Nature-based solutions and the bioeconomy: Contributing to a sustainable and inclusive transformation of agriculture and to the post-COVID-19 recovery

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) stand at the forefront of efforts to address the multiple dimensions of global environmental change. This document reviews the synergies among multiple objectives that these solutions can offer to achieve greater sustainability in agriculture and to strengthen the bioeconomy in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a view to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes a set of NBS that have the potential to generate synergies between the environmental objectives of the Rio conventions and that propose a road map for transformational change in the agricultural sector. The document identifies the global agreements and national frameworks that represent opportunities for promoting NBS in the sector. It reviews perceptions related to the development of NBS in the agricultural sector and their potential for upscaling in the region, as revealed by a consultation with experts. It also presents case studies showcasing the diversity of NBS applications in Latin American and Caribbean agriculture. It explains how NBS offer a triple-win formula —in environmental, social and economic terms— and underscores the importance of making progress in the measurement of those benefits to demonstrate their positive impact when implemented in a sustained manner over time.