Key Findings:

• Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as a key strategy for addressing environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and disaster risk reduction.
• The European Union (EU) and Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) regions have made significant progress in promoting NbS, with a growing number of policies, projects, and initiatives in place.
• However, there are still significant gaps in knowledge, governance, and financing that need to be addressed to scale up NbS implementation.
• The EU and LAC regions have different strengths and experiences in NbS, with opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration.
• Nature-based Solutions (NbS)  are integral to achieving sustainable agriculture and include agroecology and regenerative farming. The report points to the concept of syntropic agriculture, which is a specific method within agroecology that emphasizes dynamic ecological succession and continuous canopy cover. Syntropic agriculture is highlighted as a successful example of NbS in agriculture, with benefits including enhanced biodiversity, improved soil health, and increased rainfall.
• Agriculture is a significant sector in both Europe and Latin America, and NbS can play a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture practices. The report criticizes the fact that the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) still supports conventional agriculture, which can undermine efforts to achieve sustainability goals. In Latin America, the report emphasizes that several national governments have integrated NbS into their national environmental policies, particularly those focusing on biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation. For example, Costa Rica's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) includes targets for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, promoting NbS in sectors like agriculture, forestry, and water management. For Latin America, agroecology is as a central aspect of sustainable agriculture. 

Recommendations:

• Strengthen policy frameworks and governance mechanisms to support NbS implementation, including the development of joint guidelines and standards.
• Foster innovative financing mechanisms, such as green bonds and public-private partnerships, to support NbS projects and research.
• Enhance knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, including the development of joint training programs and toolkits.
• Engage local communities and grassroots organizations in NbS design, planning, and implementation to ensure sustainability and effectiveness.
• Promote multi-level and bi-regional collaborations, including city-to-city exchanges, country-to-country initiatives, and continent-to-continent collaborations.

Pathways for Collaboration:

• Research, monitoring, and knowledge-sharing: Establish platforms and networks to facilitate the exchange of best practices, case studies, and technological innovations related to NbS.
• Policy integration and alignment: Harmonize policies, streamline regulations, and create supportive legal frameworks to incentivize NbS adoption.
• Innovative financing mechanisms: Develop collaborative funding initiatives, such as green bonds and public-private partnerships, to support NbS projects and research.
• Community engagement and participation: Empower citizens to actively participate in NbS planning and implementation, and support community-led NbS initiatives.
• Multi-level and bi-regional collaborations: Establish partnerships and foster bilateral initiatives between cities and countries in LAC and the EU to share experiences, best practices, and innovative NbS solutions.