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INNOVATIVE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR ECOSYSTEMS RESILIENCE,CONNECTIVITY AND CONSERVATION, IRAN
Mahmood Yekeh Yazdandoost
General Director of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Department of Environment (DoE), IranEmail: yazdandoost3000@gmail.com

How to cite this paper:

Yazdandoost
Mahmood
Yekeh (2023) Innovative
Nature-based Solutions for
Ecosystems
Resilience,
Connectivity
andConservation, Journal ofGlobal Resources, Vol. 09
(02)
DOI:
10.46587/JGR.2023.v09i02.004

Received: 18 April 2023
Reviewed: 28 May 2023
Final Accepted: 25 June 2023

Abstract: Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as an integrated
approach comprehensively provide basis of action tosustainably conserve and manage landscapes and create
multi-benefits to society and living organisms, such as;
biodiversity and biocultural benefits. NbS to societal
challenges are adaptively planned via institutions to deliver
benefits to communities. It is taking the capacity of different
sectors and actors including local and indigenous people fordecision-making into consideration. The result indicatespractically all types of ecosystems receive benefits from NbS
activities to enhance ecosystem goods and services to society
and reduce societal challenges to climate change andbiodiversity decline. Well-defined NbS may contribute toecosystems resilience, connectivity and conservation, andsupport sustainable development goals programs. Thus, theresilient NbS that consider immediate challenges ofecosystem disconnectivity, biodiversity loss, climate impact
and unsustainable development, would sustain ecosystemwell-being and human health together for now and future.
Key words: Nature-based Solutions, Ecosystem Resilience,
Biodiversity Conservation, Risk Reduction

31Introduction
The increasing ecosystem disconnectivity and decreasing environmental resilience capacity iscreating social and economic risks to society, and hampering the process of sustainabledevelopment. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as an integrated approach comprehensively provide
basis of action to sustainably conserve and manage landscapes and create multi-benefits tosociety and living organisms, such as; biodiversity and biocultural benefits. Protecting andmanaging virgin nature would release better ecosystem services and benefits to society (IPBES,2019; Solan, M., et al., 2020). The worldwide research indicates, NbS can efficiently reinforce
mitigation and biodiversity conservation goals (Brancalion, P.H.S., et al., 2019). For being
successful, it should be adjusted to local situations.
NbS are designated to apply important eco-social challenges, like; biodiversity
conservation, ecosystem connection, climate change, water pollution, agricultural production,
economic boost, risk reduction and health promotion. In this regard, NbS consider as an umbrella
concept to cover wide range eco-social challenges. On the other hand, we cannot consider all
conservation efforts necessarily to be NbS, because NbS efforts usually try to solve societal
challenges that are important globally. Reduction in biodiversity and ecosystem connectivity,
coupled with adverse effects of climate change, erodes the foundation of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), especially with respect to the infrastructures which support humanhealth and development. Biodiversity decline is also reducing nature’s capacity to provide
medicament.
The reason of biodiversity reduction is firmly rooted in the societal structure, that is why
the future of biodiversity basically relies on societal structural transformation by reversing the loss
through an improved governance approach and a good management system. Bettercollaboration, coordination and participation happen when the governance systems arepolycentric and got capacity to transform mankind connection with nature. Since governanceregimes are not exclusively the outcome of governments view for sustainability program, it would
require well coordination amongst actors and stakeholders with full participation. NbS to societal
challenges are adaptively planned via institutions to deliver benefits to communities. It is taking
the capacity of different sectors and actors including local and indigenous people for decisionmaking into concern, and promoting Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) into circular economy.
Communities have been working with nature to tackle the effects of ecological collapse
and disasters for thousands of years (Berkes, F., et al., 2000). It is just in recent times that suchactivities and practices have been recognized and signed as NbS and moved the global interests
for integrated solutions to disasters management (Seddon, N., et al., 2020). The eco-social
challenges we face today are interlinked and cannot be tackled individually (Turney, C., et al.,2020). The ecological systems on which we depend today are deteriorating beyond points ofremedy (Rockstrom, J., et al., 2009; Steffen, W., et al., 2015). Well-designed and practiced NbS
may bring best partnerships between community and ecological systems/nature. NbS candiminish the vulnerability of the social-ecological interconnected network in the environment tothe adverse effects of the environmental change by reducing in exposure and sensitivity todisastrous shock, and strengthening resilient capacity (Seddon, N., et al. 2020).

32The main objective of this research paper is to compile and compare the existing information of agiven area for nature friendly management.
MethodThe innovative Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for ecosystem resilience, connectivity,
conservation, and sustainable development require novel knowledge by comparing the existingdata and values. In this regard the building knowledge will support methodological approach tocomprehensive monitoring and surveillance processes in each area of concern. Moreover, byallowing the degraded forest to regrow, we may restore soil and water, and enhances air qualityfor better forest connectivity and biodiversity conservation.
Geographical Area: Central Zagros Conservation Zone
Zagros is the biggest mountain in Iran. The region is around 32 million hectares. The arrangementof the natural physical features of the area has created very diverse ecosystems in the landscape.
Existence of the endemic species in the region has made the biodiversity of Zagros globallyremarkable. Presently, due to unsustainable harvesting, over exploitation of natural resources,
population growth, unrecognized indigenous management, and the regional development without
respect to nature capacity, have caused the ecosystem connectivity and biodiversity productivity
to become highly in danger. If current situation continues, in no time many plant and animal
species would disappear from region.
Results and Discussion
Practically all types of ecosystems receive benefits from NbS activities to enhance ecosystem
goods and services to society and reduce societal challenges to climate change and biodiversity
conservation. Based on existing information, the result indicate, NbS implementation in Central
Zagros could bring gain to community/society as well as policy makers/stakeholders in manyways, such as; ecosystem connectivity and its functionality rehabilitation, mitigation andadaptation to climate change, promotion of biocultural and biodiversity conservation, reduction ofrisks and vulnerability to natural/man-made disasters, water and soil quality improvement, and bypromoting in social cohesiveness brings knowledge and awareness to environmental/human wellbeing.
Ecosystem-based Management (EbM) theoretically and practically arise from ecosystembased approaches (Gregory, A. J., et al., 2013), to react to existing problems in landscapes (Uy,N. and Shaw, R., 2012). It is an integrative approach that considers the entire landscapes
including communities in premises (Leslie, H. M. and McLeod, K. L., 2007). The EbM practices
ecological and environmental operations that may be integrated in NbS categories. Moreover, theinterlinkages of different eco-social approaches could deal with the Complex Global Systems(CGS). However, in this context, NbS structural action deal with the clearly defined benefits fromecosystem approaches, like ecosystem recovery that may play important function in declining
societal challenges.
There is a vast realization that the domain of ecosystem approach is more immense anddetailed than the NbS approach. For example, while considering Aichi targets (e.g., 11, 14, 15),33

the ecosystem approach may practically deal with all of them, whilst NbS deals with some of thesubsets of these targets. Rehabilitating degraded habitats could take up million tonnes
greenhouse gas emissions annually from the atmosphere and lowers down global warming
potential. NbS use the distinctive aspects and interconnecting network functions of nature, andas NbS seeks protecting nature for people’s benefit, it creates conditions as such people become
the active supporter of nature (Mace, G. M., 2014). The ecosystems and its diverse services
considered the most influential factor for societal health, happiness, and connectivity (Naeem, S.,et al., 2015). For obtaining greater benefits from nature, well designed collaboration, andintegration across principles of actions is needed. Action plans to conserve biodiversity isbenefitting society by enhancing ecosystem services in many ways in a short period of time, andin a long term create resiliency to ecosystem to withstand disaster and recover soon when
perturbations are too high (Tilman, D., et al., 2012). In Central Zagros Conservation Zone (CZCZ),
when biodiversity and social impacts progress together, through synergistic effects, it may
augment the overall achievement of NbS.
Recommendations• Mainstream Nature-based Solutions into Governance Structure.
• Introduce NbS framework into biodiversity plan of action.
• Sustainably conserve landscapes through NbS policy approaches.
• Use NbS strategy for Nature Resiliency Program (NRP).
• Incorporate NbS into circular economy.
• Mobilize resources for NbS sustainability.
Conclusion
Well-defined NbS may contribute to ecosystems resilience, connectivity and conservation, andsupport sustainable development goals programs. It is based on introducing new methods andideas with nature to accomplish more greener and efficient eco-social system. Natural wealthlike; air, land, water, minerals, plants, and animals that generates ecosystem goods and services
for continuation of healthy life and economy is the limited supply of environmental property. The
Natural Capital Approach (NCA) is a method for recognizing and measuring natural stock thatcombine environmental management with economy and development, and directing the natural
assets to become clearly observable for policy-making. The specification of NCA is the restorationof natural stocks for the enhancement of the smooth flow of energy in the system. Thus, theresilient NbS that consider immediate challenges of ecosystem disconnectivity, biodiversity loss,
climate impact and unsustainable development, would sustain ecosystem well-being and humanhealth together for now and future. It is highly critical to know which nature-based action ofintervening and at what cost is effective on existing challenges.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) goals and the Intergovernmental Platform
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) strategy look after secure, diverse, healthy andresilient ecosystems that via delivering essential ecosystem services to bring multi benefits andprosperity to society. The NbS with resilient ecosystems is essential in achieving these goals andbringing better command on tackling human challenges by reducing future threats. Achieving

progress on NbS policy and practice require understanding of present knowledge gaps

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that confine the implementation process, and also development of conditions that support
data generations. Landscape revelation by delivering knowledge can create a basic toolfor directing society towards safe and sustainable future. It is much understood that,humanity if put aside its greediness, has developed capacity to transform our world forthe better place to live. A sustainable development driven by NbS will create resilient
future and peace on earth. The peace with nature besides ensuring human dignity would
also allow other creatures to live and stay around us. Thus, environmental policy anddecision makers should always anticipate long-term conservation of natural resources
and their sustainable use by creating capacity building for Nature-based Solutions that
support sustainable human health and well-being.
Acknowledgement
All the scientific literatures released by academia, UN and other agencies including Departmentof Environment that have been used in this research paper are highly appreciated.
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