Integrated above‐ and below‐ground ecological monitoring for nature‐based solutions

Summary

This structured literature review synthesises ecological monitoring approaches for nature-based solutions, identifying and prioritising the most informative and feasible metrics for assessing biodiversity and soil health outcomes. The authors develop a tiered framework for practitioners, distinguishing between immediately actionable Tier 1 metrics and those requiring further methodological development, whilst compiling existing standardised monitoring protocols and reference values. The framework addresses a critical implementation gap in NbS projects, most of which currently lack robust ecological monitoring protocols.

UK applicability

The metric framework and standardised methodologies are directly applicable to UK nature-based solutions projects, including those under the Environmental Land Management schemes and nature recovery networks. However, practitioners will need to contextualise reference values and thresholds to UK soil types, climates, and baseline biodiversity conditions, particularly for metrics currently lacking established UK-specific standards.

Key measures

Biodiversity metrics (compositional, structural, and functional aspects): 9 Tier 1, 6 Tier 2, 15 Future metrics. Soil health metrics (biological, physical, chemical aspects): 11 Tier 1, 6 Tier 2, 5 Future metrics. Standardised methodologies and threshold/reference values for monitoring.

Outcomes reported

The study identified and ranked the most informative and feasible above- and below-ground ecological metrics for monitoring nature-based solutions projects. Metrics were categorised by informativeness and feasibility into Tier 1, Tier 2, and Future categories, with standardised methodologies and reference values provided where available.

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