Conduct a baseline survey before and after NBS implementation

Kota Malang is a city for which urbanization coupled with climate change caused an increase in its vulnerability to the urban heat island effect. One of the solutions found to address this issue has been urban farming which has been recognised and acknowledged as a top strategy to improve cities' resilience associated with social and economic co-benefit. Nevertheless, urban farming inventory in Indonesia is still limited (1). Currently, there are 21 urban farming plots throughout Kota Malang, with 210 active urban farmers involved. The city has adopted this trend since 2013 as part of an initiative called Kawasan Rumah Pangan Lestari (Sustainable Food House Region) and the Initiative of Urban Farming Malang. Alongside the local government, the major stakeholder groups are the Department of Agriculture and Food Security of Malang, Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) Malang and Bank Indonesia (BI) (Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which supports the local government in construction and development in Malang.
In Kota Malang, urban farming comprises five types of urban farming: nursery, allotment, residential, institutional and rooftop farming based on its characteristics (1). A recent report showed that urban farming could contribute to community resilience for feeding potential and nutrient sufficiency, especially for targeted populations with the highest risk during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of Kota Malang, the cultivation of specific vegetables could feed up to 50,000 inhabitants aged 60-64 years old (1, 2).

Jakarta City in Indonesia deals with inundations during heavy rain periods (1,2). To overcome such flooding issues, the Central Jakarta City Government, through the Parks and Forests Sub-Department, planned and implemented four bioswales and one rain garden at five locations in Central Jakarta City (1,2,3,4). This project was aimed at saving groundwater through stormwater management and minimizing puddles around the site locations (1,4). The Head of Central Jakarta City Parks and Forests Sub-Department, Mila Ananda, conveyed this project completion in 2021 (1,2). After the successful implementation of this project, the Jakarta City Government further plans to identify similar more locations prone to inundation and implement such green infrastructure initiatives in other parts of the city (1,2,3).

The frequent and severe floods that many cities in Lao PDR have been experiencing are causing a significant impact on the livelihood of local and vulnerable communities. To address the issues of flood and climate events, the Green Climate Fund has provided funding for the Lao DPR government to initiate the 'Build Resilience of Urban Populations with Ecosystem-Based Solutions in Lao DPR' project. The Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment of Lao, in collaboration with other related departments, universities, and provincial governments, is leading this project. The funding was approved in 2019, and the project is set to conclude by 2025. The project consists of four sub-projects, which will be implemented in four cities, including Paksan, Vientiane, Savannakhet, and Pakse. One of the sub-projects involves rehabilitating the Nong Peung wetland in Paksan city, which currently has no management plan and is negatively impacted by human activities and has been degraded in certain aspects. Natural vegetation has been lost in parts of the wetland, invasive alien plants are encroaching, and the natural water flow has been disrupted in places. The objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive management plan for Nong Peung wetland and implement various nature-based solutions to improve the ecosystem. This will involve removing invasive alien plant species, eliminating human-made barriers that obstruct natural flow, and planting appropriate native species. Currently, the project is in the planning stage with relevant stakeholders to determine the physical implementation site. (Ref.1,2,3)

In 2021, the local municipal government of Navi Mumbai City and a local NGO converted a neglected urban space used as a dump yard in Nisarg Udyan into a healthy and dense forest (Ref 1,2). The aim of the project was to improve biodiversity and complement the local ecosystem, choosing specifically native species from the local area for plantation (Ref 3). By applying the Miyawaki forest technique, the project was able to transform the wasteland into a 3-acre mini-forest quickly. A civic officer on behalf of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) drove the re-forestation project jointly with the support of Green Yatra, a local NGO, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding support from Sony Music Entertainment (Ref. 1, 3).

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners collaborated in 2018 to develop an ecosystem restoration project in the Rohingya Camps of Ukhiya, near Cox's Bazar. The main objective of this project was to mitigate the increased risk of landslides, slope instability, and flooding caused by flash floods and the vicinity of the Bakkhali River. The intervention included the planting of quickly growing native trees, shrubs, and grass species. Additionally, the project encompassed other measures such as vegetable cultivation on stream beds, biological soil stabilization methods, and plant-based wastewater treatments. To ensure the sustainability of the project, a network of future practitioners from the Bangladeshi and Rohingya communities was created. Moreover, environmental education and awareness activities were undertaken to complement the efforts of the project, with a particular focus on engaging young people from both the host and refugee communities to maximize its impact. The area where the project was implemented has been significantly affected by land and forest degradation over the last few decades, which has been exacerbated since the arrival of Rohingya refugees in 2017. Therefore, the project also involved other stakeholders such as the International Center for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Danish Refugee Council, the World Food Programme, the International Organization for Migration, and the Bangladesh government, each contributing in various capacities to achieve the project's objectives. (1,2,3,4)

As an industrial development practice that involves a symbiotic connection between materials, energy, natural systems and local communities, the concept of green industry has become a point of focus for a factory in Rangapur, Karupannya Rangpur Ltd., designed by Architect Bayejid Mahbub Khondker and his team. The factory has become a pioneering example in the "green industry" initiatives in Bangladesh (2).
The factory has a green façade of climbing plants, as well as a green rooftop and integrated green elements, designed specifically to incorporate a once extinct industry, the Shataranji (weaving style). The intervention was designed to respond to human and enviornmental needs (2,7). From a human perspective, the intervention responds by improving work conditions for the workers by introducing green spaces that help with local temperatures and relaxation. From an environmental perspective, the project responds to challenges related to energy efficency (3,4).
The factory architecture incorporates cultural and indigenous knowledge with the utilization of natural light, wind, water, and flora while maximizing the use of natural elements and the idea of "Reuse and Recycle." The factory's roof features the Nandini Park, where employees can relax and eat lunch. The Nandini Park is surrounded by flowering plants and vegetation. (1, 2, 4, 6)

The northern part of Thane Creek in Navi Mumbai was declared a 'Protected Area' in 2015 by the Maharashtra Government (1,2,4). As the Central Asian Migratory Flyway (CAMF) ecosystem, it is occupied by a large number of wading birds, especially Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos (1,2). Recently, a Management Plan has been proposed to guide the sustainable management of the 'Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS)' (1).
The Management Plan (2020-2030), proposed by the Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit (MMCU) proposed implementation plans for the conservation of Flamingo species, mangrove management, eco-tourism, education and awareness raising, as well as participatory decision-making (1).
Thane Creek harbours rich biodiversity and spreads over an area of 1690ha (896ha of mangroves and 794ha of adjacent creek water body) (1,2,3). Also, it is located right amidst a mega-city, being crucial to conserving this unique natural environment with its eclectic mix of mangroves, mudflats and threatened bird species (1,2).

In order to prevent the damage to mangrove forests that occurred over the last few decades or more, a project was started in the Penang region aiming to raise public awareness regarding the importance of mangroves for their continued conservation and protection through active community participation (community resilience) (1). The project closely relates to the GEF Focal Area on Biodiversity Conservation operational programme (OP) 2 on Coastal, Marine and Fresh Water Ecosystems and is led by the Penang Inshore Fisherman Welfare Association (PIFWA). The project aimed to regenerate mangrove forests by planting up to 11,000 saplings in order to rehabilitate the once degraded mangroves as they are able to ultimately improve the wetland ecosystem and its biodiversity and thus sustain the livelihood of fisher communities (1).
Mangrove forests are an important part of the Malaysian coastline. Besides their contributions to the biodiversity of the Malaysian coast, mangroves also help greatly with protecting the coastal strip from erosion and providing a means of living for the communities located close to the forests. Stabilising the shoreline and reducing soil erosion, mangroves are also home to myriad species of plants and animals, they provide timber and non-timber forest products, and they support fisheries (1,2). Due to their importance, their disappearance is greatly noticed. From 2000, within a period of 15 years, 25,500 hectares of mangrove forests disappeared, mostly due to industrial-scale logging, clearance for shrimp farming, tourism or firewood (5).

Doh Eain, which means “Our Home” in the Burmese language, is a community-centred design firm that converts trash alleys in Yangon into gardens, composting stations, street markets, playgrounds, and art galleries, where community members can make memories and positive change.
As Yangon has one of the lowest public space-per-person ratios in South East Asia, Doh Eain saw a role for a social enterprise to preserve and improve heritage and urban landscapes directly with the people and communities who inhabit them. Doh Eain’s vision is to collectively make cities more vibrant, inclusive and sustainable places to live, work, and enjoy by maintaining the city's unique characteristics and creating an urban environment that enables people and society to thrive. Their mission is to preserve heritage, improve public spaces, and organise activities that connect people with places, employing a user-centred and participatory approach. In doing this, they aim to inspire and enable people to participate in reshaping their city while retaining cultural heritage (1).
The Yangon's alley gardens project started when a group of young, local and expatriate residents in Yangon decided to set up a small permaculture garden, however, they could not find a suitable plot of land for it (2). As a consequence they had to change the focus and transplant green pots filled with vegetation and vegetables into the back alleys. The implementer used an innovative technique by using bokashi composting of food waste, with around 80 households signing up to take part in the initiative. (5)
The initiative was quite successful as it helped break the cycle of throwing trash out the window into alleyways and built several elevated garden beds. (6)

Jin wellbeing is a senior-oriented lifestyle complex in Bangkok, Thailand, which comprises residences, commercial units and hospitals. The first phase of the development has been completed in 2020. This phase included five residential buildings with senior hospitals, wellness centres and green spaces that cover over 40% of the site. The project aims to create a sustainable living environment while enhancing both the physical and mental health of the people through nature with the “Community of Revine Forest” concept. The main interventions include an urban forest, a therapeutic garden, a community farm, an outdoor exercise area, and a multipurpose area. Ecologically sustainable design has been integrated into the planting strategies and water management to create a resilient ecosystem, mitigate flood and improve water retention capabilities of the area for irrigation purposes. (Ref. 1,2,3,4,5)