Informing the global standard for Nature-based Solutions
- Media Manager
- Jan 31, 2019
- 1 min read
IUCN
Published: January 31st, 2019
At the 2016 World Conservation Congress and members’ assembly, IUCN's members adopted a resolution (WCC-2016-Res-069-EN) which, for the first time, defined the use of nature for simultaneous benefits to biodiversity and societal well-being. According to the resolution, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are “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”. This definition is drawn from a more elaborated IUCN publication that outlines the NbS framework (Cohen-Sacham, 2016).
Why a Global Standard is needed?
Without clear definition and benchmarks that enable effective transfer of NbS approaches from pilot or project scales to significantly larger scales, there is a risk that NbS remain a general metaphor. While NbS hold real potential, the absence of comprehensive guidance may promote ill-considered interventions which subsequently fail to deliver. This then further exposes the very communities they are designed to benefit and undermines government and investor confidence in NbS.
Currently, there is a rapidly growing evidence base on the positive effects of NbS. With robust standards and guidelines, further momentum can be achieved in engaging relevant sectors such as water, food, development and humanitarian aid to systematically incorporate NbS into their decision-making processes.
