Cross-cutting: Evidence-based and adaptive management
Integrating evidence and systematic use of knowledge into policy development and decision-making for nature can foster resilience in changing environments.
Specific Advice
Monitoring effects and learning from experience is fundamental when working with nature (photo: Janne Gitmark/NIVA).
Evidence-based management
is key when working with nature. Decisions regarding complex ecosystems need to be supported by scientific evidence and experience. If there is a lack of knowledge, impact assessments and mapping should be required. The precautionary principle should be applied when working with nature, to avoid damages that can be irreversible. To ensure that NBS become mainstream, all relevant knowledge and experiences should be gathered and made accessible.Adaptive management
can give flexibility and allow for adjustments in response to changing conditions and new knowledge. When working with NBS, there needs to be room for trying and failing to improve the solutions over time.Good to Know
Applying standardised Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) to track both ecological and socio-economic outcomes will allow for continuous improvement and scalability of NBS initiatives.
The importance of learning from both successes and failures in previous NBS efforts should be emphasised. This means also documenting unsuccessful solutions. By analysing case studies and practical experiences, practitioners can build a deeper understanding of effective strategies and potential pitfalls, leading to better-informed decision-making.
Knowledge gathered about certain ecosystems or areas in impact assessment may not always be public. Strengthening systems to share and make this information accessible could improve transparency, support informed decision-making, and foster collaboration.
Identifying what works and what does not, can reduce barriers to implementation of NBS both locally and across regions.
Regular assessments of effects and impacts of NBS can help identify risks and challenges at an early stage.
Context
Evidence-based management uses evidence and systematic knowledge to ensure effectiveness, sustainability and adaptability. A barrier to implementation of NBS is the perceived lack of evidence or knowledge about the effects of a NBS intervention. Ecosystems are complex and dynamic, and there is always an element of uncertainty in their management. Predicting the effects of NBS are in other words not as standardised as for other interventions or grey solutions. Most NBS are also to some degree unique to their area and context.
Evidence-based risk assessments can contribute to managing uncertainties in NBS implementation, strengthening confidence in applying these approaches. Evidence-based management can also encourage collaboration across different sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, and urban development, in that they all significantly impact biodiversity. The emphasis on knowledge-based management supports the use of strategic environmental assessments and environmental impact assessments, ensuring that biodiversity values are systematically included in project evaluations and planning processes.
Ecosystems evolve and change over time, and this is also what make NBS more resilient and multi-functional than other solutions. The 7th criterion of the IUCN global standard is that “NBS are managed adaptively, based on evidence”. Adaptive management is based on knowledge coming from monitoring, science, experiences and traditional or indigenous knowledge. To expand NBS knowledge, continuous learning is key. By drawing on past successes and failures, practitioners can build a more comprehensive understanding of what works and why, allowing for more effective future planning and taking NBS into consideration.
Documenting these experiences is equally important, as it allows the wider community to benefit from lessons learned and apply them to their own contexts. This approach not only strengthens the collective knowledge base but also supports risk assessments, which are essential for managing uncertainties associated with NBS implementation. These strategies align policy with practical implementation, fostering collaboration and ensuring more effective NBS adoption.
Learn more
Nature-Based Solutions Implementation Handbook: A Summary for Practitioners
by the UnaLab projects provides tips on monitoring and impact assessments of NBS: https://unalab.eu/system/files/2024-01/nbs-implementation-handbook-summary-practitioners2024-01-04.pdfConvention on biological diversity’s operational guidance for application of the ecosystem approach
: https://www.cbd.int/ecosystem/operational.shtmlKnowledge4Policy (K4P)
is the EU Commission's platform for evidence-based policymaking. It includes knowledge on topics such as biodiversity and disaster risk management: https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/home_enInternational Obligations
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, target 14
“Ensure the full integration of biodiversity and its multiple values into policies, regulations, planning and development processes, poverty eradication strategies, strategic environmental assessments, environmental impact assessments and, as appropriate, national accounting, within and across all levels of government and across all sectors, in particular those with significant impacts on biodiversity, progressively aligning all relevant public and private activities, and fiscal and financial flows with the goals and targets of this framework.”EU Adaptation Strategy
The advice for evidence-based management and evidence for NBS aligns with the EU Adaptation Strategy, specifically under its emphasis on enhancing knowledge and evidence-based approaches for effective climate adaptation. The strategy promotes the integration of scientific research, data collection, and monitoring to inform policy decisions, ensuring that adaptation measures are robust and resilient. This knowledge-driven approach is essential for implementing NBS effectively within broader climate adaptation efforts.