Earth Today | Say ‘yes’ to Nature-based Solutions

JAMAICA’S TRANSPORT network is the backbone of the country’s economy and daily life. Roads connect farmers to markets, children to schools, and communities to healthcare and other essential services.

Yet, these systems are under threat from climate change, to which Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS), including Jamaica, are especially vulnerable. Our location in the Atlantic hurricane belt, coupled with rugged topography, make the islands particularly vulnerable to extreme rainfall, flooding, and landslides. When transport systems fail during disasters, the consequences extend far beyond damaged roads.

Caribbean SIDS depend on transport for up to 50 per cent of GDP and 30 per cent of employment, highlighting the scale of the risk. Recent disasters also illustrate the magnitude of the challenge. Hurricane Beryl, in 2024, caused more than J$10.3 billion in damage to Jamaica’s transport sector while the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) recently revealed that Hurricane Melissa, in October 2025, resulted in an estimated US$12.2 billion in losses, about 56.7 per cent of Jamaica’s GDP.

For decades, road infrastructure design has relied heavily on concrete-based ‘grey’ solutions such as retaining walls, culverts, and drainage channels. While these structures are essential, they often have a critical weakness: they tend to fail suddenly, once their design limits are exceeded.

Heavy rainfall can saturate soil and undermine concrete structures, triggering landslides or road collapses. When this happens, roads may remain unusable for weeks or even months while repairs are carried out. Such failures highlight the need for more flexible and adaptive systems, capable of managing environmental stresses rather than simply resisting them.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) provide an innovative alternative by integrating natural systems into infrastructure design. These approaches use vegetation, wetlands, and natural drainage features to help manage water flow, stabilise soil, and reduce environmental stress.

For example, vetiver grass (a plant known for its deep and dense root system) can significantly strengthen slopes. Its roots can extend several metres into the ground, increasing soil cohesion by as much as 119 per cent, which helps prevent landslides along roadways. Similarly, bioswales and rain gardens can capture and slow stormwater runoff, reducing the erosion that often damages roads and drainage systems.

Research indicates these green interventions can reduce runoff volumes by 40 to 99 per cent, helping to prevent flooding and infrastructure failure. These solutions create infrastructure systems that are not only protective but also adaptive.

Rather than replacing traditional infrastructure, many experts recommend hybrid ‘green-grey’ systems that combine engineered structures with natural elements. In these systems, nature acts as the first line of defence by absorbing energy from storms, controlling water flow, and stabilising soil. Engineered infrastructure then provides structural support and long-term durability.

Beyond environmental benefits, NbS make strong economic sense. Research suggests that every US$1 invested in NbS-integrated resilience can generate up to US$4 in avoided losses and economic benefits. This concept, sometimes called the ‘resilience dividend’, reflects the long-term savings from reduced disaster damage, lower maintenance costs, and improved ecosystem health.

Recognising this potential, the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica is advancing the Jamaica Urban Solutions for the Environment project, a five-year initiative, funded by Global Affairs Canada, to strengthen climate resilience in urban areas through gender-responsive and socially inclusive nature-based approaches. The project focuses on financing, policy development, and community-driven projects that integrate NbS into infrastructure planning and urban development.

Contributed by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica.