Adaptation & Nature-Based Solutions

Our city faces major challenges from climate change, like extreme heat, flooding, rising seas, and loss of natural habitat. Nature-based solutions (NBS) use healthy ecosystems and natural processes as part of our adaptation strategy—in addition to traditional infrastructure. These approaches help cool neighborhoods, store water, support biodiversity, reduce risk, create jobs, and improve community wellbeing.

What are nature-based solutions?
Nature-based solutions are actions that protect, manage or restore natural ecosystems so they deliver multiple benefits—like reducing heat stress, absorbing stormwater, capturing carbon, and improving community health all at once.

For New Orleans these can include:

• Reforestation and tree canopy expansion to cool neighborhoods and sequester carbon.

• Wetland and marsh enhancement to buffer flooding, protect coastlines and support wildlife.

• Living shorelines and oyster reef restoration to reduce wave energy and erosion.

• Urban micro-climate interventions—shade corridors, reflective landscaping, native plants—to mitigate heat islands.

• Restoration of habitat and green corridors to improve air quality, support recreation and connect neighborhoods.

• Nature-inspired water management using bio-swales, infiltration basins and restored floodplains to handle both rain and rising water.

Why it matters for New Orleans

• Our neighborhoods bear uneven burden of heat, flooding and ecological risk.

• Using nature in our response builds resilience while creating healthier places to live and work.

• Nature-based solutions often deliver multiple wins—climate adaptation, economic opportunity, biodiversity, and community wellbeing.

• These strategies help the City meet goals in the 2022 Climate Action Plan, the Solid Waste Master Plan, and other strategic efforts.

• They support equity by centering investment in neighborhoods facing the highest risk and lowest access to natural assets.