Nature-based solution to address climate change

Climate change is an existential threat to mankind, particularly to affected states. Among other options, Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognised as vital to addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. According to IUCN (2016) "Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems in ways that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, to provide both human well-being and biodiversity benefits".

In other words, NbS involves protecting our natural ecosystems such as forests peatlands, wetlands, grasslands, fisheries, timberlands and marine habitats through locally led projects that support communities. Healthy mangroves absorb and store large amounts of carbon. Sea grasses and tidal marshes also act as first line of defence against coastal hazards such as storms/cyclones. When hurricane hits coastal areas, mangroves are the first line of plant communities that take all wind impacts, absorb all storm surges and divert the storm surge away. Everglades Mangrove Forest (South Florida) is of the significant examples of perfect NbS to fight climate change as it takes the first hit from storm surge, capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it  (mangroves store nearly four times more carbonthan other forests).

The Everglades mangroves, the largest contiguous mangrove forest in North America, home to nearly 550 square miles of mangrove forests, form a strong natural infrastructure against large waves and storm surges; it also stabilises the shores against erosion.  

SIGNIFICANCE: Nature-based solutions i.e., restoration and protection of nature could not only safeguard biodiversity but also help people adapt to the effects of climate change. NbS in urban areas bring varied benefits and ecosystem services such as flood management, cooling effects and recreational values. The mangroves and seagrasses, are among the most efficient carbon sinks available. These ecosystems can absorb more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests, resulting in mitigation of carbon. When properly managed, NbS acts as a dual solution of mitigation and adaptation (enhancing climate resilience). River restoration and protection is another NbS that highly benefits residents and communities.  Planting grass and trees along the riverbank, river cleaning through the removal of solid wastes helps restoration of rivers. It also helps us not to get infected with malaria or any other waterborne disease. The significance of NbS is manifested in the Youth4Nature's mission of mobilising youth to advocate for political leaders to deliver up to 30 per cent of climate solutions needed by 2030 through NbS.

Bangladesh has been a pioneer in promoting NbS by coastal afforestation. The mangrove plantation at the Mukdara and Chokatoli Mouja areas carried out under the Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods (SUFAL) project, implemented in selected sites in 147 upazilas of 28 districts during 2018 to 2023 resulted in collaborative forest management, a protection for coastal people against storms and floods; it also created alternative livelihoods for forest-dependent communities in targeted sites.

ENGINEERED SOLUTION VS NBS: In many parts of the world, the dominant approach to dealing with the hazards of climate change has been static engineered interventions such as sea walls, wells, and irrigation infrastructure. These can be very expensive, but very effective, at least in the short term. NbS in many situations, can provide a more affordable long-term solution.

RELEVANCE OF NBS FOR BANGLADESH: National Adaptation Plan of Bangladesh (2022) outlined the main climate induced challenges of the country, and its urban areas. These challenges are flash floods and waterlogging, drought, riverbank erosion, urban flood, sea level rise and storm surges, salinity intrusion, extreme heat, heatwave, landslides, sea surface temperature increase and ocean acidification.

The following case of Kudalichora Canal, Moulvibazar presents an example of NbS that addresses urban challenges of climate change.

The Kudalichora canal is an example of how restoring natural waterways can significantly enhance climate resilience and urban living. Flowing through the centre of Moulvibazar Municipality, the canal, serves as the area's primary drainage system. Due to flooding, waterlogging, and severe pollution, it was once known as the "curse of Moulvibazar". The Canal underwent a transformation through a restoration project led by the municipality and funded by LGRD. This initiative not only improved its drainage capacity but also turned it into a functional and eye-catching urban waterway. The project has also addressed the urban challenges such as indiscriminate waste-dumping and odour pollution, waterlogging in the city and illegal encroachment on both sides of the canal. Boosting urban ecology through the canal and canalside plantation, and better navigability in canal are the other major co-benefits reaped with the implementation of the project.

NBS FOR SALINITY INTRUSION: The southwestern coastal area of Bangladesh is frequently impacted by tropical cyclones and storm surges. Such cyclones and storm surges inundate the area with saline water. When tidal water gets trapped within embankments or polders, it results in long-lasting salinity that severely hampers crop productivity. It also adversely affects infrastructure, water supplies, soil quality, ecology, and biodiversity. Nature-based solutions such as rainwater harvesting offers an effective way to address water scarcity and reduce reliance on saline groundwater, although on a short-term basis.

URBAN RAINWATER HARVESTING AS AN NBS: The water treatment project in Mongla City serves as a prime example of nature-based solutions addressing salinity in daily water use. The project features two large rainwater harvesting ponds; the objective of these ponds is to reduce the salinity of river water collected from the Mongla river. Moreover, two overhead tanks store the treated water before the same is distributed throughout the city. This sustainable approach ensures a reliable and safe water supply for the community, showcasing an effective adaptation to the region's environment challenges in addition to its role of mitigation of salinity.

BLUE CARBON AS A NATURAL CARBON SOLUTION: Blue carbon, known as the greenhouse gases (GHZs) captured and sequestered by coastal and marine ecosystems such as seagrasses, mangroves, salt marsh and other tidal wetlands is recognised as a vital NbS. It is therefore necessary to scale up Nature-based Solutions (NbS) aiming to address the impacts and risk of climate change and environmental degradation. In this process, forming local level action plans aiming to cope with adverse impacts of climate change is imperative.

Regarding NbS, the Environment, Forest and Climate Change questioned the global push for NbSs without sincere commitments to GHG emission reductions. She observed that it has become fashionable to talk about NbS. Substantiating her observation, she rightly mentioned that if commitment for mitigation is not demonstrated and improved, adaptation will always remain a challenge. According to her, NbS is protecting the natural resource bases that will help adaptation better. She accepts NbS "as a value that you protect your natural resource bases so that the water logging that persists in Noakhali after a given flood can be addressed."

Her observation also concurs with the observation that "an NBCS approach can draw upon aspects of the Rights of Nature (RoN) paradigm through exploring the competing concerns of the 'use' of nature by humans, as a tool to mitigate climate change, against the intrinsic value of the environment and the needs of non-human species - all of this while retaining control of climate change" made by Deane and Bell-James (2025).

The most significant message we can get from the adviser (who is also an environmental and climate change specialist and a front-line activist for environmental justice) is that NbS is learning from our communities. A Nature-based Solution uses the tools that nature already provides. NbS is not something that should be imposed from the top. Rather, it should be the other way round (Frugal Innovation Forum, 2025). NbS can only be sustained if they are designed and implemented by local communities showing respect to the indigenous knowledge, local needs and management, cultural traditions and human rights.

To conclude, nature-based solutions are a critical tool for any country's climate action, offering both mitigation and adaptation benefits. NbS is not just about conserving nature in its current state, it is also about integrating nature solutions with all of our climate actions.  

Dr Mohammad Abu Yusuf is a climate analyst and Additional Secretary, Finance Division, Ministry of Finance.
yusuflotus@gmail.com