ABSTRACT
Nature-based solutions use ecosystems and the services they provide to address societal challenges in sustainable ways. They involve the innovative application of knowledge about nature and are inspired by, supported by or copied from nature to help societies solve a variety of environmental, social, and economic challenges effectively while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. Nature-based solutions can transform environmental and societal challenges into innovative opportunities, by turning natural capital into a source of green growth and sustainable development while enhancing the storage of carbon and providing more resilient responses to climate change, improving the resilience of ecosystems, making cities more attractive and enhancing human well-being, and improving disaster risk management and resilience. While there are significant environmental, economic, and social benefits associated with nature-based solutions, its mainstream implementation continues to encounter many obstacles. These include economic, financial, institutional, regulatory, and infrastructural barriers, as well as a lack of awareness and knowledge.
