Ausenco helps our clients reduce risk, enhance resilience and deliver nature-positive outcomes through leadership in stewardship and sustainable land use.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) use natural systems, processes, and ecosystems to address environmental, social, and climate challenges. NbS restore, protect, and sustainably manage ecosystems to deliver benefits for the environment, communities and the economy. Examples include watershed restoration to reduce flooding, reforestation for carbon sequestration, and constructed wetlands for water treatment.
As the mining sector faces increasing pressures to demonstrate measurable contributions to climate and biodiversity goals, NbS provide a pathway to nature-positive performance as they are effective at protecting assets from climate extremes, provide regulatory and disclosure alignment (supports emerging requirements and “no net loss/net gain” biodiversity frameworks), are often more affordable and adaptive than engineered alternatives, and delivers visible community and ecological benefits that build social acceptance.
Ausenco blends technical engineering with ecosystem science and social engagement expertise to deliver practical, credible, and innovative NbS that are embedded in design, project execution, and long-term operations. We assess nature dependencies and impacts and create nature-positive strategies, integrating traditional ecological knowledge and local context to ensure projects deliver measurable environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Our integrated teams of engineers, ecologists, climate specialists, and community advisors co-develop projects that align with global standards (International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), Equator Principles (EP), and Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)), while reflecting local realities and Indigenous knowledge. Our solutions are technically robust, socially inclusive, and investor-ready—helping clients not only meet compliance but also unlock long-term resilience, trust, and value while transitioning to climate resilience and nature-positive outcomes.
Our solutions include:
Ecosystem restoration & net gain
- Nature-positive mine closure and post-mining landscape design
- Watershed rehabilitation to restore hydrology and support downstream users
- TNFD- aligned biodiversity net gain strategies
Water & watershed management
- Watershed reforestation to secure water supply and quality
- Wetlands as natural water treatment systems for mine discharge
- Vegetated buffers to reduce erosion, dust, and sedimentation
Climate adaptation & resilience
- Mangroves, wetlands, green corridors and forest restoration for flood, erosion and temperature control to mitigate climate hazards such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, while supporting long term ecosystem and community resilience
- Mine site water management using constructed wetlands and riparian buffers
- Green infrastructure in mining towns to reduce heat stress and improve well-being
Climate mitigation & carbon markets
- Afforestation, reforestation, and soil carbon projects
- Biodiversity offset programs delivering dual carbon and ecosystem benefits
Community & social co-benefits
- Indigenous knowledge integration in NbS design
- Livelihood programs (e.g., agroforestry, eco-tourism, sustainable harvesting)
- Co-managed green spaces improving health, social license, and trust
Mine site closure & reclamation
- NbS integrated into closure plans for lasting ecological and social benefits.
- Designing landscapes for productive uses such as agroforestry, grazing, or eco-tourism, co-created with local and Indigenous communities.
- Co-developing NbS with communities and Indigenous groups ensures cultural values, livelihoods, and long-term stewardship are embedded in closure outcomes.
Finance & risk advisory
- TNFD-aligned assessments of nature-related risks and opportunities
- Natural capital valuation to support project decisions and investor engagement
- Structuring NbS projects to access green bonds, blended finance, or ESG-linked loans