Nature-based solutions (NbS) is a concept that highlights the fact that people can proactively protect, manage or restore natural ecosystems, while significantly contributing to addressing six major challenges: climate change, food security, water security, human health, disaster risk, and social and economic development.
NbS concept emerged during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in 2009. It was developed from the ecosystem-based adaptation concept, which integrates biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy but shifts from focusing solely on nature (ecosystem-based adaptation) to focusing on people and nature.
A paper presented key results and lessons learned on NbS, mainly from the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Program (ASAP) portfolio of IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), to inspire future programs to reach greater scale in supporting inclusive rural transformation. The benefits of NbS have been analyzed based on five themes and their associated desired benefits: climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; climate change mitigation potential; provision of non‑carbon ecosystem services; food security and income generation; and social benefits.
IFAD has an important role to play through projects it supports, working with small-scale producers to help them adapt and build their resilience to shocks. Here are some examples of how nature-based solutions are transforming lives.
After a day at pasture, shepherds in Tajikistan lead their cattle back to their village. To prevent overgrazing of land, they follow a pasture rotation plan. Controlling where and when livestock graze favors more plant growth and a larger diversity of vegetation, soil conservation, and improvement and enhancement of biodiversity.
Mangrove reforestation in the Bondali-Tenda village in Gambia is one of the activities carried out to help create sustainable environmental and socio-economic conditions for the local communities. This also strengthens the ecosystem enabling it to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change and enhance biodiversity.
This project in Laos improves soil fertility in vegetable gardens and farmlands and manages pest and insect invasion, thus increasing food production for the local communities. The main target of the project are women with the aim of ensuring they can fully benefit from the program.
Source: UN News
