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Nature-based solutions to global environmental challenges.
Zahra Kalantari1, Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira2, Haozhi Pan3
1Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Physical Geography and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
The Science of the Total Environment
|April 3, 2023
Summary
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are crucial for wellbeing but threatened by land use and climate change. Implementing NBS in urban and agricultural areas is vital for reducing environmental impacts and human vulnerability.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecosystem Management
- Climate Change Adaptation
Background:
- Ecosystems providing nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly threatened by land use change and climate change.
- Urban expansion and agricultural intensification degrade ecosystems, heightening human vulnerability to climate-related hazards.
Discussion:
- Rethinking strategies to minimize the adverse effects of land use change on ecosystems is essential.
- Halting ecosystem degradation and implementing NBS in high-pressure areas like urban and agricultural zones can reduce environmental impacts.
- NBS applications in agriculture (e.g., mulching) and urban areas (e.g., green spaces) offer solutions for erosion, pollution, urban heat islands, and floods.
Key Insights:
- Nature-based solutions are vital for ecosystem services and human wellbeing.
- Strategic implementation of NBS in vulnerable areas is critical for climate change adaptation.
- Stakeholder awareness and case-by-case assessment are necessary to minimize NBS tradeoffs.
Outlook:
- NBS are essential for addressing current and future global environmental challenges.
- Continued research and implementation of NBS are needed to enhance ecosystem resilience and human wellbeing.
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