How to integrate nature-based solutions in the infrastructure sector

Ecosystem services are vital resources for our daily lives and economic activities, such as clean air, drinking water, food, and climate regulation. According to recent estimates, the annual value of these services exceeds 150 trillion dollars, almost double the world's GDP. However, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation have had a significant negative impact on the global economy. Since 1990, the annual loss of ecosystem services has caused damage of about 5 trillion dollars, equivalent to 6% of the global GDP. Traditional infrastructures, responsible for over 25% of biodiversity loss, are now at the center of a necessary change to recover these values through natural solutions. Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer the possibility to regenerate these ecosystem services and reduce negative impacts, contributing to a more sustainable future.

According to the report "A Value-Driven Approach to Nature-Based Infrastructure" by BCG and Quantis, infrastructure can adopt three main approaches to integrate natural solutions. Conventional, or "grey," solutions rely on artificial infrastructure such as embankments and channels, which, although functional, have a high environmental impact and continuous maintenance costs. Nature-based solutions (NbS) aim to leverage natural processes to address environmental challenges, such as climate change and water resource management, promoting ecosystem regeneration. Hybrid solutions, finally, combine engineering infrastructure with natural approaches, increasing effectiveness and reducing environmental impact. NbS solutions are particularly advantageous because they offer long-term benefits, are more economical, and promote biodiversity, making infrastructure projects more resilient to climate change.

Nature-based solutions not only offer ecological benefits, but also present high economic potential. According to the BCG report, only 30% of companies in the infrastructure sector have implemented ecological restoration initiatives using NbS, but the returns on investment (ROI) are high. A practical example comes from the United Kingdom, where a rural community replaced traditional water treatment plants with an artificial wetland, achieving a return on investment of 320%, a significantly higher result than the 150% of conventional solutions. This shows that nature-based solutions not only offer environmental benefits but can also generate significant economic returns. NbS allow savings on maintenance costs, improve resource management, and stimulate sustainable economic growth in the long term.

Nature-based solutions can be integrated into various infrastructure sectors to create and strengthen ecosystem services. In the transport sector, green corridors and wildlife bridges promote ecological continuity, while in urban areas parks and green roofs improve air quality and reduce the risk of flooding. In coastal infrastructures, mangroves and natural barriers reduce erosion and protect the coasts, while in the water and waste sector wetlands and phytoremediation systems contribute to improved water quality. Nature-based solutions are modular, adaptable to specific local needs, and multifunctional, allowing for an integrated approach to environmental, social, and economic challenges. These solutions help reduce operational costs and increase climate resilience, promoting an overall improvement in the quality of life in local communities.

Nature-based solutions primarily address environmental challenges, but they are also a driver of innovation for the infrastructure sector. Investing in infrastructure that utilizes natural processes stimulates research, promotes the adoption of new technologies, and creates job opportunities in the environmental sector. As reported on ESG360, according to Fabio Favorido of BCG, the infrastructure sector can play a key role in ecosystem restoration, combining engineering approaches with natural solutions. NbS not only reduce environmental impact and risks related to biodiversity loss, but also offer new opportunities for sustainable growth. The infrastructure of the future must be designed with the ecological and social impact in mind, paying particular attention to ecosystem services, which become strategic resources for sustainable design and development.

This article was created as part of the "Biodiversity services EU expansion" project (CUP: E43D22000480009) under the Lombardy Region call "PR FESR 2021-2027 – LINEA INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE 21-27", aimed at supporting the internationalization of Italian companies. 3Bee is the naturetech company that develops innovative technologies for monitoring, protecting, and regenerating biodiversity, supporting companies in defining customized climate strategies based on the analysis of their impacts and dependencies on nature. With a consolidated portfolio in Italy, Germany, and France and significant partnerships, 3Bee continues its expansion into international markets to create a concrete impact through technology.