What makes good nature-based solutions?

Protecting, conserving, and restoring forests, also known as nature-based solutions (NbS) have recently gained global prominence as a fundamental component to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens convened a panel discussion at the UN pavilion at #COP26 on 08th November 2021 to explore how we can ensure that they deliver their intended benefits.

Dr Sarobidy Rakotonarivo was invited to speak at the event alongside Prof. Nathalie Seddon from the University of Oxford, Rosa Morales, Ministry of Environment of Peru, Tasfia Tasnim from the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and Andrea Ledward, the Natural Environment Director at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). Dr Paul Wikin from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew opened the discussion with a brief introduction to what NbS are and how they have gained traction in a range of arenas from science to development. 

Some of the themes explored during the event were i) what the main barriers or difficulties are to developing NbS globally or nationally, ii) can NbS deliver simultaneously against climate change and other global challenges? Iii) How do we best promote NbS to communities, civil society, and governments. 

Sarobidy from Forest4Climate&People highlighted the critical importance of acknowledging local costs and trade-offs in these NbS initiatives and other key implementation issues such as secure and clear local rights to lands, and adequate funding for local livelihoods. 

“In the UK, conservationists and government are very comfortable with paying rich country landowners (such as owners of Scottish estates) to lock up carbon. It sometimes feels like if you're (relatively) rich your costs are paid, but if you're the poorest in the world, you just get displaced without compensation. Warm words about indigenous ppl & forests won't change this fundamental injustice. It is those people at the forest frontier holding an axe that have the biggest influence over what happens. We can have endless discussions at places like this in Glasgow, but unless these people making decisions about how they farm are properly empowered, and their rights are adequately recognised, I am not sure a solution based on nature is actually possible.” stated Sarobidy in her speech. You can watch the full recording here.

Publication date: 10 November 2021