Interventions for resilient nature‐based solutions: An ecological perspective

Abstract

Abstract Nature‐based solutions (NbS) have emerged at the science, policy and practitioner interface to address environmental challenges facing society. NbS involve people working with nature to protect, restore or manage ecosystems. Yet NbS vary to the extent they support biological diversity which has implications for ecological resilience. We reviewed how ecological resilience has been conceptualised in the NbS literature. The literature included reference to both resilience to specific disturbances and general resilience to future environmental change. We found reporting of resilience mechanisms was limited except for afforestation efforts where there is increasing recognition of the role of species diversity in contributing to resilience. Reporting was limited for resilience mechanisms that operate within species and populations (e.g. genetic diversity) and at the landscape scale (e.g. connectivity). Resistance was overlooked despite the prevalence of NbS intended to address climate change. From the broader ecological literature, we distilled resilience mechanisms that have been identified for native and experimental ecosystems and suggested interventions for the emergence of resilience mechanisms in NbS. Synthesis. Interventions to conserve biodiversity such as retaining and restoring ecosystems, are critical given that biodiversity, within and across scales of biological organisation, underpins several ecological resilience mechanisms in NbS.