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:
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Biodiversity Working Group recommends eco-thoughtful planning and action for the future of nature-based solutions
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are engineering actions that address societal challenges through the creation, protection, sustainable management and/or restoration of ecosystems, benefitting both the environment and human wellbeing. One of the most frequently purported co-benefits of NbS is their ability to simultaneously benefit, and even restore, biodiversity and ecosystem health while accomplishing their infrastructure goals. However,…
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July 2026 Knowledge Series: Applying Cutting Edge Technology to Engineering with Nature
Tyler Ortego, BC, CE, General Manager Coastal Solutions, Natrx Tyler Ortego from Natrx will share how advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing can be used to fully realizethe benefits of nature-based solutions in coastal resilience. Watch the recording here. The N-EWN Knowledge Series offers 1 Continuing Education Credit (CEC) per seminar. This…
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June 2026 Knowledge Series: The Design and Finance of Reef and Wetland Solutions to Protect People and Nature
Dr. Mike Beck, Director & Dr. Borja Reguero, Associate Professor, UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, Coastal Science and Policy Program, UC Santa Cruz Coastal risks are growing from changing conditions, development, and habitat loss. Wetlands and reefs provide billions of dollars annually in benefits for flood and erosion reduction; these benefits could finance much…
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