The rapidly increasing human pressure on the biosphere is pushing biodiversity into the sixth mass extinction event in the history of life on Earth. The organisms being exterminated are integral working parts of our planet’s life support system, and their loss is permanent. Like climate change, this irreversible loss has potentially devastating consequences for humanity.
The main goal of this scoping study is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the national aspect of North Macedonia in regard of pilot activities to apply the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) concept for disaster risk reduction (DRR). The study refers to the available information from existing policies, programmes, and strategies (at the global, regional, national, and local levels). The analysed data are related to NbS for DRR, directly or indirectly.
Montenegro is a disaster-prone country particularly vulnerable to climate change, thus affecting multiple sectors – agriculture, biodiversity, energy, forestry, public health, coastal areas and maritime resources, tourism and water resources. The combination of the rise in frequency and intensity of climate-related hazards, and increasing development in the country raises the risks of these hazards causing substantial economic and health impacts.
Kosovo is prone to a wide variety of natural hazards – including floods, landslides, droughts, earthquakes, and wildfires – that could pose serious damages to the economy, fiscal balances, and the well-being of vulnerable populations. Many of these climatic-related hazards are expected to magnify with future climate change.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are activities undertaken to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems to simultaneously benefit people and nature. NbS are critical to addressing challenges like climate change, food security, water security, disaster risk, human health, and social and economic development.
North-East Badia, Jordan, is inhabited by half a million Syrian refugees and an equal number of Jordanians, whose livelihoods depend on agriculture. Working in the agricultural sector is characterized by low wages, long hours, poor working conditions, lack of occupational health and safety, and a high incidence of child labour. In addition, Jordan faces severe water scarcity, with annual demand roughly double the available supply and weak water resource management exacerbating the problem.
Coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses and target_idal marshes, are some of the most carbon-rich ecosystems on Earth, and are vital to mitigating the impacts of climate change. They are also critical for coastal biodiversity, food security, livelihoods and human well-being, in addition to climate adaptation – protecting millions of people globally from the impacts of storms, coastal flooding and erosion.
Mountains are at the frontline of climate change, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and socio-economic inequities for both mountain communities and those downstream. However, mountain communities have the capacity to adapt to these changes and mitigate the impacts of climate change. By utilizing the opportunities created by ecosystem services, mountain communities can build climate-resilience, resource security and consistent livelihoods.
