Get to know N-EWN
A community of researchers, practitioners, and educators working together to advance the practice of natural infrastructure.
We work across four main branches
In order to help facilitate the widespread adoption of natural infrastructure practices across the United States, we’ve identified four main areas that need additional work:
Developing methods and standards
New tools, techniques and guidance are needed to effectively plan, design, construct and operate natural infrastructure at different scales
Assessing benefits and costs
Natural infrastructure provides communities with a broad array of economic, environmental and social benefits. Improved approaches are needed to evaluate, quantify and forecast these benefits to support planning and decision making
Monitoring performance and outcomes
Technically sound, efficient and applicable methods are needed to track natural infrastructure performance over time, develop the evidence base for future designs, ensure compliance with policy and inform project operations and adaptive management
Integrating people and policy
Providing infrastructure that supports human wellbeing and equitably meets the needs of diverse communities requires integration of human values, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and policies with modern communication and collaboration practices
Combining a diversity of on-the-ground experience with interdisciplinary teams.
The N-EWN community is made up of over 30 partners from industry, academia and the non-profit sector.
What N-EWN’s been up to:
-
National Academies and N-EWN Partners host third annual National Forum on NbS
From March 10-12, 2026, the NASEM Gulf Research Program and our partners hosted the third annual National Forum on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Mobile, Alabama. The forum brought together a diversity of sectors and backgrounds from across the country to discuss implementation, practice and policy in the field of NbS. The days were filled with…
-
H2Ohio: Earth Economics and The Nature Conservancy partner to promote investments that protect Ohio wetlands
Every $1 invested in restoring Ohio wetlands returns $8 in value to the public. That’s how Glen Delaney, Director of Partnerships at our partner Earth Economics, pitches the new report created in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (also a N-EWN partner). H2Ohio is a state program focused on reducing harmful algal blooms through wetland restoration…
-
Living Shoreline Research, Monitoring and Assessment
The Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay conducts research, monitoring and assessment at living shorelines around New York City to inform adaptive management and best practices. This involves close coordination with partners like the Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy and National Park Service at the West Pond Living Shoreline in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife…
Catch up with us
Join our mailing list to stay abreast of all things natural infrastructure.