‘Nature-based solutions’ (NbS) is a term used to describe the use of natural systems to address problems for the benefit of the environment and wider society.
In terms of rivers, NbS can include creating wetlands to improve water quality or improving soil health to reduce the risk of extreme high and low flows, for example.
Up to now, the use of NbS has been relatively limited. ‘Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions’ (MNbS) is a programme funded by the Ofwat Innovation Fund. It is designed to embed the use of NbS for rivers as standard practice.
Within the programme, Afonydd Cymru is representing Wales as one of eight regional test areas across the UK. Our role is to examine any proposed solutions in the real world to see which work best and where. The programme’s objective is to enable NbS to be used extensively in the future to resolve problems for rivers.
As part of this programme, we are working with Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government, and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to build the evidence base needed to ensure NbS become standard practice in the water industry.
The programme runs until September 2028 with Phase 2 (real-life testing of actionable recommendations from Phase 1) starting in Autumn 2025.
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