

India’s vast biodiversity—home to over 90,000 animal and 45,000 plant species—is central to its resilience and prosperity. Yet this natural wealth is under threat from land degradation, extreme weather, and intensifying heatwaves. Investing in nature is therefore not only an environmental imperative but also an economic and social necessity.

Forests, wetlands, mangroves, and grasslands act as critical natural infrastructure, regulating local temperatures, storing carbon, and protecting communities from floods and droughts. These ecosystems sustain millions of livelihoods, especially for women, Indigenous peoples, and rural communities. Strengthening this human–nature connection through community-led conservation ensures both ecological protection and equitable growth.

Nature-based Solutions (NbS)—like mangrove restoration, watershed management, and urban green corridors—offer cost-effective, long-term resilience. Maharashtra’s watershed restoration and Odisha’s mangrove regeneration show how local action can deliver climate and development benefits simultaneously.

To accelerate progress, India must prioritise NbS in climate finance, align policies with biodiversity missions, and expand blended finance models that engage public, private, and community sectors. Empowering institutions such as Panchayats, women’s collectives, and youth networks will help make conservation inclusive.