AskNature.org is a beautiful and useful example of an appropriate solution that incorporates more than 1400 strategies using the Biomimicry Taxonomy. Along with Appropedia, it is one of the major inspirations for this site.
The Taxonomy is depicted here:
It is based on the processes observed to take place in nature; here’s just a small part of it:
- All Strategies (1472)
- Break down
- Chemically break down
- Catalyze chemical reactions (5)
- Cleave halogens from organic compounds (0)
- Cleave heavy metals from organic compounds (2)
- Other inorganic compounds (3)
- Other organic compounds (30)
- Polymers (4)
- Physically break down
- Abiotic Materials
- Biotic Materials
- Etc.
- Get, store, or distribute resources
- Maintain community
- Maintain physical integrity
- Make
- Modify
- Move or stay put
- Process information
It’s possible to browse the site following this taxonomy, or search the site for answers to “How would Nature…”. I happened to come across it while researching the desalination mechanism of mangrove trees. The entry is short, and there is more information to be found elsewhere, but this entry provides a brief description, an academic reference, and a possible application of the natural solution. (Additional research on this topic can be found at http://www.nus.edu.sg/neri/green_chemistry_sustainable_energy.html, https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/1842/4131/1/J41%20ERA.pdf, etc. An example of a futuristic application is here: http://www.designbuzz.com/entry/bubble-shaped-fresh-water-factory-uses-mangroves-to-desalinate-seawater/.)
Components of the AskNature web site are moreover broken down into: