As the European Union confronts increasingly complex and interlinked challenges—climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and social fragmentation—traditional infrastructure models alone are no longer sufficient. Instead, forward-looking urban and rural development requires approaches that work with, not against, natural systems. This is where Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) come into play.
Recognized by the European Commission, IUCN, and IPCC as transformative tools, NbS are now a central pillar of EU environmental and climate strategy. They are scientifically grounded, cost-effective, and capable of delivering simultaneous environmental, social, and economic benefits.
What Are Nature-Based Solutions?
Nature-Based Solutions are interventions that protect, restore, or manage natural and semi-natural ecosystems in a way that addresses major societal challenges while delivering benefits to people and biodiversity.
Definition: “Solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience.” (European Commission)
NbS can be implemented in urban, peri-urban, rural, or coastal settings, with examples including:
- Urban green roofs and vertical gardens to mitigate heatwaves
- Restored floodplains to manage flood risks
- Wetlands to purify water and support biodiversity
- Agroforestry systems that increase resilience to drought and improve carbon sequestration
NbS operate by harnessing ecosystem services – the benefits that humans receive from nature. These services include regulating (climate, air quality, water retention), provisioning (food, fiber), supporting (soil formation, pollination), and cultural services (wellbeing, recreation, heritage).
For example:
- Urban trees reduce heat by providing shade and releasing moisture through evapotranspiration.
- Reconnected rivers reduce flood risks by absorbing and slowly releasing excess rainwater.
- Restored wetlands store carbon, filter pollutants, and support bird habitats—all simultaneously.
NbS do not compete with technological solutions—they complement and enhance them in integrated strategies.
What Are the Benefits of Nature-Based Solutions?
NbS provide co-benefits across multiple domains, which makes them particularly attractive from a public policy, ESG investment, and community resilience perspective.
Environmental:
- Carbon sequestration and climate mitigation
- Air and water purification
- Biodiversity support and ecosystem health
Social:
- Improved public health through cleaner environments and cooler urban microclimates
- Mental wellbeing from access to green spaces
- Social cohesion through participatory planning and co-management
Economic:
- Reduced damage from floods, droughts, and heatwaves
- Increased property values and urban regeneration
- Job creation in green sectors (landscaping, ecological monitoring, environmental education)
NbS can deliver high returns on investment. For instance, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has reported benefit-cost ratios for floodplain restoration projects in the range of 2.5–4.5, significantly outperforming grey infrastructure in some settings.
How Are NbS Developed?
The development of successful NbS requires an interdisciplinary, participatory, and evidence-based approach. A typical process includes:
Challenge Identification:
- Define the primary societal challenge (e.g., urban heat, coastal erosion, water scarcity)
- Conduct spatial analysis and climate risk mapping
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Involve local authorities, residents, scientists, NGOs, and businesses
- Use co-creation and participatory design tools to ensure acceptance and long-term success
Site Selection and Ecosystem Assessment:
- Analyze ecological potential, land use, ownership structures, and regulatory constraints
- Use tools such as ecosystem service valuation or nature capital accounting
Design and Integration:
- Define the technical design and integration with grey infrastructure
- Plan maintenance, monitoring, and adaptive management
Funding Strategy:
- Combine EU funding (e.g., Horizon Europe, LIFE, Interreg, ESF+), national grants, and private investment
- Apply cost-benefit and social return on investment (SROI) analyses to attract financing
Implementation and Long-term Governance:
- Implement with skilled green infrastructure professionals
- Establish governance models for long-term stewardship (e.g., community trusts, municipal oversight)
Nature-Based Solutions are more than a trend—they are an essential response to some of the 21st century’s most pressing challenges. From mitigating heatwaves in cities to restoring degraded wetlands and adapting to drought, NbS offer a holistic, scalable, and economically sound path forward.
At Planet to the 3rd Power, we specialize in transformative, interdisciplinary project management, and we are fully aligned with the EU’s climate and biodiversity agendas. Our services span the entire lifecycle of NbS development:
Strategic Project Development:
- Climate risk and vulnerability assessments
- Nature-based urban planning and integration with spatial policies
- Identification of suitable locations through GIS and ecosystem mapping
Project Management and Execution:
- Coordination of multi-stakeholder consortia across municipalities, NGOs, universities, and private organizations
- Agile project management
- Regulatory compliance and integration with planning instruments
Funding Acquisition and Financial Structuring:
- Expert support with EU and national funding programs (Horizon, Interreg, LIFE, etc.)
- Development of business cases for blended financing and ESG investment
- Cost-benefit and SROI models to maximize funder engagement
Communication and Community Engagement:
- Visual storytelling and data-driven communication strategies
- Stakeholder co-creation processes (workshops, charrettes, participatory mapping)
- Educational campaigns, green skills promotion, and policy advocacy
We serve as a “translator” between ecological science, local knowledge, public policy, and investment logic – a role that is critical in ensuring long-term viability and impact. Whether you’re a municipality, developer, public institution, or NGO, if you’re ready to explore Nature-Based Solutions that combine climate resilience, community benefit, and strategic financing, let’s talk.
Contact us today at projects@planet3pm.si to explore how we can collaborate on shaping sustainable futures through nature.