Nature-based solutions, sustainable development, and equity

Healthy ecosystems are intricately connected to healthy communities and human well-being. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are an important tool for water security, while also providing additional human health, climate mitigation, and livelihood benefits that contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals. NBS also play out in landscapes of current and historical injustices. Without explicit consideration of equity and justice, NBS risk exacerbating inequities, rather than contributing to a more just society. In this chapter, we discuss the importance of attention to distributional, procedural, and recognitional equity in NBS and review examples of real-world NBS programs and strategies to improve equity and justice outcomes. Specifically, we discuss urban green infrastructure, payments for ecosystem services, and biocultural approaches to watershed management. We conclude with emerging best practices around equitable and just NBS for water.