Restoring Nature Offers Shield Against Record Global Disasters

Restoring ecosystems like urban forests and wetlands provides cheaper, more effective protection against worsening climate impacts.

• By Jesse Jacobs
• August 14, 2026

As communities across Europe, North America and Asia face unprecedented heat waves, wildfires and floods, nature restoration represents a critical defense against worsening climate impacts, according to an analysis by the World Resources Institute.

Human emissions are pushing natural hazards to unnatural extremes, as detailed on WRI Insights by Ani Dasgupta, the organization’s president and CEO. Data shows the last 11 years have been the hottest on record, wildfires burn twice as much forest today as two decades ago and global flood exposure is projected to double by 2030.

While policymakers frequently prioritize built infrastructure such as seawalls, air conditioning and concrete drainage pipes, natural ecosystems offer a flexible, cost-effective alternative while absorbing roughly half of global carbon emissions.

Several key areas highlight the effectiveness of nature-based solutions:

• Extreme heat mitigation: Urban tree canopies act as natural air conditioners, with WRI Cool Cities Lab data showing tree-lined streets can feel up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than exposed pavement. In Medellín, Colombia, a citywide green corridor program planted more than 800,000 trees, lowering shaded temperatures by up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit while cutting air pollution.
• Wildfire prevention: Restoring forest health through prescribed burns and thinning underbrush creates fire-resistant ecosystems. In the western United States, the Lomakatsi Restoration Project has treated 35,000 acres of forest to reduce fuel loads, protecting local water supplies and creating regional jobs.
• Flood control: Rehabilitating degraded wetlands creates natural water-absorption systems. In Kigali, Rwanda, municipal leaders restored local wetlands to construct Nyandungu Ecotourism Park, which acts as a natural sponge for heavy rainfall while supporting 4,000 jobs.

Despite these documented benefits, global funding remains severely lacking. Current data indicates $30 is spent destroying nature for every $1 invested in its restoration. Reaching global land and climate targets will require $571 billion annually by 2030—two and a half times current investment levels.

Economists estimate that every dollar invested in nature-based solutions can deliver up to $8 in economic benefits, making ecosystem restoration an essential strategy for long-term climate resilience.