NbS Key Facts” refers to evidence-based information about the benefits, features and outcomes associated with nature-based solutions (NbS) to address environmental, societal and financial challenges. These facts include quantifiable data, statistics and information related to the effectiveness and impact of specific NbS, and how they contribute to overall environmental sustainability.
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Displaying 1 - 50 of 274
| Definition | Priority Themes | Ecosystems | Target Sector | Societal challenges | Country | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Without adaptation, climate change could reduce average EU crop yields by around 11% by the 2080s, with losses of around 20% in southern Europe under the JRC’s reference climate scenario. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | National and EU policy-makers |
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NN source: Financing Nature-based Solutions: The case for NbS in Agriculture https://networknature.eu/sites/default/files/2026-06/NetworkNature_Finance%20Briefs_NbS%20for%20Agriculture_D4.2_ONLINE.pdf Original source: European Commission Joint Research Centre, JRC Peseta II, Agriculture: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/projects-and-activities/peseta-climate-change-projects/jrc-peseta-ii/biophysical-results/agriculture_en |
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| Barcelona’s Plan Natura 2030 was developed with input from more than 100 participants across 10 workshops, complemented by online public participation through the city’s digital engagement platform. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Spain | ||
| In Spain, 182 large grazers have been introduced across landscapes where Rewilding Spain has secured grazing rights over approximately 30,000 hectares, helping restore grasslands and open mosaic habitats while supporting wildfire prevention, soil health and pollinators. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Grassland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Spain | ||
| At its peak, the 2022 drought affected more than 60% of EU and UK territory, demonstrating the scale of Europe’s exposure to increasing drought and water stress. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Cropland | National and EU policy-makers |
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Original sources (no longer working: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/climate-change-impacts-and-adaptation-in-europe https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/drought-europe-august-2022_en |
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| Paris’s Tree Plan 2021–2026 involves planting 170,000 new trees across streets, squares, forests and ring roads, helping improve the urban climate while creating new habitats for wildlife. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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France | ||
| The LIFE for MIRES project restored 2.4 km of stream courses and approximately 25 hectares of wetlands in the German part of the Czech-German Green Belt, improving water retention, wetland habitats and ecological connectivity. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Inland wetland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Germany & Czech | ||
| Around 75% of global crop types depend to some extent on animal pollinators, making healthy pollinator populations essential to agricultural production and food systems. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Original source: IPBES Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production |
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| Barcelona estimated that its urban tree canopy generated €45 million in annual benefits in 2024 through pollutant retention, carbon sequestration and storage, and avoided runoff. | Zero pollution | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Spain | https://urbannatureplans.eu/sites/default/files/media/documents/UNP-plus-Policy-Brief-01-www.pdf |
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| By the end of 2025, the Life on the Edge project in South Devon had created or restored 144 hectares of habitat across 13 estates or sites and provided management advice to 34 landowners collectively managing 4,326 hectares. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Grassland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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England | ||
| Around one in three assessed species of bees, butterflies and hoverflies in Europe are declining, putting at risk the pollination of crops and wild plants. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Financing Nature-based Solutions (NbS): The Case for NbS in Agriculture
Original source: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/state-of-nature-in-the-eu-2020 |
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| Around 90% of sealed land in Mannheim is privately owned, highlighting the crucial role of private landowners in restoring nature and increasing permeability in the city. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Germany | https://urbannatureplans.eu/sites/default/files/media/documents/UNP-plus-Policy-Brief-01-www.pdf |
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| In Croatia, a LIFE-funded project is working to restore 560 hectares of grassland mosaics by making traditional extensive agriculture economically viable, while strengthening biodiversity and climate resilience. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Grassland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Croatia | ||
| Economic modelling estimates that the complete loss of animal pollination could generate short-term economic losses equivalent to 1–2% of global GDP, demonstrating the substantial economic value of pollination services. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Original source: Revisiting the economic valuation of agricultural losses due to large-scale changes in pollinator populations https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800920300793?via%3Dihub |
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| A meta-analysis of 87 studies found Nature-based Solutions to be consistently cost-effective in 71% of cases, and cost-effective under specific conditions in another 24%. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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| In Hungary, the Na-Tu-Re project removed invasive plant species across 56 hectares of forest, planted native shrubs and herbaceous perennials, and installed 255 artificial bird nests as part of Natura 2000 forest restoration. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Forest | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Hungary | ||
| An estimated 60–70% of EU soils are in an unhealthy condition, threatening the long-term resilience and productivity of European agriculture. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | National and EU policy-makers |
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Original source: EU Soil Strategy for 2030, Reaping the benefits of healthy soils for people, food, nature and climate https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0699 |
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| In the Netherlands, a programme involving the Southern Agriculture and Horticulture Organization pays farmers €2,000–€2,500 per hectare to establish flower strips that support pollinators and reduce reliance on chemical crop protection. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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Netherlands | ||
| Romanian and Hungarian youth contributed more than 2,000 hours of volunteer work to biodiversity protection through the Na-Tu-Re forest restoration project, illustrating how ecological restoration can also support education and cross-border engagement. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | All | Civil society and community groups |
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Romania | ||
| Only around 5% of major companies assessed by the World Benchmarking Alliance measure their impacts on nature — and fewer than 1% measure how their businesses depend on nature and ecosystem services. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All |
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| Removing the obsolete Molino de Zúñiga dam on Spain’s Ega River restored river continuity, improving conditions for sediment transport, habitats and fish movement. Preparations are now underway to remove another obsolete weir 8 km upstream. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Rivers, lakes and ponds | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Spain | https://eeb.org/en/library/european-habitats-forum-briefing-on-good-pra… |
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| Increased investment in Nature-based Solutions could generate up to 32 million additional jobs globally by 2030. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All |
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| In Slovakia, restoration brought back 43.6 hectares of original wetlands; the restored wetland now covers more than 100 hectares and can retain up to 70 million litres of water. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Inland wetland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Slovakia | ||
| In 2022, public funding provided 82% of global finance for Nature-based Solutions, equivalent to US$165 billion, showing that NbS finance remained overwhelmingly dependent on public investment. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All | National and EU policy-makers |
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| In Slovakia, 1,076 people raised €100,000 in just 10 months to acquire 1.6 hectares of wet field and expand an existing Natura 2000 wetland — showing how crowdfunding can directly finance nature restoration. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Inland wetland | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Slovakia | ||
| Governments worldwide provide at least US$2.6 trillion each year in subsidies that harm nature, equivalent to around 2.5% of global GDP. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All | National and EU policy-makers |
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| LIFE Multi Peat has rewetted 689 hectares of degraded peatlands across Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Poland, helping restore their role as carbon sinks while monitoring reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | National and EU policy-makers |
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| Around 75% of corporate loan exposures in the euro area are to companies that depend strongly on at least one ecosystem service, demonstrating the financial sector’s exposure to nature-related risks. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All |
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https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2023/html/ecb.blog230608~5cffb7c349.en.html |
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| Across 78 European farms studied over three years, regenerative farms used 61% less synthetic nitrogen and 75% fewer pesticides while producing yields just 2% lower than conventional farms. Their gross margins were 20% higher per hectare. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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https://networknature.eu/networknature/resource/guiding-businesses-implementing-nbs-agrifood-sector |
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| European companies dominate the top of the 2026 World Benchmarking Alliance Nature Benchmark: 11 of the top 20 performers are headquartered in the EU, rising to 18 when companies from the UK, Switzerland and Norway are included. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All |
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| Around 72% of businesses in the eurozone are highly dependent on at least one ecosystem service, highlighting how deeply economic activity depends on functioning ecosystems. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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https://networknature.eu/networknature/resource/guiding-businesses-impl… |
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| From green bonds to biodiversity credits, the PONDERFUL Sustainable Finance Inventory identifies 22 financing instruments for Nature-based Solutions, helping project developers identify financing options suited to their projects. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | All |
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https://www.ecologic.eu/sites/default/files/publication/2023/33005-D1_4-Sustainable-Financing.pdf |
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| The EU loses an estimated 2.5 tonnes of soil per hectare each year — almost twice the natural soil formation rate — contributing to an estimated €1.2 billion in lost agricultural productivity annually. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | All | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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https://networknature.eu/networknature/resource/guiding-businesses-impl… |
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| Land-use change is the leading direct driver of biodiversity loss in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems globally. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | All | National and EU policy-makers |
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| Pollinators underpin more than €15 billion of EU agricultural output every year, demonstrating their substantial economic as well as ecological value. | Sustainable food systems (including soil and agriculture) | Cropland | National and EU policy-makers |
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https://networknature.eu/networknature/resource/guiding-businesses-implementing-nbs-agrifood-sector |
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| Urban Nature-based Solutions can create business opportunities from their design and implementation through to long-term maintenance, yet integrated business models covering all three stages remain a gap in the market. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Urban ecosystems |
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| Farmers transitioning to regenerative agriculture could achieve a 15–25% return on investment over 10 years, according to economic analysis by WBCSD and BCG, although the transition can take three to five years. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Cropland | Natural resource managers and land owners |
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https://networknature.eu/networknature/resource/guiding-businesses-implementing-nbs-agrifood-sector |
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| Cities can help create markets for urban Nature-based Solutions through land-use planning, building regulation, public procurement and green-factor requirements. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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| The effectiveness of SUDS for urban water management depends on the type and design of the systems and the local conditions. Small-scale systems have been found to decrease runoff by 30-65% for porous pavements, up to 100% for rain gardens or up to 56% for infiltration trenches. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Not found | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772411522000301 |
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| Like inland wetlands, mangrove forests are a globally important carbon sink, with high soil and aboveground carbon densities that often exceed 1,000 tons CO2 per ha. For example, for Indonesian mangroves, on average, carbon density is estimated at 1,083 tons CO2 per ha (Mudiyarso et al. 2015). Mangrove restoration, particularly involving the establishment of mangrove trees, is highly productive and results in high removal rates estimated at 23.1 ton CO2 per ha per year during the first 20 years of growth and remaining high at 10.5 tons CO2 per ha per year, during the lifetime of mangrove stands. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | National and EU policy-makers |
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Indonesia | https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/c33e226c-2fbb-… |
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| Planted forests and woodlots were found to have the highest CO2 removal rates, ranging from 4.5 to 40.7 t CO2 ha−1 year−1 during the first 20 years of growth. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Not found | https://cbmjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13021-018-0110-8 |
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| Nature-based solutions are realistic and economically adequate options for ClimateAction, providing over 30% of mitigation potential and offering scalable solutions to increase resilience and adaptation. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Urban ecosystems | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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Not found | https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/nature-based-solutions-in-europe |
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| On average, coastal habitats reduce wave heights between 35% and 71%. Coral reefs reduce wave heights by 70%, salt-marshes by 72%, mangroves by 31% and seagrass/kelp beds by 36%. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Coastal, shelf and open ocean | National and EU policy-makers |
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Not found | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.01547… |
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| Rivers and streams renaturation is an NBS delivering multiple benefits. The renaturation of a river in an urban park in Singapore increased the presence of biodiversity by 30%. No wildlife was introduced to the park, but the presence of the naturalized river has seen the park’s biodiversity increased by 30%. A total of 66 species of wildflower, 59 species of birds and 22 species of dragonfly have been since identified. | Biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem restoration | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Singapore | ||
| Lisbon's 41,247 street trees are providing services valued at $8.4 million annually, while $1.9 million is spent maintaining these trees. For every $1 invested in tree management, residents receive $4.48 in energy savings, cleaner air, increased property values, reduced stormwater runoff and CO2. | Sustainable finance, investment and just transition | Urban ecosystems | NBS investors and entrepreneurs |
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Portugal | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866710000841 |
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| When controlling for watersheds size and percent impervious surface cover, watersheds with greater amounts of SGI have less flashy hydrology, with 44% lower peak runoff, 26% less frequent runoff events, and 26% less variable runoff. Watersheds with more SGI also show 44% less NO3− and 48% less total nitrogen exports compared to watersheds with minimal SGI. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | National and EU policy-makers |
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Not found | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716310312?via… |
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| Constructed wetlands are multifunctional nature-based solutions that have a water retention capacity between 30% and 88%. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Inland wetland | National and EU policy-makers |
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Not found | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772411522000301 |
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| Rivers can mitigate urban heat. The cooling effect of the Ota River, Hiroshima, Japan was found to reach up to 5 °C directly above the river and propagated nearly 100 m from the river banks. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Rivers, lakes and ponds | National and EU policy-makers |
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Japan | - https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36507 |
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| Several studies demonstrate that green roof temperatures can be 30-40°F lower than that of conventional roofs. | Sustainable urban and regional transformation | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Not found | https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands:~…. |
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| The potential for green corridors to regulate heat depends largely on the height and density of tree canopies present within the corridor. A tree canopy reduces the temperature in the shade by 1–5°C compared to an open area, and by 11–17°C compared to a parking lot. |
Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | Urban ecosystems | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Not found | ||
| Conserving and restoring natural habitats and improving landmanagement could contribute to about 37% of the global climatechange mitigation needed up to 2030 to keep climate warning below 2°C. | Climate change adaptation, mitigation and climate resilience | All | Local and sub-national governments and their public authorities |
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Not found |