Incorporating Nature in Infrastructure Development

The document identifies systemic barriers to nature-positive infrastructure, including a lack of decision-relevant biodiversity data, limited technical capacity among engineers, and financial models that prioritize short-term returns over long-term ecosystem benefits. It argues for a paradigm shift toward nature-based solutions (NbS) and ecological connectivity, recommending the adoption of standardized metrics like the European Taxonomy and the Task Force for Nature-Related Disclosure (TNFD). The report emphasizes that 'upstream' policy and spatial planning are the most effective levers for change, urging governments to redirect COVID-19 recovery stimulus packages away from fossil-fuel reliant sectors toward sustainable, decarbonized infrastructure.

• Infrastructure development has caused severe ecological fragmentation and biodiversity loss, with roads dividing terrestrial ecosystems into over 600,000 patches and large-scale hydropower dams severing two-thirds of all major rivers.
• A critical gap exists in decision-relevant biodiversity data and performance metrics for nature-based solutions (NbS), which prevents investors from filtering out damaging projects and hinders the scaling of NbS beyond small pilot projects.
• Current financial and business models are poorly suited for sustainable infrastructure because they rely on short-term returns, whereas nature-based solutions require longer timeframes to realize benefits, such as the time needed for afforestation.
• There is a significant deficiency in technical expertise and professional training for engineers and architects regarding ecological connectivity and nature-positive design, leading to a reliance on outdated 20th-century engineering standards.
• Economic recovery packages following the COVID-19 pandemic have largely failed to prioritize sustainability, with less than 20% of spending invested in nature-based solutions or sustainable infrastructure.
• Effective integration of nature into infrastructure requires a shift toward 'upstream' strategic spatial planning and the inclusion of local and indigenous communities in actual design decisions, moving beyond mere consultation or consent.

APA

Bartlett, R. (2021). Incorporating Nature in Infrastructure Development. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/588/6naelbx7sf_Infrastructure_and_Nature_Webinar_Series_Key_Conclusions_and_Recomm_VJRe8LV.pdf

Chicago

Bartlett, Ryan. Incorporating Nature in Infrastructure Development. WWF International, 2021. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/588/6naelbx7sf_Infrastructure_and_Nature_Webinar_Series_Key_Conclusions_and_Recomm_VJRe8LV.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bartlett |first1=Ryan |title=Incorporating Nature in Infrastructure Development |publisher=WWF International |date=March 2021 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/588/6naelbx7sf_Infrastructure_and_Nature_Webinar_Series_Key_Conclusions_and_Recomm_VJRe8LV.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bartlett2021incorporating, author = {Bartlett, Ryan}, title = {{Incorporating Nature in Infrastructure Development}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2021}, month = mar, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/588/6naelbx7sf_Infrastructure_and_Nature_Webinar_Series_Key_Conclusions_and_Recomm_VJRe8LV.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }