Advisory Documents

Nature-based Solutions and the GEF

Nature-based Solutions and the GEF

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are defined by IUCN as “actions 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."

This paper: reviews of some of the recent literature on NbS; presents an analysis of 30 GEF NbS projects, and similar analyses by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of their NbS projects; and the outcomes of a workshop held in May 2020 with 40 experts from philanthropy, academia, NGOs, GEF Secretariat and agencies, and STAP, held in conjunction with WCS and the Moore Foundation.

The paper identifies some challenges posed by NbS, offers advice on how to improve project design, and indicates future research and practitioner needs for NbS.