In the escalating race against climate change, the world is investing in technology: carbon capture machines, green hydrogen, AI-powered energy optimization. But amid the silicon and steel, we risk overlooking something far more powerful — and far older –Nature.
Forests, wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, and even soil have regulated our climate for millennia. They don’t just survive climate shocks — they buffer us from them. Yet, they’re undervalued in climate strategies and underrepresented in investment portfolios.
That’s where Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) come in: a science-backed, equity-driven, and scalable path forward — not just to reduce emissions, but to restore planetary stability.
What Are Nature-Based Solutions?
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are actions that leverage natural ecosystems to:
- Sequester or Remove carbon/Greenhouse gas emissions
- Build resilience to climate impacts
- Enhance biodiversity
- Improve human well-being
Unlike purely engineered solutions, NbS operate on ecological logic, enabling multiple outcomes from a single intervention. A restored mangrove forest, for example, doesn’t just capture carbon — it protects coasts from storms, restores fisheries, and supports local economies.
In other words, NbS aren’t a quick fix. They are a foundational pillar for achieving net-zero emissions.
Why Nature-Based Solutions Matter for Carbon
Nature’s carbon cycle is the largest carbon removal engine on Earth — and it’s still running, despite degradation.
Ecosystem | Core Carbon Role | Strategic Relevance |
|---|---|---|
Forests | Aboveground biomass captures CO₂ | Forest carbon projects (REDD+) |
Peatlands | Massive belowground carbon stores | Peatland protection = emission avoidance |
Grasslands | Deep root systems sequester soil carbon | Low-disturbance, high resilience |
Mangroves | Store carbon 3–5x more efficiently than forests | Blue carbon credits, coastal defense |
Soils (Agriculture) | Can absorb 1–2 billion tonnes CO₂/year with best practices | Organic farming, Agriculture Land Management, regenerative finance |
Core Categories of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Action
Forests: More Than Just Carbon Sinks
Forests store ~861 billion tonnes of carbon globally. But they’re disappearing — fast.
Key Actions:
- REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation)
- Afforestation & reforestation (AR)
- Improved forest management
Impact Example:
Protecting 1 hectare of tropical forest can avoid up to 400 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, while supporting 100+ species and generating sustainable timber or NTFP income.
Soil Organic Carbon & Regenerative Agriculture
Soils contain more carbon than the atmosphere and all vegetation combined — yet industrial agriculture is depleting them.
Regenerative practices:
- No-till & minimal disturbance
- Cover cropping & composting
- Agroforestry & silvopasture
Outcome: Carbon is stabilized in organic matter, improving yields and resilience to droughts.
Soil isn’t just dirt. It’s a carbon bank — and we’ve been making overdrafts for decades.
Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Mangroves, Salt Marshes, Seagrasses
Coastal ecosystems sequester carbon faster and deeper than most terrestrial systems — often underrecognized in carbon markets.
Why it matters:
- Mangroves store up to 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare
- Seagrasses protect shorelines and nurture marine biodiversity
Challenges: Blue carbon faces complex land rights, unclear MRV (Measurement, Reporting, Verification), and low awareness — but it’s emerging as a powerful offset class
Peatlands: The Silent Giants of Carbon Storage
Peatlands occupy just 3% of global land area but store over 30% of all soil carbon.
Problem: When drained (often for agriculture or mining), they release massive GHGs. Indonesia’s peatland fires are case in point.
Solution: Rewetting and protecting peatlands is not just ecological—it’s an emergency carbon mitigation priority.
Agroforestry & Silvopasture
Integrating trees into farms builds resilience, enriches soil, and creates shade and fodder for livestock.
Practices:
- Alley cropping (crops between tree rows)
- Silvopasture (grazing beneath trees)
- Riparian buffers (tree-lined streams)
Benefits: Combines productivity with long-term carbon sequestration — a win for food systems and climate.
The Role of NbS in Carbon Markets
The Role of NbS in Carbon Markets
Nature-based carbon credits are fast becoming a cornerstone of the voluntary carbon market.
High-Quality NbS Credits:
- Verified by standards: Verra (VCS), Gold Standard, ART TREES
- Additional, permanent & monitored
- Include co-benefits: biodiversity, livelihoods, water regulation
But quality matters. Poorly designed NbS projects risk reversal (e.g., forest fires), over-crediting, or social harm (e.g., displacing communities).
At Climeto, we advocate for NbS projects that are transparent, community-led, and ecologically rigorous.
The Co-Benefit Multiplier of Nature-Based Solutions
Unlike engineered carbon capture, NbS offer multifunctional benefits:
Co-Benefit | NbS Impact |
|---|---|
Climate Resilience | Reduces flood, drought, and storm risks |
Biodiversity | Rebuilds degraded ecosystems and species habitats |
Livelihoods | Generates green jobs in rural economies |
Water Systems | Improves water retention, quality, and recharge |
Human Wellbeing | Urban greening improves mental health & liveability |
Why the Time for Nature-Based Solutions Is Now
Despite their unmatched potential, NbS receive under 3% of total climate finance. Yet, they could contribute
- Over 30% of the mitigation required by 2030 to stay below 1.5°C can come from nature — yet NbS receive less than 3% of total climate finance.
- We are losing forests, peatlands, and wetlands faster than we are restoring them, eroding Earth’s ability to regulate carbon.
- Policy frameworks and carbon markets are only just beginning to recognize and standardize NbS within compliance systems.
Every year of delay compounds the risk: as natural carbon sinks degrade, the cost and complexity of mitigation rises exponentially.
This isn’t just a funding gap — it’s a strategic blind spot in climate action.
We need urgent alignment between:
- Public policy (mandating nature-positive climate strategies)
- Private capital (funding verified, high-integrity NbS projects)
- Communities and land stewards (empowered to lead on-ground restoration)
Nature is already doing the work. Now we must support, scale, and safeguard it — before the window closes.
The Path Forward: Investing in Nature with Integrity
For governments, corporates, and climate leaders, Nature-Based Solutions aren’t a “nice to have.” They’re non-negotiable for any credible climate strategy.
✅ Embed NbS in national carbon budgets and climate policies
✅ Scale up funding via carbon markets and ESG frameworks
✅ Ensure robust MRV + community rights + long-term stewardship
✅ Integrate NbS with engineered solutions in a hybrid mitigation model
We don’t need to invent solutions. We need to restore them.
Nature doesn’t just remove carbon — it teaches us how to live within limits, how to regenerate, how to persist. As we race toward net zero, let’s not pave over the most powerful solution we have.
It’s time to treat forests like batteries, wetlands like water regulators, and soils like storage banks — not because it’s poetic, but because it’s strategically essential.
Disclaimer: Above content does not constitute any legal advice and is only provided for educational purpose.
Climeto Sustainable Services Private Limited is an environmental consultancy. If you need any more information on the above you can contact us:
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