GuideNbs
The project GuideNbs will produce an online handbook and best-practice toolbox for the practical implementation of Nature-based solutions (NbS) in the Nordics.
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are defined by the United Nations and 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."
Nature-based solutions encompass many different actions spanning protection, sustainable use, and restoration of ecosystems to maintain and re-establish their services to solve societal challenges such as climate change adaptation, food security, biodiversity loss and climate change mitigation.
As such, nature-based solutions are highlighted by both the UN, IPBES and IPCC as a cost-effective way of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
GuideNbs will make an online toolbox
The main objective is to make the information gained in the project operational and available to a wide range of stakeholders, including practitioners, local authorities, and the public.
The online handbook we will produce will contain guidance for the practical implementation of NbS across six specific ecosystems, namely coastal areas, cultural landscapes, forests, mountains, urban areas, and wetlands.
The project has four key activities. These are to:
1) Develop an online handbook and best-practice toolbox which can be used as a knowledge base for NbS practitioners across the Nordic countries.
2) Exchange knowledge among stakeholders (ecosystem experts and local practitioners) across the Nordics.
3) Providing practical guidance by giving best-practice examples on the planning, design, implementation, and operation of NbS using lessons learned from the 8 Nordic case-studies and pilot studies identified in the S-ITUATION project as well as other Nordic pilots funded by the European Commission.
4) Actively communicating findings from all the Nordic Council of Ministers NbS projects using a wide range of dissemination media and platforms to support capacity building amongst NbS practitioners.
The online platform we will develop in GuidanceNbS will be available in six languages e.g., English, Danish, Finnish, Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish.