Nature-based Solutions Thematic Group

Group lead: Dr. Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham
Adjunct Professor,
Drew University, New Jersey, USA

Group co-lead: Prof. Edna Cabecinha
Assistant Professor
University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

The IUCN CEM Nature-based Solutions Thematic Group is working on developing and improving the knowledge base on Nature-based Solutions. It is helping to better integrate NbS in planning and decision making, and developing practical tools to be implemented on the ground, to addressing global societal challenges.

Nature-based Solution (NbS) were defined by IUCN in 2016, 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”. In addition, eight principles were adopted, and are essential to provide a full understanding of NbS.

According to these principles, Nature-based Solutions:
1. embrace nature conservation norms (and principles);
2. can be implemented alone or in an integrated manner with other solutions to societal challenges (e.g. technological and engineering solutions);
3. are determined by site-specific natural and cultural contexts that include traditional, local and scientific knowledge;
4. produce societal benefits in a fair and equitable way, in a manner that promotes transparency and broad participation;
5. maintain biological and cultural diversity and the ability of ecosystems to evolve over time;
6. are applied at a landscape scale;
7. recognise and address the trade-offs between the production of a few immediate economic benefits for development, and future options for the production of the full range of ecosystems services; and
8. are an integral part of the overall design of policies, and measures or actions, to address a specific challenge.

Following the conceptual work that was undertaken, a close collaboration between CEM and the IUCN Secretariat resulted in developing the operational framework for NbS, with the Global Standard for NbS that was launched in July 2021.

The IUCN CEM Nature-based Solutions Thematic Group (NbS TG), was established in January 2017 and since, has been working on both the conceptual and operational frameworks for NbS. In addition, a core group was recently established within the NbS TG, aiming at promoting a larger engagement of CEM experts in developing these different NbS TG activities.

The NbS TG is aiming at developing and improving the knowledge base on NbS, through the development of grey literature and scientific publications on various aspects related to NbS. It is helping to upscale NbS, while better integrating them in planning and policy, at different levels and in different regions. In addition, it works on developing practical tools to be implemented on the ground, promote good NbS practices and raise awareness, in particular while supporting the further development of the Global Standard for NbS, to addressing global societal challenges. Last, the NbS TG is actively supporting the International Standard Committee and Angela Andrade in her role of ISC Chair.

Projects and Initiatives
Case-studies compilation of NbS interventions, from different regions, ecosystem types and addressing different challenges, and which are being assessed by the Global Standard. This will allow to observe any trends in NbS implementation, collect lessons learned from practitioners, and improve the Global Standard for NbS.

Analysis of the emergence and evolution of NbS, and the interrelationship between NbS and ecosystem-related concepts and how they can contribute to solving global challenges.

Resources and publications
Nature-based Solutions Conference - 5-7 July 2022, in Oxford, UK. “Ensuring that NbS support thriving human & ecological communities”

4th Ecosystem Services Partnership Conference - 10-14 October 2022, in Heraklion, Greece. “Ecosystem services empowering people and societies in times of crises”.

Cohen-Shacham E, Walters G, Janzen C, Maginnis S. (eds.). 2016. Nature-based Solutions to address global societal challenges. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

Cohen-Shacham E, Andrade A, Dalton J, Dudley N, Jones M, Kumar C, Maginnis S, Maynard S, Nelson C, Renaud F, Welling R, Walters G. 2019. Core principles for successfully implementing and upscaling Nature-based Solutions. Environmental Science and Policy 98: 20-29.

IUCN 2016. Resolution 69 on Defining Nature-based Solutions (WCC-2016-Res-069). IUCN Resolutions, Recommendations and Other Decisions. 6-10 September 2016. World Conservation Congress Honolulu, Hawai‘i, USA.

IUCN. 2020. Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions. A user-friendly framework for the verification, design and scaling up of NbS. First edition. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. Available online (En/Fr/Sp): https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/49070

IUCN. 2020. Guidance for using the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions. A user-friendly framework for the verification, design and scaling up of Nature-based Solutions. First edition. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. Available online (En/Fr/Sp): https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/49071

Le Gouvello, R., Brugere, C. and Simard, F. 2022. Aquaculture and Nature-based Solutions. Identifying synergies citation: between sustainable development of coastal communities, aquaculture, and marine and coastal conservation. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.