Measuring the Effects of Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Informal Settlements in the Asia-Pacific

Systems such as green roofs, constructed wetlands and green open spaces can play important roles in adapting to climate change. While it is generally accepted that these systems increase our resilience to heatwaves and floods, more research is necessary to identify context-appropriate indicators to monitor the short- and long-term benefits of nature-based solutions. This is particularly important in the context of informal settlements, areas characterised by a reduced access to infrastructure and resources, and often more vulnerable and exposed to environmental hazards. In order to assess the effects of nature-based solutions in informal settlements, we review and select indicators of resilience from the literature of ecosystem services and apply them to two case studies of climate resilience-building projects in Bangkok (Thailand) and in Honiara (Solomon Islands). The projects include community gardens, tree planting and riverine vegetation restoration initiatives. Based on interviews with the implementers, we interrogate how each project selected and implemented nature-based solutions and infer a series of indicators that can be used to measure the process of using nature-based solutions to strengthen resilience. We identify, for each of the cases, indicators that assess (i) the physical extent of nature-based solutions, (ii) the provision of resilience-related ecosystem services and (iii) the benefits of these services to the community. Based on the indicators, we propose a monitoring framework for each of the projects to evaluate if and how the interventions improved climate resilience in the long term. Drawing on the lessons from these two case studies, we stress the importance of monitoring and assessing the effects of nature-based solutions using context-appropriate indicators of ecosystem services and resilience. Furthermore, we highlight challenges for monitoring of community gardens and riparian revegetation initiatives, given that such systems often affect multiple social, economic and environmental aspects of resilience. These findings contribute to a growing body of knowledge of examples of how nature-based solutions can be assessed, monitored and modified to better respond to the effects of climate change in the Asia-Pacific region.