🌿Ecological Resilience & Restoration Projects
Cape Town
Quito
Cities invest in projects that restore forests, watersheds and other ecosystems to reduce climate risks like wildfires, landslides or heat while strengthening biodiversity, improving environmental health and driving collaboration.
How cities are applying it
- Cape Town’s Living Urban Waterways Programme rehabilitates river corridors and catchments through nature-based approaches that reduce flood risk, improve water quality, control erosion and restore ecosystems across multiple basins. The programme coordinates departments, communities and environmental partners to deliver long-term, catchment-wide resilience outcomes.
- In Quito, the city is restoring landscapes damaged by forest fires through an Ecological Reforestation Plan supported by the Environmental Fund of Quito. The programme brings together municipal agencies, community groups and private-sector partners to reforest degraded areas, recover biodiversity, stabilise soils and reduce future fire risks.
Together, these examples show how ecological restoration strengthens climate resilience by improving ecosystem services and creating healthier, more resilient environments for communities.
Why it matters
Healthy ecosystems protect cities by regulating water flows, moderating temperatures and reducing exposure to hazards. Restoring degraded areas improves environmental performance, enhances biodiversity and strengthens the systems that support long-term resilience. These projects also build collaboration across institutions and help cities align environmental goals with climate adaptation needs.
Who is involved
• Environment, water and biodiversity agencies
• Planning, infrastructure and parks departments
• Community organisations and land stewardship groups
• Environmental NGOs and research institutions
• Private-sector partners supporting reforestation and restoration