Part of: Nature

Nature Based Solutions

Nature Based Solutions offer a wide range of benefits for both people and planet, and when implemented into our towns, cities & communities they are a key tool for tackling the combined climate and ecological crises.

Why Nature Based Solutions?

Our towns and cities are facing a variety of challenges, from rising temperatures & extreme weather to poorly considered neighbourhoods that are vulnerable to a variety of urban stresses like air pollution & noise. When looking to tackle these issues, Nature Based Solutions (NBS) can be a crucial tool.

NBS, including green walls, green roofs, urban parks, SUDs and street trees, bring a wide range of benefits to urban areas. This includes: improved temperature regulation, better air & water quality, carbon storage, biodiversity hotspots, increased footfall to commercial areas and improved health & wellbeing for local residents among many others. However, we currently work in a sector where nature is seen as a ‘nice to have’ in our cities – UKGBC is on a mission to change this.  

Through providing guidance on how they should be used, and frameworks to understand their ‘true’ value, we want to make NBS a core part of urban development. By answering key questions and working with industry we believe we can make this much needed shift happen.  

Project

NBS Labs

Building on The Value of Urban Nature-Based Solutions report released last year, this project provides built environment stakeholders with the opportunity to work through some of challenges and solutions of implementing nature-based solutions in an urban context. 

Acknowledging that many practitioners are facing similar challenges, the NBS Labs are a place for learning and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, specifically around maintenance and stewardship, as well as existing buildings and retrofit. Participants shared learnings and challenges and heard from others who are facing similar issues. In addition, a programme of external speakers who are experts on the topic offered insights into the state of the art and best practice of urban nature-based solutions. Key findings and insights from these sessions were compiled into our Nature-Based Solution Infographics.

Resources

Blogs

Nature

Nature is in crisis.  The built environment has a critical role to play in protecting and restoring nature and moving to a regenerative model of development.
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