Nature-based Infrastructure Solutions (NbIS) combine ecosystems, local knowledge, and built infrastructure to protect communities from climate change. These solutions safeguard lives, enhance biodiversity, and promote well-being, offering a powerful way to address societal challenges while benefiting both people and the environment. NbIS can be up to 50% cheaper than conventional, grey infrastructure while delivering similar or better outcomes.

Across the world, mangroves are estimated to save up to $85 billion each year by reducing flood damage. They protect coastal areas from powerful storm surges, remove pollutants from sea water, and reduce erosion. In 2023, the Government of India launched an initiative to enhance mangrove coverage across nine States and three Union Territories, including the Sundarbans. This initiative will protect vulnerable regions from cyclones and storms, improve ecological health, and support local jobs.

In Bali, Indonesia, the community of Nusa Dua faced severe coral reef degradation and wave impacts issues. Instead of resorting to conventional sea walls, which are costly and harmful to the environment, innovative structures that promote coral reef regeneration were installed. This approach restored the coral ecosystem and strengthened the resilience of coastal infrastructure by reducing the impact of storm surges.

‘Green’ roofs topped with vegetation can lower temperatures by about 3°C and soak up nearly 90% of the rain that falls on them. They also improve air quality and biodiversity, and dramatically reduce indoor temperatures. The Green Business Centre in Hyderabad, India is one of the first commercial buildings in India to benefit from green roofs and the associated energy conservation. Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand has added terraces of rice paddy fields on its roofs, which both collect rainwater and grow food. When opened in 2019 it was Asia’s largest rooftop farm, with 22,000 square meters dedicated to organic rice farming.

Bioswales are shallow ditches filled with indigenous plants which act like sponges, cleaning dirty water before it reaches rivers and lakes, and helping to prevent floods. Providing means for rainwater to filter into the ground also recharges aquifers—a critical need for cities which regularly face water scarcity. Project Dhara in New Delhi, India transformed previously barren land to a rain garden, harvesting close to 1.4 million litres of water every year.

Enhancing tree cover and biodiversity improves the quality of life for city dwellers while enhancing climate resilience. India’s Nagar Van Yojana scheme aims to create 400 Urban Forests and 200 Urban Gardens across the country. Programs such as this also create healthy, natural spaces for everyone to enjoy, while providing co-benefits, including climate resilience.

Wetlands protect against climate impacts while sustaining livelihoods. The East Kolkata Wetlands, designated as an ecologically sensitive Ramsar site, are a combination of natural and manmade wetlands. They treat the city’s wastewater and utilize this treated water for agriculture and fish farming. In addition to curbing impacts of floods, droughts, and heatwaves, these wetlands provide livelihoods for about 150,000 people. In 2023, the Amrit Dharohar

scheme was launched to promote the conservation of ecologically sensitive wetlands of international importance across India.

Innovative funding mechanisms are making these natural infrastructure solutions more attractive to investors. Tax Increment Financing uses anticipated future tax revenue from developments that enhance green spaces to finance such projects. Stormwater Credits are gaining popularity as it reduces costs for developers while implementing nature-based infrastructure projects that mitigate flood risks and benefit the local community.

Integrating communities and local knowledge is essential. In Himachal Pradesh, planting indigenous plants alongside grey infrastructure has stabilised slopes along key roads and reduced the risk of landslides. In Rajasthan, communities have used generational knowledge to revive a traditional water harvesting systems known as ‘Johads’. These small earthen check dams capture and store rainwater, replenish the water table, and enhance the region’s resilience to water scarcity and climate change.

By 2050, India will face an infrastructure investment gap of US$ 200-300 billion annually. Nature based infrastructure solutions should play a key role in bridging this gap. Investing in these natural solutions will enhance resilience, reduce costs, and lower the carbon footprint of major infrastructure projects.

By:

Mr Arighna Mitra, Analyst – Advocacy at CDRI

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).