EBF - Lexicon of Impacts™

An Ecological Benefits Framework for Nature-Positive Solutions

Nature-positive solutions are practices and approaches that enhance biodiversity, regenerate ecosystems, and reduce environmental harm in our agrifood system.

The positive impact of these solutions can be captured by six key areas that express the holistic connection of natural ecosystems: air, water, soil, biodiversity, equity, and carbon.

The Ecological Benefits Framework can help communities and organizations clearly communicate the benefits of their nature-positive practices, demonstrating how these approaches contribute to healthier ecosystems and more sustainable outcomes for both people and the planet.

An Ecological Benefits Framework for Nature-Positive Solutions

Nature-positive solutions are practices and approaches that enhance biodiversity, regenerate ecosystems, and reduce environmental harm in our agrifood system.

The positive impact of these solutions can be captured by six key areas that express the holistic connection of natural ecosystems: air, water, soil, biodiversity, equity, and carbon.

The Ecological Benefits Framework can help communities and organizations clearly communicate the benefits of their nature-positive practices, demonstrating how these approaches contribute to healthier ecosystems and more sustainable outcomes for both people and the planet.

“Nature-positive solutions are a set of co-developed and co-created agricultural and community practices that protect nature, sustainably manage natural resources, restore biodiversity and ecosystem services, and promote changes in the economic system including by promoting circularity to make it socially and environmentally sustainable while achieving food and nutrition security.”

– Carlo Fadda, CGIAR Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative

Nature is fundamental to human existence. It provides clean water, fertile soil, food, and essential materials for human societies to progress. When we overexploit natural resources, we severely harm the ecosystems that sustain us and within which we live. These environmental losses are evident, threatening biodiversity, food security, and overall planetary health.

Today, agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, with unsustainable water use contributing to water scarcity in many regions. Nearly 75% of global crop diversity has been lost over the last century due to industrial farming practices, which rely on monocultures and contribute to the decline of pollinators, insects, and wildlife . This loss of biodiversity is further exacerbated by global deforestation, 80% of which is linked to agricultural expansion, particularly for commodities like soy, palm oil, and cattle ranching.

Food production is responsible for around 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock alone contributing about 14.5% due to methane from enteric fermentation and deforestation for pasture . 52% of global agricultural land is moderately or severely degraded due to overuse of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and poor land management practices, leading to loss of fertility and increased desertification .

Nature-positive solutions present a powerful way forward, focusing on restoring and conserving natural resources while creating lasting benefits for people and the planet. These solutions prioritize critical areas like water conservation, soil health, biodiversity, land restoration, and circular economies. Unlike intensive, industrial agriculture methods that consider land as part of a production process, a nature-positive food system sees soil, biodiversity, water and people as part of a multifunctional landscape that has its own balance, and where all elements contribute to feed each other in a wasteless system.

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For example, conserving and managing water through techniques like rainwater harvesting and regenerative agriculture helps increase water availability while improving soil’s water retention capacity. This in turn creates healthier soils, which play a pivotal role in supporting plant growth, sequestering carbon, and preventing erosion. Similarly, restoring degraded lands by planting native species and using agroforestry techniques promotes biodiversity, enhances ecosystem resilience, and contributes to improving people’s diets and livelihoods.

Nature-positive practices also create synergies across ecological systems. By protecting and restoring ecosystems, we enable diverse species to thrive and maintain the delicate balance necessary for life. These practices align closely with social justice, promoting equity within food systems by empowering and collaborating with marginalized communities and ensuring access to sustainably produced resources.

Six Ecological Benefits for Nature-Positive Solutions

Nature-positive solutions focus on restoring natural systems that help purify the air and regulate carbon levels. By integrating practices like afforestation, sustainable land use, and biodiversity enhancement, these approaches actively contribute to cleaner, healthier air. They also provide essential ecosystem services that support climate regulation, such as sequestering carbon and reducing GHG emissions.

nature-positive solutions offer numerous air benefits

Reduction of air pollutants and GHG emissions by minimizing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which are known to release harmful chemicals into the air.
Sequestration of CO2 through enhanced soil carbon storage, which helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and mitigates the effects of climate change.
Promotion of biodiversity, which naturally filters pollutants and improves air purification, creating a healthier environment for both people and wildlife.
Improved soil health through the restoration of organic matter, which in turn contributes to better air quality by fostering a stable ecosystem.
Reduction of dust and particulate emissions by using minimal tillage and soil conservation techniques, which prevent soil erosion and keep dust particles from being released into the atmosphere.

Water availability and quality are essential for the survival and productivity of plants, animals, and humans, making it critical to sustaining agriculture and ensuring food security. Effective water management is equally important for maintaining ecosystem balance, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring the health of the planet. Water serves as a vital habitat for aquatic organisms and birds, plays a key role in nutrient cycling, and helps distribute nutrients across ecosystems. It also contributes to habitat creation through the transport of sediments, supporting the formation of diverse environments that enhance ecological resilience.

Nature-positive solutions prioritize the protection and restoration of water systems, ensuring that this precious resource remains available and clean for all life. By promoting sustainable practices, these solutions help safeguard water supplies, reduce pollution, and enhance the natural processes that purify and recycle water within ecosystems.

nature-positive solutions offer numerous water benefits

Enhanced soil infiltration and water-holding capacity, which reduces surface runoff and increases the availability of water for plants and ecosystems. Healthy soils act like sponges, capturing rainwater and storing it for longer periods.
Improved soil structure and organic matter content, promoting better water retention and reducing the risks of soil degradation and water pollution from runoff.
Decreased the risk of chemical runoff into nearby water bodies, preventing contamination and preserving water quality.
Increased biodiversity, which supports natural water purification processes, reducing the need for artificial water treatments and creating more self-sustaining ecosystems.
Reduction of soil erosion and sedimentation, keeping waterways clean and preventing the degradation of aquatic habitats that are vital for numerous species.
Conservation of wetlands, riparian zones, and natural water storage areas, which enhance the filtration and retention of water, playing a key role in flood prevention and the natural purification of water systems.
Adoption of water-efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation and precision watering, which minimize water waste and increase efficiency in agricultural water use.
Implementation of riparian buffers and buffer zones that protect water bodies from nutrient runoff and improve overall water quality by acting as natural filters.
Restoration of degraded or contaminated water bodies through regenerative practices, helping to revive ecosystems and improve the ecological functions of lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Healthy soils sustain a diverse community of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and earthworms, which are critical for nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. These processes supply essential nutrients for plant growth, enhance soil structure, and boost water retention. Healthy soils also act as carbon sinks, sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide and helping to mitigate climate change. By improving these functions, building and maintaining healthy soils is a core aspect of nature-positive solutions.

nature-positive solutions offer numerous soil benefits

Increased soil organic matter, microbial activity, and biodiversity, leading to improved soil structure, greater nutrient availability, and enhanced ecosystem functions.
Enhanced soil fertility, producing biofertilizers with circular bioeconomy processes that support healthy plant growth and increase agricultural productivity while reducing the need for external inputs.
Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, preventing soil degradation and preserving long-term soil fertility and land productivity.
Increased carbon sequestration in soils, which contributes to climate change mitigation by reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Better water infiltration and drainage, allowing soils to retain moisture more effectively, reducing waterlogging, and supporting efficient water use.
Enhanced resilience to drought and extreme weather, maintaining agricultural productivity under challenging environmental conditions.
Decreased reliance on synthetic pesticides and herbicides, as regenerative practices foster natural pest and weed control through increased biodiversity and ecological balance.

Biodiversity refers to the vast variety of life forms on Earth—plants, animals, and microorganisms—and their genetic diversity, as well as the complex interactions they share within ecosystems. It is essential for maintaining the health and stability of ecosystems, providing services like pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and natural pest control, all of which are crucial for environmental functioning. Biodiversity also includes agrobiodiversity, which refers to the variety of crops cultivated for food. Preserving traditional, indigenous, and highly adapted varieties increases the availability of useful genetic traits and therefore community resilience to climate change. For humans, biodiversity is invaluable, offering sources of new medicines, ensuring food security through diverse agricultural systems, and providing opportunities for recreation and inspiration.

Nature-positive solutions are crucial in promoting and preserving biodiversity. These practices not only protect the variety of life but also ensure the sustainability of ecosystems and the services they provide.

nature-positive solutions offer numerous biodiversity benefits

Preservation and restoration of native plant species, which strengthens local ecosystems, promotes habitat diversity, and creates a more resilient agricultural landscape.
Enhanced pollination services, supporting both wild plant species and agricultural crops, which increases productivity while maintaining ecosystem health.
Increased biodiversity of beneficial insects and predators, which naturally control pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fostering a healthier environment.
Preservation of genetic diversity within plant and animal populations, ensuring that ecosystems remain adaptable and resilient to environmental changes.
Creation of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity, which facilitates movement, gene flow, and the survival of species across different habitats.
Protection of endangered or threatened species, contributing to their conservation and helping them recover, thereby maintaining ecological balance.
Increased ecosystem resilience to climate change and other environmental stressors, as more diverse ecosystems are better equipped to adapt and thrive under challenging conditions.

Nature-positive solutions aim to ensure that everyone—regardless of socio-economic status, gender, age, ethnicity, or geographic location—has equal access to the benefits provided by nature, and the skills to use these resources in sustainable, income-generating ways. These solutions prioritize the fair distribution of essential resources, such as quality seeds, clean water and land, to help all communities thrive alongside healthy ecosystems. By promoting equitable knowledge-sharing on nature-positive practices, we can build a more just and resilient food system, where nature’s resources are used fairly and sustainably, supporting both ecosystems’ health and human well-being.

nature-positive solutions offer numerous equity benefits

Equitable access to natural resources, ensuring that seeds, seedlings, land, water, and ecosystem services are distributed and utilized in a fair manner, especially by youth and women in marginalized or underrepresented communities.
Incorporation of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, valuing indigenous practices and local perspectives in environmental management, and ensuring that these voices are included in decision-making processes.
Improved livelihoods, providing training, resources and developing value chains for farmers, especially women and youth, that allow them to cultivate diverse crops and create value-added products to sell on the market.
Improved health and well-being, by reducing environmental disparities and ensuring that everyone has access to clean air, safe water, and nutritious food
Advocacy for environmental and social justice, ensuring that vulnerable and marginalized groups are treated fairly, with their rights to natural resources and a healthy environment being respected and protected.

Carbon is a critical element in Earth’s climate system, essential for maintaining life by regulating the planet’s temperature through its role as a greenhouse gas, as well as in contributing to soil organic matter and plant growth. However, human activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels have severely disrupted the natural carbon cycle, leading to dangerously high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and exacerbating the global climate crisis. Restoring this balance is crucial for mitigating climate change and ensuring a sustainable future. Nature-positive solutions offer effective pathways to manage carbon, recycle resources and leverage natural processes like fermentation and photosynthesis to capture and store carbon in vegetation and soils. These approaches can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote ecosystem health, and contribute to climate resilience.

nature-positive solutions offer numerous carbon benefits

Sequestration of atmospheric carbon through natural processes, such as the growth of trees and plants, which capture carbon dioxide and store it in biomass and soils, reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
Restoration of ecosystems, such as forests and wetlands, which act as carbon sinks, enhancing the capacity of natural landscapes to absorb and store carbon over the long term.
Improvement of soil health, as increased organic matter in the soil enhances its ability to store carbon, while simultaneously improving soil fertility and resilience.
Support for sustainable land management practices, which prioritize carbon storage in soils and vegetation as a key strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Creation of economic opportunities, as carbon offset markets and other financial incentives for carbon sequestration provide potential revenue streams for landowners and communities engaged in nature-positive practices.
Reduction of emissions of other pollutants, as nature-positive methods often reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which contribute to air and soil pollution.
Promotion of long-term environmental resilience, as carbon sequestration supports ecosystems in adapting to climate change, making them more capable of withstanding extreme weather events and environmental stressors.