Reference alternative

The reference alternative is the scenario in which the NbS will not be implemented in the case study area or any of the suitable areas. In this scenario, the riverine wetland ecosystems will continue to deteriorate due to further disconnection, encroachment, changes in flooding patterns, climate change, and contamination with agricultural chemicals. The reference alternative assumes that no incremental costs are required to sustain the current systems, yet it is acknowledged that over time ecosystem services of the wetlands, such as fish catch, would decline further.