The Digital Dialogues in Peru covered many aspects of NbS, from social and ecological factors to financing and governance.

NbS Peru Digital Dialogues summary & recordings

On October 19th and 20th, NbSI Peru hosted the Nature-Based Solutions Peru Digital Dialogues (NbS Peru DD). This two-day event brought together scientists, practitioners, government, private sector and civil society to discuss the trajectory and potential for nature-based solutions (NbS) to address multiple societal challenges in Peru, including their key role in climate change action. Based on evidence and experience from practice, stakeholders discussed emblematic cases of NbS across Peru’s diverse ecosystems, in light of the global discussion on NbS and the urgent need for a green recovery.

The NbS Peru DD featured a Keynote session on global perspectives on NbS, with three main speakers. First, Nathalie Seddon, Director of NbSI – Oxford University, introduced the NbS concept and its potential to effectively address key societal challenges. Angela Andrade, President of the Commission for Ecosystem Management – IUCN, then presented the Global Standard for NbS, the auto-evaluation tool and the global governance structure for the Standard. Finally, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Leader of the Global Climate and Energy Practice – WWF International, shared 8 key points on the opportunities associated with NbS, including their current political traction and the enabling conditions required to bring them to scale.

Four thematic sessions followed. The first session featured NbS in the Andean region, and presented cases on ecosystem restoration and water harvest, to address climate change adaptation and water security. These interventions have demonstrated how local ecosystem stewardship and restoration can enhance or generate sustainable economic activities for local populations, and are generating mechanisms to bring such NbS to scale.

The second session featured NbS in the Amazon region, and presented cases on sustainable natural resource management and ecosystem-based adaptation. These program and project-level interventions employed innovative instruments like Conservation Agreements to secure multiple stakeholder participation, and adaptive management mechanisms that secure the sustainability of these interventions.

The third session featured NbS in the coastal region and urban landscape, and presented cases on sustainable fisheries management, ecosystem-based adaptation in coastal ecosystems, and natural infrastructure in cities. These initiatives have demonstrated how such NbS interventions strengthen local economies, secure water resources, leverage public-private finance for climate change adaptation and food security, among others.

The fourth session featured the role of NbS in the economic recovery in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, where representatives from academia, government, international cooperation, indigenous people and the private sector presented their perspectives on the NbS roadmap for a green recovery.

These cases evidence Peru’s long trajectory in ecosystem-based practices and initiatives that have the potential to align with the NbS conceptual framework and Global Standard. NbS interventions in Peru have already demonstrated the importance of generating strong governance structures based on communal organization and local empowerment, as well as creating national and local policies to secure social and environmental benefits, both efficiently and equitably.

The NbS Peru DD underscored the creation of a NbS Community of Practice (NbS CoP) in Peru. This NbS CoP will act as a network of existing networks specialized in different NbS practices and approaches across diverse ecosystems in Peru. Building such a critical mass of diverse stakeholders is key to strengthen ecosystem stewardship and inform decision-making to bring NbS to scale and deliver their full potential.

To watch the NbS Peru Digital Dialogues, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbK75wsw01I0ulBb5ay9gb5m0iAECMpL