EVESNAT Nature-based Solutions to meet EU Nature Restoration

The new EU Nature Restoration Law is a significant step towards a more sustainable Europe. It aims to restore damaged ecosystems, thereby protecting biodiversity, combating climate change, and securing the livelihoods of people. In the implementation of the goals of the EU Nature Restoration Law, nature-based solutions (NbS) promise to support the restoration of nature. Nature-based solutions are measures that use natural processes to improve the protection of our climate and biodiversity. The focus is not merely on protecting nature but on actively involving it in solving problems. Examples include rewetting peatlands, reforesting forests, renaturing rivers, and greening roofs and facades. However, the extent to which nature-based solutions can also bring benefits for human well-being remains unclear. The aim of the EVESNAT project is to evaluate various nature-based solutions on the basis of the ecosystem services provided. Ecosystem services are the many benefits that people receive directly or indirectly from nature. They are the "services" that healthy ecosystems provide for us. Three possible scenarios of nature-based solutions are being developed, analyzed, and evaluated with the active involvement of decision-makers: (1) increasing biodiversity, (2) mitigating climate change, and (3) improving resilience and autonomy. The assessment of ecosystem services is carried out from a biophysical and economic perspective as well as through social assessments. With a focus on three case study sites in the European Alps with different socio-ecological characteristics, general guidelines for the development and implementation of nature-based solutions for the EU Nature Restoration Law are being developed. The results of the EVESNAT project will lead to improved management and administration that supports the goals of the EU Nature Restoration Law. EVESNAT will provide a knowledge base with general guidelines and concrete examples of nature-based solutions that support the conservation of biodiversity and ensure the provision of multiple ecosystem services. The project deals with novel conceptual and methodological approaches to achieve the goals of the new EU Nature Restoration Law. Ultimately, EVESNAT will assess to what extent the new EU Nature Restoration Law can contribute to a transformative change in terms of ecosystem services, resilience, and positive effects on biodiversity.