Promoting Nature based Solutions for resilient, low carbon and biodiverse territorial development (SolNatura)

Colombia is heavily impacted by climate change and extreme weather events. Transformative action is needed for sustainable development. The project SolNatura aims at creating local capacities and experiences by promoting implementation of NDC related Nature-based Solutions (NbS). A project facility will support, for instance, local projects of forest conservation and reforestation, water saving and harvesting schemes or restoration of critical ecosystems in 3 departments (Huila, Santander and Córdoba). The project not only applies a broad participatory approach engaging local stakeholders in the project implementation and knowledge sharing; it also develops innovative financial instruments for scaling-up these NbS, improves regional framework conditions for territorial development models, strengthens national M&E/MRV systems and documents evidence for national policy advice.

Project data

Countries: Colombia
IKI funding: 17,474,036.21 €
Included preparation phase: 124,036.21 €
Duration: 08/2022 till 07/2028
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Political Partner: Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) - Colombia
Implementing Partner: Fondo Acción

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) - International
Online: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/125778.html

https://solnatura.co/

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State of implementation/results

Following the workplan of the three Nature-based Solutions (NbS) clusters in Córdoba, Santander and Huila, six NbS research and innovation initiatives have started their implementation. The NbS-portfolio web-platform, which enables management and visualisation of descriptive records and associated geographic layers for prioritised NbS, with advanced filters and a map to support decision-making, has been published.
Fondo Acción is supporting the creation of 5 financial instruments for NbS with 11 selected entities. Progress includes reviewing data to assess prioritisation criteria for Payment for Ecosystem Services projects, estimating costs for NbS, and building a database linking NbS measures to public investment programs. SolNatura and the dairy factory Alquería launched the Agrosustainable Revolving Fund for small and medium cattle farmers in Santander, providing loans of up to aprox. 6000 euros to finance productivity and environmental improvements.
Nine financial institutions in Huila and Santander—including cooperatives, microfinance institutions, and fintechs—developed credit lines to finance NbS, following nearly a year of support from SolNatura through sector studies, producer consultations and technical work.
Through SolNatura+, a financing facility designed to mobilise resources and apply blended finance over 50 years, a call for NbS proposals was launched in October 2024 and closed in May 2025 with 119 submissions. 33 proposals entered a 6-month improvement phase which was completed in December 2025 with 24 selected projects: 12 Santander, 5 Huila, 7 Córdoba.
Key coordination efforts have integrated NbS into local governance through the Interinstitutional Climate Change Roundtable (Córdoba), the Departmental Climate Change Council (Huila), and the Santander Forest Roundtable. In Huila, climate and biodiversity targets were aligned with priorities through council meetings, workshops with youth, and preparatory exercises for the 2026 update of the Climate Change and Territorial Biodiversity Plan. Córdoba advanced its climate action plan, monitored NbS and gender initiatives, and strengthened green business through workshops. Santander focused on agroforestry, capacity development, and gender integration.
At the national level, SolNatura supported the formulation of the NbS Guide (MinAmbiente), the National NbS Strategy (DNP), and the NbS Network, contributing to knowledge management and the systematisation of 15 NbS projects as best-practices.
Building on the progress made during the workshops in 2024 and technical meetings in 2025, the design and refinement of monitoring systems are advancing. These include upgrades to the national forest restoration system and a regional monitoring tool for Córdoba and Huila, with initial development, key functionalities defined, and priority topics agreed with key stakeholders.
Private sector engagement advanced with the continued support of the Business Community of Practice on NbS, connecting companies nationally and regionally to sustainable business models. Workshops identified key barriers and opportunities, and the first regional community in Santander established a practical toolkit to support sustainable territorial management.
Actors in Córdoba, Huila and Santander have enhanced their expertise in NbS, through a diploma on project formulation with 90 participants, integrating territorial and gender perspectives and building skills in NbS concepts, green investment frameworks, and monitoring design.

Latest Update:
06/2026