Nature-based Solutions and Climate Change

Making the case for Nature-based Solutions in the Mediterranean

Nature-based Solutions implemented in the Mediterranean through restoration and improving conservation of ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and seagrass meadows, can help communities to address the climate and biodiversity crisis and societal needs in a post Covid19 era. Forests and other types of vegetation help lower air temperature in urban areas or stabilise slopes. Wetlands can regulate floods and sea level rise. Coastal vegetation and natural features such as sand dunes and Posidonia-beach systems can provide protection against storm surges and strong winds. Agro-biodiversity practices can enhance food production. Nature-based Solutions also aim to generate local employment and new economic opportunities in a fair and equitable way.

Focus Priorities

Objectives for the NbS Programme in the Mediterranean 

1. Promoting the NbS standard in the Mediterranean, including capacity building in NbS.
2. Supporting the deployment and uptake of NbS in the public and private sector.
3. Enhancing the framework conditions for Nature-based Solutions at policy level, including economic incentives.

IUCN-Med is looking for PARTNERSHIPS
to build alliances, fund and implement projects on: 

• Applying the NbS concept framework and standards to improve in projects of climate change adaptation and mitigation in wetlands management and restoration.
• Developing local NbS clusters of public and private stakeholders in Mediterranean cities to promote concrete applications in several countries' urban areas.
• Enhancing the role that NbS can have on improving coastal resilience and coastal management.
• Integrating NbS measures within national climate plans in pilot North African countries.
• Applying NbS to agricultural landscapes to ensure food security and maintenance of cultural landscapes.

For those interested, please contact lourdes.lazaro@iucn.org with the subject line: Partnerships for Nature-based solutions projects

Photo: iucnmed LIFE AdaptaMED

This project aims to mitigate the negative effect of climate change on key ecosystem services in three iconic and representative Mediterranean natural protected areas in Andalucia.

Marine Biodiversity Posidania in the Mediterranean Photo: Posidania Life Blue Natura

This project represents an ambitious and innovative initiative to quantify blue carbon and protect coastal habitats in Andalusia. One example is the Posidonia oceanica meadows that are carbon sinks and habitats that are quickly disappearing.

Photo: posbemed POSBEMED2 

The objective of POSBEMED2 is to manage the Mediterranean coastline by using strategies that recognize the value of the Posidonia beach-dune environment and integrate them into the overall coastal strategy and educating stakeholders

The Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MEDECC) presented a report in 2019 that spoke about risks in the Mediterranean region associated to climate change. The report noted an overall average annual temperature rise of 1.5°C compared to the years in the preindustrial period (1880-1899). The temperature rise in the Mediterranean is higher than current global warming trends (+1.1°C). Other impacts of climate change in the region include decreasing precipitation, sea-level rising, ocean acidification, sea temperature rise, and higher risks of soil degradation, quality, and erosion. These changes could exacerbate other climate-induced hazards such as droughts, floods, and fires.

Socioeconomic factors also play an important role. the Mediterranean and North African regions are experiencing rapid population growth. A combination of growing populations and the impacts of climate change could create a shortage of crucial resources jeopardizing water and food security. (Source: MEDECC, 2019)

The IUCN Centre Mediterranean Cooperation has been working on scientific tools to anticipate and monitor those changes and help to generate reliable knowledge, and is currently participating in regional projects on adaptation and mitigation.