A global assessment led by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst confirms that nature-based solutions (NBS) offer an economically viable method for mitigating a wide range of climate-related disasters. Published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, the study highlights NBS as a cost-effective approach to combatting floods, hurricanes, heat waves, and landslides.
Close-up of newly planted trees, deciduous forest area that has been damaged by a hurricane in the background. AI generated picture.
Nature-based solutions involve preserving, sustainably managing, or restoring ecosystems to provide societal and environmental benefits. Examples include restoring wetlands to prevent coastal flooding instead of constructing seawalls. These interventions are increasingly recognised in national and international policies, including those by the United Nations and the White House.
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Marta Vicarelli, assistant professor at UMass Amherst and lead author of the study, notes, ‘Our results indicate that not only are NBS economically effective in mitigating hazards, but that their benefits are still underestimated.’
The study reviewed over 20,000 peer-reviewed articles, finding that NBS were consistently cost-effective in 71% of cases and conditionally effective in another 24%. The most successful interventions involved mangroves, forests, and coastal ecosystems. Comparatively, 65% of studies found NBS more effective than engineering solutions, with none deeming them less effective.
However, many studies did not account for additional environmental and socioeconomic benefits of NBS, such as biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, and support for underserved communities. ‘The other benefits of NBS are vastly underestimated because they are difficult to quantify’, Vicarelli explains.
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The research also highlights that public funding has primarily supported NBS, even on private properties. To achieve a global impact, increased private sector investment is essential. Vicarelli stresses the need for innovative financing mechanisms, including nature-based insurance and investment solutions, to scale up these interventions.
We encourage you to discover DGB Group’s impactful nature-based projects and explore opportunities for involvement, benefiting your business or investment portfolio. Our projects offer many co-benefits, including biodiversity enhancement, ecosystem restoration, and community development. As the world embraces sustainability and environmental accountability, DGB offers solutions to measure and compensate for your carbon footprint with verified carbon units. By doing so, you align with global standards, support our crucial initiatives, and contribute positively to the environment.
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