The multifunctional landscape project Holmehave in Assens Municipality is the first project in the Nordic region to be assessed against the IUCN global standard for Nature-based Solutions. The assessment shows that the Holmehave project fulfils the IUCN standard with an overall score of 61%.
A group of Danish IUCN Commission experts have assessed the Holmehave project in Assens Municipality, Denmark for the Nordic Council of Ministers according to the IUCN international standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The Holmehave project is one of eight pilot projects in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Programme for Nature-based Solutions.
The results of our study show that the Holmehave project meets the IUCN standard and can thus be recognised as a nature-based solution.
The Holmehave project received an overall score of 61%, with scores ranging from 33% to 93% for the eight criteria of the standard (see Table 1). To fulfil the IUCN standard, each of the eight criteria had to score at least 25%, which was the case for the Holmehave project.
The Holmehave project scored highest for Criterion 1 – Societal Challenges and Criterion 5 – Inclusive Governance with scores of 89% and 93% respectively. However, with an overall score of 61%, there is room for improvement, especially for criteria 4 and 7, which both ended with a score of 33% (Table 1).
What is Nature-based Solutions?
Interest in Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) is growing both in Denmark and internationally, and the NbS concept is widely recognised for its potential to address societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable resource management.
However, although NbS is becoming more and more accepted, the practical application of the concept is challenged and sometimes misunderstood, which can lead to greenwashing.
To ensure the concept is clearly understood, communicated and implemented, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has adopted the following definition of Nature-based Solutions:
“Actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.”
Based on this definition, the IUCN has developed a global standard for NbS, which is described below.
How is the IUCN standard for NbS applied?
The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) provides a framework for designing and verifying that a given NbS delivers the desired results in addressing one or more societal challenges.
The standard is designed to support project owners in applying, learning and continuously strengthening and improving the effectiveness, sustainability and adaptability of their nature-based solutions.
The standard is composed of 8 criteria accompanied by a total of 28 indicators. For each indicator, the level of adherence is assessed according to a traffic light system, and justification and documentation are provided for each indicator in a special self-assessment tool developed by IUCN.
In this project, the IUCN self-assessment tool for NbS has been translated into Danish, and the Danish version can be downloaded here.
The assessment of the Holmehave project will be valuable for future projects based on nature-based solutions – as inspiration and learning and as a gateway to using the IUCN tool.
What is the Holmehave project?
The High Funen landscape between Vissenbjerg and Odense Ådal is a magnificent and unique dead-ice landscape. In the south-eastern part of this landscape, Assens Municipality and others have developed a masterplan for the Holmehave area (Tommerup and Verninge Parishes) with a number of nature-based initiatives and land use conversions.
According to the masterplan, the Holmehave area’s great natural and landscape values will be ‘secured through a green development where the rich natural and cultural history of the landscape mosaic is protected and communicated, while the area provides sustainable production of food, timber, energy and clean drinking water.’
The aim is also to achieve synergies between agriculture and forestry, climate adaptation and water, nature, outdoor life and habitation. In the area’s local communities, the rural and the urban will meet in mutual partnerships that can contribute in various ways to making the area attractive and well-functioning.
Download:
The Holmehave project report
(in Danish with an English summary)
The IUCN self-assessment tool completed for the Holmehave project
(in Danish)
The report has been prepared for the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Programme for Nature-based Solutions by:
Anette Petersen, Bo Normander, Franklin Feyeh and Jan Woollhead – all members of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
IUCN stands for International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world’s largest nature conservation organisation.
Top image: Aerial photo of the Holmehave area by Claus N. Larsen, Assens Municipality.