1. Thematic workshop on potential of Nature-based Solutions
towards sustainable river basin management in Azerbaijan
ADAPT – NbS Pilot Projects
6 April 2023
Mihaela Dragan Lebovics, NbS Project Manager, IUCN ECARO

2. 2
ADAPT in figures
Funded by the Sida,
the Swedish
International
Development
Agency .
Contract value
EUR 2.48 million.
Project life time:
4,5 years.
Geographical
scope: Western
Balkans region.
Funded by
Sida
The project is funded
by Sida and is
implemented by IUCN
ECARO
Contract
value
Total contract value
EUR 2.48 million
Project
lifetime
The project started in
November 2019 and will
end in December 2023.
Geographical
scope
Western Balkans:
Serbia, Albania, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, North
Macedonia, Kosovo and
Montenegro.

3. 3
Serbia
Geographical scope of IUCN’s pilot projects
NbS pilot project in Albania
NbS pilot project in Serbia
NbS baseline assessments / ROAM
NbS technical design
Permitting &
Procurement
Execution

4. NbS pilot site – Serbia (Phase 2 – Technical design)
Red zone 1-4 (Strong FLR measures)
• Problem: highly degraded forests and soil, steep slopes
• NbS measures: gradoni (terrace) construction and
planting in clear-cut areas (FLR), loose stone check dams
Yellow zone 5-7 (Silvo pastoral measures)
• Problem: establishment silvo pastoral system in line with
FLR activities
• NbS measures: reintroduction of an autochthonous cattle
breed, fencing and building of a water reservoir
Blue zones 8-13 (Light FLR measures)
• Problem: average to high degradation of forests and soil
• NbS measures : assisted natural regeneration and
enrichment planting
FLR intervention area in Gledić, zones with similar site conditions, degradation and erosion
levels (approx. 180 ha)

5. NbS pilot site – Serbia (Phase 2 – Technical design)
– assisted natural regeneration
– enrichment planting
Blue Zones: Light FLR measures
Enrichment planting
Assisted natural regeneration
seedling on gradoni
Loose stone check dams
Red Zones: Strong FLR measures
– Gradoni (terrace) construction
– planting in clear-cut areas (FLR)
– loose stone check dams
Yellow zones: Sylvo-pastoralism
– reintroduction of an autochthonous cattle
breed
– fencing and building of a water reservoir
Water reservoir for livestock
Branch fence

6. 6
NbS pilot site – Albania (Phase 1 – Baseline Assessment)
Measure 3: check-dams
Measures 1 & 2:
Forest Landscape Restoration
Zone 1
• Problem: highly degraded forests and soil, steep slopes
• NbS measures: contour bunds and planting
Zone 2
• Problem: highly degraded forests and soil, run-off control,
extremely steep slopes
• NbS measures: treating gullies with barriers (gabion
check-dams and planting)
Zone 3
• Problem: Erosion of banks and flash floods mitigation
• NbS measures: Large gabion check-dams built in torrent
bed
OBJECTIVEs for all NbS interventions:
Erosion control & Flood mitigation
Zone 2: highly eroded lands

7. 7
NbS pilot site – Albania (Phase 1 – Baseline Assessment)
Zone 1: Light FLR - contour bunds and
planting
Zone 2: Strong FLR - treating gullies
with barriers and planting
App. 32 barriers for less than 2 ha
Zone 3: check-dams
2.3 ha

8. Various NbS, various costs
• Customisation of NbS measures results in high
variability of costs/ha
• Implementation of light FLR measures provides
satisfactory cost/benefit ratio
• High level of soil degradation results in higer
cost/ha (x6)
• silvopastoralism measures constitute a valuable
investment:
– direct socio-economic benefits
– ensure positive attitude and cooperation of
private landowners
5.5 8.0
166.3
6,191
2,212
1,110
-
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
140.0
160.0
180.0
NbS cost and coverage for each zone
Surface in ha Costs €/ha
Ha
€/ha
Serbia pilot site – Costs of NbS measures

9. INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE
Lessons learnt
• Site identification – crucial step in zonation of hot spots for restoration
• Multi-stakeholder coordination & consultation
• Availability of Geo-physical and socio-economic data (obstacle in Albania)
• Land ownership models (private vs. public)
• Permits & approvals – be prepared
• FLR: Seedling availability important factor in project cycle

10. INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE
Other examples of NbS – Eco-DRR projects in the region (JICA)
Source: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

11. www.iucn.org/ecaro
Restoring Ecosystems to Reduce
Drought Risk and Increase Resilience
Funded by
Total Contract value EUR 1,1 mln
Duration 2020 – 2022
Lead IUCN
Target countries
Georgia, Burkina Faso and
Kenya
Collaboration with 1 IUCN thematic programme, 3 IUCN
country and regional offices, 3 national partners and 1
research institute
Project Geography

12. NATIONAL POLICY REVIEW
&
COUNTRY CASE STUDY
May
2022
Jun
e
2022
WORKSHOP TO VALIDATE AND
ENDORSE POLICY
RECOMMENDTIONS &
TRAINING ON INCORPORATION
OF RESTORATION IN DROUGHT
PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY
DIALOGUES ON
NbS-DROUGHT
IMPLEMENTATION
OF NbS-DROUGH IN
PARTNER PROJECTS
Past,ongoing work & next steps
July
2022
Marc
h
2023
Phase II
TRAINING – DESIGN
NbS FOR DROUGHT

13. Impact of the Project

14. Thank you!