The United Nations World Water Development Report was launched this week with the aim of informing policy and decision-makers, inside and outside the water community, about the potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) to address contemporary water management challenges.

According to Stefan Uhlenbrook, director of the UN World Water Assessment Programme led by Unesco, and coordinator of the study, nature knows what to do, but there are limits on how much we can exploit it.

The report, which was launched at the 8th World Water Forum, provides evidence that changes in ecosystems have contributed to the disappearance of several civilizations, and that if something is not done to work with nature, instead of going against it, the end will probably be the same.

On the panel, speakers emphasised the need to protect ecosystems. They also mentioned that it is necessary to keep the population better informed and improve partnerships with the government and investors by presenting more and better evidence-based information.

“The aim of the Forum is to show alternatives and make it clear that if we continue on the same path in which we are, we will face drastic and irreversible consequences, such as floods and other effects resulting from the lack of water”, noted the director-general of Unesco, Audrey Azoulay.

While clarity on the solutions that nature can present is still a little fuzzy according to some of the participants at the event, the report does point out the importance of securing financial support and rethinking legislation to enable nature based solutions.