Pioneering. Chantal van Ham EU Programme Officer. International Union for Conservation of Nature

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1 Pioneering nature-based solutions for cities Chantal van Ham EU Programme Officer IUCN -

2 About IUCN

3 International Union for Conservation of Nature Oldest and largest global environmental organization Helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environmental and developmental challenges such as climate change, sustainable development and food security A network of more than 1,200 member organizations (including 200+ government and 900+ NGOs), and almost 11,000 voluntary scientists and experts in 160 countries

4 Three focus areas: 1. Valuing and Conserving Nature 2. Effective and Equitable Governance of Nature s Resources 3. Deploying Nature-Based Solutions to Global Challenges in Climate, Food and Development

5 Cooperation with cities and regions Cities and regions are essential for implementing environmental policies and for protecting, conserving and enhancing natural capital Investing in nature: enhances quality of life, saves money, strengthens the local economy and reduces the impacts of climate change IUCN mobilizes the expertise of its network to help cities, local l and regional authorities develop natural solutions for the challenges they are facing

6 IUCN and nature-based solutions IUCN pioneered nature-based solutions (NBS) at the UN climate negotiations NBS play a vital role in mitigating and adapting to climate change, securing water, food and energy supplies, reducing poverty and driving economic growth IUCN works with governments, the private sector and communities to put science and knowledge into practice - restoring forests, rivers and wetlands, and bringing i our oceans back to life

7 Examples of Nature Based Solutions and their Benefits

8 Climate Change Cost if the European Commission does not act upon climate change = 190 billion per year Rising temperatures: increase in disaster frequency and impact. Cost to European coastal areas: approximately 42 billion, damage to agricultural areas: 18 billion Expected impact of drought on California, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the US : 2,2 billion and 17,000 jobs lost this year

9 Mayesbrook Park, London Partnership of public and private organizations Challenges addressed: Climate change - flooding, higher temperatures Biodiversity/community it it benefits: New floodplain to store floodwater, enhanced habitats, cultural services Cost effective: More than 1 million gross annual benefit delivered by ecosystem services Lifetime benefit-to-cost ratio 7:1

10 Conservation trust fund for the provision of drinking water 8-million residents of Bogota obtain water from Chingaza and Sumapaz national parks Creation of trust t fund to attract t voluntary contributions from Bogotá's water treatment facilities to subsidize conservation projects Benefits for people and nature: Water treatment facilities in Bogotá could save $4 million per year by investing in watershed protection

11 Building with Nature Flood Prevention in the Netherlands: 100m strip of willows can reduce the size of one metre-high waves by 80% and offer an alternative to traditional dikes Green shield saves construction and maintenance costs and offers additional benefits: - Protecting inhabitants at high tide - Improvements to landscape aesthetics - Creation of reservoir for the storage of CO2 - Trimmed willow shoots can be used as biofuel

12 Global Peatland Restoration Peatlands provide vital natural services Act as carbon sinks : occupy only 3% of the world s land area, yet hold over 30% of the global carbon store Damaged peatlands lose ability to remove CO2, start to release it back into the atmosphere, thereby accelerating climate change Restoration of peatlands: effective climate change mitigation strategy

13 Strengthening action Improve the knowledge base: Enhance the evidence base, awareness raising and capacity building, training and information exchange are essential Improve dialogue between scientific community and city representatives Recognize prosperity in nature: Nature's benefits are currently not making it to the balance sheet Quantify, map and assess ecosystem services at local and regional level Tailor communication strategies to different stakeholder groups Funding not only for the initial design and development, but also for continued maintenance and improvements

14 Thank you! In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught. - Baba Dioum