Nature-Based Solutions

Cities around the country are using urban forests and nature-based solutions to resolve myriad urban challenges. In December 2023, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced its support of such strategies. The UN Environment Programme offers a suite of toolkits on implementing nature-based solutions, with benefits ranging from mitigating climate change to countering loneliness in cities.

To address extreme heat and climate change, planners in Louisville, Kentucky, received a federal grant for $12.6 million to plant more trees and support urban forestry initiatives in underserved neighborhoods. Such efforts can serve as a model to others in connecting urban greenery with public health and climate change improvements. Planners can create innovative ways to use nature-based solutions for the betterment of communities and the environment. Read PAS Report 602, Planning for Biophilic Cities, for strategies on how to integrate nature into urban environments.