Getting the message right on nature‐based solutions to climate change

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(8), P. 1518 - 1546

Published: Feb. 1, 2021

Abstract Nature‐based solutions (NbS)—solutions to societal challenges that involve working with nature—have recently gained popularity as an integrated approach can address climate change and biodiversity loss, while supporting sustainable development. Although well‐designed NbS deliver multiple benefits for people nature, much of the recent limelight has been on tree planting carbon sequestration. There are serious concerns this is distracting from need rapidly phase out use fossil fuels protect existing intact ecosystems. also expansion forestry framed a mitigation solution coming at cost rich biodiverse native ecosystems local resource rights. Here, we discuss promise pitfalls framing its current political traction, present recommendations how get message right. We urge policymakers, practitioners researchers consider synergies trade‐offs associated follow four guiding principles enable provide society: (1) not substitute rapid fuels; (2) wide range land in sea, just forests; (3) implemented full engagement consent Indigenous Peoples communities way respects their cultural ecological rights; (4) should be explicitly designed measurable biodiversity. Only by following these guidelines will design robust resilient urgent sustaining nature together, now into future.

Language: Английский

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Mapping the effectiveness of nature‐based solutions for climate change adaptation

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 26(11), P. 6134 - 6155

Published: Sept. 9, 2020

Abstract Nature‐based solutions (NbS) to climate change currently have considerable political traction. However, national intentions deploy NbS yet be fully translated into evidence‐based targets and action on the ground. To enable policy practice better informed by science, we produced first global systematic map of evidence effectiveness nature‐based interventions for addressing impacts hydrometeorological hazards people. Most in natural or semi‐natural ecosystems were reported ameliorated adverse impacts. Conversely, involving created (e.g., afforestation) associated with trade‐offs; such studies primarily reduced soil erosion increased vegetation cover but lower water availability, although this was geographically restricted. Overall, more synergies than trade‐offs between broader ecological, social, mitigation outcomes. In addition, most often shown as effective so alternative there substantial gaps base. Notably, few cost‐effectiveness compared alternatives integrated assessments considering social ecological There also a bias toward Global North, despite communities South being generally vulnerable build resilience worldwide, it is imperative that protect harness benefits nature can provide, which only done effectively if strengthened

Language: Английский

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Building urban resilience with nature-based solutions: How can urban planning contribute?

Cities, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 95, P. 102483 - 102483

Published: Oct. 24, 2019

Cities face increasing environmental, social and economic challenges that together threaten the resilience of urban areas residents who live work there. These include chronic stresses acute shocks, amplified by climate change impacts. Nature-based solutions have emerged as a concept for integrating ecosystem-based approaches to address range societal challenges. directly contribute increased resilience. However, implementing nature-based is inherently complex, given ecosystem services, their multi-functionality trade-offs between functions, across temporal spatial scales. Urban planning can play substantial role support implementation manage conflicts, well how equity dimensions are considered. This paper presents framework guides application solutions' implementation, addressing key temporal, spatial, functional aspects. The highlights questions, supporting information required these underpin inclusion We find while substantially, there continuing gaps in anthropocentric processes give voice non-human nature.

Language: Английский

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Harnessing the potential of nature-based solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 376(6600), P. 1410 - 1416

Published: June 23, 2022

Although many governments, financial institutions, and corporations are embracing nature-based solutions as part of their sustainability net-zero carbon strategies, some nations, Indigenous peoples, local community groups, grassroots organizations have rejected this term. This pushback is fueled by (i) critical uncertainties about when, where, how, for whom effective (ii) controversies surrounding misuse in greenwashing, violations human rights, threats to biodiversity. To clarify how the scientific can help address these issues, I provide an overview recent research on benefits limits solutions, including they compare with technological approaches, highlight areas future research.

Language: Английский

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Overcoming the coupled climate and biodiversity crises and their societal impacts

Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 380(6642)

Published: April 20, 2023

Earth's biodiversity and human societies face pollution, overconsumption of natural resources, urbanization, demographic shifts, social economic inequalities, habitat loss, many which are exacerbated by climate change. Here, we review links among climate, biodiversity, society develop a roadmap toward sustainability. These include limiting warming to 1.5°C effectively conserving restoring functional ecosystems on 30 50% land, freshwater, ocean "scapes." We envision mosaic interconnected protected shared spaces, including intensively used strengthen self-sustaining the capacity people nature adapt mitigate change, nature's contributions people. Fostering interlinked human, ecosystem, planetary health for livable future urgently requires bold implementation transformative policy interventions through institutions, governance, systems from local global levels.

Language: Английский

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A function-based typology for Earth’s ecosystems

Nature, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 610(7932), P. 513 - 518

Published: Oct. 12, 2022

Abstract As the United Nations develops a post-2020 global biodiversity framework for Convention on Biological Diversity, attention is focusing how new goals and targets ecosystem conservation might serve its vision of ‘living in harmony with nature’ 1,2 . Advancing dual imperatives to conserve sustain services requires reliable resilient generalizations predictions about responses environmental change management 3 Ecosystems vary their biota 4 , service provision 5 relative exposure risks 6 yet there no globally consistent classification ecosystems that reflects functional management. This hampers progress developing sustainability goals. Here we present International Union Conservation Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology, conceptually robust, scalable, spatially explicit approach functions, biota, remedies across entire biosphere. The outcome major cross-disciplinary collaboration, this novel places all Earth’s into unifying theoretical context guide transformation policy from local scales. information infrastructure will support knowledge transfer ecosystem-specific restoration, standardized risk assessments, natural capital accounting framework.

Language: Английский

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Why Brazil needs its Legal Reserves

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 91 - 103

Published: July 1, 2019

Brazil's environmental legislation obliges private properties to retain a fixed proportion of their total area with native vegetation, the so-called "Legal Reserves". Those areas represent practically one third country's vegetation and are well known for role in biodiversity protection provisioning wide range ecosystem services landowners society. Despite relevance, this instrument has been criticized by part agribusiness sector its representatives Brazilian Congress. The Legal Reserve requirement is said be too restrictive impede full expansion agricultural activities, thus detrimental development country. Here, we critically analyze arguments employed justification recently proposed bill that aims completely extinguish Reserves. We demonstrate used mostly unsupported data, evidence or theory, besides being based on illogical reasoning. Further, synthesize principal benefits Reserves, including health economic benefits, emphasize importance these reserves water, energy, food, climate securities, addition primary function assisting maintenance landscapes. also highlight Reserves key-component effective less expensive nature-based solutions, should considered as assets Brazil rather than liabilities. Based available sound scientific agreement strongly oppose any attempt weaken

Language: Английский

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Planning nature-based solutions: Principles, steps, and insights

AMBIO, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 50(8), P. 1446 - 1461

Published: Oct. 14, 2020

Nature-based solutions (NBS) find increasing attention as actions to address societal challenges through harnessing ecological processes, yet knowledge gaps exist regarding approaches landscape planning with NBS. This paper aims provide suggestions of how NBS can be conceptualized and applied in practice. We develop a framework for by merging insights from literature case study the Lahn river landscape, Germany. Our relates three key criteria that define NBS, consists six steps planning: Co-define setting, Understand challenges, Create visions scenarios, Assess potential impacts, Develop solution strategies, Realize monitor. Its implementation is guided five principles, namely Place-specificity, Evidence base, Integration, Equity, Transdisciplinarity. Drawing on empirical study, we suggest suitable methods checklist supportive procedures applying Taken together, our facilitate provides further towards mainstreaming.

Language: Английский

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Guiding principles for rewilding

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 35(6), P. 1882 - 1893

Published: March 17, 2021

There has been much recent interest in the concept of rewilding as a tool for nature conservation, but also confusion over idea, which limited its utility. We developed unifying definition and 10 guiding principles through survey 59 experts, summary key organizations' visions, workshops involving 100 participants from around world. The convey that exits on continuum scale, connectivity, level human influence aims to restore ecosystem structure functions achieve self-sustaining autonomous nature. These clarify improve effectiveness global conservation targets, including those UN Decade Ecosystem Restoration post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Finally, we suggest differences perspectives lie largely extent it is seen achievable specific interventions. An understanding context projects success, careful site-specific interpretations will help rewilding.Recientemente ha habido mucho interés por el concepto de retorno la vida silvestre como herramienta para conservación naturaleza, pero también confusión idea que limitado su utilidad. Desarrollamos una definición unificadora y diez principios básicos medio encuestas expertos en silvestre, un resumen las visiones organizaciones más importantes talleres involucraron participantes todo mundo. Los transmiten existe continuo escala, conectividad nivel influencia humana objetivo es restaurar estructura funciones del ecosistema lograr naturaleza autónoma autosustentable. Estos aclaran e incrementan efectividad los objetivos mundiales conservación, incluyendo aquellos Década ONU Restauración Ecosistemas Marco Trabajo Biodiversidad post 2020. Finalmente, sugerimos diferencias perspectivas yacen principalmente grado al visto factible intervenciones específicas. Un entendimiento contexto proyectos importante éxito, interpretaciones específicas sitio ayudarán metas silvestre. Principios Básicos Retorno Vida Silvestre.

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Not Simply Green: Nature-Based Solutions as a Concept and Practical Approach for Sustainability Studies and Planning Agendas in Cities

Land, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 9(1), P. 19 - 19

Published: Jan. 11, 2020

The concept of a nature-based solution (NBS) has been developed in order to operationalize an ecosystem services approach within spatial planning policies and practices, fully integrate the ecological dimension, and, at same time, address current societal challenges cities. It exceeds bounds traditional approaches that aim ‘to protect preserve’ by considering enhancing, restoring, co-creating, co-designing urban green networks with nature are characterized multifunctionality connectivity. NBSs include main ideas blue infrastructure, services, biomimicry concepts, they considered be design tools for ecologically sensitive development. Nowadays, on their way mainstream as part both national international policies. successful implementation Europe worldwide, which is becoming increasingly common, highlights importance relevance NBS sustainable livable This paper discusses roles, development processes, functions cities taking Leipzig case study. Using data from interviews conducted 2017 2019, we study past city faces, including whole process realization. We discuss drivers, governance actors, options NBSs. highlight provided each NBS. these drivers strategies applying framework assessing co-benefits areas assess opportunities may have. way, able identify steps procedures help increase evidence base effectiveness providing examples best practice demonstrate multiple

Language: Английский

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