ASAP Technical Series: Nature-based solutions

The nature-based solutions (NbS) concept emerged during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in 2009.

It was developed from the ecosystem-based adaptation concept, which integrates biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy, but shifts from focusing solely on nature (ecosystem-based adaptation) to focusing on people and nature (NbS).

NbS put in perspective the fact that people can proactively protect, manage or restore natural ecosystems while significantly contributing to addressing six major societal challenges: climate change, food security, water security, human health, disaster risk, and social and economic development.

This paper presents key results and lessons learned on NbS, mainly from IFAD’s Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) portfolio, to inspire future programmes to reach greater scale in supporting inclusive rural transformation. The benefits of NbS have been analysed based on five themes and their associated desired benefits: climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; climate change mitigation potential; provision of non‑carbon ecosystem services; food security and income generation; and social benefits.