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:

  • Partner Takeover: The Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay

    Partner Takeover: The Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay

    The Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay (SRIJB) is excited to introduce ourselves and our work through this social media takeover with our partners at N-EWN.The SRIJB supports inclusive and equitable planning and decision-making for climate adaptation and environmental stewardship in and around Jamaica Bay and the rest of New York City through research,…

  • Northrop Grumman Partnership: Driving Innovation for Environmental Conservation

    Northrop Grumman Partnership: Driving Innovation for Environmental Conservation

    Stantec, a global leader in environmental conservation, has partnered with Northrop Grumman, renowned for aerospace and defense technology, to tackle urgent conservation challenges with innovative tech and expertise. Stantec brings over 30 years of experience in sustainable, nature-based solutions and a deep understanding of emerging conservation needs. Northrop Grumman’s Technology Conservation (T4C) program advances defense…

  • Stantec Project Highlight: Hoteo River – Bank Erosion Geomorphic Solutions

    Stantec Project Highlight: Hoteo River – Bank Erosion Geomorphic Solutions

    Kaipara Harbour, New Zealand’s largest estuarine ecosystem, is a vital habitat for aquatic species but faces threats from high sediment and nutrient loads that reduce water clarity and bury juvenile snapper habitat. To address this, Auckland Council partnered with local iwi, landowners, and our team of channel stability specialists, using the bank-stability and toe-erosion model…

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