Guwahati, the capital city of the state of Assam and the gateway to the North-East India, is urbanizing rapidly in recent times. However, rapid and unplanned growth of the city has led to unscientific changes in land use, posing risks of disasters including urban floods, storms, heat waves, landslides, among others. For instance, inhabitants in the low-lying areas of the city with poor drainage system are highly vulnerable to risks from floods, water logging causing economic loss, impact health, livelihood and loss of life.
Adoption of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offers a holistic approach to address the complex challenges posed by interconnectedness of ecological systems and human centric development, including aspects of gender. NbS is designed to restore balance, foster resilience and promote sustainable co-existence between society and the environment. The link between NbS, urban resilience, and SDGs is integral to achieve sustainable and inclusive development of cities.
The workshop aims to discuss the concept of Nature-based Solutions in urban planning as a strategy for building urban resilience, and to catalyse the setting up of a city/state level CoP on NbS with a focus on gender-responsiveness.
