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:

  • Stantec supports restoration projects through native plant nursery

    Stantec supports restoration projects through native plant nursery

    N-EWN partner Stantec recently released a short video highlighting their native plant nursery, which is used in ecosystem restoration projects ranging from marshes to meadows. These plants support habitat for native species, including pollinators, and often perform better than their non-native counterparts, as they are adapted to the conditions in which they’ve been planted. Watch…

  • White House Invest in Nature Summit

    White House Invest in Nature Summit

    Last week, N-EWN representatives Brian Bledsoe and Todd Bridges, from the University of Georgia, attended the Invest in Nature Summit, hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Also in attendance was UGA Provost Jack Hu, who participated on a panel discussing the role of natural infrastructure workforce development. To read the…

  • Earth Day Event at Fort Benning

    Earth Day Event at Fort Benning

    Yesterday, N-EWN member Scott Pippin celebrated Earth Day at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he represented the Defense Community Program, which is a joint effort between the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, and UGA Marine Extension and Georgia SeaGrant. The program focuses on bolstering the resilience of defense bases and…

Catch up with us

Join our mailing list to stay abreast of all things natural infrastructure.