NbS are bespoke, scalable interventions designed to simulate natural processes for holistic environmental improvement. The integrated, low-intensity construction of NbS means that a wide variety of co-benefits accompany the desired outcome.
Increasing rainfall intensity results in nutrient pollution entering watercourses from diffuse sources across agricultural landscapes. Loss of soil from landscapes reduces biodiversity, releases carbon, and reduces agricultural capacity. In rivers, nutrient-rich sediment causes harmful algal blooms, reducing oxygen availability particularly during low flows. This reduces riparian biodiversity, lowers resilience to global warming, and damages ecosystems and economies dependent on freshwater provision.
See more information about this level and the TRL and SRL levels.
The investment readiness of this innovation has been self-declared by the provider and has not been independently verified. For more details, please contact the innovator directly.
Nature-based solutions for improving water quality include creating ponds, scrapes, swales, leaky dams, riparian woodland, and buffer strips. These interventions help reduce nutrient pollution entering watercourses. Scrapes, ponds, and swales intercept or redirect nutrient-rich runoff into shallow depressions, allowing time for heavier particles carrying phosphates and nitrates to settle out. As water flows through a sequence of these features, excess nutrients are gradually deposited, resulting in cleaner water that can safely re-enter water bodies. The nutrient-laden sediment can later be collected and reused on-farm. Leaky dams, placed across water channels, slow water flow and promote the same sedimentation process. These dams trap nutrient-rich sediment, which can also be harvested and recycled. Buffer strips, consisting of vegetated areas between farmland and watercourses, slow down surface runoff, allowing nutrients to settle and be absorbed by plants. This natural filtration reduces nutrient pollution and helps protect downstream ecosystems. All these measures are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.
Scrapes, ponds, and swales intercept or redirect nutrient-rich runoff into shallow depressions, allowing time for heavier particles carrying phosphates and nitrates to settle out. As water flows through a sequence of these features, excess nutrients are gradually deposited, resulting in cleaner water that can safely re-enter water bodies. Leaky dams, placed across water channels, slow water flow and trap nutrient-rich sediment, which can also be harvested and recycled. Buffer strips, consisting of vegetated areas between farmland and watercourses, slow down surface runoff, allowing nutrients to settle and be absorbed by plants.
Developing NbS on privately owned land involves:
1.Ethical engagement and fair compensation for landowners
Practitioners seeking to introduce NbS into agricultural contexts must capably integrate advanced awareness of farm business in order to co-design interventions capable of adding value, or of mitigating impact and risk, for the landowner. Building trust and confidence with landowners is key to achieving positive working relationships, making third-sector organizations well placed to co-develop on-farm interventions.
2.Comprehensive design and feasibility assessments
Understanding site-specific hydrology, historic land use, and climate projections is essential when selecting and designing NbS interventions. This ensures long-term viability and reduces risk. Where outcomes must be guaranteed (e.g., nutrient offsetting schemes), robust projections of environmental uplift (e.g., kg phosphate/ha/year) are essential for regulatory approval and planning.
3.Sustainable, low-impact construction practices
Construction should use locally available, natural materials, and minimize habitat disruption, waste, and carbon emissions. Techniques should prioritize ecological sensitivity and long-term resilience.
4.Comprehensive baseline and post-intervention monitoring
Accurate, long-term data collection is vital to quantify impact, guide adaptive management, and verify outcomes for compliance or credit schemes.
5.Ongoing maintenance and repair
Routine upkeep is necessary to ensure continued performance, reduce failure risk, and maintain landowner confidence in NbS benefits
Limited political interest in environmental improvement reduces the availability of grant funding for sustainable farming practices and the introduction of NbS into farming systems. Unforseeable climate impacts, such as changing weather patterns or new drought conditions, could threaten the performance of water management NbS. Lack of funding for ongoing maintenance reduces effectiveness over time.
NbS are bespoke, scalable interventions designed to simulate natural processes for holistic environmental improvement. The integrated, low-intensity construction of NbS means that a wide variety of co-benefits accompany the desired outcome.
Increasing rainfall intensity results in nutrient pollution entering watercourses from diffuse sources across agricultural landscapes. Loss of soil from landscapes reduces biodiversity, releases carbon, and reduces agricultural capacity. In rivers, nutrient-rich sediment causes harmful algal blooms, reducing oxygen availability particularly during low flows. This reduces riparian biodiversity, lowers resilience to global warming, and damages ecosystems and economies dependent on freshwater provision.
The business plan for this innovation has been evaluated by The Funding Company and it is considered to be ready for investment.
The main components of the system have been tested separately, and an initial integration exercise has been conducted.
Nature-based solutions for improving water quality include creating ponds, scrapes, swales, leaky dams, riparian woodland, and buffer strips. These interventions help reduce nutrient pollution entering watercourses. Scrapes, ponds, and swales intercept or redirect nutrient-rich runoff into shallow depressions, allowing time for heavier particles carrying phosphates and nitrates to settle out. As water flows through a sequence of these features, excess nutrients are gradually deposited, resulting in cleaner water that can safely re-enter water bodies. The nutrient-laden sediment can later be collected and reused on-farm. Leaky dams, placed across water channels, slow water flow and promote the same sedimentation process. These dams trap nutrient-rich sediment, which can also be harvested and recycled. Buffer strips, consisting of vegetated areas between farmland and watercourses, slow down surface runoff, allowing nutrients to settle and be absorbed by plants. This natural filtration reduces nutrient pollution and helps protect downstream ecosystems. All these measures are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.
Scrapes, ponds, and swales intercept or redirect nutrient-rich runoff into shallow depressions, allowing time for heavier particles carrying phosphates and nitrates to settle out. As water flows through a sequence of these features, excess nutrients are gradually deposited, resulting in cleaner water that can safely re-enter water bodies. Leaky dams, placed across water channels, slow water flow and trap nutrient-rich sediment, which can also be harvested and recycled. Buffer strips, consisting of vegetated areas between farmland and watercourses, slow down surface runoff, allowing nutrients to settle and be absorbed by plants.
Developing NbS on privately owned land involves:
1.Ethical engagement and fair compensation for landowners
Practitioners seeking to introduce NbS into agricultural contexts must capably integrate advanced awareness of farm business in order to co-design interventions capable of adding value, or of mitigating impact and risk, for the landowner. Building trust and confidence with landowners is key to achieving positive working relationships, making third-sector organizations well placed to co-develop on-farm interventions.
2.Comprehensive design and feasibility assessments
Understanding site-specific hydrology, historic land use, and climate projections is essential when selecting and designing NbS interventions. This ensures long-term viability and reduces risk. Where outcomes must be guaranteed (e.g., nutrient offsetting schemes), robust projections of environmental uplift (e.g., kg phosphate/ha/year) are essential for regulatory approval and planning.
3.Sustainable, low-impact construction practices
Construction should use locally available, natural materials, and minimize habitat disruption, waste, and carbon emissions. Techniques should prioritize ecological sensitivity and long-term resilience.
4.Comprehensive baseline and post-intervention monitoring
Accurate, long-term data collection is vital to quantify impact, guide adaptive management, and verify outcomes for compliance or credit schemes.
5.Ongoing maintenance and repair
Routine upkeep is necessary to ensure continued performance, reduce failure risk, and maintain landowner confidence in NbS benefits
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