Section outline

  • Nature-based solutions are environmental restoration responses at the programmatic level. The objective of nature based solutions is to address the causes and reduce the impact of climate change by protecting and restoring ecosystems that support human life, while preserving biodiversity.


    Principles

    The implementation of nature-based solutions should be evidence-based. They should be informed by credible environmental assessments and climate change data, and ensure that solutions are appropriate for the local community and environment.

    The implementation of nature-based solutions should be equitable. They should consider potential social, economic, and environmental impacts and how different groups use and access local space and the natural environment.

    The implementation of nature-based solutions should be inclusive. They should engage local communities and, where possible, be locally led, including the identification, design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of actions.

    Actions

    Common types of natured based solutions include:

    • Ecosystem restoration approaches: ecological restoration, ecological engineering, forest landscape restoration.
    • Issue-specific ecosystem-related approaches: ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem-based mitigation, climate change adaptation services, ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.
    • Infrastructure-related approaches: natural infrastructure, green infrastructure.
    • Ecosystem-based management approaches: integrated coastal zone management, integrated water resources management.
    • Ecosystem protection approaches: area-based conservation approaches, including protected area management.

    Resources

    IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (2020)Opens in a new tab
    This user-friendly framework for the verification, design, and scaling up of Nature-based solutions consists of 8 criteria and 28 indicators.

    Credit: International Union for Conservation of Nature

    Thorough reading time: 2-3 hours
    No. of pages: 30

    IUCN Nature-based Solutions for People and PlanetOpens in a new tab
    Information, resources and news from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

    Credit: International Union for Conservation of Nature
    Community-Led Adaptation Pathways in Solomon Islands Project (2022)Opens in a new tab
    Community-led Adaptation Pathways in Solomon Islands Project is an example of a community-led adaptation project, which recognised diverse community perspectives and strengths.

    Credit: ACFID

    Thorough reading time: 10-20 minutes
    No. of pages: 2

    Papua New Guinea Livelihoods Project - Mangoro Market Meri (2022)Opens in a new tab
    The Mangoro Market Meri livelihoods project in PNG provides an example of how an INGO, The Nature Conservancy, can work with a local NGO to act as knowledge brokers between communities and scientists. 

    Credit: ACFID

    Thorough reading time: 10-20 minutes
    No. of pages: 2

    Farmer Managed Natural RegenerationOpens in a new tab
    A hub of resources and information dedicated to Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) including links in a range of languages to the comprehensive FMNR manual (https://fmnrhub.com.au/fmnr-manual/)

    Credit: World Vision Australia
    Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration eWorkshop in a new tab
    An online course from the World Vision Technical Academy on facilitating FMNR implementation in the community.

    Credit: World Vision Australia

    Thorough reading time: 3-4 hours
    Nature-based Solutions for ClimateOpens in a new tab
    WWF hub with information, videos and links to resources and reports on Nature-based solutions

    Credit: WWF
    Nature-based Solutions UNDP DatabaseOpens in a new tab
    A database with case studies and examples of UNDP projects demonstrating how local communities and indigenous peoples are achieveing the SDGs thorugh nature-based actions.

    Credit: UNDP
    Nature-based solutions for climate (2022)Opens in a new tab
    DCCEEW's (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) site on nature-based solutions

    Credit: DCCEEW
    A Little Less Conversation: Nature Based Solutions (2023)Opens in a new tab
    For episode 5 of A Little Less Conversation, we speak with ActionAid Vanuatu Country Manager Flora Vano, and WWF Australia’s Head of Social Development, Nat Burke. Nature based solutions present an effective way to handle the impact of climate change, such as planting mangroves or regenerating coral reefs.

    Credit: Good Will Hunters, WWF, ACFID

    Listening time: 40 minutes
    Eco toolkit (2021)Opens in a new tab
    The tool aims to raise awareness in climaet change & DRR space within Christian community; useful videos and faith-based resources for information dissemination .

    Credit: Caritas

    Thorough reading time: 45-60 minutes
    No. of pages: 20

    The Road to Restoration (2019)Opens in a new tab
    The guide describes how to develop a restoration monitoring system and what would be the priority considerations for local practitioners in developing the monitoring system

    Credit: FAO

    Thorough reading time: 2-3 hours
    No. of pages: 78

    Community organising toolkit on ecosystem restoration (2021) in a new tab
    This toolkit is designed to provide support to individuals, communities, or CSOs to restore the ecosystem by equipping with necessary tools, knowledge, and resources. The toolkit comprises flowcharts on how to take action, exercise guide on local restoration, community strength and constraints mapping tools, action mapping, and suggests knowledge sharing approaches, to integrate environmental restoration within the community. 

    Credit: IUCN

    Thorough reading time: 2-3 hours
    No. of pages: 45

    A toolkit to support conservation by indigenous people and local communities (2013) in a new tab
    The toolkit provides a reminder that the achievement of the emerging post-2015 sustainable development goals (SDGs) will need to be linked to a comprehensive valuation of ecosystem services, and be spearheaded by local CSOs.

    Credit: UNDP 

    Thorough reading time: 2-3 hours
    No. of pages: 91

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