A recent study led by Marta Vicarelli, assistant professor of economics and public policy, quantifies the benefits of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) efforts in Haiti, India, Indonesia and Uganda. The research, published in a special issue of the journal Nature-Based Solutions, demonstrates the cost-benefit and equity outcomes of nature-based solutions (NbS), emphasizing their dual role in reducing disaster risks and promoting social equity. The project grew out of a workshop for UMass graduate students in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, the Red Cross and other organizations.
The study employed a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the economic efficiency of Eco-DRR projects. Results reveal that by the fifth year, interventions in Haiti and India generated positive net benefits, assuming annual hazard-related losses as low as 0.5% of properties and gross domestic product. In Indonesia and Uganda, similar positive outcomes were observed by the 10th year. Notably, when benefits from carbon capture, sequestration and pollution reduction were included, all projects demonstrated positive net benefits even under less favorable financial conditions.
“There is a paucity of peer-reviewed literature performing economic assessments of Nature-based Solutions interventions in the Global South,” says Vicarelli, who also served as guest editor of the special issue. “We are very happy that our results are already being used by local governments and international development agencies.”
The findings align with the growing evidence supporting NbS as cost-effective strategies for disaster risk mitigation. For instance, reforestation in Haiti and peatland restoration in Indonesia significantly contributed to reducing flood risks and fire hazards, respectively, while enhancing carbon storage capabilities.
Beyond economic efficiency, the study incorporates an equity assessment. Through qualitative interviews with local stakeholders, the researchers highlight the social benefits of Eco-DRR projects. These include enhanced livelihoods, increased participation of marginalized groups and improved access to education and health care, particularly for women and children.
In Uganda, for example, reforestation efforts not only mitigated flood risks but also provided sustainable income opportunities for women, empowering them economically and socially. Similarly, in India, wetland restoration reduced agricultural losses from floods and supported sustainable fishing practices, directly benefiting vulnerable communities.
Vicarelli notes that the success of these interventions demonstrates how NbS can address pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges. By integrating local knowledge and involving communities in project planning and implementation, the research illustrates that a participatory approach is important to achieving sustainable and equitable outcomes.
As climate change intensifies, the study concludes that adoption of NbS in disaster-prone regions can play a crucial role in building resilience and promoting inclusive development.
“I am really proud of this work that involved numerous UMass students from different departments and schools, such as Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, Public Policy, and Earth and Sustainability,” Vicarelli says. “Indeed, this project had a strong pedagogical and capacity-building component: Our research team created learning materials and organized a workshop for local stakeholders in each country. This will allow country teams to update the analysis as the project develops, and to conduct independent analyses of future projects.”