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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March 2026 Knowledge Series: Dutch experience with beaches and dunes as coastal Natural and Nature Based Features for Flood Risk Management
An overview of 30 years of nature-basedcoastline management Quirijn Lodder & Evelien Brand, Rijkswaterstaat Coastal erosion threatens beaches and dunes globally. In the Netherlands, a coastline maintenance policy was implemented in the 1990’s to combat this erosion, with sand nourishments as the primary means. As a result, the Dutch coast is one of the most heavily…
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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…
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February 2026 Knowledge Series: Waterfront Design for Resilient Communities
Joseph Stukowi, Chief Waterfront Design Officer, Waterfront Alliance This webinar will discuss emerging trends in waterfront design with a focus on embedding resilience, providing access, and ecology in urban waterfronts.The presentation will include an overview of the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG®) and case study projects from riverine, lacustrine, and coastal waterfronts across the U.S.…
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