Nature-based solutions resources

We’ve collated the latest resources demonstrating the benefits, challenges and best practice to implementing nature-based solutions at a local, national and international level.

Key nature-based solutions organisations and reports

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) engages in nature-based solutions to address major challenges, such as disaster risk reduction, food security and climate change. In order to mainstream the concept, IUCN has developed a standard to facilitate the design, verification and scaling up of nature-based solutions.

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The European Commission is promoting research and innovation for the progression of nature-based solutions through funding, collaboration and European Union policy priorities.

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The Nature-based Solutions Initiative is an interdisciplinary programme of research, education and policy advice based at the University of Oxford. Its mission is to enhance understanding of the potential of nature-based solutions to address multiple global challenges and support their sustainable implementation worldwide.

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The British Ecological Society’s landmark 2021 report on nature-based solutions for climate change in the UK.

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Habitat-specific resources

In this section

Find out more on our Towns and Cities Resources page.

Trees, green roofs, rain gardens and urban farming are among some of the nature-based solutions that can be integrated into the urban environment to improve climate resilience and the health and well-being of those who live and work in our towns and cities.

Nature-based urban innovation (NATURVATION) is a 4-year project, funded by the European Commission and involving 14 institutions across Europe in the fields of urban development, geography, innovation studies and economics.
The IGNITION project aims to develop innovative financing solutions for investment in Greater Manchester’s natural environment. Working with nature, solutions such as rain gardens, street trees, green roofs and walls and development of green spaces can help to tackle socio-environmental challenges including an increase in flooding events, water security, air quality, biodiversity and human health and wellbeing.
Artmann and Sartison 2018. The Role of Urban Agriculture as a Nature-Based Solution: A Review for Developing a Systemic Assessment Framework. Sustainability 10. 1937.
Barboza et al., 2021 Green space and mortality in European cities: a health impact assessment study. The Lancet Planetary Health 5: 718-730.
Carmichael et al., 2019. Urban planning as an enabler of urban health: Challenges and good practice in England following the 2012 planning and public health reforms. Land Use Policy 84. 154-162.
Majekodunmi et al., 2020. A spatial exploration of deprivation and green infrastructure ecosystem services within Glasgow city. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 52. 126698.
Rahman et al., 2020. Tree cooling effects and human thermal comfort under contrasting species and sites. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 287. 107947.
Toxopeus et al., 2020. How ‘just’ is hybrid governance of urban nature-based solutions? Cities 105,

102839.

Peatland and soils are the largest terrestrial carbon store. By conserving and restoring these ecosystems we can ensure the carbon stays locked up and that further carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere.

The IUCN UK Peatland Programme exists to promote peatland restoration in the UK and advocates the multiple benefits of peatlands through partnerships, strong science, sound policy and effective practice.
Allott et al., 2019 Peatland Catchments and Natural Flood Management. Report to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s Commission of Inquiry on Peatlands Update.
Bossio et al., 2020. The role of soil carbon in natural climate solutions. Nature Sustainability 3, 391-398.
Granath et al., 2016. Mitigating wildfire carbon loss in managed northern peatlands through restoration. Nature Scientific Reports 6.
Shuttleworth et al., 2019 Restoration of blanket peat moorland delays stormflow from hillslopes and reduces peak discharge. Journal of Hydrology X 2: 100006
Thorslund et al., 2017. Wetlands as large-scale nature-based solutions: Status and challenges for research, engineering and management. Ecological Engineering 108, 489-497.

The marine and coastal environments have immense potential for nature-based solutions. However there are still considerable gaps in our knowledge of marine and coastal nature-based solutions in Scotland. Here is the available evidence for Scotland and beyond…

Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) have developed a Blue Carbon briefing detailing the best available evidence for the amount of carbon sequestered and stored by the various coastal and marine habitats in Scotland’s seas.
Burrows et al., 2014 Assessment of carbon budgets and potential blue carbon stores in Scotland’s coastal and marine environment. NatureScot Commissioned Report No. 761.
Burrows et al., 2017 Assessment of Blue Carbon resources in Scotland’s inshore marine protected area network. NatureScot Commissioned Report No. 957.
Hynes et al., 2021. Valuing the ecosystem service benefits from kelp forest restoration: A choice experiment from Norway. Ecological Economics 179 106833.
Sala et al., 2021. Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate. Nature 592 397-411.

Woodlands and forests provide multiple benefits to people and wildlife, but not all trees are equal. For these ecosystems to have the greatest impact on climate change and biodiversity, while also providing resources for people, we need to make sure the evidence is available and used correctly.

The State of the UK’s Woods and Trees 2021 lays out the facts and trends on the current state of the UKs native woods and trees.
Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) briefing on The Multiple Roles of Scottish Woodlands provides an overview of existing policies and strategies related to forest creation, management, and use in Scotland, for multiple objectives, and the role of forests in light of the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
Burton et al., 2018 Reviewing the evidence base for the effects of woodland expansion on biodiversity and ecosystem services in the United Kingdom. Forest Ecology and Management 430: 366–379.
Cole et al., 2020 Managing riparian buffer strips to optimise ecosystem services: A review. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 296: 106891.
Ellis 2020 Microclimatic refugia in riparian woodland: A climate change adaptation strategy. Forest Ecology and Management 462: 118006.
Friggens et al., 2020 Tree planting in organic soils does not result in net carbon sequestration on decadal timescales. Global Change Biology 26: 5178-5188.
Jactel et al., 2017 Tree Diversity Drives Forest Stand Resistance to Natural Disturbances. Current Forestry Reports 3: 223–243
Murphy et al., 2020 Native woodland establishment improves soil hydrological functioning in UK upland pastoral catchments. Land Degradation & Development 32: 1034–1045

Implementing nature-based solutions for agriculture can improve food security, reduce risk from flooding and drought and provide green jobs. There are many different options for nature-based solutions in grassland and farmland. Explore the evidence…

Collier 2021. Are field boundary hedgerows the earliest example of a nature-based solution? Environmental Science & Policy 120. 73-80.
Hallstein and Iseman 2021. Nature-based solutions in agriculture – Project design for securing investment. Virginia. FAO and The Nature Conservancy
Miralles-Wilhelm 2021. Nature-based solutions in agriculture – Sustainable management and conservation of land, water, and biodiversity. Virginia. FAO and The Nature Conservancy.
Iseman and Miralles-Wilhelm 2021. Nature-based solutions in agriculture – The case and pathway for adoption. Virginia. FAO and The Nature Conservancy.
Ortiz at al., 2021. A review of the interactions between biodiversity, agriculture, climate change, and international trade: research and policy priorities. One Earth 4. 88-101.