The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) faces escalating water-related challenges, including floods, droughts, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer a promising approach to address these challenges, yet their long-term effectiveness is difficult to evaluate and remains under-monitored, limiting policy uptake. This systematic mapping reviews scientific evidence from 2012 to 2023 on NbS implemented for water challenges in the GMS.
This study performs a systematic mapping of NbS interventions implemented to address water challenges in the Mekong Region. The review intends to delineate the current state of evidence on NbS effectiveness including the type of NbS applied, water challenges addressed and the effectiveness of these solutions. The effectiveness of NbS includes environmental, physical, social and economic elements, along with its capacity to deliver multiple co-benefits. This review addresses the following research questions:
Findings reveal a regional imbalance, with most studies in Viet Nam and Thailand, and limited representation in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Cambodia. NbS interventions most documented include mangrove protection or restoration (13%), forest protection or restoration (13%), and wetland creation or restoration (11%). Coastal protection (31%) and flood management (25%) are the primary challenges addressed, while fewer studies focus on water quality, storage, or supply. About half of the studies assessed multiple outcomes; 33% focused only on ecological outcomes, with fewer examining social (14%) or economic outcomes (9%), though co-benefits such as recreation and thermal comfort were noted. Over half of the studies (55%) met criteria for socioeconomic benefits, sustainability, natural resource conservation, and multifunctionality, while 45% did not fully address these.
Research gaps remain in underrepresented countries and less-studied outcomes, including the role and implications of revitalizing traditional knowledge within NbS framework, highlighting the need for more comprehensive evaluation to support integration of NbS into national and regional water management strategies.
Event on 11 May – 14 May in Manila / The SEI-hosted Adaptation Research Alliance will lead the knowledge nexus theme at the Community-based Adaptation (CBA20) conference in Manila.
Past event / ARA and the IPCC Working Group II Technical Support Unit will host a regional outreach and engagement event for Early-Career Researchers (ECRs) from Asia.
Project / Does granting rivers legal rights help people and nature? This study analyzes the Atrato, Whanganui, and Turag rivers to find fair, effective governance.
