NL2120: developing green earning capacity

Nature-based solutions involve using natural systems and phenomena to make the Netherlands and the rest of the world more resilient to urgent challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. These solutions are also referred to as ‘building with nature’ or natural solutions.

NL2120 involves researching and applying measures which aim to protect, sustainably manage, and restore (semi-)natural ecosystems, so that the challenges faced by society can be effectively solved for the benefit of people and nature.

The objective of NL2120 is to answer the question:

How can natural solutions to major problems such as climate change and biodiversity loss contribute to improving liveability in the Netherlands and strengthening the country’s earning capacity?

The programme wants to create a situation in which, by default, natural solutions are at least considered as options in the Netherlands. The programme’s international ambition is to exploit its expertise wherever the most pressing problems arise and socioeconomic gains can be made.

On this programme, we seek to identify barriers to the large-scale adoption of natural solutions. These could be physical/ecological, socioeconomic, or institutional barriers. We then get to work on removing these barriers as much as possible through research as well as action. We also look for opportunities to export our expertise and investigate ways to capitalise on these opportunities.

With the knowledge and expertise we gain through NL2120, our consortium also puts the Netherlands on the map as a global leader in building with nature. NL2120 is just one of the natural solutions initiatives in which Witteveen+Bos is involved.

Since 2008, we have been a partner of EcoShape, a consortium of companies, research institutes, and social organisations that builds up and shares knowledge on natural solutions in hydraulic engineering. Witteveen+Bos collaborates with the other EcoShape partners on projects to put this knowledge into practice.

Examples of such projects in the Netherlands include the Sand Motor, the Marker Wadden, and the Hondsbossche Dunes. Internationally, the mangrove restoration project in Indonesia is also a good example.

Since 2018, Witteveen+Bos has also facilitated a nature-based solutions platform. Engineers, spatial designers, managers, and researchers use this platform to collaborate on innovative, sustainable solutions to social and climate-related challenges. As a first step, the platform offers a quick scan (rapid assessment) by our experts. This platform, too, demonstrates how we are committed to expanding the application of nature-based solutions.