NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes

Entering the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, interventions referred to as nature-based solutions (NBS) are at the forefront of the sustainability discourse. While applied in urban, natural forest or wetland ecosystems, they are underutilized in agricultural landscapes. This paper presents a tech...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Simelton, Elisabeth, Carew-Reid, J., Coulier, M., Damen, B., Howell, J., Pottinger-Glass, C., Tran, H.V., Meiren, M. van der
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Frontiers Media 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115491
_version_ 1855520685347045376
author Simelton, Elisabeth
Carew-Reid, J.
Coulier, M.
Damen, B.
Howell, J.
Pottinger-Glass, C.
Tran, H.V.
Meiren, M. van der
author_browse Carew-Reid, J.
Coulier, M.
Damen, B.
Howell, J.
Meiren, M. van der
Pottinger-Glass, C.
Simelton, Elisabeth
Tran, H.V.
author_facet Simelton, Elisabeth
Carew-Reid, J.
Coulier, M.
Damen, B.
Howell, J.
Pottinger-Glass, C.
Tran, H.V.
Meiren, M. van der
author_sort Simelton, Elisabeth
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Entering the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, interventions referred to as nature-based solutions (NBS) are at the forefront of the sustainability discourse. While applied in urban, natural forest or wetland ecosystems, they are underutilized in agricultural landscapes. This paper presents a technical framework to characterise NBS in agricultural systems. NBS in the agriculture sector is proposed as “the use of natural processes or elements to improve ecosystem functions of environments and landscapes affected by agricultural practices, and to enhance livelihoods and other social and cultural functions, over various temporal and spatial scales.” The framework emerges from a review of 188 peer-reviewed articles on NBS and green infrastructure published between 2015 and 2019 and three international expert consultations organized in 2019–2020. The framework establishes four essential functions for NBS in agriculture: 1) Sustainable practices — with a focus on production; 2) Green Infrastructure — mainly for engineering purposes such as water and soil, and slope stabilization; 3) Amelioration — for restoration of conditions for plants, water, soil or air and climate change mitigation; and 4) Conservation — focusing on biodiversity and ecosystem connectivity. The framework connects the conventional divide between production and conservation to add functionality, purpose and scale in project design. The review confirmed limited evidence of NBS in agricultural systems particularly in developing country contexts, although specific technologies feature under other labels. Consultations indicated that wider adoption will require a phased approach to generate evidence, while integrating NBS in national and local policies and agricultural development strategies. The paper concludes with recommended actions required to facilitate such processes.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace115491
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2021
publishDateRange 2021
publishDateSort 2021
publisher Frontiers Media
publisherStr Frontiers Media
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1154912025-12-08T10:29:22Z NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes Simelton, Elisabeth Carew-Reid, J. Coulier, M. Damen, B. Howell, J. Pottinger-Glass, C. Tran, H.V. Meiren, M. van der agriculture landscape conservation Entering the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, interventions referred to as nature-based solutions (NBS) are at the forefront of the sustainability discourse. While applied in urban, natural forest or wetland ecosystems, they are underutilized in agricultural landscapes. This paper presents a technical framework to characterise NBS in agricultural systems. NBS in the agriculture sector is proposed as “the use of natural processes or elements to improve ecosystem functions of environments and landscapes affected by agricultural practices, and to enhance livelihoods and other social and cultural functions, over various temporal and spatial scales.” The framework emerges from a review of 188 peer-reviewed articles on NBS and green infrastructure published between 2015 and 2019 and three international expert consultations organized in 2019–2020. The framework establishes four essential functions for NBS in agriculture: 1) Sustainable practices — with a focus on production; 2) Green Infrastructure — mainly for engineering purposes such as water and soil, and slope stabilization; 3) Amelioration — for restoration of conditions for plants, water, soil or air and climate change mitigation; and 4) Conservation — focusing on biodiversity and ecosystem connectivity. The framework connects the conventional divide between production and conservation to add functionality, purpose and scale in project design. The review confirmed limited evidence of NBS in agricultural systems particularly in developing country contexts, although specific technologies feature under other labels. Consultations indicated that wider adoption will require a phased approach to generate evidence, while integrating NBS in national and local policies and agricultural development strategies. The paper concludes with recommended actions required to facilitate such processes. 2021-08-05 2021-10-19T02:54:29Z 2021-10-19T02:54:29Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115491 en Open Access Frontiers Media Simelton, E., Carew-Reid, J., Coulier, M., Damen, B., Howell, J., Pottinger-Glass, C., Tran, H.V. and Van Der Meiren, M., 2021. NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 9, 678367. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.678367
spellingShingle agriculture
landscape conservation
Simelton, Elisabeth
Carew-Reid, J.
Coulier, M.
Damen, B.
Howell, J.
Pottinger-Glass, C.
Tran, H.V.
Meiren, M. van der
NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes
title NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes
title_full NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes
title_fullStr NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes
title_full_unstemmed NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes
title_short NBS Framework for Agricultural Landscapes
title_sort nbs framework for agricultural landscapes
topic agriculture
landscape conservation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115491
work_keys_str_mv AT simeltonelisabeth nbsframeworkforagriculturallandscapes
AT carewreidj nbsframeworkforagriculturallandscapes
AT coulierm nbsframeworkforagriculturallandscapes
AT damenb nbsframeworkforagriculturallandscapes
AT howellj nbsframeworkforagriculturallandscapes
AT pottingerglassc nbsframeworkforagriculturallandscapes
AT tranhv nbsframeworkforagriculturallandscapes
AT meirenmvander nbsframeworkforagriculturallandscapes