Nature-Based Solutions
How do nature-based solutions (NbS) contribute to transformative change? The new journal article Assessing nature-based solutions for transformative change provides a framework with a novel classification to assess NbS with regard to transformative change. Assessed were 93 NbS from mountain social-ecological systems (SES). The results show that functioning NbS need to be equally based on nature as on the involved people.
For a sustainable development in the face of global change challenges, NbS are a promising way to go if they integrate nature conservation with socio-economic benefits. It is however necessary to understand the way in which NbS relate to transformative change in order to assess their potential. This study looks at (1) the elements of transformative change that are addressed through NbS, (2) the contribution of NbS to the transformative change in SES and (3) the way transformative change occurs across a typology of NbS. Mountain regions were chosen because of their vulnerability to climate change, which requires urgent adaptive actions.
The 93 assessed NbS could be divided into 8 types which form 3 broader groups:
A. Conserving biodiversity, reducing degradation: the NbS in this group focus for example on capacity-building programs, the creation of protected areas or biodiversity conservation.
B. Local and indigenous peoples, biodiversity-friendly development: this group addresses human impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, and among the solutions we find nature tourism, employment creation and education.
C. Climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction: NbS in this group are characterized by local knowledge, strategic planning and increased resilience.
Profound transformative changes in SES are indicated by ecological and social restructuring and innovation, they are path-shifting, system-wide, take place on multiple scales and are persistent. Four more elements that were present in the majority of the assessed NbS and that are linked to transformative change are nature’s values, the combination of knowledge types, a participatory approach (i.e. strong stakeholder engagement) and management practices (e.g. restoration or nature protection). One of the biggest barriers for the development of successful NbS is the lack of funding.
The classification presented in this article reveals the complex interactions between the challenges and possibilities when transformative change towards sustainability is the goal. Climate change remains one of the main challenges. The complexity is due to the assessment of several dimensions in an inter- and transdisciplinary approach that, however, is necessary for evaluating both the processes and outcomes of transformative change and understanding the link between them.