Nature Based Solutions:
a meta-analysis
The restored Cheonggyecheon stream in Seoul, South Korea is an example of urban Nature Based Solution to reduce flooding and improve public health. Photograph: Jack Malipan Travel Photography/Alamy
In this study we will develop a global database of peer-reviewed studies on economic valuation of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) and we will assess the economic and ecological benefits of NBS.
Ecosystems and ecosystem services are key to helping achieve reduction in disaster risk, sustainable development and climate change adaptation, and this is now recognized by major international framework agreements (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2014; United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030).
A meta-analysis will be performed on the papers in the database to assess existing scientific knowledge on the economic viability and performance of NBS, with a special focus on Ecosystem-based Climate Adaptation (EbA) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) programs.
This project expands and deepens the economic analysis performed in a study recently published in Nature Sustainability. Marta Vicarelli lead the economic team in this interdisciplinary, international collaboration:
with Sudmeier-Rieux, K., T. Arce-Mojica, H. J. Boehmer, N. Doswald, L. Emerton, D. A. Friess, Stephen Galvin et al. "Scientific evidence for ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction." Nature Sustainability (2021): 1-8. LINK
Research status:
We are currently finalizing the database
A preliminary draft will be available in November 2021
This work has received the 2021 PEDRR Champion Award at the PEDRR Cross-regional Symposium, co-organized by the United Nations Environmental Programme.
Research Team
Principal Investigator: Marta Vicarelli, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and School of Public Policy - University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
Aryen Shrestha, Amherst College
Michael Marr, School of Public Policy - University of Massachusetts (Amherst) - SPP '21
Michael Kang, School of Public Policy - University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
Madeline Leue, School of Public Policy - University of Massachusetts (Amherst) - SPP '21
Jaroslav Mysiak, Universita` Ca' Foscari Venezia, Italy
Shannon McAndrew, School of Public Policy - University of Massachusetts (Amherst) - SPP '21
Karen Sudmeier-Rieux, United Nations Evironmental Programme
Simon Schütze, United Nations University and University of Bonn, Germany
Miranda Vance, School of Public Policy - University of Massachusetts (Amherst) - SPP '21
David Wasielewski, School of Public Policy - University of Massachusetts (Amherst) - SPP '21
Grants and Awards
2021 - University of Massachusetts - College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean's Research Council Grant
2021 - PEDRR Champion Award at the PEDRR Cross-regional Symposium, co-organized by the United Nations Environmental Programme.
PUBLICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS
2023 World Bank - Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery - GFDRR Partnership Days
May 22-23, Washington DC, USA - Agenda: LINK
Invited keynote talk - Assessing the Benefits and Costs of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience - Vicarelli, M., Sudmeier-Rieux, K., Alsadadi, A., Kang, M., Leue, M., Schütze, S., Shrestha, A., Steciuk, E., Wasielewski, D., Mysiak, J., McAndrew, S., Marr, M., and Vance, M.: Economic benefits of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and ecosystem-based climate change adaptation: a global review.
Presenters bios LINK
2023 European Geophysical Union General Assembly - April 23-28 Vienna, Austria LINK
Vicarelli, M., Sudmeier-Rieux, K., Alsadadi, A., Kang, M., Leue, M., Schütze, S., Shrestha, A., Steciuk, E., Wasielewski, D., Mysiak, J., McAndrew, S., Marr, M., and Vance, M.: Economic benefits of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and ecosystem-based climate change adaptation: a global review, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-9646, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-9646, 2023.
ITS3.4/SSS0.1 - Climate Extremes & Risk: impacts, nature-based disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation
room 0.94/95 on Thursday, 27 April 2023, 12:10:
2022 European Geophysical Union General Assembly - May 23-27 Vienna, Austria LINK
Vicarelli, M., Kang, M., Leue, M., Shrestha, A., Wasielewski, D., Sudmeier-Rieux, K., Mysiak, J., Schütze, S., Marr, M., McAndrew, S., and Vance, M.: Scientific evidence of the economic benefits of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and ecosystem-based climate change adaptation, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-13010, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-13010, 2022.
2021 - PEDRR Global Symposium
We have present our work at the PEDRR Global Symposium 15-16 September 2021.
The symposium provides a platform for exchange and learning on teaching and research for the upcoming policy meetings such as those for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR)
2021 - School of Public Policy Workshop
May 6th, 2021 - Presentation of preliminary results by the students involved in this project at the 2021 School of Public Policy Students Workshop - Univeristy of Massachusetts Amherst.