Source >>><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n27 October 2021<\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.ifad.org\/documents\/38714174\/42262402\/COP-NBSs.jpg\/a3d2e1b0-c07c-4bf8-21c7-4a9f1bb1a8eb?t=1635327852587\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u00a9IFAD\/Olivier Asselin<\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n
At COP26, the United Nations climate summit, representatives of government, the scientific community, and civil society are discussing how to respond to climate change \u2013 in terms of both actions to mitigate it and ideas for adapting to its inevitable effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At IFAD, we believe it\u2019s time to help the most vulnerable people adapt. These are the rural farmers, fishers, herders and small-scale producers in developing countries who are already experiencing the effects of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best way forward, we think, is through nature-based solutions (NbS). But what are NbS, and why do we think they\u2019re so great? We\u2019re here to answer your questions about this useful approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what are nature-based solutions anyway?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nNbS allow us to work with nature, using ecosystem functions that protect biodiversity, sequester carbon, and enable climate adaptation \u2013 and have other social benefits too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines<\/a> NbS as \u201cactions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nNbS can be designed to address many different challenges, such as climate change, food security, water security, human health, disaster risks, and social and economic development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sudan\u2019s Butana region, for example, is very vulnerable to drought. An IFAD-supported initiative<\/a> in the region created a governance framework that helps communities collectively protect shared forests and sustainably manage land and water resources, all while resolving land disputes, including those where outside interests were involved. This not only protected the delicate Sahelian ecosystem, it reduced conflicts over land access, increased resilience to drought, and was calculated to store 4.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s so great about nature-based solutions?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nUntil recently, the climate, biodiversity, and even human and social well-being were treated as separate issues needing separate solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NbS, by contrast, take a holistic approach, treating all of them as part of the same system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the components of a system are treated separately, action on one might have negative impacts on another. For example, you could plant thousands of trees to sequester carbon, but if they\u2019re all the same species, biodiversity is lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An NbS approach takes into account both the positive and negative impacts of interventions. It chooses the ones that have co-benefits across the whole system, without negative effects in other parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why should countries adopt nature-based solutions?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThrough NbS, countries can help small-scale farmers build their livelihoods while adapting to climate change. This promotes rural prosperity, enables people to make a decent living where they are instead of looking elsewhere, and strengthens local food systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NbS can also help countries manage threatened natural resources, such as water, land and soil. They can help turn the tide on biodiversity loss and provide nutritious and diverse diets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, NbS are an investment in a country\u2019s present and future economy and society, with the potential to create healthier environments and healthier populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They also have immense potential to sequester carbon and to help countries make their nationally determined climate change contributions under the Paris Accords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, one IFAD-supported pasture restoration initiative<\/a> in Kyrgyzstan sequesters 0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare annually. This might sound insignificant \u2013 until you consider that nearly half the country\u2019s entire land area is pastureland.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBut how do we know what makes a good nature-based solution?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn 2020, the IUCN developed a global standard<\/a> laying out the ingredients for a successful NbS. A good NbS is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n- effective in addressing societal challenges<\/li>
- designed in a way that understands human and environmental interactions in and around the targeted land- or seascape<\/li>
- a creator of net gains for biodiversity and ecosystem integrity<\/li>
- economically viable<\/li>
- based on inclusive, transparent and empowering governance processes<\/li>
- able to balance trade-offs between its primary goals and other benefits<\/li>
- managed adaptively, based on evidence \u2013 including both scientific and local, indigenous or traditional sources of knowledge<\/li>
- sustainable in the long term and supported by policy frameworks.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How does IFAD use nature-based solutions in its work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIFAD has long recognized the potential of NbS. In fact, we\u2019ve had such positive experiences that we now plan to invest 30 per cent of our climate finance in NbS by 2030. Meanwhile, we\u2019re already incorporating them into many of our programmes worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our pioneering ASAP programme<\/a>, for example, recognizes rural-dwellers not just as beneficiaries, but as participants in protecting, managing or restoring their ecosystems. To date, ASAP has channelled US$300 million to over 5 million farmers in 41 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn The Gambia, IFAD-supported mangrove restoration<\/a> is creating cooler microclimates while sequestering over 100,000 megatonnes of carbon dioxide over the next two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn Nicaragua, IFAD-supported tree planting<\/a> is improving soil health, retaining groundwater and sequestering 2.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMeanwhile, ASAP\u2019s successor programme, ASAP+<\/a>, was launched in 2021, aiming to mobilize US$500 million and benefit over 10 million people. We envision it as the largest fund dedicated to channelling climate finance to small-scale producers. And of course, NbS are among the main pillars of ASAP+.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"29 JANUARY 2022 : 1H7TJ Source >>> 27 October 2021 \u00a9IFAD\/Olivier Asselin At COP26, the United Nations …
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u00a9IFAD\/Olivier Asselin<\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n
At COP26, the United Nations climate summit, representatives of government, the scientific community, and civil society are discussing how to respond to climate change \u2013 in terms of both actions to mitigate it and ideas for adapting to its inevitable effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At IFAD, we believe it\u2019s time to help the most vulnerable people adapt. These are the rural farmers, fishers, herders and small-scale producers in developing countries who are already experiencing the effects of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best way forward, we think, is through nature-based solutions (NbS). But what are NbS, and why do we think they\u2019re so great? We\u2019re here to answer your questions about this useful approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what are nature-based solutions anyway?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NbS allow us to work with nature, using ecosystem functions that protect biodiversity, sequester carbon, and enable climate adaptation \u2013 and have other social benefits too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines<\/a> NbS as \u201cactions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n NbS can be designed to address many different challenges, such as climate change, food security, water security, human health, disaster risks, and social and economic development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sudan\u2019s Butana region, for example, is very vulnerable to drought. An IFAD-supported initiative<\/a> in the region created a governance framework that helps communities collectively protect shared forests and sustainably manage land and water resources, all while resolving land disputes, including those where outside interests were involved. This not only protected the delicate Sahelian ecosystem, it reduced conflicts over land access, increased resilience to drought, and was calculated to store 4.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s so great about nature-based solutions?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Until recently, the climate, biodiversity, and even human and social well-being were treated as separate issues needing separate solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NbS, by contrast, take a holistic approach, treating all of them as part of the same system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the components of a system are treated separately, action on one might have negative impacts on another. For example, you could plant thousands of trees to sequester carbon, but if they\u2019re all the same species, biodiversity is lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An NbS approach takes into account both the positive and negative impacts of interventions. It chooses the ones that have co-benefits across the whole system, without negative effects in other parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why should countries adopt nature-based solutions?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Through NbS, countries can help small-scale farmers build their livelihoods while adapting to climate change. This promotes rural prosperity, enables people to make a decent living where they are instead of looking elsewhere, and strengthens local food systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NbS can also help countries manage threatened natural resources, such as water, land and soil. They can help turn the tide on biodiversity loss and provide nutritious and diverse diets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, NbS are an investment in a country\u2019s present and future economy and society, with the potential to create healthier environments and healthier populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They also have immense potential to sequester carbon and to help countries make their nationally determined climate change contributions under the Paris Accords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, one IFAD-supported pasture restoration initiative<\/a> in Kyrgyzstan sequesters 0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare annually. This might sound insignificant \u2013 until you consider that nearly half the country\u2019s entire land area is pastureland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But how do we know what makes a good nature-based solution?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2020, the IUCN developed a global standard<\/a> laying out the ingredients for a successful NbS. A good NbS is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does IFAD use nature-based solutions in its work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n IFAD has long recognized the potential of NbS. In fact, we\u2019ve had such positive experiences that we now plan to invest 30 per cent of our climate finance in NbS by 2030. Meanwhile, we\u2019re already incorporating them into many of our programmes worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our pioneering ASAP programme<\/a>, for example, recognizes rural-dwellers not just as beneficiaries, but as participants in protecting, managing or restoring their ecosystems. To date, ASAP has channelled US$300 million to over 5 million farmers in 41 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In The Gambia, IFAD-supported mangrove restoration<\/a> is creating cooler microclimates while sequestering over 100,000 megatonnes of carbon dioxide over the next two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Nicaragua, IFAD-supported tree planting<\/a> is improving soil health, retaining groundwater and sequestering 2.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, ASAP\u2019s successor programme, ASAP+<\/a>, was launched in 2021, aiming to mobilize US$500 million and benefit over 10 million people. We envision it as the largest fund dedicated to channelling climate finance to small-scale producers. And of course, NbS are among the main pillars of ASAP+.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 29 JANUARY 2022 : 1H7TJ Source >>> 27 October 2021 \u00a9IFAD\/Olivier Asselin At COP26, the United Nations …