Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)
“Nature-based solutions” is an umbrella term that includes a range of established approaches that aim to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems to meet critical societal needs today while building long-term environmental and economic resilience.
NbS can range from minimal intervention, for example, protection of areas important for the delivery of ecosystem services (e.g., clean water), to extensive management of ecosystems to even creating new and artificial ecosystems.
While climate change and the biodiversity crisis are driving demand for NbS, more needs to be done to build confidence in nature-driven solutions. In order to incentivize additional investment, we need a stronger evidence base, more stories, champions, credible analyses, and proof that NbS projects are working—across different landscapes, in different climates, and for different purposes.
IISD is promoting and building the NbS evidence base as a practical approach to addressing a variety of challenges, including water resource management, infrastructure, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and biodiversity conservation.
Pelly's Lake in Manitoba, Canada, is an example of NbS being applied in practice, where a managed wetland has helped improve local livelihoods, enabled farming communities to become more resilient to a changing climate, and more.
New Work
Seeking Clarity on Nature-Based Climate Solutions for Adaptation
This guidance note clarifies the concepts behind nature-based solutions (NbS), nature-based climate solutions (NBCS), and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA).
Scaling up Nature-Based Infrastructure for People and Planet
Nature-based infrastructure can help us deal with climate change and build a better future for communities worldwide
Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of Agroforestry Nature-Based Infrastructure in Welkenraedt (Belgium)
This report describes the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of an agroforestry project in the municipality of Welkenraedt, Belgium.
Amplifying Ecosystem-based Adaptation with NAPs
The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process can encourage and strategize the use of nature-driven solutions like ecosystem-based solutions (EbA).
Related Projects
The NBI Global Resource Center
The NBI Global Resource Centre aims to bring together key partners to establish a business case for nature-based infrastructure.
Nature for Climate Adaptation Initiative (NCAI)
The NCAI seeks to enhance the capacity of civil society to implement nature-based climate solutions for adaptation that provide biodiversity and livelihood benefits to people of all genders and social groups in developing countries.
Floating Treatment Wetlands
Floating treatment wetlands allow aquatic plants to grow in water that is typically too deep for them and transform pollutants into harmless by-products.
ALivE - Adaptation, Livelihoods and Ecosystems Planning Tool
ALivE is a tool designed to help organize and analyze information to plan effective ecosystem-based adaptation.
Wetlands: Protecting us from floods and saving us money
Can wetlands protect us from floods, while also bringing us financial benefits? Hisham Osman thinks so...
Nature-based Solutions in National Adaptation Plans
National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes present a strategic opportunity to raise the profile of NbS approaches, providing a framework—and, potentially, financial resources—for implementation at scale. Find out more on through NAP Global Network resources.
Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi): Using Systemic Approaches and Simulation to Scale Nature-Based Infrastructure
SAVi has already been used for assessments on lakes and wetlands, and IISD is seeking opportunities to conduct SAVi assessments of other natural assets and compare them with civil engineering alternatives. We are also working on blended financing strategies for nature-based infrastructure.
The State of Sustainability Initiatives (SSI)
Increasing market access of small-holder farmers, fostering gender equality and contributing to environmental conservation by leveraging voluntary sustainability standards.
Related Work
Amplifying Ecosystem-based Adaptation with NAPs
The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process can encourage and strategize the use of nature-driven solutions like ecosystem-based solutions (EbA).
Floating Treatment Wetlands: Keeping our fresh water clean and healthy
We explain how, where and why floating treatment wetlands can be used to keep freshwater bodies clean around the world.
Building the Investment Case for Nature-Based Infrastructure
Nature-based infrastructure help increase societies' resilience to climate change and the insurance industry can play a key role.
How Can Nature Play a Leading Role in Adapting to Climate Change?
Five key takeaways from Canada’s Action on Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation Roundtable Dialogue.
Mobilizing Capital for Natural Infrastructure in Canada
This report offers a template for Canadian champions and funders of natural infrastructure projects to make a business case for specific projects.
Building Resilience With Nature: Maximizing Ecosystem-based Adaptation through National Adaptation Plan Processes
This document provides guidance on maximizing ecosystem-based adaptation through National Adaptation Plan processes.
Building Resilience With Nature: Ecosystem-based Adaptation in National Adaptation Plan Processes
This analysis provides a better understanding of the extent to which EbA, as a tool for adaptation, can be integrated into NAP processes.
Biological Diversity: Protecting the variety of life on Earth
Biodiversity underpins human life and a significant shift away from “business as usual” is needed to reverse the alarming rate of biodiversity loss.
The Multiple Benefits of Natural Infrastructure
We explain exactly what natural infrastructure is and all the multiple benefits that it brings to humans and to the environment.
Connecting the Dots: How ecosystem services support adaptation to climate change
What does Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) look like in practice? This blog looks at lessons from recent work in Nepal.
Experts
Anika Terton
Senior Policy Advisor
Liesbeth Casier
Lead, Public Procurement and Sustainable Infrastructure Policy and Coordinator of the NBI Global Resource Centre
Dimple Roy
Director, Water Management
Andrea Bassi
Senior Associate
Marina Puzyreva
Policy Advisor
Matthew McCandless
Senior Director, Fresh Water & Executive Director, IISD-ELA
Richard Grosshans
Lead, Bioeconomy
Veronica Lo
Senior Policy Advisor
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