News : Nature-Based Solutions Initiative

News categories

Top stories

1st draft of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework released
On 12 July 2021, the 1st draft of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework debuted. This comes ahead of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in October, to develop the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. With 21 action targets [...] read more
On the misuse of nature-based carbon ‘offsets’
Nature-based solutions (NbS*) are being misused for greenwashing. Promoting NbS as carbon 'offsets' while continuing business as usual in fossil fuel use is not a solution to climate change. In fact, it can encourage continued or even increased fossil fuel consumption leading to more emissions o [...] read more

Effects of large herbivores on fire regimes and wildfire mitigation

A recent study in Journal of Applied Ecology has shown that the presence of large herbivores, such as domestic livestock, wild and semi-wild herbivores, within landscapes can prevent and mitigate wildfires, particularly in areas facing land abandonment. Rouet-Leduc et al. found that herbivores can provide a cost-effective nature-based solution, that in some instances can replace [...] Read more
September 16, 2021

Coastal wetlands mitigate storm flooding and associated costs in estuaries

A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters has found that estuary wetlands such as saltmarshes reduce flooding more than previously thought. The authors created numerical hydrodynamic models of eight Welsh estuaries to simulate storms of varying intensity and coupling flood predictions to damage valuation. They found that in all cases estuary wetlands reduced flooding, [...] Read more
September 2, 2021

Biodiversity needs every tool in the box: use OECMs

Gurney et al. 2021 A recent comment piece in Nature argues that Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) provide a mechanism to support effective biodiversity conservation, while protecting the rights and livelihoods of local & Indigenous communities. OECMs are designated areas that are achieving the effective in-situ conservation of biodiversity outside of protected areas. The guiding principles, [...] Read more
August 23, 2021

Revealing the widespread potential of forests to increase low level cloud cover

Duveiller et al. 2021 A recent study published in Nature Communications presents the first global assessment of forest restoration via satellite observations. As forests are a key carbon sink due to their capacity to sequester carbon, they play a crucial role in efforts to mitigate climate change. Protection and restoration of forested areas is therefore a [...] Read more
August 10, 2021

Using ecosystem services to measure the degree to which a solution is nature-based

White et al. 2021 A recent study in Ecosystem Services highlights the need to better define the relative contribution of nature to Nature-based Solutions (NbS), which varies widely given that the concept covers the intersection of ecology, engineering, sociology and economics. NbS can play a role in resilience and adaption to many aspects of current global climate [...] Read more
August 6, 2021

A trade-off between plant and soil carbon storage under elevated CO2

Terrer et al. 2021 A recent study in Nature revealed that there’s a push and pull between sequestering of carbon dioxide by plants and soil in response to greenhouse gas emissions. Such a trade-off may mean that current climate models overestimate the removal of atmospheric CO₂ by forests. By analysing over 100 experiments that exposed different habitats [...] Read more
July 28, 2021

Framing “nature-based” solutions to climate change

Osaka et al. 2021 This paper explores the framing, definitions, and context of “nature-based” or “natural” solutions in the protection, conservation, restoration, management, enhancement, or imitation of natural ecosystems, and in both mitigating and adapting to climate change. The framing of particular solutions as “natural” or “unnatural” has far-reaching implications for climate policy, but has thus [...] Read more
July 27, 2021

Biodiversity–productivity relationships are key to nature-based climate solutions

Mori et al. 2021 In this study the potential of positive feedbacks by nature-based solutions in improved tree diversity under future climate change scenarios. This is in contrast to the concern about undesirable feedbacks where climate change drives biodiversity loss. The study found triple wins for climate change, tree diversity and society around the world through [...] Read more
June 20, 2021

Coral Reef Restorations Can Be Optimized to Reduce Coastal Flooding Hazards

Roelvink et al. 2021 A new study published in Frontiers in Marine Science evaluates of how coral restoration can reduce coastal flooding for various types of reefs. Coral reefs are effective natural coastal flood barriers that protect adjacent communities. Coral degradation compromises the coastal protection value of reefs while also reducing their other ecosystem services, making [...] Read more
June 15, 2021

Investing in nature for development: do nature-based interventions deliver local development outcomes?

Does investing in nature actually deliver development at the local level? In a recent report undertaken in collaboration with IIED we provide insights into the types of direct, site-based interventions that can help or hinder the achievement of development outcomes for local people and, ultimately, the delivery of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and Sustainable [...] Read more
June 15, 2021

Nature-based Solutions can help cool the planet – if we act now

This publication in Nature clarifies the role of NbS in climate change mitigation by presenting the projected effect of worldwide implementation of NbS on global temperatures. This approach differs from previous calculations of the climate change mitigation potential of NbS, which have focused solely on the amount of carbon that NbS could remove from the [...] Read more
May 12, 2021

Seagrass ecosystem contributions to people’s quality of life in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories

McKenzie et al. 2021 Seagrass meadows are receiving growing attention, especially in relation to their potential for carbon sequestration. However, a broader appreciation of the contributions of seagrass meadows to people’s quality of life will inform better interventions that enhance seagrass ecosystem health whilst also benefiting local people. This paper reviews how seagrass in the Pacific Islands [...] Read more
May 6, 2021

Twitter feed

Tweets by Nature-based Solutions Initiative

Twitter loading...

Be sure to check out our twitter feed!

Get all the latest up-to-date tweets and re-tweets about Nature-based Solutions.

Go to twitter

News