Nature-Based Strategies for Urban Resilience

Discover how the International Climate Initiative supports inclusive engagement to drive NbS actions for Thailand’s high-risk cities.

“The nature that could save our city from climate change has already been destroyed”. This is the realisation that participants representing the local authority of the city of Surat Thani in Thailand came to after an exercise to identify green infrastructure and natural resources that could strengthen the city’s resilience. As they searched for the ecosystems that should serve as shields against climate crisis, they discovered that most of what once protected the city is now lost.

Recognising this challenge, the IKI-supported Urban Resilience project was launched in 2024 as a five-year initiative. The project is jointly implemented by ADPC, IUCN, RECOFTC, TEI, and UddC, which has formed a political partnership with the Department of Water Resources. The project aims to enhance urban resilience through nature-based solutions (NbS). 

In its first year, progress was made through research integration, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. As a result, the project consortium identified possible sites to demonstrate nature-based solutions in the provinces of Surat Thani and Chiang Rai, which were categorised as national high-risk areas for the climate crisis. This selection process was supported by Thailand's Fourth National Communication report, prepared in accordance with UNFCCC guidelines, using scientific data from heat risk maps, flood risk maps, and drought risk maps.

Surat Thani’s Shrinking Resilience and Chiang Rai’s Escalating Risks

Surat Thani represents Thailand’s coastal cities. Once dominated by rice fields and peat swamp forests, the city has undergone rapid urbanisation, drastically reducing its natural flood absorption capacity. Roads and buildings now obstruct natural waterways, while existing drainage systems remain insufficient to handle increasing water volumes. Historically, peat swamps were left untouched due to year-round flooding, making them unsuitable for development. However, later they were occupied for agriculture and settlements. This initial encroachment led to further land conversion, including the expansion of oil palm plantations. Without peatland conservation, the city was to face severe water shortages in the future. As climate change intensifies, the consequences of lost natural buffers are becoming more apparent. 

Meanwhile, Chiang Rai faces multiple natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides, forest fires, and haze, as well as climate-induced risks like droughts and floods, have all impacted the province. The severe flooding in 2024 served as a wake-up call, with prolonged inundation affecting multiple districts, especially Mueang Chiang Rai. A comparison of historical and current maps of the Kok River reveals that urban expansion has obstructed natural water pathways. Satellite imagery reveals rapid conversion of agricultural land into residential and commercial areas. Linear urban expansion along road networks has further disrupted water retention areas, contributing to major floods. Despite Chiang Rai’s rich natural assets — its rivers, wetlands, forests, and green spaces — urbanisation continues to erode these critical buffers.

Inclusive Analysis and Engagement for NbS Site Identification 

The Urban Resilience project began with a city-scale assessment of green infrastructure, mapping both original natural landscapes and current conditions before engaging stakeholders. The consortium partner ADPC reviewed flood hazards, developed climate data maps and rainfall datasets, and collaborated with the Thailand Meteorological Department and the Department of Climate Change and Environment to advance climate modelling efforts.

From the policy perspective, TEI’s wetland study revealed low conservation awareness, water scarcity, and increasing threats from floods, droughts, and invasive species in both provinces. Recommendations focused on sustainable water management, education, and replicating successful conservation models for domestic use, agriculture, tourism, and cultural activities.

At provincial level, UddC led workshops engaging stakeholders to navigate resilient city planning, covering knowledge on urban resilience, Nature-based Solutions and climate change adaptation. These sessions identified key challenges and opportunities, shaping capacity-building initiatives and operational plans. 

At community level, RECOFTC conducted site surveys and data validation workshops to assess land use, social challenges, and development needs. Key concerns included wetland degradation, food insecurity, invasive species, and shrinking waterbodies. 

Findings from the on-going activities and the validation workshops were used to identify criteria for the selection of pilot areas from 24 potential sites. IUCN integrated the Global Standard for NbS, Urban Nature Index (UNI), System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), and Global Ecosystem Typology into site selection frameworks. The following sites for the very first NbS implementation are currently being discussed for the implementation of pilot nature-based solutions:

Chiang Rai: Nong Saen Tor Pond and Mae Korn Stream for NbS public park development

• River restoration – setback the levee and remove the dumping soil
• Riparian restoration – restore the native vegetation and control invasive alien species
• Development of climate-resilient future planning 

The topic has been an overarching priority at the IKI since 2015. 

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