Fair and Inclusive Nature-based Solutions in Indonesia

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognised as an important approach for addressing climate risks while supporting ecosystems and local livelihoods. However, questions remain about how the benefits and burdens of these interventions are distributed, who participates in decision-making processes, and whether local perspectives and priorities are adequately reflected in project design and implementation.

The Water Agency is supporting a research project led by Professor Toon Haer of the IVM Institute for Environmental Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, together with PhD researchers Susan Geurtsen and Elda Pipa. The project has been awarded a Vidi grant by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and explores how nature-based solutions can be designed and implemented in ways that are fair, inclusive, and socially equitable.

Focusing on case studies in Indonesia, the research examines how local communities experience nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation initiatives in practice. Areas of interest include community participation, recognition of local knowledge and priorities, distribution of project benefits and burdens, and the transparency of decision-making processes.

As a research partner, The Water Agency supports fieldwork activities, stakeholder engagement, data collection, and the contextualisation of research findings within the Indonesian setting. The project combines academic research with local perspectives to contribute to a deeper understanding of how nature-based solutions can better support both environmental resilience and social justice.

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