Nature-based Solutions to address climate and societal challenges in small and medium-sized islands

Small and medium islands (SMI) are particularly vulnerable to climate change, natural hazards, and the overexploitation of their limited resources. While islands exhibit diverse social, economic, and environmental characteristics, SMI often face reduced capacity to address these vulnerabilities due to their relatively small populations, sensitive and open economies, limited natural resources, constrained land area, dependence on external markets despite their isolation, as well as governance and institutional challenges that can limit the effective implementation of policies. Here, we present preliminary results from a systematic literature review of NbS on SMI, sourced from peer-reviewed and grey literature, including a total of 280 NbS case studies, which are intended to be presented in the form of an open-access compendium as part of the EU Cost Action CA21158 SMILES. Most SMI NbS case-studies were carried out in coastal and marine ecosystems and forest ecosystems, focused on ecosystem restoration, and tended to be funded by public authorities, while fewer case-studies were found from, for example, agricultural, freshwater and urban ecosystems. SDG13, 14 and 15, targeting nature conservation and climate action, were the most commonly addressed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) although several SDGs were often addressed together. Moreover, multiple co-benefits were identified for different NbS categories when addressing biodiversity loss and climate change adaptation and mitigation.