Nature-based Solutions use nature and healthy ecosystems to protect both people and nature, improving the functioning of infrastructure, and supporting a resilient, sustainable, liveable, just, and biodiverse future
Nature-based Solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature.
Nature-based Solutions address societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management, and restoration of both natural and modified ecosystems, benefiting both biodiversity and human well-being. Nature-based Solutions flow from healthy ecosystems. They are broadly useful in major challenges like climate change, disaster risk reduction, food and water security, biodiversity loss, and human health, and are critical to sustainable economic development. In many cases, NbS are direct and more sustainable alternatives to traditional “grey” solutions.
Such as? Improved land management that improves carbon storage and climate change mitigation. Urban tree planting that cools and cleans the air. Green roofs and bio swales that reduce dangerous stormwater runoff and increase water security. Parks and green spaces that facilitate healthier lives. More ecological agricultural practice that increases food security. Increased resilience to intense storms and climate shocks. More just urban planning that ensures that the benefits of nature are provided to everyone … just to name a few.
Some informative links about NbS:
- The European Union’s page on NbS.
- Another EU page on NbS.
- The European Commission’s page on research results on NbS.
- Check out more information on the Network Nature project.
- The NbS Wikipedia page.
- IUCN’s page on NBS.
- The World Wildlife Fund.
- The Nature-Based Solutions Initiative.
- A global program on climate resilience features NbS.
- Even the World Bank has an NbS page.
Some examples of comic approaches that the project members have been involved with:
- A comic approach to NbS.
- A comic about coral reefs.
- Valuing Nature: A graphic storytelling approach to the climate crisis.
From the European Commission: here are 12 broad areas of NbS thought and action (see the graphic below, which you can click on to reveal more detail). The depth and breadth of this figure shows the important reach NbS has to all our lives, toward a future that is resilient, sustainable, liveable, and just. Click on the image below or this link and scroll in the document to page 2 to find links for background on all 12 of the areas.
In your submission, you will be asked which of these areas you are interested in. Here is a summary of the twelve.
| Air quality | Let’s have cleaner air |
| Biodiversity | Support biodiversity and heathy ecosystems everywhere |
| Climate resilience | Mitigation and adaptation |
| Green enterprise | Nature-based economies; business engagement |
| Green space | More green and wild space for nature and people |
| Health and well-being | Nature for better living |
| Knowledge building | Learn so we can make better decisions |
| Land regeneration | Smarter land use, so land can heal and sustain |
| Natural and climate hazards | Floods, storms, droughts, plagues, oh my! |
| Participatory and governance | Get involved; demand good decisions |
| Social justice and social cohesion | The benefits of nature for everyone |
| Water management | Access to water for all; heathy water-based ecosystems |
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