Nature-based solutions

As a typical coastal city, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, faces serious societal challenges such as the impact of climate change, overexploitation of natural resources, and loss of biodiversity. Xiamen is implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) by strengthening ecological protection, promoting ecosystem restoration, building sponge city, supporting sustainable community development and green transformation of mines, while encouraging funding and diverse public participation.

Historically, droughts have caused extensive damage. Effective responses to drought remain a challenge, with reactive and crisis-oriented approaches dominating many interventions. The consequences of drought extend beyond households and rural livelihoods, impacting industrial operations and sectors such as energy, agriculture and water supply. Integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into drought policies requires a comprehensive, context-aware approach.

Les solutions fondées sur la nature (SfN) sont des actions entreprises pour protéger, gérerdurablement et restaurer les écosystèmesnaturels et modifiés qui bénéficientsimultanément aux personnes et à la nature. Les SfN sont essentielles pour relever desdéfis tels que les changements climatiques, lasécurité alimentaire, la sécurité hydrique, lesrisques de catastrophes, la santé humaine et ledéveloppement social et économique.

Las soluciones basadas en la naturaleza (SbN) son actividades emprendidas para proteger, gestionar de manera sostenible y restaurar los ecosistemas naturales y modificados en beneficio simultáneo de las personas y la naturaleza. Las SbN son fundamentales para abordar desafíos como el cambio climático, la seguridad alimentaria e hídrica, el riesgo de desastres, la salud humana y el desarrollo social y económico.

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.

The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions lists the Criteria and Indicators, as adopted by the 98th Meeting of the IUCN Council in 2020.

Les solutions fondées sur la nature (SFN) sont de plus en plus considérées comme un moyen d’atteindre les objectifs de plusieurs accords mondiaux et peuvent être essentielles à une transition juste – si la bonne combinaison de politiques de transition juste est mise en œuvre. Mais il n’existe actuellement aucune garantie que les SFN généreront du travail décent.