Special Focus : Nature-based Solutions

Special focus: Nature Based Solutions

Prioritizing Nature-Based Solutions is a core aspect of IWRM Implementation

Special focus: Nature Based Solutions

Prioritizing Nature Based Solutions is a core aspect of a successful transition to more sustainable and inclusive water resources management

Photo : Pxfuel

Nature Based solutions (NBS) for water resources management involve the planned and deliberate use of ecosystem services to improve water quantity and quality and to increase resilience to climate change. Investment in NBS helps to safeguard and maintain ecosystems that are vital for food and water supplies, protect against natural disasters and provide goods and services key to human well-being and economic development.

NBS is a key focus area of the work of the UNEP-DHI Centre, and UNEP, aiming to change the way we interact with and depend on nature, to unlock its full potential for more sustainable water resources and water ecosystem management and climate resilience building.

Latest activities on Nature Based Solutions

Generation Restoration: Urban Nature-based Solutions Tool

November 4, 2024

The UNEP-DHI Centre is developing an online tool to support upscaling of urban Nature based Solutions (NBS) climate solutions, under UNEP’s Generation Restoration initiative (2023-2025). The Urban NBS Tool will support the identification and assessment of key environmental data in the project cities, with the goal to better understand climate risks and NBS potential to address these risks within the pilot cities.

Webinar: Fresh Water in Cities

June 10, 2024

Join us at the free webinar on “Fresh Water in Cities: How can nature-based solutions help tackle urban water challenges?” on June 13, 2024. The webinar aims to share knowledge and experiences on existing water challenges and available nature-based solutions (NbS) in urban areas.

UNEP announces 19 cities to restore nature’s rightful place in urban areas

January 17, 2024

Read this UNEP article about the Generation Restoration project, which will run for three years from 2023 to 2025 and is funded by the Federal German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). UNEP has officially selected 19 cities to join the project and eight of the cities will implement pilot projects to restore urban ecosystems and promote nature-based solutions.

How nature can help address water-related challenges: freshwater ecosystems technical brief

February 13, 2023

The report highlights the potential of using freshwater ecosystems to implement nature-based solutions (NbS) to tackle the triple planetary crisis – climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution. It draws from lessons learned from the implementation of different projects in Afghanistan, Albania, El-Salvador, Haiti, Kenya, Morocco, and Tanzania.

Nature Based Solutions for Water Management- A Primer

This publication is designed to raise awareness on the multiple benefits of nature-based solutions.

Green Infrastructure. Guide for Water Management

The aim of this guide is to raise awareness of the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) solutions for water resources management

UNEP Certificate Course on Nature Based Solutions

In January 2021, UNEP launched a new Mass Open Online Course on Nature-based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience. The course is open to everyone wishing to deepen their knowledge on the topic and is completely free, with participants receiving a certificate upon course completion.

UNEP and Nature Based Solutions

UNEP’s website page on Nature Based Solutions outlines the work they do on several critical areas such as reforestation and afforestation programmes, national ecosystem-based climate change adaptation plans and agro-ecological farming practices.