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Nature-based solutions

“Papatūānuku (Earth mother), Ranginui (sky father) and their offspring are in serious trouble, and we urgently need to do a better job of looking after them. The state of nature is a legacy we leave for future generations.”     – Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy 2020

“Papatūānuku (Earth mother), Ranginui (sky father) and their offspring are in serious trouble, and we urgently need to do a better job of looking after them. The state of nature is a legacy we leave for future generations.”     – Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy 2020

To solve the dual problems of biodiversity loss and climate change, we first need to recognise that Earth provided us with a complex interlinked life support system where natural ecosystems played a pivotal role in regulating the climate. And it came free of charge. Recognizing environmental limits is underpinned by the science and an understanding of planetary boundaries. This is also at the heart of te ao Māori underpinned by mātauranga Māori.

No amount of technology or money can replace the life-supporting role of natural ecosystems. So let’s think differently. Let’s all become kaitiaki, guardians who protect what remains and replenish what we took, restoring te mana o te taiao, the power of the natural world.

We know this will work because our life-support system worked perfectly well before we broke it.

Scroll down to the pages in this section to find out more about nature-based solutions and how Cantabrians are implementing them.

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