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Scaling-up Nature-Based Solutions through the NAP Process
- 1. Scaling-up Nature- Based Solutions throughthe NAP Process Mauricio Luna NAP Global Network May 19, 2025
- 2. Nature is foundational:To our health and well-being, our economies, our livelihoods, and our cultures. NbS and EbA offer an opportunity to link adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity and ecosystem protection at the local and national levels. Ecosystems play a crucial role in both adaptation to climate change and building resilience by supporting livelihoods and providing vital ecosystem services, including flood protection and climate regulation. All NAP documents include one or more actions related to protecting, conserving, restoring, sustainably using, and managing natural ecosystems in their NAP documents.
- 3. How does theNAP process matter in upscaling NbS? Embedding NbS in NAPs as priority measures can lead to more financial and political support for these types of solutions. NbS will be more sustainable and effectives when integrated into long-term planning processes as part of a larger adaptation plan. NAPs provide a strategic framework for mainstreaming, mandating, and scaling up NbS. The NAP process provides an important opportunity to raise awareness about NbS and integrate it into subnational and local planning scales.
- 4. Five ways countriesscale up NbS via NAP processes • Generate detailed information and data about the climate risks and vulnerabilities that ecosystems face due to climate change. • Emphasize the role of ecosystems in livelihoods, socioeconomic development and vulnerability reduction. • Focus attention on the links between the climate and biodiversity crises and the importance of EbA/NbS to address both in simultaneously. • Identify EbA as a foundational adaptation response in NAPs. • Deliver EbA holistically across sectors and levels of government.
- 5. 8 Good Practices •Highlight ecosystems' role in reducing vulnerability. • Use ecosystem-level approaches for risk assessments. • Adopt cross-sectoral integration of EbA/NbS solutions. • Consider inclusion of EbA/NbS to meet multiple global policy commitments. • Ensure participatory and inclusive planning, considering gender and vulnerable groups. • Engage subnational governments for local implementation. • Commit to long-term investment and resource allocation. • Build an evidence base for EbA/NbS through monitoring, evaluation and learning.
- 6. Good practice for integratingNbS into NAP processes Good practice 1: Emphasize the role of ecosystems in vulnerability reduction for people, their livelihoods, and socioeconomic development. Good practice 2: Take an ecosystem-level approach to assessing vulnerability and risks using the best available science, as well as Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge. For example, Timor-Leste’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) places EbA at the centre of its goal to build “a climate resilient development trajectory for the country and its people” For example, Fiji’s NAP describes in detail the anticipated impacts of climate change on ecosystems and the natural resources they provide. A 2017 Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) prepared by the Government of Fiji was a key document informing the development of the NAP.
- 7. Good practice for integratingNbS into NAP processes Good practice 3: Adopt an integrated approach that considers ecosystems across all sectors in the NAP process. Good practice 4: Embrace global policy alignment by considering synergies with other relevant international commitments that NbS solutions contribute to. For example, Timor Leste’s NAP prioritizes EbA as a guiding principle for implementation, allowing for an integrated approach to adaptation planning and cross- sectoral coordination to “maximize synergies between environmental conservation and rehabilitation efforts and the NAP process” For example, Fiji’s NAP explicitly recognized the NAP as a complementary vehicle that can support the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan along with its associated targets.
- 8. Good practice for integratingNbS into NAP processes Good practice 5: Make use of the participatory and inclusive nature of the NAP process to design the most appropriate and effective NbS solutions. Good practice 6: Use the NAP process to engage subnational and local level governments in the design and implementation of regional and local NbS solutions. For example, Timor Leste’s NAP embraces a participatory and inclusive adaptation approach through community- based actions, robust youth engagement, and strong demographic, gender, and social inclusion considerations and places the traditional customary rule —Tarabandu—at the centre of its local engagement and implementation strategy. For example, Fiji’s NAP underscores vertical integration as an important opportunity to integrate EbA to adaptation. It will help deliver ecosystem services equitably and enhance participation in—and the inclusivity of—the decision-making and development planning processes by linking community-based adaptation to national planning.
- 9. Good practice for integratingNbS into NAP processes Good practice 7: Adopt a long-term approach and ensure sufficient resources for the implementation of NbS solutions. Good practice 8: Ensure accountability and performance by building an evidence base for NbS solutions as part of an overall NAP Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system. For example, Timor Leste’s NAP recognizes that adequate, sustainable, and long-term financing is crucial to implementing the NAP and EbA projects. The NAP outlines the domestic institutional arrangements that would ensure climate-conscious budgeting for implementing adaptation actions. For example, Fiji’s NAP document acknowledges that M&E efforts need to be improved and identifies actions to “install robust multi-criteria monitoring and evaluation systems to determine the success of national, sectoral and local adaptation initiatives”. It specifically references the need to establish and enhance the M&E of natural resources and ecosystems, particularly for national water resources.
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Editor's Notes
- #2 Building on the earlier presentation on the review of NbS in NAPs - all countries include one or more actions related to protecting, conserving, restoring, sustainably using, and managing natural ecosystems in their NAP documents. This is due to countries recognizing: Ecosystems and the goods and services they deliver are the basis for key economic sectors which provide livelihood support to millions of people globally, particularly in rural communities. In particular agricultural, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems. NbS and EbA solutions offer an opportunity to link adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity and ecosystem protection at a national level. Many NbS and EbA measures deliver co-benefits for sustainable development Ecosystems play a crucial role in both adaptation to climate change and building resilience by providing vital ecosystem services. These services, such as water purification, flood protection, and climate regulation, help communities cope with the impacts of climate change and prepare for future hazards.
- #3 How can the NAP process support upscaling NBS? Like many other adaptation options, NbS and EbA will be more sustainable and effectives when integrated into long-term planning processes as part of a larger adaptation plan. NAPs provide a strategic framework for mainstreaming, mandating, and scaling up EbA. NAPs are developed with input and commitments from multiple sectors, providing opportunities for embedding EbA across different sectoral priorities. The NAP process provides an important opportunity to raise awareness about EbA and integrate it into subnational and local planning scales, ideally using a landscape approach. Embedding EbA and NbS in NAPs as priority measures can lead to more financial support for these types of measures.
- #4 Five ways countries scale up EbA and NbS via NAP processes Provide detailed information and data about the climate risks and vulnerabilities their ecosystems face due to climate change. Emphasize the role of ecosystems in livelihoods, socioeconomic development and vulnerability reduction. Drawing direct links between the climate and biodiversity crises and the importance of EbA/NbS to address both in simultaneously. Using EbA as a central or foundational adaptation response in NAPs (e.g. priority sector, guiding principle) Engage multiple levels of government and different sectors to deliver EbA holistically.
- #5 The review of NAP documents highlighted that the NAP process provides a strategic mechanism to upscale and mainstream EbA and NbS solutions at the national level and across sectors. The NAP Global Network aimed to summarize “good practices” for integrating ecosystems and EbA/ NbS solutions in the NAP process based on observations from the review of existing NAP documents and existing NAP guidance produced by other institutions and organizations.