NbS catalogue
NbS approaches and practices
10 approaches, each with a factsheet on the hazards it reduces, where it fits, its co-benefits, and what to watch out for.
Beach forest and coastal greenbelt
Native beach forest planted and protected behind the shore to buffer settlements from wind, waves, and storm surge and to stabilise sand.
Bioswales and rain gardens
Vegetated channels and planted basins along streets and public spaces that collect, filter, and infiltrate stormwater in dense neighbourhoods.
Mangrove protection and rehabilitation
Protecting remaining mangroves and restoring them where they once grew, to reduce storm-surge and erosion impacts while supporting fisheries and storing carbon.
Multi-functional retention parks
Parks and open spaces designed to hold stormwater during heavy rain and release it slowly, reducing urban flooding while serving as public space.
Riparian buffer and riverbank rehabilitation
Vegetated riverbanks and cleared easements that slow floodwater, reduce bank erosion, and give rivers room during heavy rain.
Seagrass and coral reef protection
Protecting and restoring coral reefs and seagrass meadows that break waves offshore, stabilise sediment, and sustain coastal fisheries.
Urban forest and street trees
Trees along streets, in plazas, schools, and pocket forests that shade and cool neighbourhoods, intercept rain, and bring nature into the city.
Urban wetland restoration
Protecting and restoring marshes, ponds, and floodplain wetlands in and around cities to store floodwater, recharge groundwater, and clean runoff.
Vegetative slope stabilisation
Deep-rooted vegetation, grass hedgerows, and live bioengineering structures that stabilise shallow slopes above roads and settlements.
Watershed reforestation and agroforestry
Restoring forest cover and agroforestry in upland watersheds to reduce runoff, erosion, and downstream flooding and to sustain dry-season water supply.