Nature-based solutions
How can we adapt to a changing climate, while taking care of both people and nature? The answer often lies in nature itself.
The world's biodiversity is under extreme pressure. According to the UN Nature Panel, 50 percent of all life forms will be lost by 2050 if we fail to fundamentally change the way we humans use and consume nature.
Some of this fundamental change can lie in so-called nature-based solutions. The definitions vary, but essentially it is about imitating or making use of nature's own functions and ecosystems, so that in addition to preventing or adapting to climate change, they also take care of nature and species diversity.
Within the concept of nature-based solutions, we also find nature restoration and nature-positive solutions. The latter is a relatively new term, and an agreed definition is not yet in place. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the hallmark of a nature-positive future is that we, as a global society, not only stop and reverse the loss of nature, but improve the state of nature for future generations.
Some concrete examples of nature-based solutions could be protecting wetland areas that naturally bind CO2, restoring a stretch of river or re-establishing blue forest, like important coastal ecosystems such as seagrass meadows.
This is how NIVA can contribute
We have a section for nature-based solutions and aquatic ecology, which was established in 2021. This has extensive natural science expertise on the freshwater side, both nature-based solutions in urban waterways and in rural areas. In addition, the section for water and society
extensive knowledge of governance, economics, legislation, and the participation of public, private and citizen actors in the development of such solutions. On the marine side, the section for marine biology has rich experience with and knowledge of nature-based solutions in the coast, also connected to man-made structures.
We offer monitoring, develop nature-based solutions, and can help restore marine and freshwater ecosystems, as well as contribute to good models for planning them.
Why does NIVA focus on nature-based solutions?
Both the climate summit COP27 and the nature summit COP15 have highlighted nature-based solutions as important in the fight against climate change and the loss of biodiversity.
We at NIVA completely agree with that, and we have defined nature-based solutions as a crucial research area for a sustainable future.
Contact us if you want to know more about how we work with nature-based solutions.
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