Nature-Based Solutions For Building Resilience in Towns and Cities

This publication summarizes the rich seven-volume “Resource Kit on Building Resilience and Sustainability in Mekong Towns.” It includes the principles of green infrastructure and measures for building resilience; nature-based solutions of special relevance to Mekong towns, grouped into four categories of water and flood management, slope stabilization, and pollution management; the urban planning and management framework required for mainstreaming of green infrastructure, in particular, the role of town master planning and zoning schemes; the process for conducting vulnerability assessment; and includes case studies in building urban resilience in the selected cities. There is an opportunity for developing member countries to build on this learning and replicate institutional and technical measures within and outside the GMS. Progress in implementing national climate change mitigation and adaptation policies especially in urban areas is limited, largely due to awareness and institutional, technical, and financial limitations. A step forward is to advance the process of establishing an adaptation network between cities for city-to-city mentoring. This would also help scale up effective solutions through demonstration impact. Reforms in planning processes to systematically mainstream resilience in infrastructure development may range from the process of preparing and reviewing master plans and zoning schemes, to the design and management of urban infrastructure such as flood gates, drainage and sewerage, ports, markets, roads, and river training.