Author: Renu Bali
Author Affiliation: Department of Geography, Kamala Nehru College.
Abstract: Climate change and its impact in the past few years has necessitated that we adopt an alternate method or approach to tackle the impact of disasters. There is a need to focus on new solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Therefore, it is time to look and go back to nature for sustainable solutions. Grey solutions or construction of structures to reduce disaster risk alone are not sustainable and permanent solutions. Effective approach for DRR is to apply sustainable and cost-effective solutions which blend with nature. We should now learn from nature and look for solutions provided by nature itself. It is not a new approach but it has to be blended with present solutions. Nature Based Solutions are part of broad Ecosystem Based Approaches which focuses on working with nature to protect, restore and sustainably manage ecosystems. These approaches provide solutions to DRR while working with nature and maintaining the ecosystem in its natural state. In this paper we discuss benefits and application of Nature based Solutions (NbS) for effective Disaster Risk reduction.
Keywords: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Nature Based Solutions (NbS), Ecosystem Based Approach (EbA).