Evidence for nature based solutions (NBSGap)

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In order to make informed strategy for the good of UK citizens and to implement it through well-founded and informed policy, the policy-makers need evidence. They need to know what is known in an area and what has yet to be researched. The evidence needs to be structured and systematically obtained so the policy maker and all the interested stakeholders can understand the reasons the policy makers make their decisions. The NBSGap project will systematically review the evidence available in a wide range of sources on aspects of nature-based solutions prioritised by multiple-sector policy makers in each of the four regions of the UK. There are various definitions of NBS but at their core, they cluster into the general theme of learning from and using nature to create sustainable societies, which enhance human well-being, locally, regionally or globally. NBS initiatives are multidimensional and highlight the fundamental influences that preservation and diversification of ecosystems can have on human wellbeing. These ranges from climate regulation and limiting the impacts of natural disasters such as flooding and epidemic disease outbreaks, to promoting improved human physical and mental health directly by reconnecting citizens with nature. At the same time, nature-based solutions address and respond to the challenges of nature conservation in the face of ongoing environmental degradation. However, there may be a trade-off between the co-benefits of NBS interventions and co-harms, where exposure to infectious diseases linked to wildlife or arthropod vectors is increased for example. It is claimed that solutions based on nature should be integrated into many policy sectors including transport, housing, energy and health policies, climate regulation strategies and territorial planning because of the interactions, trade-offs, synergies and conflicts resulting from NBS target actions. As such policy makers need to understand the evidence for the effectiveness of NBS co- benefits and co-harms across policy domains. In particular, we want to ascertain the specific benefits and disbenefits in comparison to anthropocentric technological solutions across policy domains. Only then can policy-makers and regulators make informed decisions to enact appropriate NBS actions which resonate with public values and lead to a more sustainable future.The resultant reporting will focus on providing a systematic map of the evidence relating to NBS and the UK for the targeted outcomes agreed with the steering group.