Abstract
Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are estimated to be approximately 21-37% of global emissions, while agriculture is severely impacted by a changing climate. Use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be cost-effective and offers multiple advantages for addressing these issues. This paper reviews existing knowledge and evidence found within soil science, agronomy, forestry, and environmental policy to evaluate NbS for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and enhancement of carbon sequestration. Drawing from 109 reviewed studies, we evaluated the carbon sequestration potential of different types of NbS, which range from 0.4 to 2.8 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 (or 1.5 to 10.3 Mg CO₂-eq ha-1 yr-1), and depends on the type of system, the species of tree, the soil, and the climate. We study the different types of NbS, such as conservation tillage and agroforestry practices, as examples of how they can potentially enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) by 15-50% compared to conventional monocropping practices. We study the neglected yet crucial role of soil health indicators physical, chemical, and biological in measuring the effectiveness of NbS. We evaluate the policy frameworks of the EU Nature Restoration Law and the proposed Soil Monitoring Directive and illustrate how they are evolving to address NbS. Although they are quite limited, NbS are useful tools for development and implementation of climate change mitigation actions. We believe that the full potential of NbS can be realized with long-term, multi-site studies along with standardized monitoring, integrated technologies, strong governance systems, and community involvement.