Climate-smart conservation

Climate-smart conservation is a new way of thinking about protecting our environment, one that plans for how a changing climate affects conservation efforts.

Climate-smart conservation is about developing and implementing solutions that are effective under a range of potential futures.

Conservation has long looked to the past as a guide to create a better future. We have traditionally focused on restoring damaged places to previous conditions, and preserving undamaged places, to ensure they persist for decades to come.

_{Managing change to minimise loss}

However, even the most pristine and well-protected places are now under threat. Climate-smart conservation is about addressing those threats - both existing and future - and building the resilience of social and ecological systems.

_{Key elements of climate smart conservation}

► Understanding the implications of climate change, including how human responses might lead to changes in other conventional threats

► Developing and implementing no-regret actions that address current threats, do not erode options for responding to future climate change, and avoid contributing to greenhouse gas emissions

► Taking an integrated approach to adaptation, contributing to nature conservation and fair, equitable and sustainable development

► Active learning to build capacity and work collaboratively to plan and respond to increasing change and uncertainty.

► Bringing about changes in policy that create an enabling environment across scales (local to international) for adaptive governance.

_{People and conservation}

Climate-smart conservation recognizes the critical role that nature plays in supporting people's ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It also acknowledges that improving well-being and reducing the vulnerability of people is crucial to achieving conservation objectives. Read more about how WWF works to link conservation, development and people's well-being.