Nature-Based Disaster Resilience Yields Big Returns

August 26-27, Earth Economics joined leaders from 20 states, academics, nonprofit experts, and private sector partners at The Pew Charitable Trusts' State Resilience Planning Group at the University of Georgia.

Project Director Glen Delaney joined a panel with Heather Tallis and Susana Ferreira on monetizing, quantifying, and communicating the resilience benefits of Nature-Based Solutions. He described how our team reassessed the value of restoring the Duckabush Estuary in Washington state: a traditional benefit-cost analysis had estimated that the project yielded just $15 million in avoided flood damage, while costing $120 million to complete. After factoring in improvements to salmon habitat, water quality, recreation opportunities, and carbon storage, the project’s benefits rose to $75 million, making the investment far more attractive.

Similar lessons emerged from green infrastructure plans for Atlanta University Center, where Earth Economics researchers identified millions of dollars in long-term economic and recreational benefits from implementing a suite of green infrastructure solutions, including expansion of the tree canopy.

“By quantifying benefits, leveraging innovative financing, and integrating projects with multiple purposes, state officials are helping to turn resilience from an abstract goal into outcomes that attract investment even in a changing funding landscape. Building on these successes will require collaboration across sectors, continued experimentation with new tools, and a commitment to scale proven solutions.

The challenge is significant, but so is the opportunity: Resilience projects that safeguard communities today can also drive economic vitality and environmental—and community—health for decades to come.”

—Kristiane Huber, Pew Charitable Trusts