Natural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS)

USAID Managing Unit: Peru
Place of Implementation: Peru
Partners: Forest Trends, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental (Peruvian Society of Environmental Rights), EcoDecisión, the Imperial College of London, and the Consorcio para el Desarrollo de la Ecorregión Andina - CONDESAN (Consortium for the Development of the Andean Ecoregion).

The Natural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) project will enable the Government of Peru to better manage its natural resources to increase water security and provide a sustainable economic future for its citizens, while also reducing migration and the risk of internal conflicts. Compared to “gray infrastructure,” or human-engineered systems such as dams or water treatment systems, natural infrastructure is a cost-effective way to mitigate water scarcity and climate risk through conservation and sustainable management of landscapes that purify and store water, reduce storm water runoff and minimize flood damage. These practices include wetland and forest conservation, improved grazing and farming practices, and restoration of pre-Incan infiltration canals. The project will demonstrate how modest investments can increase water management and help catalyze Peruvian public- and private-sector investment in these cost-effective practices.

Key themes: adaptation, water, resilience, land use, ecosystems