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Nature Based Solutions And Urban Resilience

For this reason, nature-based solutions are valuable tools used to deal
with various social challenges that impede sustainable development, such as
preserving biodiversity through strengthening ecosystems, adapting to the
effects of climate change and mitigating disaster risks (IUCN, 2020). Nature-
based solutions are considered an “umbrella term” that includes many nature
and ecosystem based approaches that aim to increase resilience against
climate change (Figure 1).
Natural ecosystems are living systems and they are constantly under the
effect of variable climatic and environmental conditions. These effects in
varying degrees result in disruptions and changes in ecosystems. Natural
systems are designed for survival and when they are damaged, they have the
capacity for self-recovery (repair). This ability gives them resilience / flexibility
against effects that cause disruptions in natural systems. The capacity for
natural systems for self-recovery and self-repair against increasing problems
due to climate change is of great importance.
The resilience of ecosystems is in direct proportion to their biomass (the
fossilized biological material gained from living or recently diseased beings)
and biodiversity (Forman and Godron, 1986). Biodiversity helps ecosystems
improve and maintain their services. Well-functioning, healthy ecosystems
that are rich in biomass and biodiversityhave a high climate resilience.
Applications towards preservation and increase of biodiversity in land and
water ecosystems in and around cities strengthen ecosystems against the
effects of climate change.
Ecosystems serve as a natural barrier against the effects of climate change.
Increasing their resilience will mitigate the effects of climate change and
minimize disaster risks to a considerable extent.
FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

DISASTER RISK MITIGATION ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE

Ecosystem-based
Approaches

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MITIGATION

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

Figure 1: The contribution of Nature-based Solutions to Risk Mitigation and Climate Change
(UNEP/PDRR 2020)
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