ABSTRACT
Because ecosystems are self-organising and evolve in response to multiple interactions across many levels of scale, the outcome of nature-based solutions cannot be predicted with certainty. As such, the difficulties of and methods for managing uncertainty can be more clearly articulated in a framework that incorporates deep reflection, which is part of experiential learning. In addition, for nature-based solutions to be successful, there needs to be long-term monitoring. Long-term stability of nature-based solutions depends on the ability of managers to assess the efficacy and effects of management interventions and adapt management accordingly. This means monitoring programmes should be institutionalised within organisations and stakeholder groups that manage a landscape to achieve a broad range of social and environmental benefits. Overall, for nature-based solutions to be effective it needs to be guided by an adaptive management framework. Adaptive management is an evolving process involving learning, which is the accumulation of knowledge over time, and adaptation, which is the adjustment of management over time. The sequential cycle of learning and adaptation leads to two consequences: first, a better understanding of the resource, and second, better management based on that understanding. Feedback between learning and decision-making is a key feature of adaptive management.
