New Resource: A Comprehensive Guide to Nature-Based Solutions in New Jersey

We’re pleased to announce the release of the “New Jersey Nature-Based Solutions: Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring Reference Guide,” a free resource that provides a comprehensive roadmap to incorporating nature-based solutions (NBS) into infrastructure, construction, restoration, and resilience projects across the state.

Created by the Rutgers University New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center with support from The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, the guide compiles current research, case studies, best practices, practical tools, science-based strategies, and funding resources to “inform and empower readers to implement and seek funding for NBS.”

Click here to view and download the guide now.

Inside the Guide

As the guide states, “nature-based solutions (NBS) are defined as actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature.” (IUCN 2024)

Whether you’re a municipal planner, community leader, contractor, public- or private-sector professional, or an academic, new to NBS or experienced in large-scale restoration projects, the guide offers value at every level with practical instruction that spans the full project lifecycle, from planning and permitting to funding and long-term monitoring. While the content is tailored to New Jersey’s diverse landscapes, the guide’s insights and approaches are broadly applicable to regions with similar ecosystems, from Massachusetts to Virginia.

The guide equips readers with:

• A foundational understanding of how to plan and apply NBS in a variety of settings, from urban spaces to coastal habitats to inland farmland.
• An introduction to cost-benefit analysis, including the basics of benefit transfer methodology and its role in justifying funding proposals.
• A comprehensive toolbox, including policy and permitting guidance, project examples, datasets, and funding and monitoring resources.
• In-depth profiles of five NBS categories: Bioretention Systems, Coastal Habitats, Regenerative Land Management, Stream Restoration, and Urban Forestry. Each category includes specific techniques like dam removal, living shorelines, and rain gardens.

The guide also includes insights on how to address equity considerations and foster meaningful community engagement, helping users implement NBS that are both impactful and inclusive.

Princeton Hydro was proud to contribute technical expertise to this important effort. Our Director of Restoration & Resilience, Christiana L. Pollack, CERP, CFM, GISP, participated on the guide’s steering committee, and our team provided informational resources, including content and case studies on invasive species management, wetland and floodplain enhancement, and dam and culvert removal to restore rivers and improve fish passage. These contributions along with those from many other participants, reflect the collaborative nature of the guide and the collective commitment to advancing NBS across the state.

Sections at a Glance

The guide’s easy-to-follow format includes four key sections:

• Section 1: Setting the Stage – Introduces the purpose of the guide, its intended users, and how to easily navigate its contents.
• Section 2: Planning for Nature-Based Solutions – Covers essential planning considerations, including selecting a planning horizon, aligning with local land use plans, permitting, funding, community engagement, equity, adaptive management, benefit-cost analysis, and climate change resilience.
• Section 3: Nature-Based Solutions Profiles – Provides a detailed look at NBS strategies, including their intended uses, implementation techniques, primary benefits and co-benefits, and the specific environmental hazards they help address (i.e., sea level rise, wildfire, inland flooding, etc.)
• Section 4: Appendix – Includes a project planning checklist, case studies, a glossary, references, and links to helpful resources, tools, and data.

Whether you’re just beginning to conceptualize a project or deep into project implementation, this guide is an invaluable addition to your toolbox. We encourage you to explore, download, and share it widely! Click here to access the guide now.

Webinars and outreach events are currently being planned as part of a broader effort to build awareness and support the guide’s use. Stay tuned for future announcements.

To learn more about the Rutgers University New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center, click here.

• Climate Change
• Dam and Barrier
• Environmental Education
• Environmental Services
• Green Infrastructure
• Invasive Species Management
• Natural Resource Management
• Resiliency
• Stormwater Management
• Stream Restoration
• Wetland Restoration