Nature-based solutions to address global societal challenges

This report has been prepared as part of an effort by IUCN to define its position on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and plan for future work to advance this concept and support effective implementation of NbS to enhance ecosystem services provision and address societal challenges including climate change and disaster risk. The report proposes a definitional framework for NbS, including a set of general principles for any NbS intervention. The report also defines the scope of NbS as an umbrella concept embracing a number of different ecosystem-based approaches.

The report presents ten case studies of NbS applications from around the world. These cases have been chosen to represent the range of ecosystem services and societal challenges that can be addressed by NbS interventions. The report looks at some of the lessons learned from these cases and discusses the importance of building an evidence base for NbS in order to support future replication and upscaling.