A suite of new reports providing further support for natural solutions.

First up, a British Ecological Society report, Nature-based solutions for climate change in the UK.

The report provides examples of opportunities for nature-based solutions across a range of habitats, as well as discussion of some of the complexities involved in planning for nature-based solutions. The report also outlines a detailed analysis of the tools, financial mechanisms and policies required for effective delivery in a UK context. Access the report here.

Incorporating contributions from over 100 experts, the report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the available evidence and details the strengths, limitations and trade-offs of nature-based solutions in different habitats across the UK.

Professor Jane Memmott, President of the British Ecological Society, says: “The nature-based solutions report offers a real basis for setting effective policies and incentives that will maximise the benefits of nature-based solutions in the UK for the climate and biodiversity.”

This report was covered by The Guardian.  ‘Love our bogs’: UK should harness all its landscapes in fight for climate.

Next, a COP26 briefing from a group of universities. Nature-based solutions for climate change, people and biodiversity. There are 7 key messages.

1. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are solutions to societal challenges that involve working with nature to deliver benefits for both people and biodiversity.
2. Investments in NbS should meet high-level guidelines
3. The UK should implement NbS in a wide range of semi-natural ecosystems which are important for protecting people and infrastructure from the impacts of climate change while also reducing net greenhouse gas emissions and benefitting biodiversity.
4. In the UK, scaling up restoration and protection of key ecosystems requires (read on for more)
5. There is a need to develop robust metrics to assess the effectiveness of a wide range of NbS for carbon sequestration, water regulation, storm and erosion resistance, biodiversity and human wellbeing.
6. On land, commercial forestry using non-native species is necessary
7. Well-designed new financing mechanisms could be instrumental for upscaling NbS and improving social-ecological resilience to climate change.

Also, a new International guide to working with nature.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands, NGO’s and the Environment Agency have been working in partnership to develop two international guides on Natural Flood Management. The guides are led by USACE, who since Hurricane Sandy are increasingly working with nature to reduce flood and coastal erosion risk.

Engineering with Nature – An Atlas Version 2
Engineering with Nature – An Atlas v2 is a glossy coffee-table style document which shares case study examples from across the globe showcasing how we can engineer with nature to reduce flood and coastal erosion risk. 8 of the 62 case studies are from the UK, including Ellis Meadows in Leicester, England and the Eddleston Water and River Nairn restoration projects in Scotland.

Natural and Nature Based Features (NNBF) Guidelines
A guide which will provide the technical details on how to develop flood risk management schemes that work with nature is also being developed and should be published in Spring/Summer 2021. Additional information from Engineering with Nature on natural nature based features is also available.