Growing Returns

Selected tag(s): nature based solutions

Nature-based solutions are essential to advancing climate resilience

By Guest Author / Published: July 23, 2025

By: Eve Cooke, Fellow, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds

Over the past four years, Florida has been battered by severe storms, tropical cyclones and record-breaking floods. From unnamed downpours to devastating hurricanes like Ian, Helene and Milton, these events have caused more than $100 billion in damage—disrupting families, businesses and ecosystems alike.

In a recent EDF survey, a range of experts across sectors in Florida stood united on one thing: nature-based solutions are key to protecting people and property from extreme weather and believe there is a clear path forward to incorporating these solutions into building resilience.

Will adding more sand to Florida’s beaches save them? Experts share why this isn’t enough.

By Rachel Rhode / Published: October 3, 2023

White blankets of sand, bright blue water and palm trees swaying with the breeze – it’s the picturesque landscape that comes to mind when you think of Florida’s beaches. But this stunning scenery comes at a cost with the need to regularly artificially replenish eroding shorelines, a process also known as beach nourishment.

Over the last 87 years, Florida has spent at least $1.9 billion on beach nourishment, and state and local governments pay $30 to $50 million per year to maintain their coastlines. While this may mean beautiful beaches, taxpayers should question if beach nourishment alone is the best investment for Florida in the long-term.

Posted in Coasts and Watersheds / Also tagged climate resilience, coastal, coastal communities, erosion | Read 1 Response

New EDF mapping analysis identifies natural infrastructure use across watersheds

By Kelly Suttles / Published: February 3, 2023

The Mississippi River Basin is sensitive to two major risks – flooding and poor water quality – and future climate change effects will continue to severely increase these risks. However, a natural solution to supporting the Mississippi River Basin (MRB) is natural infrastructure, which consists of structural or perennial vegetation, and provides multiple ecosystem services with the potential to reduce flooding and nitrate loading pollution. Our research shows that wetlands and floodplains are the best natural resources to reduce flood risk and nitrate pollution. Read More »

Posted in Agriculture, Coasts and Watersheds / Also tagged climate resilience, natural infrastructure, natural infrastructure projects, watersheds | Comments are closed