Good Practices for Designing Effective, Inclusive, and Sustainable Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation

The document synthesizes international standards—including those from the IUCN, CBD, and FEBA—into a practical framework for nature-based solutions (NbS) for adaptation. It defines NbS for adaptation as actions that protect, restore, and manage ecosystems to strengthen the resilience of communities and ecosystems to climate change. The core of the brief is a set of eight good practices, which include conducting climate risk assessments, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits, prioritizing biodiversity health, and employing inclusive governance. Notably, the brief introduces a conflict-sensitive approach to minimize the risk of exacerbating tensions through adaptation actions.

• Nature-based solutions (NbS) for adaptation, also known as ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), are specifically designed to reduce the effects of climate change while supporting biodiversity by managing natural ecosystems to strengthen resilience.
• The framework is based on three primary international standards: the IUCN’s Global Standard for NbS, the CBD’s Voluntary Guidelines for the Design and Effective Implementation of Ecosystem-based Approaches for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, and the FEBA network’s EbA Qualification Criteria.
• Effective NbS for adaptation must be informed by robust climate vulnerability and risk assessments that incorporate scientific data, projections, and local and Traditional Knowledge, while considering how gender, social differences, and conflict dynamics influence vulnerability.
• The document emphasizes the necessity of a conflict-sensitive approach, which aims to minimize the risk of creating or exacerbating conflict and maximize opportunities for peacebuilding during the implementation of adaptation actions.
• Inclusive governance for NbS requires respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and ensuring participation is gender-equitable and includes underrepresented voices such as youth and people with disabilities.
• To ensure long-term sustainability and scalability, NbS projects should be managed adaptively based on continuous monitoring and evaluation, and should align with national and subnational policies such as national adaptation plans (NAPs) and national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs).

APA

Jang, N., Terton, A., & Qi, J. (2024). Good Practices for Designing Effective, Inclusive, and Sustainable Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/nature-based-solutions-for-adaptation-good-practices.pdf

Chicago

Jang, Nicole, Anika Terton, and Jeffrey Qi. Good Practices for Designing Effective, Inclusive, and Sustainable Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/nature-based-solutions-for-adaptation-good-practices.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Jang |first1=Nicole |last2=Terton |first2=Anika |last3=Qi |first3=Jeffrey |title=Good Practices for Designing Effective, Inclusive, and Sustainable Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/nature-based-solutions-for-adaptation-good-practices.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{jang2024good, author = {Jang, Nicole and Terton, Anika and Qi, Jeffrey}, title = {{Good Practices for Designing Effective, Inclusive, and Sustainable Nature-Based Solutions for Adaptation}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/nature-based-solutions-for-adaptation-good-practices.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }