Drylands, encompassing over 40% of the Earth’s surface and home to more than 2 billion people, face significant challenges due to environmental degradation, desertification, and climate change. The management and restoration of these ecosystems are crucial for sustaining agriculture, ensuring human welfare, and conserving biodiversity. Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer a promising approach by leveraging natural processes to enhance biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate resilience in dryland regions. Key strategies within NbS include agroforestry, which integrates trees with crops and livestock to improve soil fertility and moisture retention, and water harvesting techniques, such as contour bunds and check dams, that facilitate collecting and storing rainfall for agricultural use. Additionally, initiatives focused on vegetation restoration, particularly with drought-resistant species, contribute to soil sstabilization and the recovery of ecosystem functions. Sustainable grazing practices further support ecosystem health by preventing overgrazing and fostering landscape regeneration. The economic implications of NbS are substantial; these approaches not only enhance ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and water regulation but are often more cost-effective than traditional engineering solutions. Furthermore, NbS promote long-term economic resilience by mitigating climate change impacts, supporting diverse livelihoods, and generating employment in restoration activities. While challenges remain, such as securing sustainable funding and addressing land tenure issues, the potential of NbS to transform drylands is immense. By fostering resilience and restoring ecosystem integrity, NbS present a viable pathway to combat environmental degradation and support local communities in dryland areas.

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Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for Restoration and Management of Dryland Ecosystems

  • Subrata Gorain,
  • Ayushman Malakar,
  • Suman Dutta

摘要

Drylands, encompassing over 40% of the Earth’s surface and home to more than 2 billion people, face significant challenges due to environmental degradation, desertification, and climate change. The management and restoration of these ecosystems are crucial for sustaining agriculture, ensuring human welfare, and conserving biodiversity. Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer a promising approach by leveraging natural processes to enhance biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate resilience in dryland regions. Key strategies within NbS include agroforestry, which integrates trees with crops and livestock to improve soil fertility and moisture retention, and water harvesting techniques, such as contour bunds and check dams, that facilitate collecting and storing rainfall for agricultural use. Additionally, initiatives focused on vegetation restoration, particularly with drought-resistant species, contribute to soil sstabilization and the recovery of ecosystem functions. Sustainable grazing practices further support ecosystem health by preventing overgrazing and fostering landscape regeneration. The economic implications of NbS are substantial; these approaches not only enhance ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and water regulation but are often more cost-effective than traditional engineering solutions. Furthermore, NbS promote long-term economic resilience by mitigating climate change impacts, supporting diverse livelihoods, and generating employment in restoration activities. While challenges remain, such as securing sustainable funding and addressing land tenure issues, the potential of NbS to transform drylands is immense. By fostering resilience and restoring ecosystem integrity, NbS present a viable pathway to combat environmental degradation and support local communities in dryland areas.