This CASE project will be supported by the Biodiversity Consultancy
Key Question
What is the ecological and socioeconomic effectiveness, including cost-effectiveness, of nature-based interventions for reducing impacts of climate change on people and ecosystems in the South Pacific?
Background
Nature-based solutions (NbS)—solutions to societal challenges that are supported by nature—have much political traction as an integrated approach that can deliver a “triple-win” for people, climate and biodiversity. However, high level pledges for “nature” rarely translate into robust measurable targets. One reason is that the capacity of NbS to achieve the intended benefits has not been rigorously tested and there are major evidence gaps especially in the Global South and in Small Island Developing States (SIDs). In particular, there are concerns over the scalability and cost-effectiveness of NbS compared to engineered or hybrid alternatives, and there is scant policy-relevant information about the timeframes or spatial scales over which NbS can support human adaptation or of economic or political implications of implementing NbS at scale
Aims of the Project
Addressing a major evidence gap in our understanding of the effectiveness of NbS for climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation in SIDs.
Project Description
Nature-based solutions (NbS)—solutions to societal challenges that are supported by nature—are currently in the limelight as an integrated approach that can deliver a “triple-win” for people, climate and biodiversity. However, high level pledges for “nature” rarely translate into robust measurable targets. One reason is that the capacity of NbS to achieve the intended benefits has not been rigorously tested and there are major evidence gaps, especially in the Global South and in Small Island Developing States (SIDs). In particular, there are concerns over the scalability and cost-effectiveness of NbS compared to engineered or hybrid alternatives, and there is scant policy-relevant information about the timeframes or spatial scales over which NbS can support human adaptation or of economic or political implications of implementing NbS at scale. To address these gaps, this CASE-project will involve conducting scenario modelling and/or field-based empirical studies to determine the ecological and socioeconomic effectiveness, including cost-effectiveness, of nature-based interventions for reducing impacts of climate change on people and ecosystems on islands in the South Pacific. Outputs will be synthesised for both scientific journals and policy audiences. The student will be based in the Nature-based Solutions Initiative (www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org), and will work in collaboration with The Biodiversity Consultancy, Cambridge.
Methods to be used
Combination of scenario modelling and empirical studies, the latter involving data collection on ecosystem/biodiversity and socioeconomic outcomes of existing NbS across several key islands in the South Pacific.
Specialised skills required
Quantitative biodiversity and socioeconomic data collection and analysis, and/or qualitative data collection using surveys, and/or experience with scenario modelling.
Please contact Nat Seddon on <insert supervisor email link> if you are interested in this project
