Building a climate-resilient world requires us to move beyond sustainability, and towards regeneration. The answer lies in integrating the wisdom of the past with the tools of the future.
What sets Conservation International (CI) apart from many similar initiatives and restoration projects is its commitment to fostering a nature-positive economy. This represents a significant shift in how we interact with the environment, moving beyond traditional models that focus on merely minimising harm. Instead, CI emphasises the active nurturing, regeneration, and enhancement of natural ecosystems, ensuring that economic activities contribute positively to the flourishing of nature. In this new paradigm, the economy is not merely a driver of growth at nature’s expense but a powerful tool for its restoration and rejuvenation. A nature-positive economy is about more than just conserving what remains of our natural world; it’s about actively rebuilding and revitalising ecosystems and nourishing them even before they have been degraded or lost. This involves large-scale, transboundary efforts all aimed at bringing back biodiversity and natural resilience.
What a Nature-Positive Economy Really Means
At the heart of a nature-positive economy is the principle of nurturing nature. This means fostering a deep, ongoing relationship with the environment, where every economic decision is made with the well-being of natural systems in mind. This vision integrates nature into the very fabric of economic planning and decision-making, from local communities to global corporations, ensuring that our activities not only avoid damage but actively support and enhance natural processes.
For this reason, a key focus of a nature-positive economy is on enhancing biodiversity, creating environments where species can thrive, increasing genetic diversity, and ensuring ecosystems are robust and adaptable to change. This way, it goes well beyond preserving what we have, increasing instead the diversity of life across the planet. The goal is not merely to sustain, but to improve the state of nature, ensuring it is more vibrant and resilient than before.
A nature-positive economy requires proactive stewardship. Businesses, governments, and communities must work together not just to mitigate environmental impact but to create positive outcomes for nature. This involves developing new markets for nature-based solutions, investing in regenerative agriculture and promoting new investing principles that replenish rather than deplete natural resources. The emphasis is on moving beyond sustainability towards regeneration. In embracing a nature-positive economy, we are paving the way for a future where economic growth and environmental health are not at odds but instead reinforce each other. This approach ensures that as we build our economies, we are also actively nurturing the Earth, regenerating ecosystems, and creating a sustainable foundation for the prosperity of future generations.
Looking Back to Move Forward
In harmony with the ethos of the first Resilience Frontiers’ pathway, CI sees the way forward in embracing the transformative power of nature. This is, in essence, a call to action: a call to value Indigenous wisdom and recognise that humankind itself is an integral part of nature. As the Māori concept of ‘Kaitiakitanga’ and the Haudenosaunee philosophy of ‘the seventh-generation principles’ have shown, our survival and prosperity are intertwined with the health of our planet. By adopting these Indigenous values, humanity can foster a global ethos that prioritises nourishing nature in our everyday actions, ensuring a net-positive effect on Mother Earth. This holistic understanding of the oneness and interconnectedness of life encourages a collective well-being where stewardship of the planet is seen as essential for the health of future generations.
By learning from Indigenous practices and integrating these values into broader political and economic systems, we can promote a more sustainable interaction with our environment. This includes recognising and supporting Indigenous leadership in conservation efforts, incorporating traditional knowledge into environmental policies, and acknowledging the importance of biodiversity for the planet’s overall health.
The transformation of how humans relate to nature is about adopting a holistic approach that values long-term ecological stability and the well-being of all species, including humans. Such a shift is crucial if we are to address the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change effectively. This approach aligns with the growing recognition of Indigenous rights and their critical role in global environmental conservation, as seen in international declarations and grassroots efforts to protect Indigenous lands from exploitation.
Lessons from the Ground: Where Tradition Meets Innovation
Evidence underscores the importance of Indigenous land stewardship in biodiversity conservation. Indigenous peoples manage over a quarter of the world’s land surface, with these areas often being the most biodiverse. Their sustainable practices, deeply rooted in respect for nature, ensure that even rare species thrive where they might otherwise be threatened. CI’s work, therefore, encompasses both the integration of modern science with conservation, and the recognition and elevation of the traditional ecological knowledge of Indigenous communities. This approach reinforces the idea that true sustainability is achieved when modern innovations are harmonised with time-honoured traditions.
This philosophy is vividly illustrated, for example, in a particular project by CI combining tradition and innovation, preserving Namaqualand’s legacy amidst climate change with the aim of building permanent resilience.
In the heart of Namaqualand, a remote region on South Africa’s west coast, the delicate balance between tradition and innovation plays a crucial role in preserving both the environment and the livelihoods of its people. As the harsh realities of climate change disrupt this unique landscape, the community’s resilience is being tested like never before. Yet, it is here, amidst the arid plains and ancient shrublands, that an inspiring story of adaptation unfolds.
For centuries, the people of Namaqualand have lived in harmony with their environment, relying on deep knowledge passed down through generations. Shepherds have long understood how to read the land, using the stars, moon, and even swarming termites to predict weather patterns. This deep connection to nature has allowed the Nama people to thrive in one of the world’s most arid biodiversity hotspots, the Succulent Karoo. However, the past decade has brought unprecedented challenges. A seven-year drought, followed by devastating floods, has upended the delicate balance of life in Namaqualand. As the climate continues to shift unpredictably, traditional practices alone are no longer sufficient to sustain the community. This is where innovation steps in to enhance and preserve tradition.
One of the most profound intersections of tradition and innovation can be seen in the revival of heritage livestock breeds. Historically, the Nama people raised the hardy Namaqua Afrikaner sheep and Cape speckled goats, animals well-adapted to the semi-arid conditions. But as commercial pressures grew, these breeds were gradually replaced by more market-friendly varieties, such as the Dorper sheep. While these commercial breeds promised higher yields, they were ill-suited to the harsh environment, leading to devastating losses during extreme weather events. In response, Conservation South Africa, in partnership with local farmers, initiated a program to reintroduce heritage breeds, blending their natural resilience with the qualities of modern livestock. This approach safeguards livelihoods and ensures the long-term sustainability of the fragile ecosystem.
As climate change alters the landscape, Namaqualand’s farmers are also adopting new methods to manage their land and water resources, which are informed by traditional knowledge. The catastrophic floods of 2023, which followed years of drought, underscored the need for better land management practices. In response, communities are working with Conservation South Africa to build erosion control barriers, such as gabions and brush-packed trenches, which slow down stormwater and allow it to absorb into the soil. These techniques, while innovative, draw on ancient principles of working with the land rather than against it. By combining traditional understanding with modern engineering, the community is restoring the health of the soil, ensuring that even in the face of heavy rainfall, plants can take root and thrive.
The intersection of tradition and innovation is perhaps even more visible in the burgeoning field of sustainable tourism in Namaqualand. The region’s stunning wildflower displays have long drawn visitors, yet the economic benefits often bypassed the local communities.
In 2007, inspired by the rich cultural and natural heritage of their home, local entrepreneurs like Vera Engelbrecht, an Indigenous woman with a deep love for her roots, began developing community-led tourism initiatives. With support from CI, they established small businesses that celebrate and preserve traditional practices, such as cooking local cuisine and showcasing native flora, while providing economic opportunities for the future. The initiative also considers the environment that has sustained them for years. Supported by Conservation South Africa, Engelbrecht uses a climate diary and water tanks to ensure that not a drop of rain is wasted in the arid area. Wood from invasive trees and dead bush are used for the kookskerm and huts, making way for new growth to occur. Using what is around her, Vera is pioneering a nature-positive economy, preserving Nama culture while offering a service to her community.
This approach to tourism not only brings much-needed income to the region but also reinforces the connection between a healthy environment, nature, and a thriving local reality. It is a powerful example of how traditional knowledge can create sustainable development that benefits everyone when paired with innovative business models.
In Namaqualand, the story of survival is one of both looking back and moving forward. As climate change continues to pose new challenges, the community’s ability to adapt will depend on its capacity to integrate the wisdom of the past with the tools of the future. Whether through the revival of heritage livestock, the implementation of sustainable land management practices, or the development of eco-tourism, the support of CI in Namaqualand is proving that tradition and innovation are not opposing forces but complementary ones. In this unique region, where the past and future meet, the people of Namaqualand are leading the way in demonstrating how traditional knowledge can inform innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
At Resilience Frontiers, we have identified a range of visionaries: harbingers of the change we eagerly wish to see more broadly across our world. We call them Bright Lights. Conservation International is one of these.