Towards Mainstreaming Nature’s Value in Minnesota’s Decision-Making

Expanding Nature’s Role in Climate Action

Nature-based solutions (NbS) involve protecting, restoring and sustainably managing ecosystems such as forests, lakes, rivers, wetlands and agricultural land to address climate, biodiversity and socio-economic challenges while enhancing human well-being.

In Minnesota, NbS can draw down 26 million metric tons of carbon and provide more than $30 billion in ecosystem services. Key opportunities include reforestation, improved forest management, wetland restoration and climate-smart agriculture, which can enhance carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity and resilience, according to The Nature Conservancy's 2021 “Nature and Climate Solutions for Minnesota” report.

However, NbS implementation remains uneven and fragmented across sectors. While many actors undertake NbS-related activities, these efforts are often not clearly defined, measured or integrated into decision-making. Key findings from this project, published in a Frontiers Sustainability journal article, highlight persistent gaps in conceptual clarity, ecosystem services valuation, financing transparency and inclusive governance, despite relatively strong performance in policy alignment and communication. Addressing these gaps is critical to scaling NbS as a coherent pathway for climate action, biodiversity conservation and equitable development.

Outcomes

• Strengthened University researchers’ relationship with local environmental justice organization Rainbow Research, the Environmental Justice Coordinating Council under the Environmental Initiative, and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• Published findings in Frontiers Sustainability about NbS science, implementation gaps and emerging opportunities for scaling up NbS in Minnesota
• Prompted the co-design of another research project with Rainbow Research, funded by the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, about nature’s value in reducing flood risk impacts, which is highlighted in a Sahan Journal article