What if we could identify the best local and regional solutions, and promote them for learning at a global level?
PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet is a partnership initiative to document and promote examples of inspiring, replicable solutions across a range of conservation and sustainable development topics, enabling cross-sectoral learning and inspiration.
PANORAMA allows practitioners to share and reflect on their experiences, increase recognition for successful work, and to learn with their peers how similar challenges have been addressed around the globe.
Different thematic disciplines and communities contribute to PANORAMA. On the web platform, these communities are represented through portals. As PANORAMA evolves, we welcome additional themes and new partners.
If your organisation is interested in joining the PANORAMA partnership, please contact us!
More than an online platform: The “Solution-ing Approach”
Case studies are documented as solutions using a standard format that identifies replicable "building blocks" (key success factors) and the context in which the solutions were implemented. Solutions are shared on the online platform and through publications. They are also integrated into capacity development activities and workshops. This methodology for learning and innovation is applicable across topics, sectors, and audiences. We have termed this approach of documenting, sharing and supporting the upscaling of successful interventions “the Solution-ing Approach”.
What do we mean by “solutions”?
Solutions are specific, applied examples of successful processes or approaches. They can be entire projects or only aspects of a project, and typically encompass several steps or phases of activities. Solutions, while context-specific, are not seen as fixed proof-points, but as toolboxes that can be leveraged and inspire learning across geographies and themes.
Solutions...
…respond to challenges to sustainable development and human wellbeing and contribute to maintaining or improving the health of biodiversity and ecosystems, helping to achieve the Aichi Targets of the of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and several Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
…are effective and have been implemented with a demonstrated positive impact for nature conservation and/or sustainable development.
…consist of elements that can potentially be replicated or upscaled in other geographic, social or sectorial contexts.
PANORAMA – a broad partnership
Solution providers
PANORAMA serves a wide variety of institutions and individuals to distil and share their experiences, challenges, lessons learned and success factors. It currently connects over 200 solution providers who represent NGOs, government institutions, academia, international organisations, foundations and the private sector, for cross-sectoral, interregional learning and knowledge exchange.
Community Coordinators
Blue Solutions Initiative: Marine and Coastal Solutions
The Blue Solutions Initiative is being implemented in partnership by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), GRID-Arendal, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and UN Environment (UNEP), to address a range of marine and coastal environmental issues. Key topics include ecosystem-based management through marine spatial planning, enhanced marine protected area governance, ecosystem service valuation, ecosystem-based adaptation and sustainable financing. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) through its International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Since 2013, Blue Solutions has pioneered the development of the “Solution-ing Approach”, including the development of the solutions template, criteria, formats and the processes to apply the methodology. Three Regional Forums on Solutions for Oceans, Coasts and Human Wellbeing have been conducted in Asia, Latin America and Africa, among other “Solution-ing” events. Participants highly appreciated the exchange and learning methodology. Since the format of documentation has proven so useful to practitioners and decision-makers, Blue Solutions decided to provide the solutions online as well.
IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme and UNDP: Protected Area Solutions
Building on its engagement in Blue Solutions, the IUCN Global Protected Areas programme established PANORAMA’s “Protected Areas” theme, assembling solutions that showcase how protected areas provide natural solutions to a multitude of challenges, such as climate change, food and water security. It also promotes innovative approaches to protected area management itself.
The initial portfolio of protected area solution case studies was launched at the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 (WPC) in Sydney, together with the first prototype of a PANORAMA online platform, with an initial thematic scope on "protected areas" only. Solutions that provide the evidence of how needed change can be achieved are one of the four Pillars of the Promise of Sydney, the outcome document of the WPC.
In 2018, UNDP joined as co-coordinator for the theme. Jointly with IUCN, UNDP identifies and promotes successful approaches to protected area management and governance across its programmes in nearly 170 countries and territories. As one of the key providers of technical assistance to protected areas around the world, UNDP brings its vast network and diverse expertise to PANORAMA.
IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme website
Global Project Mainstreaming Ecosystem-based Adaptation: EbA Solutions
The Global Project Mainstreaming Ecosystem-based Adaptation is being implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) through its International Climate Initiative (IKI). The project cooperates with key governmental partners from Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Philippines and Vietnam and international organisations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-WCMC), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and others.
Since 2015, the project develops instruments and methodologies for strengthening EbA in policies, decision making, planning and implementation. This entails compiling and sharing experience gained by implementing EbA approaches in different regions and ecosystems by following the ‘solutioning’ approach. The project has also set up a community of practice involving various exchange formats (online platforms, trainings and workshops) for sharing knowledge and lessons learned.
Global Project Mainstreaming EbA Website
Agriculture and Biodiversity: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Rare & IFOAM - Organics International
For the Panorama portal Agriculture and Biodiversity, two projects designed to identify, analyze and scale biodiversity-friendly farming practices have joined forces: GIZ’s Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Agrarian Landscapes and Rare’s and IFOAM - Organics International Farming for Biodiversity.
The Global Project Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Agrarian Landscapes evaluates good biodiversity-enhancing land-use practices in agriculture and implements them through pilot activities. Experiences gathered will be collated, analyzed and disseminated at regional and national levels.
Through Farming for Biodiversity Rare and IFOAM - Organics international launched a hunt for the brightest ideas bringing together agriculture and nature conservation. More than 330 proven solutions were surfaced – and the best of them are now being scaled in 9 countries across the globe. Many of these brightspots now feature on PANORAMA.
Both projects are supported by the German Environment Ministry’s International Climate Initiative (BMUV IKI).
View all 338 local solutions identified through Solution Search – Farming for Biodiversity
IFOAM - Organics International Website
Business Engagment: IUCN Business & Biodiversity Programme
Business activities are an important driver for the loss of biodiversity, but business also depend on nature and the goods and services it provides to operate. Therefore, business has a responsibility to adopt good practices to reduce their environmental footprint and promote the sustainable use of resources, as well as to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. However, business cannot address these complex issues alone. Civil society organisations (CSOs) have a role also to play in supporting -- and sometimes driving -- business to take action.
The PANORAMA theme on “Business Engagement” aims to help CSOs access the latest experiences and lessons learned, so they can engage more effectively with business and enable positive outcomes for the mitigation of impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem systems that people and communities rely upon.
Led by IUCN’s Business and Biodiversity Programme, this theme builds on IUCN’s on-going collaboration with the PANORAMA as well as its experience in business engagement programmes. It is also a key part of IUCN’s BioBiz Exchange Initiative, supported by the Agence Française du Developpment (AFD), under its work on "Entreprise, economie et finance. The initiative facilitates CSO training and peer-to-peer capacity building on business engagement.
Read more about the IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme
Nature-Culture: The World Heritage Leadership Programme
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) support the implementation of the World Heritage Convention as Advisory Bodies to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) focusing on the evaluation and monitoring of World Heritage properties and guiding the global conservation practice of natural and cultural heritage.
The World Heritage Leadership Programme is the most recent development in capacity building within the World Heritage framework. The Programme is a partnership between ICCROM, IUCN, and the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and the Environment, in collaboration with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS. It aims to improve conservation and management practices for culture and nature through the work of the World Heritage Convention, as an integral component of the contribution of World Heritage Sites and heritage places to sustainable development.
Taking a new and transformative approach, the programme takes a wide view of the totality of conservation practice, beyond the World Heritage framework. It considers how working through World Heritage sites and the communities and specialists that support them, World Heritage can provide new and better leadership to achieve and inspire innovation, performance and excellence in practice.
Sustainable Urban Development and Resilience: World Bank and IUCN Urban Alliance
Despite occupying just 2-3% of the world’s land surface, cities account for approximately 75% of natural resource consumption and 70% of CO2 emissions. Already home to over half of humanity, they are projected to absorb an additional 2.5 billion people by 2050, amplifying demand for resources, infrastructure and services, and placing ecosystems under mounting pressure.
Meeting human needs in this ‘urban century’ will be complicated by climate change. Cities are heavily exposed to climate risks including heat stress, flooding and coastal storm surges, whilst urban water and food security are sensitive to droughts and crop failure. Climate change could also aggravate risks to public health, not least by aiding the spread of vector-borne and waterborne diseases.
Forms and patterns of urbanisation—and of urban renewal—thus have profound social, economic and environmental implications. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize the centrality of cities to human progress, most notably through SDG 11 to “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” However, headway towards all 17 of the SDGs will to some extent be modulated by the evolution of cities. As centres of political and financial capital, and as hubs of innovation, cities are uniquely placed to drive the transition to a sustainable future.
Through this thematic community, the World Bank, IUCN and their partners will gather and share inspiring case studies, lessons learnt and best practices. Drawing on research and project experience in sustainable urban development and disaster risk management from across the world, they will showcase pragmatic solutions to a multitude of pressing urban challenges.
PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet partners and origins
The current PANORAMA – Solutions for a Healthy Planet initiative is based on work conducted by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH) over the past 5 years. Following the adoption of the Aichi Targets in 2010, several agencies promoted the concept of building on success, rather than the more familiar focus of pointing at failures. The publication “Natural Solutions: Protected areas helping people cope with climate change” (Dudley, et al. eds., 2010) was one result.
Simultaneously, supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) through its International Climate Initiative, GIZ is leading a project called Blue Solutions that started in 2013, together with GRID-Arendal, IUCN and UN Environment (formerly UNEP). Its focus was on solutions in marine and coastal situations.
The goal of these efforts was to find and document evidence for successful practical approaches, better understand how and why they worked, and to adapt and replicate them through learning exchanges among institutions and people dealing with similar challenges.
GIZ and IUCN continue to play a leading role in PANORAMA, through their long-term institutional commitment and investments. The PANORAMA partnership coordinators are housed in GIZ and IUCN.
PANORAMA is jointly implemented by the following organisations:
GIZ offers customised solutions to complex challenges. We are an experienced service provider and assist the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation. We offer demand-driven, tailor-made and effective services for sustainable development.
IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its 1,300 Member organisations and the input of some 15,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
UN Environment is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, develop solutions to environmental challenges and support integrated implementation of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development across the United Nations system, working with governments, civil society and private sectors.
GRID-Arendal was established in 1989 to support environmentally sustainable development by working with UN Environment and other partners. We communicate environmental knowledge that strengthens management capacity and motivates decision-makers to act. We transform environmental data into credible, science-based information products, delivered through innovative communication tools and capacity building services. Our vision is a society that understands, values and protects the environment on which it depends.
Rare: Conservation is about people. For more than 25 years, Rare has empowered local communities in over 50 countries to shift from being resource users to environmental stewards. Rare’s unique approach appeals to hearts and minds through proven marketing techniques. Rare trains local leaders to lead change, leaving a legacy of increased capacity and a sense of ownership, responsibility and pride in conservation.
IFOAM – Organics International is the global umbrella organisation of the organic agriculture movement, with members in over 120 countries. Since 1972 it has worked with and through its network to spread, institutionalize, and continuously improve environmental stewardship, healthy consumption, and prosperous livelihoods. It is an active change agent and collaborative partner with both public and private sectors toward attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
IFOAM – Organics International website
UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.
ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization working in service to its Member States to promote the conservation of all forms of cultural heritage, in every region of the world since 1959. It operates in the spirit of the 2001 UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, partnering with Member States to support them in safeguarding heritage within their borders and beyond. ICCROM works at the international and governmental levels, and with institutions and professionals on the ground, in areas of training, information, research, cooperation and advocacy for cultural heritage conservation. ICCROM is an Advisory Body of the World Heritage Committee for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO.
ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is a global non-governmental organization associated with UNESCO. Its creation in 1965 is the logical outcome of initial conversations between architects, historians and international experts that began in the early twentieth century and that materialized in the adoption of the Venice Charter in 1964.
Its mission is to promote the conservation, protection, use and enhancement of monuments, building complexes and sites. It participates in the development of doctrine and the evolution and distribution of ideas, and conducts advocacy. ICOMOS is an Advisory Body of the World Heritage Committee for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO.
World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low and middle income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank has the largest number of urban development and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) specialists of any development institution. More than 300 staff have urban and DRM as their primary or secondary professional affiliation. The World Bank is also the largest source of project lending and advisory services on urban development and resilience with a multi-billion dollar portfolio.
Development partners
The PANORAMA partners express their thanks to the following funding agencies:
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMUV)
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment