In short: Nature-based solutions address societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems.
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Nature-based solutions are actions that address societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management, and restoration of ecosystems, generating co-benefits for both biodiversity and people. Nature-based solutions can be used for both climate adaptation and climate mitigation (and some even do both).
For EU projects like SMARTER, this is complemented with the European Commission’s policy-oriented framing, which describes nature-based solutions as “solutions inspired and supported by nature that are cost-effective, deliver environmental, social and economic benefits, and help build resilience”.
Examples of nature-based solutions:
- Planting native trees and other vegetation in urban areas
- Natural flood management, such as river rewinding or retention ponds