Article de Nour El Korek (MS EnvIM 2023-24)
Introduction
Nature Based Solutions (NBS), as a notion, was primarily proposed by the World Bank in 2008. In turn, given the interest behind it, a designated research programme was generated in 2013. The initial proposal behind NBS was to create innovative solutions that are resilient, environmentally conscious and resource efficient, considering the needs of society and nature1.
Multiple definitions have emerged ever since by several key actors to grasp the core concept of NbS. Most notably, under the WCC-2016-Res-069 resolution, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defined NBS as “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems, which address societal challenges (e.g., climate change, food and water security or natural disasters) effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits”.
They, in turn, have proposed a total of eight guiding principles that collectively aim to achieve sustainable outcomes when implementing Nature Solutions. These principles not only consider the importance of respecting the integrity of natural systems but also promote social justice and equity.
Nature Based Solutions (NbS) have gained significant attention and recognition
In recent years, Nature Based Solutions (NbS) have gained significant attention and recognition on both global and national agendas. This is evident in the increasing number of countries that have recently incorporated NbS into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, NbSs have garnered recognition from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Additionally, they have been well integrated into several key EU policy initiatives, including the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the EU Adaptation Strategy. Developing countries are also increasingly turning to NBS as viable pathways to mitigate climate change, enhance resilience, and promote sustainable development. This is evidenced by the growing number of projects being implemented at the level of communities and regions.
Despite the increasing recognition and visibility that the concept has garnered, conflicting perspectives and debates persist regarding the effectiveness of Nature Based Solutions (NbS) in combating climate change and enhancing biodiversity. Some critics argue that NbS may offer only temporary or localized solutions to complex environmental issues, potentially diverting attention, and resources from more comprehensive and systematic approaches.
The unintended consequences associated with NbS implementation
Others express concerns about the unintended consequences associated with NbS implementation, including the risk of community displacement. However, one of the most growing questions often revolves around the effectiveness of NbS in the context of developing countries. Therefore, given the significance of this topic, this paper aims to explore the viability of Nature Based Solutions as a means to address environmental challenges in developing and least developed countries.
Specifically, it seeks to answer the questions: should Nature-based solutions be at the forefront of climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in developing and least developed countries? If this is the case, how effective are they considered to be?
Overall, the relationship between people and nature is exceptionally symbiotic and evident. Biodiversity, over the years, has offered people a variety of direct or indirect benefits which can also be referred to as ecosystem services. In 2019, OECD estimated that the yearly total worth of these services ranges between 125 – 140 trillion USD which equates to one and a half times the size of the global GDP.
An example of the high economic reliance on nature is portrayed through the significant dependance of least developed countries (LDC) on agriculture production. Given their low adaptive capacity, developing and least developed countries are highly susceptible to climate change fluctuations.
As a result, they will require immediate support to minimize potential consequences on their vulnerable livelihoods. The implementation of Nature-based solutions in agriculture can be considered as a good climate mitigation and an effective restoration strategy. The So’n Tho commune in Vietnam, for example, implemented an ecosystem-based adaptation pilot to reduce climate-related risks and safeguard food security (figure 1).
The intervention entailed multiple activities including the restoration of lost biodiversity with native timber species and the planting of orange trees along with pineapple and peanut trees as contours8. Not only did this improve ecosystem health and produce positive adaptation outcomes but, it also ensured positive socio-economic outcomes through the provision of resources (food, water, and energy) and income-generating opportunities8.
In addition to the above, it can be noted the NbS’s can play a primary role in improving agriculture productivity. For example, at the scale of production, activities such as conservation agriculture tend to be implemented directly by farmers who in turn can generate imminent economic revenues, in the form of an increase in agricultural yield or a reduction in the cost of production.
For example, according to FAO & the Nature Conservancy (2021), the implementation of cropland nutrient management as an NbS activity has the potential to reduce Nitrogen production by 44 million tons per year. Meaning that not only will the environmental implications associated with Nitrogen production be reduced, but farmers will no longer need to bear the cost the agricultural input as it will not be as needed.
Enhancing the resilience of the ecosystem
As resources are being depleted, more and more focus is being placed on enhancing the resilience of the ecosystem to ensure that food security needs are being met. A Cornell-led study entitled “Anthropogenic Climate Change Has Slowed Global Agricultural Productivity Growth” has deduced that despite the agricultural advancements that took place, climate change has still contributed to a 21% decrease in global farming productivity.
This is equivalent to a loss of almost seven years of farm productivity improvements since the 1960’s, putting developing and least developed countries at risk of acute malnutrition10. With this being said, NbS can play an important role in optimizing existing resources for the purpose of providing ecosystem services that counter the impact of climate change on food security. Nature based solutions can also play an important adaptive and restorative role in developing countries. A common example that can be considered is wetlands which is often adopted due its low cost of implementation.
As a matter of fact, Wetlands can potentially regulate any negative water quality impacts (ex. Erosion and pollution) by removing various organic or inorganic substances from polluted water sources. This action of recycling and reusing water and wastewater is especially important in regions suffering from water scarcity12.
In countries like Lebanon, we see an increased adoption of constructed wetlands as an optimal, cost-efficient green solution that counteracts the impacts of environmental degradation on fresh water sources. In 2018, a study was conducted to evaluate the performance and efficiency of a pilot constructed wetland system from the Litany River, one of the largest rivers in Lebanon.
The results of the river effluent showed a solid reduction in the concentration of a number of physical, chemical, pathogens and trace metal parameters. The removal efficiency of feacal coliforms, for example, was around 99.84%13 showcasing the benefits of the process. Hence, as an overview to what has been discussed so far, it can be noted that the benefits of Nature Based Solutions can extend beyond the big headlines of mitigation and adaptation, generating positive impacts on the actual livelihood of people in developing and least developed countries.
The potential negative implications of Nature-based Solutions associated with their implementation.
Despite the growing attention on the benefits of Nature-based Solutions, several concerns have risen recently on the potential negative implications associated with their implementation. A common concern that has been highlighted recently is around the security of land tenure rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and its consequences on their access and management rights of natural resources.
In fact, it can be argued that the current way in which NbS are implemented hinders equitable distribution, putting IPLC’s livelihoods at risk as they are quite intertwined with access and availability to natural resources14. The misuse of Nature-based Solutions and the adoption of approaches that don’t meet the criteria set out by the relevant guidelines of implementation can generate a number of irreparable damages14.
The restoration of grasslands for carbon sequestration, for example, has been proven to be an efficient way to store carbon in plant biomass and soil organic carbon. However, using non-native species in such settings can render them invasive. Meaning that potentially non-native herbaceous species could potentially succeed in outcompeting native species and thus contribute to a loss of biodiversity and a reduction of ecosystem resilience.
This is particularly an important point to look out for in developing and least developed regions as they might not have the knowledge, capacity or the means to control an outbreak if it occurs. Hence, proper planning and evaluation of the ecosystem is needed to ensure that the right NbS approach is adopted. This in turn, will require resources and the right set of technical knowhows to be achieved which are not always accessible in the context of these regions.
More urgent actions are needed to be taken by more developed countries to act against climate change
On a final note, the adoption of NbS can be perceived as distractive, meaning it can potentially deter attention from needs that are more urgent14. It is important to state that developing and least developed countries are often not considered as major GHC emitters on the global scale, hence is putting more pressure on them to adopt climate mitigation strategies necessary? While, in parallel, it is evident that more urgent actions are needed to be taken by more developed countries to act against climate change.
Thus, the question remains: how should climate mitigation strategies be split between developed and underdeveloped regions to ensure their economical subsistence is maintained?
Despite the controversy and the conflicting opinions regarding the adoption of Nature-Based Solutions in developing and least developed countries, it is evident that their advantages can potentially outweigh their disadvantages if implemented properly. A range of consideration should be taken into account when developing and implementing such interventions.
Conclusion
In fact, societal needs should be accounted for along with environmental, technical, and financial considerations. In addition to the fact that more definition is needed in regard to the role of developing and developed countries in climate mitigation strategies, it is also essential to highlight that financial allocations are needed to better leverage the use of NbS at different scopes.
Indeed, what remains challenging nowadays is finding the right financial mechanisms to catalyze the efforts needed to scale-up and better define the scope of nature-based solutions in developing and least developed countries. This, in turn, can enable better implementation of NbS contextually making developing and least developed countries more resilient and prepared to adapt to the implications of climate change.
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