Rapid urbanization and climate change are intensifying risks for Indian cities, resulting in a range of environmental and public health challenges. These include the loss of green cover, which reduces natural cooling and exacerbates the urban heat island effect; rising flood risks due to unregulated growth and diminishing water retention capacity; groundwater depletion that strains the availability of freshwater resources; and untreated waste pollution, which contaminates water bodies and adversely affects public health. 

Benefits of Nature-based Solutions (NbS)  

  • Strengthen urban resilience by mitigating heat stress and flood risks
  • Limit climate change impacts through carbon sequestration and temperature regulation
  • Support biodiversity, improving ecological balance in cities
  • Provide health and social co-benefits, enhancing community well-being 

Our Work in Advancing NbS 

Despite their potential, NbS adoption in India remains limited due to gaps in awareness, technical expertise, and financing mechanisms. WRI India is working to bridge these gaps. Our urban development team collaborates with communities, civil society organizations, government bodies, and technical experts to scale NbS solutions and has successfully implemented 35 NbS projects covering diverse typologies, including: 

  • Groundwater recharge
  • Waterbody rejuvenation
  • Wastewater treatment using nature-based filtration
  • Urban farming and greening
  • Urban groves and perimeter planting 

We document and disseminate best practices, develop impact measurement frameworks, and support evidence-based policymaking. We support governments and local bodies in identifying and accessing innovative financial models to ensure scalable and sustainable NbS implementation. 

The Pan-India Forum for NbS 

The India Forum for Nature-based Solutions was formed in 2022. Conceptualized and co-led by WRI India, this is India's first national coalition platform for urban NbS, bringing together research, practice and finance organizations. Its vision is to climate-proof 100 million residents and infrastructure worth USD 100 billion in Indian cities by 2030 by strengthening local knowledge within the local context of social, economic, political and institutional structures of Indian cities and city regions. Know more here. 

Other Projects and Initiatives