How Do Nature-Based Solutions Improve Environmental and Socio-Economic Resilience to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals? Reforestation and Afforestation Cases from the Republic of Korea

Gaeun Kim, Jiwon Kim, Youngjin Ko, Olebogeng Thelma G. Eyman, Sarwat Chowdhury, Julie Adiwal, Wookyun Lee and Yowhan Son
Additional contact information
Gaeun Kim: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Jiwon Kim: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Youngjin Ko: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Olebogeng Thelma G. Eyman: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Sarwat Chowdhury: United Nations Development Programme Seoul Policy Centre, Seoul 02841, Korea
Julie Adiwal: United Nations Development Programme Seoul Policy Centre, Seoul 02841, Korea
Wookyun Lee: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Yowhan Son: Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: Industrial and technological development have contributed significantly to causing environmental crises, such as climate change and land degradation. To address these environmental challenges, nature-based solutions (NBS) have gained increased attention over conventional technical responses. This study derived conceptual linkages from NBS application to resilience promotion, and subsequently, to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). The study was conducted to reveal that NBS activities are an essential approach that determines the balance between human development and nature conservation. In this paper, we compare four case studies, one domestic reforestation project and three international afforestation projects, all of which had forest-related NBS experiences and were conducted by the Republic of Korea. All four projects were found to have an impact on environmental and socio-economic resilience. These impacts were qualitatively assessed through resilience indicator evaluations. Subsequently, the resilience indicators were matched with the targets of the SDGs. NBS initiatives designed to include various natural and social elements promoted the resilience of ecosystems and society and address a broader spectrum of SDGs. Further efforts to establish region-specific promotional models, identify resilience indicators, and collect scientific data are recommended for quantitatively assessing the NBS initiatives.

Keywords: nature-based solutions; resilience; sustainable development goals; afforestation; reforestation; climate change; desertification; land degradation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/21/12171/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/21/12171/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:12171-:d:671991

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().