“Healthy ecosystems underpin healthy, resilient nations and communities, and we cannot achieve our Sustainable Development Goals without safeguarding nature” Achim Steiner, UNDP (2017)
Land-based conservation and restoration has the potential to provide over 30% of the cost-effective climate change mitigation needed between now and 2030
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Most nations agree that nature is a major ally in the fight against climate change but policy ambition must be matched by robust targets
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Natural coastal wetlands prevented $625M property damage during Hurricane Sandy in NE USA in 2012
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Loss of coral reefs would double damage from coastal flooding and triple destruction by storms
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Nature-based climate solutions must be grounded in sound biodiversity science
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Ecosystem and biodiversity scientists must work closely with policymakers to identify meaningful climate adaptation targets that benefit both people and ecosystems
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What are Nature-based Solutions?

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Nature-based solutions (NbS) involve working with nature to address societal challenges, providing benefits for both human well-being and biodiversity. Specifically they are actions that involve the protection, restoration or management of natural and semi-natural ecosystems; the sustainable management of aquatic systems and working lands such as croplands or timberlands; or the creation of novel ecosystems in and around cities. They are actions that are underpinned biodiversity and are designed and implemented with the full engagement and consent of local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

Want to learn more?

If you would like to learn more about the role of NbS in climate change adaptation and mitigation, please read some of our recent publications. We also recommend you read about the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions.

Getting the message right on nature-based solutions
The role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in tackling the climate and nature crises has gained the world’s attention. They were high on the agenda at the World Economic Forum and the Climate Adaptation Summit last week, and will continue to be a central topic of discussion in the wake of COVID-19 a [...] read more
Understanding the value and limits of nature-based solutions to climate change and other global challenges
Understanding the value and limits of Nature-based Solutions to climate change and other global challenges. We discuss how NbS can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and in what ways NbS is limited in a warming world. We examine NbS for adaptation in the context of the vulnerabi [...] read more
Mapping the evidence of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation
Today our systematic review on nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation has been published in Global Change Biology. It is the first global systematic review of the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and provides evidence that nature-based solutions play a key role in addressing the [...] read more
Global recognition of Nature-based Solutions
Our new paper reveals global support for Nature-based Solutions to climate change but highlights the need for high-level pledges to be met by science-based targets that benefit both people and ecosystems. Non-technical summary Ecosystems across the globe are vulnerable to the effects of climat [...] read more
Grounding nature-based climate solutions in sound biodiversity science
We have a new paper out now in Nature Climate Change Summary The current narrow focus on afforestation in climate policy runs the risk of compromising long-term carbon storage, human adaptation and efforts to preserve biodiversity. An emphasis on diverse, intact natural ecosystems — as oppos [...] read more
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 more

All our publications

NbS Guidelines

Make sure you read these evidence-based guidelines
around what constitutes successful, sustainable NbS.

NbS Guidelines

Education

We will soon be offering both 3-5 day open-enrolment courses and custom-designed courses on the science, policy, practice, finance and governance of nature-based solutions for executives and public servants, delivered in-person or online, as well as undergraduate and graduate teaching and supervision for students enrolled at the University of Oxford. If you are interested in taking part in one of our courses, please contact us.

Examples of Nature-based Solutions

01 Restoring and protecting forests and wetlands in catchments

Protecting or restoring forests and wetlands (e.g. peatlands) in catchments can secure and regulate water supplies, support production of forest products, and protect communities and infrastructure from floods, soil erosion and landslides.

02 Bringing nature into cities

Creating green roofs and walls and planting trees in cities can moderate the impacts of heatwaves, capture storm water and abate pollution. Such measures also have positive outcomes for mental and physical health.

03 Coastal habitat restoration

Protecting or restoring coastal ecosystems (mangroves, reefs and salt marshes) protects communities and infrastructure from storm surges and erosion. Coastal habitats, especially mangroves, are particularly good at sequestering carbon, so restoration also contributes to climate change mitigation.

NbSI animation

An animation explaining the fundamental importance of restoring and protecting natural habitats to help us adapt to the impacts of climate change and slow further warming.

This is a creative product of the Nature-based Solutions Initiative.