Freshwater, marine, and coastal ecosystems are under increasing pressure due to their exploitation for human use and because of man-made pollution. In many instances, households, industries, and the agriculture sector produce wastewater, which is often poorly treated or not treated at all. In a world affected by water scarcity, every drop counts, and the reuse of unconventional resources such as wastewater is essential.    

Against this backdrop, focusing on nature and its restorative powers to counter challenges such as water scarcity, pollution, and climate change has become necessary and smart. These solutions are “nature-based.” Constructed wetlands, for example, help us treat wastewater without recurring to conventional treatment systems. The treatment and reuse of greywater through gravity, sand, and gravels is another example of how nature could help us give wastewater another life by using it for instance in urban greening, for reforestation and afforestation purposes, and even for groundwater recharge.

In this webinar, three panelists will discuss nature-based solutions (NbS), their role and contribution to enhancing wastewater reuse and address land-based pollution. The panelists will also present and discuss examples of nature-based solutions from the field and propose recommendations for sustainable wastewater management with the help of nature.