Nature-based solutions ready to be implemented
With nature, for nature, and for people
“Nature-based solutions” refers to working with nature on its own terms whilst simultaneously improving society and human welfare. The Nordic Council of Ministers funded a four-year project to develop Nordic models for nature-based solutions. This initiative has generated a wealth of knowledge on how to proceed. Jóna Olavsdóttir, the programme co-ordinator for the initiative, states that now’s the time to spread this knowledge widely.
“We’ll soon be launching two handbooks for decision-makers and governments, offering guidance based on our pilot projects to make it easier for them to implement nature-based solutions,” she explains.
Among the projects, she points out an urban tree-planting initiative which assessed a rule for urban planning: the so-called 3-30-300 rule.
“Using Nordic cities as our starting point, we assessed a rule that every city resident should be able to see three trees from their window, that thirty percent of the city’s area should be covered by trees, and that all residents should be within 300 metres of the nearest green space.”
Fía Niclasen, co-ordinator of the Nordic biodiversity working group, also highlights the importance of nature-based solutions to the biodiversity crisis.
“It’s crucial that we work together for nature to stop the loss of biodiversity. Nature-based solutions can play an important role in these efforts,” she says.
Large-scale implementation as the next step
For the project to achieve its intended results, the next step is to implement these new solutions as broadly as possible. Henry Neufeldt, Head of Impact Assessment and Adaptation Analysis at UNEP says that nature-based solutions have the potential to become a critical tool for both promoting biodiversity and combating climate change.
“If several small, local initiatives can be launched, their combined impact can be significant. It’s crucial to view them as part of a whole and create interconnected biodiversity corridors.”
One challenge that Neufeldt identifies is that investments in nature-based solutions do not yield quick returns – results often take a long time to materialise.
“Private investments are needed to launch projects on the scale required, but we also need to provide public funds to cover the risks faced by private companies and establish laws and regulations that make investing in nature-based solutions attractive for the private sector,” says Neufeldt.
City planning in focus
Urbanisation in the Nordic Region and globally is accelerating, and increasing biodiversity in cities could benefit both nature and urban residents. Indra Purs from the International Federation of Landscape Architects notes that the results of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ work can also be applied elsewhere in the world.
“First and foremost, we need to rethink our vision of what cities should look like in the future if we want to solve the biodiversity and climate crises. The data and pilot projects developed by the Nordic Council of Ministers provide an excellent foundation for further progress,” she says.
