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 Profile: AECOM

    Partner Profile: AECOM

    AECOM is Making NBS a Reality Across the Globe As a full-service design, management, environmental, and energy company, AECOM has unique experience integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and equity into our programs.  Our approach emphasizes social and environmental objectives, placing AECOM at the forefront of natural infrastructure and hybrid solutions. Partnering with the Network for Engineering with…

  • Collaborating for change: Approaching nature-based solutions through an anthropologist’s eyes

    Collaborating for change: Approaching nature-based solutions through an anthropologist’s eyes

    Katie Foster, a research professional working at the University of Georgia in the Humans and Environmental Change Lab, has spent years examining how environmental governance and policy impacts communities. Her entire career has been shaped by meaningful collaborations across disciplines and sectors, and now she aims to build new partnerships to help others. After her undergraduate…

  • Partners Gather to Discuss USACE  Proposed Updates for Water Resource Investments

    Partners Gather to Discuss USACE Proposed Updates for Water Resource Investments

    On Thursday, April 4, a team of affiliates from the University of Georgia’s Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems including Todd Bridges and Matthew Shudtz held a webinar to discuss the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ new draft of agency-specific procedures for implementing Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for Federal Investments in Water Resources. The goals of…

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