This presentation was delivered during the 6th Meeting of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme’s Regional Policy Network on Sustainable Infrastructure, which took place on 25-26 April 2022 in Manila, the Philippines. The OECD’s Public Governance Directorate and Environment Directorate teamed up with the OECD Korea Policy Centre to organise the event. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) of the Philippines co-chaired the event alongside the United States, and the Public Private Partnership Centre of the Philippines graciously provided the venue. For more details about the meeting, including the agenda and a short summary record, please visit: https://www.oecd.org/site/sipa/events/sipa-searp-philippines-2022.htm.

1. Ryan Bartlett, WWF US
Gia Ibay, WWF Philippines
Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions in
Infrastructure Planning
6th OECD Regional Policy Network Meeting on Sustainable Infrastructure
25-26 April 2022
Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines | Manila

2. 25 million km of new paved roads will
be built by 2050, mainly in the tropics
(600x around the planet)

3. The new normal

4. Natural infrastructure services
Sediment control
Clean water provision
Flood risk reduction
Recreation
Wildlife and biodiversity

5. GOAL #3 CONCEPT DESIGN FUNDING APPROVALS CONSTRUCTION
GOAL #2 CONCEPT DESIGN FUNDING APPROVALS CONSTRUCTION
THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Ecosystem factors are considered after key decisions have been made.
Isolated projects are developed independently of one another.
Some projects are screened for climate risks
GOAL #1 CONCEPT DESIGN FUNDING APPROVALS CONSTRUCTION
MINIMIZEorREDUCErisksand impacts
MITIGATEremaining risksand impacts
COMPENSATEorOFFSETresidualimpacts
Reducecarbon emissions
CONCEPT DESIGN

6. A BETTER DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Ecosystem and climate factors are considered in upstream planning.
Integrated systems actively leverage and strengthen natural infrastructure.
ANTICIPATE & AVOID risks and impacts
MINIMIZEorREDUCErisksand impacts
MITIGATEremaining risksand impacts
COMPENSATEorOFFSETresidualimpacts

7. Natural capital assessments to identify key ecosystem service
provision areas
National: Key areas for securing clean
drinking water sources for surface drinking
water
Project level: Key areas for protecting
particular bridges from sedimentation
National: Key areas where coastal habitats
protect coastal populations from storms
High
Low

8. Myanmar’s future
climate risk (2040s)
under low and high
emissions
scenarios
Low Low
High High

9. Forests protect bridges by reducing soil erosion

10. From WWF 2017. Greening China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Myanmar

11. Assess natural capital and ecosystem
services that support climate resilience
at national and subnational levels
Collaborate with national and
subnational stakeholders to mainstream
NbS in infrastructure planning
Train partners in infrastructure planning
for NbS and resilience
WWF Project
Goals

12. National mapping & analysis
Sub-national mapping & analysis
Capacity building & integration
• Nature-based solutions for resilience
• Support national transportation
network planning
• Mindanao, Philippines; Sumatra,
Indonesia
• Guiding local road network planning
• Training in NbS-based infrastructure
planning
• Integration with national, regional
mapping/land use planning platforms

13. Thank You