The world is currently facing a biodiversity and climate crisis which are globally interlinked. Nature-based solutions (NbS), defined as “as "actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits” is part of the solution to these challenges. Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer a powerful approach to addressing the interlinked challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change and other societal challenges by protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing ecosystems. In the Nordic region, NbS initiatives focus on solutions that strengthen biodiversity, contribute to climate adaptation and mitigation, and improve human well-being. Examples include the restoration of peatlands, forests, and grasslands, sustainable farming practices, and blue-green infrastructure in urban and coastal areas. These approaches not only enhance ecosystems but also strengthen food security, health and resilience, especially in the light of climate change.
This report (guide) is a shortened and adapted version of the Nordic online guide for Nature-based solutions implementation where the online guide includes a larger set of NbS applications across the six ecosystems included in the project as well as the main societal challenges and how these could be dealt with using NbS. Nature-based solutions encompass many different actions spanning protection, sustainable use, and restoration of ecosystems to solve societal challenges such as biodiversity loss, food security, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. As such, nature-based solutions are highlighted by both the UN, IPBES and IPCC as a cost-effective way of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) recognises the need for action and goals to address the hazardous loss of biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystems including through NbS.
There is no one-size-fits all approach to planning NbS, because each project is dependent on the type of NbS that is chosen, combined with the context (i.e. country, ecosystem type, local conditions) in which it is applied. NbS implementation should therefore be tailored to each location's individual characteristics, using place- and context-specific assessments. The IUCN standard for NbS is designed to guide the practical implementation of NbS, as well as support conservation and policy development and is described in this report. We also list existing guidance and tools for NbS implementation, which are important for well executed NbS projects. This also includes information regarding standards, policies and laws, cost-benefit analysis, and monitoring and evaluation of NbS projects.
One of the main points of NbS is that they are implemented to meet societal challenges. In this report we focus on several societal challenges and how they can be addressed by NbS: biodiversity enhancement, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk and preparedness, economic development, food security, human health and wellbeing, social justice and capacity building, and water management. Monitoring and evaluation of NbS efficiency are therefore essential to determine whether implemented NbS respond effectively to these challenges across ecosystems and land use types. The IUCNs global standard for NbS requires that NbS are managed adaptively and are based on evidence. This means that in practice, NbS need to be monitored and evaluated to make sure that the implemented actions continue to deliver the benefits, and effectively address the societal challenges that they were implemented for.
The report focusses on six ecosystem types and how NbS can be implemented in these: coastal, cultural landscapes, forests, mountains, urban, and freshwater ecosystems including rivers, lakes and wetlands. We give examples of NbS implementations for different ecosystems including creation and restoration of marine gardens, crop rotation, deadwood enrichment, revegetation and restoration of terrestrial vegetation, green and blue-green roofs, rewetting of wetlands, and restoration.