Proven measures to help mitigate and minimise these global threats exist – and the most effective are what’s known as Nature-based Solutions (NbS). But what exactly are Nature-based Solutions? And what problems can they help us solve?
What are Nature-based Solutions?
Nature-based Solutions is an umbrella term that refers to any action that protects, restores or sustainably manages natural resources and ecosystems. Critically, these actions also address the social, economic and environmental crises happening as a result of climate change.
To be classed as a Nature-based Solution, an action must be:
- Nature Based – naturally occurring phenomena
- Sustainable – able to continue with little or no damage to the environment
- Measurable – quantifiable and measured against certain parameters
- Equitable – treating all stakeholders fairly
- Additional – additional to any carbon savings or emissions reductions already happening
According to research from the UNFCCC, NbS could contribute a reduction of 37% of the necessary emissions cuts required to meet the 2030 Paris Agreement to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
As well as drastically reducing emissions, Nature-based Solutions are so powerful because they also have the capacity to provide impactful co-benefits for the well-being of people and the biodiversity of the planet.
And, unlike engineered solutions to climate change such as solar, wind, or carbon capture and storage technologies, NbS offer long-term or permanent benefits that are cost-effective and do not require significant amounts of energy or resources to implement.
Forestry as a Nature-based Solutions
Nature-based solutions cover a number of different actions including peatland restoration, blue carbon, greening urban spaces, and forestry projects like conservation, improved forest management, afforestation and reforestation.
Afforestation involves planting trees in areas where there was no previous tree cover, aiming to create new forests and enhance carbon sequestration. Reforestation focuses on replanting trees in deforested or degraded areas to restore natural habitats and improve biodiversity.
As an organisation, Quadriz project activity is focused on the critical climate solution of forest conservation, under the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation projects (REDD+) framework.
Of all NbS, forest conservation is among the most effective. Currently, 11% of all carbon emissions come from deforestation, contributing more than the total emissions from all forms of transport.
For context – the WRI reports that, if deforestation were a country, it would be the 3rd largest emitter on earth.
This is because forests are being cut down, or degraded at alarming rates. In 2023 alone 3.7 million hectares of tropical primary forest was lost according to the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Review.
Preventing this forest loss can rapidly mitigate carbon emissions by 2030. Forest conservation, ending forest destruction and improving the management of land use is cited by the IPCC as one of the top strategies to curb emissions, while benefitting people, planet and wildlife. This is the hallmark of effective NbS
The Benefits: Why do we need Natural- based Solutions?
NbS are uniquely advantageous as a sustainability action when it comes to the cost-effectiveness, variety and quality of benefits they provide.
Environmentally, they enhance biodiversity by restoring habitats and supporting ecosystems that are home to endangered and endemic species – this is especially the case for forestry NbS. By preserving and expanding green spaces, Nature-based Solutions also contribute to improving soil quality through enhanced nutrient cycling and erosion control. They also play a crucial role in improving water and air quality by filtering pollutants and storing carbon dioxide.
Economically, NbS create opportunities for sustainable development, local employment and revenue generation for communities. The World Resources Institute found that every $1 invested in restoring land and other Nature-based Solutions, generates between $7 and $30 in economic benefits.
The Voluntary Carbon Market in particular offers a framework to channel vital climate finance from corporations to local projects and people as stewards, guardians and conservation workers where natural ecosystems act as carbon sinks.
From a social perspective, employment opportunities through roles in conservation, restoration projects, and eco-tourism ventures are especially important in rural and marginalised communities where traditional lands would be razed or developed for farming or felled for timber or other extractive products. In urban areas, nature-based infrastructure, like green roofs and urban parks, enhances urban resilience to climate extremes. This reduces heat island effects and improves overall quality of life for residents.
Faced with escalating climate impacts, deploying Nature-based Solutions at scale to counteract the cascading negative effects of climate change is crucial.
Simply put, NbS are the single most effective action that can be taken to restore and protect the planet.
Despite their obvious benefits, there are barriers to rapidly scaling-up Nature-based Solutions.
While rigorous steps have been taken to ensure the integrity of NbS carbon credits, there are still detractors that raise issues with additionality, permanence and measurability. In addition, many communities within areas suitable for NbS are poverty stricken, with limited awareness of the benefits of Nature-based Solutions, complicated local politics, and a challenging economic climate. This can make it especially difficult to implement Nature-based Solutions.
Overcoming barriers to Nature-based Solutions
Policy support for Nature-based Solutions is key. Incentives, regulations, and financial support for these NbS are all needed to propel progress forward and to scale these solutions.
By integrating Nature-based Solutions into national biodiversity and nature strategies and laws, governments can encourage private sector investment, community participation, and scientific research, and foster a conducive environment for effective implementation.
On an international level, frameworks like the Paris Agreement and REDD+ provide crucial mechanisms for promoting NbS globally. REDD+ initiatives will continue to incentivise and enable developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation through financial and technical support.
Already, REDD+ has experienced significant success. As of 2022, REDD+ activities have covered approximately 1.35 billion hectares of forest area in developing countries, while a 2023 study found REDD+ projects slow the rate of deforestation by, in some countries, more than ten times the projected figures.
Looking ahead, initiatives such as the Core Carbon Principles from the Integrity Council of the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) are shaping the future of Natural Based Solutions implementation. These frameworks aim to enhance transparency surrounding project specifics, and create market incentives to unlock investment in projects that meet a benchmark for high quality.
Investing in nature, building resilience
Undeniably, Nature-based Solutions provide a comprehensive approach to addressing environmental, economic, and social challenges. What’s more, forest-related NbS can provide 5 gigatons of CO2 emissions reductions and removals every year.
By preserving and promoting biodiversity, improving air and water quality, stimulating economic growth through sustainable practices, and enhancing community well-being, these solutions demonstrate their potential as effective tools for creating a more sustainable and resilient future.
The Corazón Verde del Chaco Project presents a unique opportunity to invest in a Nature-based Solution that is sustainable, measurable, equitable and highly additional. The project’s permanence is further complemented by a local legal framework named DRSF (Derecho Real de Superficial Forestal) which allows land users to dissociate and decouple forest ownership from land use. Essentially a contractual agreement with the landowner (Atenil S.A) which permits Quadriz the right to all proceeds deriving from the 32,000ha of native forest lands – in this case, carbon finance. Committed to public registry, this agreement is binding for a minimum period of 30 years; should the property be sold, any potential land buyer would inherit the DRSF agreement and obligation to respect the carbon project, ensuring its permanence.
Quadriz has also been a stakeholder in the development of the Paraguayan carbon credits law, establishing procedures and creating a registry to record mitigation activities. These policy developments create an enviable environment for successful and sustainable carbon mitigation projects, and have been instrumental in Corazón Verde del Chaco receiving the highest quality REDD+ projects available on the market today, as referenced by the recent Sylvera rating.
If you’d like to learn more, please reach out to us at info@quadriz.com.