Citation: Kioumarsi, H., Alidoust, M., & Özbey, B. G. (2025). Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Mitigation: The Role of Vegetation, Including Mosses. Springer Nature Communities. https://communities.springernature.com/posts/nature-based-solutions-for-climate-change-mitigation-the-role-of-vegetation-including-mosses
Abstract
Nature-based solutions encompass a wide range of methods of saving, restoring, and sustainably managing natural ecosystems to mitigate significant societal problems, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, and environmental degradation. The solutions comprise practices such as replanting new forests (afforestation), restoring degraded ones (reforestation), utilization of regenerative agriculture practices that improve soil health, utilization of climate-smart forestry, and restoration of wetlands for the recovery of ecosystem services. By harnessing the energy of nature, these approaches bring many benefits simultaneously: they reduce greenhouse gas emissions, assist and promote biodiversity with habitat protection and development, and generate great social dividends. These social dividends commonly vary from the generation of local jobs to enhanced food security through sustainable agriculture, better water quality, and improved climate-resilient communities. Overall, nature-based solutions provide an integral and cost-effective way to support environmental sustainability while guaranteeing economic and social well-being. Climate change might be the most critical danger our natural ecosystems are currently subjected to, critically impacting populations and creating numerous public health issues. Projections of future climate suggest a 5 °C rise in global mean surface temperature could lead to up to 60% of species to go extinct, shifting the characteristic vegetation types in ecosystems, and other dangers to the central elements of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Vegetation plays a fundamental role in maintaining environmental stability and supporting biodiversity. Plants function as significant carbon sinks, absorbing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide while regulating local and global climate systems. Forests and grasslands are particularly effective in carbon sequestration, acting as long-term reservoirs that mitigate greenhouse gas concentrations. In recent years, smaller and often overlooked plant groups, such as mosses, have begun to receive increased scientific and ecological attention for their contributions to climate regulation. Mosses, though frequently underestimated, possess remarkable ecological functions. They contribute substantially to carbon storage and ecosystem health. These resilient plants can thrive in diverse and often harsh environments while continuing to absorb carbon and stabilize soils. Mosses enhance nutrient cycling, facilitate moisture retention, and create favorable microhabitats for other plant species. They retain stored carbon over extended periods, promoting long-term soil stability and fertility. In the broader context of climate mitigation, vegetation restoration such as reforestation has become a central component of sustainable environmental planning. Different plant species contribute distinct ecological services, and recognizing this diversity is essential for designing effective nature-based climate strategies. While large forest ecosystems are the most substantial carbon reservoirs, the ecological importance of smaller plants like mosses should not be underestimated. Beyond climate regulation, plants provide a multitude of co-benefits, including habitat protection, water management, and erosion control. The application of mosses in urban environments exemplifies how natural elements can be integrated into modern sustainability initiatives. Incorporating moss walls and installations in buildings not only makes the building more beautiful but also delivers practical environmental advantages. Air pollution is perhaps the most serious environmental concern in the modern world since it influences mortality. Numerous studies have been conducted on how air pollution is reduced by urban vertical greening systems but prevented from full implementation due to the high cost of installation and maintenance. Moss plants are the most affordable and simple means of bringing nature and beauty into our homes and society while playing a major role in purifying the air. Moss walls can function as natural sound barriers, filter airborne dust particles, and assist in rainwater management by absorbing and gradually releasing moisture. Furthermore, their cooling properties contribute to mitigating urban heat effects and promoting biodiversity within cityscapes by supporting small organisms. Ultimately, plants—from vast forests to mosses—constitute the foundation of nature-based climate solutions. They are vital for carbon sequestration, microclimate regulation, and biodiversity conservation. For future climate strategies to be effective and resilient, it is essential to acknowledge the complementary roles of diverse plant species, ensuring that both large-scale and small-scale vegetation are incorporated into comprehensive ecological and climate policies.
References
Climate Investment Partners. (2025). The role of nature-based solutions in climate mitigation. Climate Investment Partners. Retrieved October 13, 2025. https://climateinvestmentpartners.com/the-role-of-nature-based-solutions-in-climate-mitigation
Perini, K., Castellari, P., Calbi, M., Prandi, S., & Roccotiello, E. (2025). Fine dust collection capacity of a moss greening system for the building envelope: An experimental approach. Building and Environment, 267(Part A), 112203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112203
Rosen, A. R., Kioumarsi, H., & Gholipour Fereidouni, H. (2025). Climate action and net-zero emissions. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 9(4), em0334. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/16864
Greksa, A., Ljubojević, M., & Blagojević, B. (2024). The Value of Vegetation in Nature-Based Solutions: Roles, Challenges, and Utilization in Managing Different Environmental and Climate-Related Problems. Sustainability, 16(8), 3273. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083273
Williams, J. (2024). Greening the city with moss walls. Earthbound Report. https://earthbound.report/2024/08/28/greening-the-city-with-moss-walls/
Ladrón de Guevara, M., & Maestre, F. T. (2022). Ecology and responses to climate change of biocrust-forming mosses in drylands. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73(13), 4380–4395. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erac183
Seddon, N. (2022). Harnessing the potential of nature-based solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change. Science, 376(6600), 1410–1416. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn9668
Le Quéré., et al. (2018). Global carbon budget 2018. Earth System Science Data, 10, 2141–2194. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-2141-2018
Griscom, B. W., et al. (2017). Natural climate solutions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(44), 11645–11650. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1710465114