23 de April de 2026
Cambio climático y gestión de recursos naturales
Resiliencia y competitividad
Biodiversidad y paisaje
The European Union publishes a dossier with nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis
- The European Union publishes a dossier with nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis
- Ecosystem restoration, forest management, and agroecology are becoming established as key tools
Climate change and biodiversity loss have become two of the main challenges facing the European Union (EU). Both phenomena are closely related and directly affect the capacity of ecosystems to adapt to climate impacts, increasing the vulnerability of territories.
In this context, the LIFE Programme has presented a new dossier that compiles various European projects applying nature-based solutions (NbS) . The document focuses on concrete experiences that demonstrate how working with nature can improve climate resilience and generate environmental, social, and economic benefits.
The LIFE Programme is the European Union's main funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Through this initiative, the EU supports innovative projects that implement nature-based solutions to protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and strengthen the resilience of territories to climate change, while also facilitating their replication in different European countries.
Nature-based solutions
Nature-based solutions rely on ecosystem services to address climate and environmental challenges, with direct effects on protecting the land:
Reduction of the impact of floods , droughts or fires.
Protection against coastal erosion and rising sea levels.
Carbon capture and storage.
Improvement of biodiversity and the quality of natural resources.
These solutions also provide economic and social benefits by promoting activities such as tourism or sustainable land management.
Ecosystem restoration
The dossier includes specific examples that illustrate how these solutions are being applied in Europe and, specifically, in Spain with the "Posidonia Andalucía" project:
LIFE “Posidonia Andalucía” : conservation of seagrass meadows in southern Spain that act as carbon sinks and protect against storms.
LIFE “+SCALLUVIA” and LIFE “SPARC” : creation of floodplains in Belgium to reduce the risk of flooding and restore habitats.
LIFE “Peat Restore” : restoration of 5,300 hectares of peatlands in several European countries.
LIFE “Multi Peat” : rehumidification of peatlands and development of tools for European policies.
LIFE “COASTAdapt” : application of natural solutions on 500 km of coastline in Sweden.
LIFE “Baie de l'Aiguillon”: restoration of marshes and intertidal zones as a defense against flooding.
These projects show how ecosystem restoration can be an effective—and in many cases more sustainable—alternative to traditional infrastructure.
Forests and fire prevention
Forest management is also incorporating nature-based solutions to adapt to climate change:
LIFE “LANDSCAPE FIRE” : Use of controlled burning and grazing to reduce the risk of fires.
LIFE “4Forest”: application of forest management models more aligned with nature in more than 4,800 hectares.
These initiatives make it possible to improve biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase the resilience of forest ecosystems.
Agriculture and new rural opportunities
The approach also extends to the agricultural sector, where production and conservation are combined:
“Farm” LIFE: integration of agriculture, livestock and forestry to improve biodiversity and profitability.
LIFE “ResLand” : promoting silvopasture in Portugal as a tool to prevent fires.
These models contribute to improving soil health, better water management, and generating new economic opportunities in rural areas.
Coordination and strategy
The report underlines the need to strengthen coordination and institutional support to scale up these solutions:
Integration into public policies .
Improved funding and technical tools.
Coordination between European, national and regional levels.
Nature-based solutions are becoming a key tool for advancing the EU's climate and biodiversity goals. Initiatives supported by the LIFE program demonstrate that working with ecosystems is not only feasible but also effective in reducing risks and improving the resilience of territories.