The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is hosting a day-long virtual symposium on nature-based and hybrid solutions to challenges such as flooding, high heat days and worsening water quality. The symposium is free via Zoom from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 3. The symposium was originally scheduled Oct. 7 but was rescheduled due to Hurricane Milton.

Nature-based solutions for resilience refer to strategies that use natural systems (such as mangrove forests, salt marshes and beach dunes), or living or natural elements (such as plantings, coconut fiber logs and other sustainable materials) or hybrid solutions that combine these elements with hardened engineered options like seawalls, levees and culverts.

“The Conservancy of Southwest Florida would like to see continued exploration and integration of nature-based and hybrid solutions into our local and regional planning efforts to combat issues like heat and flooding,” said Carrie Schuman, the Conservancy’s climate resilience advisor. “Examples can include conserving or restoring natural habitats, constructing living shorelines with elements like mangroves, sea grasses and oyster reefs, and developing urban tree planting initiatives.”

The free event will include case studies of successful projects from around Florida, along with discussions about employing these strategies. Speakers are expected from Florida Sea Grant, Naples Botanical Garden, City of North Miami, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Wetland Solutions Inc., Ecosphere Restoration Institute, Coastal and Heartland Estuary Partnership, Cummins Cederberg Coastal and Marine Engineering, the University of Florida, Environmental Defense Fund, Palm Beach County and the U.S. Forest Service.

Information about the event, including an agenda, list of speakers, how to RSVP for virtual attendance and more is available at conservancy.org/nature-based-solutions-symposium.