Nature-based Solutions Initiative
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Role of NbS for Climate Change Adaptation in UK Policy
Just ahead of tomorrow's Climate Ambition Summit, this report considers the important role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in climate change adaptation policy for the UK and its fourteen overseas territories. The report was written by NbSI, in collaboration with WWF and RSPB; together we will work w [...] read moreOn 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
National mitigation potential from natural climate solutions in the tropics
Griscom et al. 2020 Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
This paper looks at the potential for natural climate solutions (NCS; a type of nature-based solution) for mitigating climate change in 79 tropical countries. 12 different NCS pathways were defined, split broadly into protection, management and restoration across multiple habitat types (savannahs, farmland, wetland and [...] Read more
Tweet February 11, 2020
Tweet February 11, 2020
Nature-based approaches to managing climate change impacts in cities
Hobbie and Grimm 2020 Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
This paper reviews current evidence for how Nature-based Solutions can be used to reduce the vulnerability of cities to climate change. The authors give an overview of how certain features of cities amplify climatic hazards, such as the concentration of settlements around rivers and coasts [...] Read more
Tweet February 11, 2020
Tweet February 11, 2020
Greater stability of carbon capture in species-rich natural forests compared to species-poor plantations
Osuri et al. 2019
This study looked at the difference in C storage and rate of C sequestration between longer-lived plantations and natural forests, using 2000-2018 data on Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from a natural experiment in the Western Ghats of India. C stocks in monodominant teak and Eucalyptus plantations were 30-50% lower than in evergreen [...] Read more
Tweet February 11, 2020
Tweet February 11, 2020
Impacts of forests and forestation on hydrological services in the Andes: A systematic review
Bonnesoeur et al (2019) Forest Ecology and Management
This paper is a synthesis of 155 studies on the effects of afforestation (tree-planting on naturally non-forested land) in the Andes on hydrology, erosion and landslide reduction. In contrast to public perception in the Andes, the review found that, overall, non-native tree plantations, and to a lesser extent [...] Read more
Tweet January 13, 2020
Tweet January 13, 2020
Nature-based innovation systems
van der Jagt et al (2019) Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
To build a sustainable world, transformation across many sectors is required and technology is thought to play a major enabling role. This has prompted the development of the Technological Innovation System framework, which focuses on the relationship between the social and technological systems. In this [...] Read more
Tweet January 13, 2020
Tweet January 13, 2020
Oyster breakwater reefs promote adjacent mudflat stability and salt marsh growth in a monsoon dominated subtropical coast
Chowdhury et al (2019) Scientific Reports
Three self-sustaining breakwater oyster reefs were established on an eroding mudflat on Kutubdia Island, Bangladesh. Over four seasons, it was found that the 0.6m-high reefs attenuated wave energy by 95-100% when water levels were up to around 0.5m, whilst wave energy was partially dissipated with water levels of 0.5-1.0m depending [...] Read more
Tweet January 11, 2020
Tweet January 11, 2020
Core principles for successfully implementing and upscaling Nature-based Solutions
Cohen-Shacham et al (2019) Environmental Science and Policy
As NbS gain traction in environment and climate policy it is vital that the term is used and applied consistently. With the goal of improving the operational framework for NbS, this paper compares IUCN’s preliminary “NbS Principles” to those of five other ecosystembased concepts (the Ecosystem Approach, Forest [...] Read more
Tweet November 18, 2019
Tweet November 18, 2019
Impacts of Land-Based Greenhouse Gas Removal Options on Ecosystem Services and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Smith et al (2019) Ann Revs Ecol System This study compares the impacts of five different options for land-based Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) on ecosystem services and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It suggests universally positive effects of soil carbon sequestration and wetland restoration, whereas options such as bioenergy with carbon capture [...] Read more
Tweet November 18, 2019
Tweet November 18, 2019
Mangroves shelter coastal economic activity from cyclones
Hochard et al (2019) Proc Natl Acad Sciences USA
This study is the first to provide global evidence on the capacity of mangroves to buffer the economic activity of coastal communities during tropical storms. Drawing on data on nighttime luminosity across 2,000 tropical and sub-tropical communities from 23 countries, the study found that areas with average-sized [...] Read more
Tweet November 18, 2019
Tweet November 18, 2019
Seven lessons for planning nature-based solutions in cities
Frantzeskaki (2019) Environmental Science and Policy
Recent research on urban NbS tends to highlight the benefits of NbS, but not investigate implications for policy planning and governance. To address this gap, this paper analyses 15 urban experiments across 11 European cities that have implemented NbS projects and identifies lessons on how NbS may be chosen, designed, [...] Read more
Tweet May 25, 2019
Tweet May 25, 2019
Addressing societal challenges through Nature-Based Solutions: How can landscape planning and governance research contribute?
Alberts et al. (2019) Landscape and Urban Planning
This paper explores how river landscape planning and governance research enhance understanding of the ways NbS can alleviate societal challenges. It also presents a conceptual framework for how planning and governance can help assess NbS effectiveness. NbS sometimes take more space and time than tech alternatives, require intensive [...] Read more
Tweet May 25, 2019
Tweet May 25, 2019
Maintaining tropical beaches with seagrass and algae: a promising alternative to engineering solutions
James et al. (2019) Bioscience
Erosion of tropical beaches, exacerbated by climate change and coastal development, is resulting in coastal flooding, loss of income from tourism, and loss of habitat for wildlife across the globe. In this study, the authors determined the long term effectiveness of natural vegetation in stabilizing the foreshore and attenuating wave velocity, [...] Read more
Tweet May 25, 2019
Tweet May 25, 2019
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