Nature-based solutions (NbS) are strategies that utilize nature to address various environmental and societal challenges while simultaneously benefiting human-ecological systems. They are cost-effective and scalable approaches that have the potential to address climate change, support biodiversity, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite these benefits, several factors challenge their widespread implementation, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to determine the essential elements needed to implement the NbS initiatives successfully in rural communities. Taking the case of Victoria, Laguna, this research conducted Key Informant Interviews with local stakeholders and policymakers and applied thematic and multicriteria analyses to evaluate their readiness, factors to be considered, and strategies for the successful implementation of NbS initiatives in the municipality. Results revealed that the locals have limited knowledge of NbS and utilizing NbS initiatives stood as a secondary priority, compared to more preferred gray infrastructure/hard engineering projects. The financing, enforcement, and knowledge components determined the readiness of Victoria for its NbS initiatives. In terms of the factors for the successful implementation of NbS initiatives, the most prevalent themes were the criteria for an inclusive, transparent, and empowering governance process, net gain to biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, and design informed by scale. Furthermore, the NbS initiatives in Victoria were observed to adhere to the IUCN Global Standard, with biodiversity net gain and economic feasibility as their strongest areas. In terms of strategies, local stakeholders placed substantial importance on its sustainability and mainstreaming in appropriate contexts, as well as on evidence-based adaptive management. Findings provided recommendations focusing on creating an NbS assessment mechanism, strengthening the existing NbS governance structure, information and education campaigns, and formulating proposals that utilize NbS to address other issues faced in the municipality, such as flooding and climate change.

The geographical location of Catanduanes makes it known as the island of howling winds. As the years passed, typhoons came to the island more frequently and with higher magnitudes due to climate change. With this phenomenon, Catandunganons faced risks not just for their lives but for their sources of income. Mixed methods of research were used through a community-participatory approach and non-probability sampling method using a purposive sample to include participants who represent a wide range of experiences and perspectives related to the vulnerability, exposure, and sensitivity of the communities for the past ten years (October 2010- October 2020). Findings revealed that selected coastal communities in Virac experienced typhoons very frequently for the past ten years; Magnesia del Norte was considered highly sensitive in terms of biophysical and socioeconomic aspects while communities such as Magnesia del Sur, Marilima, and Batag were considered moderately sensitive. The coastal communities of Magnesia del Norte and Marilima have an extremely high adaptive capacity. This implies that these communities can easily adapt to the hazards of climate change; Magnesia del Norte and Marilima were the coastal communities that were extremely vulnerable to the hazards of climate change. It was further recommended that selected coastal communities be considered in providing sustainable livelihood programs since they are extremely vulnerable to climate change hazards. Furthermore, coastal communities must also be engaged in disaster-risk reduction training to raise their awareness of responding to a disaster; let vulnerable communities participate in planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of disaster risk activities as they play key roles in identifying the risks they may face during a disaster, and enhance the capacities of the local communities to lessen the vulnerability.