Let us know what you think of the Roadmap website. Provide your feedback →

Nature-Based Solutions Tools Search

This database contains over 400 tools and resources that can help guide practitioners at various stages of the nature-based solutions project cycle. Use the filters to identify the tools and resources most useful to you.

You can filter the full list by the habitat type you’re working in, the nature-based solutions strategy you want to use, the project phase you are looking for help with, or the type of tool/resource you’re looking for.

The tools and resources shown here were gathered through a robust search of both federal and non-federal sources. We recognize that this library will never be completely comprehensive, but if you know of an important missing tool or resource, please email nesp@duke.edu.

Other searches:

Find nature-based solutions strategies (project types)

Find case studies

Comprised of numerous detailed diagrams, this tool provides technical information for assessing a waterbody and determining the appropriate restoration technique. In depth information is also given about contractor relations and project execution.

Relevant phase:

This Interagency Working Group provides support for energy communities across the United States, specifically those in transition due to coal mine/power plant closures. This landing page includes links to several tools/databases (the funding clearinghouse, which links to several federal/state funding resources; maps/visualization tools, including a coal power reinvestment tool, a map of recognzied energy communities in the IWG, and a tax credit map), and a project planning guide with guideliens for social and economic transitionis after a plant/mine closure.

Relevant phase:

This website provides information to fire managers in the states surrounding the great lakes.

NBS Strategies:

This guide aids land managers in writing an invasive species management plan and monitoring the outcomes and adaptive management strategies.

Provides agency leaders with vegetation and wildland fire/fuel information to enable strategic fire planning.

NBS Strategies:

Encompassing all aspects of large wood designs, this guide covers their geomorphic, hydrological, and ecological considerations. The authors also discuss the risks involved, regulatory considerations, and monitoring.

NBS Strategies:

Viewing living shorelines through the nature-based solutions paradigm, this guidebook provides techniques to create living shorelines. The guidebook contains additional information about the permitting steps and funding opportunities available.

This technical document delves into the hydrodynamic, terrestrial, and ecological parameters that impact living shoreline creation projects. Additional topics include regulatory considerations and invasive species management.

This training encompasses the technical aspects of implementing and maintaining living shoreline creation projects. The authors provide in-depth design guidelines and information about the permitting process.

Type:

The authors show how river restoration centers around restoring the hydrological processes that make a riverine system successful. The guide focuses on low-tech and cost-efficient solutions, including beaver dam analogs and assisted wood accumulation.

This guide explains how beaver management fits into larger river and stream restoration projects. Topics covered include designing BDAs, implementing projects, and restoring river health.

Review of salt marsh restoration practices with a special emphasis on adaptative management for sea level rise. Topics covered include erosion reduction, modelling sea level rise, and engineering considerations for salt marsh restoration.

Focusing on the policy tools needed to implement an assisted marsh migration project, this website helps weigh the social and ecological concerns related to marsh migration. Additional topics covered include regulatory considerations, infrastructure removal, and planning tools.

NBS Strategies:

Beavers are an integral part of stream ecology, but also can create hazards. This helps managers mitigate hazards while maximizing benefits from beavers by analyzing mitigation measures and reintroduction strategies.

Explains how built wetlands function, project design, construction, operations, and monitoring.

NBS Strategies:

This guide helps project managers make sense of the variety of marsh migration modelling software available. The authors discuss the pros and cons of using models as well as the factors the determine marsh migration.

Relevant phase:
NBS Strategies:

This best management practices guide describes practices for retaining or improving habitat connectivity for amphibians and reptiles in California.

This database provides information on control techniques, examples of projects, method effectiveness, and handbooks/other resources.

Focusing on the technical aspects of building BDAs, this guide walks practitioners through the steps of building a BDA. Filled with helpful diagrams and pictures, the geomorphic and hydrologic implications of beaver management are also discussed.

Relevant phase:

Details on stormwater control practices, including many NBS. Includes design and construction guidelines, operations and maintenance information, assessing project performance, and case studies.

Relevant phase: