Nature based solutions (NBS) are interventions inspired and supported by nature and benefit biodiversity while supporting the delivery of a range of ecosystem services. They are cost-effective, builds resilience, and provide environmental, social and economic benefits.

Ecosystem services are measured and valuated through different tools. Other tools (aside from TESSA) are also being used, allowing practitioners and site managers options that are suitable to their sites. Two of such tools are the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) and Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES).

TESSA typically involves six (6) steps. The Preliminary Scoping Appraisal (PSA) is the second stage and aims to derive an initial understanding of the dynamics of a site including the ecosystem services that it provides. To support the work of those who are participating in the workshop, the PSA focused on four features: (1) site boundaries, (2) habitat types, (3) provision of ecosystem services, and (4) drivers of change.

To guide policy- and decision-making, tools that allow economic valuation of ecosystem services (ES) are used to assess and measure ecosystem values in a way that will be useful and practical even to non-technica

A deep dive session on wetland ecosystem services, this takes off from the importance of wetlands to examples of how interventions can benefit both society (human beings) and nature. Different approaches such as (i) natural infrastructure (nature-based solutions) and (ii) coastal blue carbon (natural climate solutions).

The framework for priority site selection has equipped the team in developing a priority list with 147 sites (Phase 1), which will evolve into a short list of 50 sites (Phase 2). The site prioritization criteria are aligned with the existing and widely accepted criteria used in the definition of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership’s Flyway Network Sites (FNS) and BirdLife’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) programme.

The session gives an overview on the Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI), which envisions a network of sustainable wetlands along the EAA Flyway and hosted, managed, and protected by vibrant and resilient communities. This vision shall be realized through the development of viable nature-based solutions (NbS), which are going to be financed through $3 billion worth of investments.

The Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI) team joined the 11th East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) Meeting of the Parties in Brisbane, Australia (12-17 Mar 2023). ADB’s Duncan Lang and BirdLife International’s Ding Li Yong delivered the keynote presentation, which covered the status of the Regional Flyway Initiative.