Nature Based Solutions - A key jigsaw piece for catchment resilience?

Nature Based Solutions (NBS) have long been a practice of land and water management used widely.  However, in recent 2 to 3 years the "label of NBS" and focus has mounted both in Australia and worldwide and there is a momentum for greater utility of this management approach.  

So what do they mean for you?? How familiar are you with their role, benefits and operational needs??  No shortage of questions and in the spirit of the Flood Community of Practice, we are keen to share our collective knowledge and experience on this topic and better appreciate where the NBS jigsaw pieces best fit.   

You are invited to this workshop where we would like to share with you a series of presentations and small group activities that will:

• Build an understanding on what are nature based solutions and why they can be part of the flood resilience portfolio of solutions and other benefits; 
• Map what some of the issues are for the various organisations and professionals implementing NBS and what it means for allied stakeholders such as investors and land holders;
• Introduce and showcase various research initiatives that are underway and what is the knowledge and/or tools that can assist with when complete.

At the workshop the following speakers will lead various discussion namely:

• Michael Cheetham and Tahlia Rossi, both from Water Technology, will outline Nature Based Solution's role and their benefits
• Mark Waud - Healthy Land and Water and Cameron Jackson -Urban Utilities will map the process of planning, implementing and monitoring Nature Based Solutions  
• Ana Deletic - Executive Dean, Faculty of Engineering QUT sharing their research that will look at a tool to better identifying natural solutions for your context of flooding and water qulaty needs  
• Roslyn Prinsley, Astrid Vachette, Mehdi Sedighkia and Bill McAlister from the ANU from the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions will share a research project looking at the biophysical and institutional  aspects of NBS with flood resilience based on a series of case studies
• In between, in small group activities, we seek you experiences and insights on Nature based Solutions and what questions remain unanswered for you?
• Concluding the day we have a panel session lead by Abel Immaraj from Aurecon and Chris Mooney DES to consider issues from an investors, landholder, indigenous and other perspective. As we conclude what other issues might be part of the ongoing discussion.

Throughout the half day workshop enjoy meeting old and new colleagues, sharing your recent projects, partaking in the various small group activities and enjoying the fresh afternoon tea and end of day drinks and nibbles from our event partners from C'est Bon.   

We look forward to seeing our diverse audience from Local and State Governments, regional NRM groups, water utilities, consultants and academics.   

We also welcome early career professional and students to mix and glean from the experience of our established practioners who will join us.