While increasing environmental crises reveal the limitations of traditional infrastructure, the conversation around nature-based solutions (NbS) is gaining critical momentum. These solutions, which harness natural processes to address ecological and societal challenges, are emerging as a promising alternative to conventional approaches. This shift is not just a response to the inadequacies of gray infrastructure, but a recognition of the profound interconnections between human systems and natural ecosystems.

In this discussion, four leading experts shed light on how nature-based solutions can restore balance and resilience to our environments. Erica Gies, an independent journalist and National Geographic Explorer, has dedicated her career to covering the intricate relationships between water, climate change, and the natural world. Suzanne Simard, a Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia and author of Finding the Mother Tree, is renowned for her pioneering research on plant communication and forest resilience. Felicia Marcus, a prominent figure in California water policy and currently a fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West Program, brings a wealth of experience in integrating nature-based solutions into water management and policy. Laura Tam, a Senior Program Officer at Resources Legacy Fund, leverages her extensive background in environmental policy to advocate for climate resilience and community adaptation.

Together, these voices explore how nature-based solutions, such as the restoration of forests and wetlands, can provide scalable and effective strategies for mitigating climate change, enhancing water management, and fostering ecological balance. Their insights reflect a growing recognition that addressing our environmental challenges requires more than just technological fixes—it demands a deep, systemic shift toward working in harmony with nature. As we delve into their perspectives, we gain a clearer understanding of how nature-based solutions can bridge the gap between human needs and ecological health, offering a pathway toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

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Erica Gies, Journalist: I’ve spent years reporting on water, and one key takeaway is how our culture’s focus on extraction separates us from nature. This mindset, along with the myth of perpetual growth, is breaking down as we face mounting environmental crises. In response, nature-based solutions, like slow-water systems and restoration efforts, are gaining traction. While gray infrastructure has a 150-year head start, there’s growing evidence that nature-based solutions can be effective on a large scale. These approaches are scalable and cumulative, and every bit helps restore the natural systems we’ve disrupted.

There’s growing evidence that nature-based solutions can be effective on a large scale. These approaches are scalable and cumulative, and every bit helps restore the natural systems we’ve disrupted.

Suzanne Simard, Professor of Forest Ecology: Our work is based in the forests of British Columbia, where over 80% of Canada’s freshwater originates. Water here is closely tied to forests and snow. Forests moderate water flow, controlling how snow melts and is distributed through ecosystems. Picture a snowy rainforest: as snow or light rain falls, it filters through the old-growth canopy. The needles and surfaces capture the water, which slowly moves down the trees. Some of it evaporates before even reaching the ground, and the rest is gradually absorbed into the soil. This slow filtration supports the soil organisms—the mycorrhizas and bacteria—that are adapted to this process.

But modern forestry, which came with colonialism, has severely disrupted these systems. Timber rights were licensed to commercial interests, and forests were logged as fast as possible, with little regard for long-term consequences. There were rules limiting clear-cutting to 30% of a watershed to protect water systems, but that limit was ignored. Now, in many coastal ecosystems, up to 80% has been clear-cut, which has dramatically affected water regimes.

We see the results today: large snowfalls in clear-cut areas lead to sudden melts, causing floods. Then, in the summer, the lack of forest cover causes droughts, which increase the risk of wildfires. These problems are interconnected.

However, we are not powerless. Through the Mother Tree Network, we’re working with nations to restore these ecosystems, converting plantations back into diverse forests. One major issue we’ve found is that clear-cut logging destroys about 60% of the forest floor carbon due to the heavy machinery compacting the soil. Without that organic matter, water from snowmelt can’t be absorbed properly. To fix this, we need to restore plant communities, which will photosynthesize and rebuild healthy soil.

Though the task is massive, we’ve begun partnering with coastal nations to restore these areas. It’s still early days, but we are making progress. Foresters once thought there was nothing wrong with these plantations, but we’re finding there’s a lot that needs to be repaired.

Laura Tam, Senior Program Officer at Resources Legacy Fund: For over 20 years, I’ve worked with various institutions—governments, nonprofits, and coalitions—on improving the future for both people and nature. Much of my work has focused not just on stopping the impact of climate change, but also on managing its effects on us and our altered environment. As Suzanne discussed in the context of British Columbia’s forests, we’re seeing similar impacts in California, particularly on the shoreline of San Francisco Bay.

About five years ago, while working at an urban planning think tank, we partnered with another group focused on water quality and watershed science to tackle the threat of sea-level rise. Over 80% of the Bay’s wetlands have been lost since colonial times, and the water won’t respect the boundaries we’ve imposed with levees and infrastructure. It will flood marshes, cross into cities, and threaten vulnerable communities.

We need to adapt to these changes by restoring ecosystems and ensuring that people are protected. Our solution was the San Francisco Bay Shoreline Adaptation Atlas, which maps out areas where nature-based solutions can be implemented to manage sea-level rise. These ‘opportunity maps’ show where natural landscapes can be restored, accounting for factors like slope, soil types, and the types of communities nearby—whether industrial or densely populated.

The Atlas is available online for free, and it’s designed to provide a practical guide for institutions to make informed decisions. By mapping out where actions will have the most impact, we can help restore ecosystems and protect communities from flooding. This tool is meant to foster collaboration and lead to meaningful changes working with nature.

Felicia Marcus, Stanford University’s Water in the West Program Fellow: Nature-based solutions have incredible potential—not just to restore land and water, but also to reconnect us with nature. So much of this work is about relearning what people knew for thousands of years but have forgotten in the last century. Indigenous communities have always known this, and they keep reminding us.

It’s not just that nature-based solutions are cool—they’re the smarter thing to do. For years, sustainability was the goal: learning to live within our means. But with climate change, resilience has become even more critical. We’re seeing weather extremes we can’t build our way out of, like those 100- or 200-year storms. What we need are systems that can recover faster, and many of those are nature-based solutions.

Globally, we’ve reached a point where we have to address land-based emissions, as the IPCC’s 2019 report highlighted. Mismanagement of forests—whether overgrown or clear-cut—has caused massive wildfires that emit more carbon than fossil fuels. But there’s hope: billions of dollars are being invested in ecological forest management. It’s crucial that this funding, from initiatives like the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, is used to restore forests to their natural state, rather than continuing harmful practices like tree plantations and fire suppression.

Yes, there are challenges. We’re still dealing with siloed thinking and a lack of vision, but people are listening now. The potential for managing every drop of water from the headwaters to our taps has never been greater, and we need to seize this moment. It’s going to take hard work, but we have the opportunity to make lasting, meaningful changes on the ground.

So much of this work is about relearning what people knew for thousands of years but have forgotten in the last century. Indigenous communities have always known this, and they keep reminding us.

Erica: Laura, with your experience at Resources Legacy Foundation, you’ve worked with many different entities. What insights can you share?

Laura: I also focus extensively on fire issues. One important point that Felicia’s comments reminded me of is that decision-makers often need more information. For instance, the fires in 2020 released more carbon in California than all of the emissions reductions achieved through state policies since 2002. This fact underscores the critical role of multi-benefit solutions. Investing in nature-based solutions is essential not only for carbon sequestration but also for the many other benefits, such as biodiversity, fungal networks, water supply, and meadow ecosystems.

Additionally, it’s vital to remember that having a good idea or fact is just the beginning. We need to use that information to educate others, create compelling narratives, build campaigns, and drive action. The best science and information are crucial, but they must be used to influence decision-makers and shape policies effectively.

Having a good idea or fact is just the beginning. We need to use that information to educate others, create compelling narratives, build campaigns, and drive action. The best science and information are crucial, but they must be used to influence decision-makers and shape policies effectively.

Erica: We’ve been focusing a lot on the U.S., so let’s shift to Canada, where I also spend part of my time. As a journalist, I’ve been following the reconciliation process, where Indigenous people share their stories with broader Canadian society. There have been numerous court cases over the years acknowledging Indigenous rights, especially in British Columbia, where many lands were taken after the treaty era. Now, while the Canadian government has signed onto the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, there’s often a gap between commitment and action. How does the Mother Tree project fit into this, and what are you observing in terms of the relationship between the governments of British Columbia and Canada and Indigenous communities?

Suzanne: Canada, including British Columbia, did eventually sign onto the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2017, though it was one of the last countries to do so. This was largely due to concerns over resource rights, given Canada’s history as a resource-extraction country.

In 2021, British Columbia introduced the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. This legislation emphasizes the need for meaningful consultation and collaboration with Indigenous communities, which is transforming how these relationships are managed. However, there’s a lag as governments grapple with their own laws, though court cases are likely to accelerate this understanding.

Indigenous people might find the progress too slow, and that’s a valid concern. Nonetheless, we are moving in the right direction.

On the ground, the Mother Tree Network supports this transformation by promoting the duty to consult and the Land Back movement. Our work focuses on studying forest responses to devastation and recovery, providing data that supports the fight for land rights.

It’s crucial to recognize that forest management has historically been approached with a one-size-fits-all mentality, ignoring local ecological contexts. This universal approach has proven ineffective.

It’s crucial to recognize that forest management has historically been approached with a one-size-fits-all mentality, ignoring local ecological contexts. This universal approach has proven ineffective. Indigenous knowledge, developed over thousands of years, offers valuable insights into local ecosystems.

The Mother Tree Network aims to support and uplift Indigenous practices and rights, ensuring that their deep ecological knowledge and technologies can be applied in ways that honor and protect nature.

Erica: In a story I wrote for Popular Science about Southwestern Arizona, I covered a severely degraded land that had been deforested and overgrazed. During the monsoon, water would rush through and vanish quickly. Ranchers in the area began using a traditional Indigenous practice of placing small rocks across the water to slow it down. Within a few seasons, this dry wash had become a permanent stream with wetlands. A local scientist discovered that it was actually increasing water supply by 28%. This illustrates how taking care of the environment can lead to greater abundance.

In Kenya, I noticed different approaches to water management. For example, during droughts, Kenya employs a water-sharing system where everyone experiences a reduction, rather than just the senior water rights holders receiving all the water. Community water user groups are also in place, emphasizing local management of water resources. However, challenges like corruption and mismanagement remain. Still, these alternative approaches to water management and local empowerment are inspiring, despite the execution challenges.

Laura, with your extensive experience in various global projects, can you share an example of a unique and well-executed project you’ve encountered?

Laura: One example that comes to mind is the “30 by ’30” initiative. We started working on this concept with California’s Natural Resources Agency around 2021. The goal is to protect 30% of California’s landscapes by 2030 for both people and nature, with an emphasis on equity and biodiversity.

To ground this initiative in community needs, we raised funds to support a year-long public engagement process. This involved thousands of people participating in regional workshops to express their values, concerns, and priorities. The feedback informed the development of the “Pathways to 30 by ’30” plan, which outlines strategies for protecting agriculture, restoring streams, managing forests, and more.

The State then adopted this initiative into law, marking a significant shift. The legislation committed California to this ambitious goal, which was almost unheard of a few years ago. This approach, starting with community engagement and leading to legislative action, sets a new precedent for how we tackle conservation challenges.

While there’s still a lot of work to be done—such as expanding parkland and ensuring equitable access—the “Pathways to 30 by ’30” provides a clear roadmap for progress. It’s an exciting development that positions California at the forefront of global conservation efforts.

Erica: Suzanne, I know that during your early work in the forestry industry, you faced significant pushback regarding your findings and recommendations. Now that you’re in academia, what do you see as the barriers to implementing your work in the forests of British Columbia?

Suzanne: You know, I’ve discussed a lot of the barriers already, but I want to focus on the successes.

Erica: Yes, please!

Suzanne: There have been numerous successes, particularly in recent years. When I started, I was focused on advocating against herbicides in forestry. While herbicide use in Canada isn’t as extensive as it is here, it’s still quite prevalent. For about ten years, I worked tirelessly to emphasize the importance of natural succession and the need to preserve plants within our ecosystems.

I managed to push for some policy changes during my time in government. I was told that my efforts contributed to a reduction in herbicide use by about half. That was a significant achievement.

However, herbicide use has crept back up, and it continues to be an issue, particularly in Indigenous territories. The fight is ongoing, and maintaining constant pressure and storytelling is crucial.

Now, with the Mother Tree Network, and thanks to our organization’s efforts, philanthropic support, and engagement with government officials—including our premier, who is akin to a governor—we’re seeing progress. Over the past year, there’s been a significant development: discussions are underway about banning clear-cutting in British Columbia. This is a monumental success. It’s the result of the combined efforts of many individuals and groups.

Another exciting development is the planned reduction in the rate of cutting by about half over the next year. This, too, is a major success. 

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This conversation took place at the 2024 Bioneers Conference. The transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.