This book offers a comprehensive examination of nature-based solutions (NbS) as sustainable, cost-effective, and community-centered approaches to tackling environmental and socio-economic challenges in India’s vulnerable delta regions. Focusing on key ecosystems such as the Ganga-Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Krishna-Godavari, and Cauvery deltas, it highlights how integrating natural processes into planning and policy can enhance climate resilience, restore ecological integrity, and support local livelihoods.
India’s deltaic zones are ecological hotspots and home to millions, yet they are increasingly threatened by climate change, sea-level rise, urban expansion, and unsustainable land use. Through applied research, case studies, and policy analysis, this book illustrates how nature-based strategies - such as mangrove restoration, wetland conservation, river rehabilitation, and sustainable agriculture - can reduce disaster risk, improve water security, and protect biodiversity.
Key themes include the science and implementation of NbS, delta-specific climate vulnerabilities, ecosystem services, participatory planning, climate finance, and governance mechanisms. The book also addresses the role of indigenous and local knowledge, urban delta challenges, and pathways for mainstreaming NbS into national and sub-national policy frameworks. With contributions from experts across academia, government, and international development, it combines theoretical insight with practical guidance.
By weaving interdisciplinary perspectives with grounded examples from Indian deltas, this book not only informs but also encourages action toward adaptive, inclusive, and ecologically sound development.
This book is essential reading for students, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and NGOs working in climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, environmental planning, and sustainable development.
Dr. Kavita Dehalwar is an assistant professor in the Department of Architecture and Planning at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, where she has been contributing to teaching and research since 2005. With over 15 years of academic experience, she has actively participated in numerous conferences and has a keen interest in scholarly writing. Dr. Dehalwar holds a Ph.D. from MANIT Bhopal, earned in 2017. She is a life member of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing and the Indian Society of Geomatics, and a permanent member of the National Science Council and the Institute of Town Planners, India.
Shashikant Nishant Sharma is a distinguished scholar and practitioner in the field of development studies, widely recognized for his contributions to planning, management, and sustainable development. He is the author of 12 books that critically engage with issues of urban planning, policy, and governance. Currently, he serves as the Research Head at Track2Training, an NGO he co-founded to advance training, capacity building, and skill development initiatives. PhD in Urban Planning from MANIT, Bhopal, and has also contributed to academia as an Assistant Professor at NIT Calicut, Guest Faculty at UPES Dehradun, where he taught and mentored future professionals. His work bridges the gap between academic research and practice, making him a prominent voice in contemporary development discourse.
