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Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2020) | Viewed by 69696

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Dr. Gerd Lupp

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Guest Editor

Chair for Strategic Landscape Planning and Management, Technical University of Munich, Emil-Ramann-Str. 6, 85354 Freising, Germany
Interests: Nature-Based Solutions; ecosystem services; urban forestry; human–nature relations and interactions (especially related to recreational use); sustainable use of natural resources; renewable energies

Dr. Aude Zingraff-Hamed

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning, Technische Universität München, 80333 München, Germany
Interests: river restoration; urban river; socio-ecological system; urban climate; nature-based solution; sustainable flood protection; ecosystem services; environmental resilience; climate adaptation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

'Nature-Based Solutions' is a rapidly evolving topic that has gained increasing attention and is now at the top of political agendas worldwide. The international commitments to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century requires rapid development of new adaption strategies. Novel approaches are needed not only to limit global warming, but also to face the predicted changes in weather patterns caused by climate change that result in more frequent severe weather events and increased hazard from extreme floods and/or landslides. According to the EU definition, Nature-Based Solutions are adaptation and risk mitigation measures inspired by nature and continuously supported by natural processes. They are recognized worldwide as relevant tools for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Designed to address various environmental challenges in a resource-efficient and adaptable manner, they also aim to provide economic, societal, and environmental co-benefits by enhancing biodiversity and providing multiple ecosystem services. Nature-Based Solutions also provide many opportunities for active involvement of stakeholders and the civil society, e.g., in co-creation and co-design of possible solutions.

The journal Sustainability, with its commitment and reputation for publishing cross-disciplinary research within the themes of environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings, is an ideal platform for scholars and practitioners working in the field of Nature-Based Solutions to share their ideas and experiences. This Special Issue on nature-based solutions aims to provide a forum for presenting current original research covering the different aspects of Nature-Based Solutions, from technical reflections on human–nature interactions and policies to innovations resulting from co-design and co-creation processes. Practitioners and end-users are strongly encouraged to contribute to this Special Issue of Sustainability with their reflections and experiences highlighting the cross- and transdisciplinary character of Nature-Based Solutions.

Dr. Gerd Lupp
Dr. Aude Zingraff-Hamed
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)
risk reduction
cross-/transdisciplinary
flood risk reduction
reduction of natural hazards
restoration
policy
stakeholder participation
innovation
co-creation
co-design

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 187 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance

by Gerd Lupp and Aude Zingraff-Hamed

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3012; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063012 - 10 Mar 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2264

Abstract

Climate change results in an increase of the frequency and intensity of extreme hydro-meteorological risks such as floods, mudflows, landslides, avalanches and rockfalls jeopardizing a great number of people, settlements and critical infrastructures every year [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

28 pages, 7413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Catalyzing Innovation: Governance Enablers of Nature-Based Solutions

by Juliette G. C. Martin, Anna Scolobig, JoAnne Linnerooth-Bayer, Wei Liu and Jörg Balsiger

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1971; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041971 - 11 Feb 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6576

Abstract

There is growing recognition that using the properties of nature through nature-based solutions (NBS) can help to provide viable and cost-effective solutions to a wide range of societal challenges, including disaster risk reduction (DRR). However, NBS realization depends critically on the governance framework that enables the NBS policy process. Drawing from three case studies in Nocera Inferiore (Italy), Munich (Germany), and Wolong (China), we identify key governance enablers—the contextual preconditions, policy processes, and institutions—that proved essential for NBS initiation, planning, design, and implementation. In the three cases, interviews confirm the success of the NBS measures and their benefits in terms not only of DRR but of multiple ecological and social–economic co-benefits. Results highlight critical governance enablers of NBS, including: polycentric governance (novel arrangements in the public administration that involved multiple institutional scales and/or sectors); co-design (innovative stakeholder participatory processes that influenced the final NBS); pro-NBS interest and coalition groups (organized pressure groups that advocated for an NBS); and financial incentives (financing community-based implementation and monitoring of NBS). Findings show that the transition to NBS can contribute to multiple global agendas, including DRR, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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18 pages, 3373 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Battery of Soil and Plant Indicators of NBS Environmental Performance in the Context of Global Change

by Pilar Andrés, Enrique Doblas-Miranda, Stefania Mattana, Roberto Molowny-Horas, Jordi Vayreda, Moisès Guardiola, Joan Pino and Javier Gordillo

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1913; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041913 - 10 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2433

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) for risk reduction produce environmental effects that must be assessed to evaluate their performance. In a context of climate change and growing concern about the loss of biodiversity, indicators informing about ecosystem complexity, resilience and stability are required. NBS projects hardly ever include environmental monitoring programs and, at best, NBS performance is evaluated based on elementary indicators that provide poor information about ecosystem functions and services. Within the framework of the PHUSICOS (EU, H2020) project, a NBS approach is being applied to reduce the hydrometeorological risks (rock falls and snow avalanches) that threaten a transnational road and a very populated town in the Pyrenees range. In both cases, the planned actions are modifying soil and vegetation structure and functioning as well as the environmental services they provide. Here we present a set of soil and plant indicators designed to be included in the postoperation monitoring plan of both NBS projects. We provide a description and information about the range of values of every indicator measured in the study sites together with indications about analytical methods and sampling calendar. We discuss the trade-offs between monetary cost, expertise requirements and meaningfulness of the indicators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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22 pages, 5949 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Valuation of Nature-Based Solutions Using TESSA: Three Floodplain Restoration Studies in the Danube Catchment

by Francesca Perosa, Marion Gelhaus, Veronika Zwirglmaier, Leonardo F. Arias-Rodriguez, Aude Zingraff-Hamed, Bernd Cyffka and Markus Disse

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1482; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031482 - 01 Feb 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4092

Abstract

Floodplain restoration measures are among the most well-known nature-based solutions for flood risk reduction but practitioners see their limitations in comparison to technical measures when considering both their effectiveness and profitability. The aim of this study is to show the co-benefits (besides flood risk reduction) of floodplain restoration and handle them in terms of monetized ecosystem services (ES). Our work focused on six ES groups for three study areas in the Danube catchment along the Krka, Morava, and Danube rivers. ES mapping through stakeholder engagement is also considered. We applied the methodologies suggested in the Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-Based Assessment (TESSA) complemented with alternative methodologies (e.g., questionnaires on social media). Results show annual combined benefits of floodplain restoration in a range from 237,000 USD²⁰¹⁹ at Krka to 3.1 million USD²⁰¹⁹ at Morava, suggesting the utility of ES assessment. The combination of stakeholder workshops and the TESSA guidelines, as well as the newly developed methods, were all central tools to provide decision-makers with arguments to use nature-based solutions for an integrated and holistic riparian land use management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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21 pages, 52570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementing Nature-Based Solutions in Rural Landscapes: Barriers Experienced in the PHUSICOS Project

by Anders Solheim, Vittoria Capobianco, Amy Oen, Bjørn Kalsnes, Turid Wullf-Knutsen, Mari Olsen, Nicola Del Seppia, Idoia Arauzo, Eva Garcia Balaguer and James Michael Strout

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1461; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031461 - 30 Jan 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3817

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are becoming increasingly important in both the EU and individual countries’ political agendas, as a sustainable means to reduce the risk posed by hydrometeorological hazards. However, as the use of NBS is increasing, a number of barriers regarding their practical implementation also become apparent. A number of review studies have summarized and classified barriers, mainly in urban settings. PHUSICOS is a Horizon 2020 Innovation Action to demonstrate the use of NBS in rural and mountain landscapes. Large-scale demonstrator case sites with several sub-projects are established in Italy, Norway and in the French and Spanish Pyrenees. The present paper describes the project’s NBS measures and their experienced barriers, some of which have resulted in full cancellation of the planned interventions. Many of the barriers experienced in rural settings have the same root causes as the ones described from urban areas, and the main barrier-creating mechanisms are institutional factors, resistance among stakeholders and technical and economic issues. The key element, however, is the lack of knowledge about the ability of NBS to deliver a series of co-benefits in addition to their risk-reducing effects and that long-term thinking is required to see the effect of many of these co-benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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35 pages, 5958 KiB

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Platform Dedicated to Nature-Based Solutions for Risk Reduction and Environmental Issues in Hilly and Mountainous Lands

by Audrey Baills, Manuel Garcin and Séverine Bernardie

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031094 - 21 Jan 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2348

Abstract

In the context of global changes, nature-based solutions (NBSs) increasingly draw attention as a possible way to reduce disaster risk associated with extreme hydro-meteorological events while providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits at the same time. The PHUSICOS platform is dedicated to gather and analyse relevant NBSs used to reduce disaster risk associated with extreme hydro-meteorological events in mountainous and hilly lands. To design the platform, an in-depth review of 11 existing platforms has been performed. The PHUSICOS platform currently references 152 literature NBS cases and is continuously enriched through the contribution of NBS community. The platform also proposes a qualitative assessment of the NBSs collected according to 15 criteria related with five ambits: “disaster risk reduction”, “technical and economical feasibility”, “environment”, “society”, and “local economy”. This paper presents the structure of the platform and a first analysis of its content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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10 pages, 2154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovation in NBS Co-Design and Implementation

by James M. Strout, Amy M. P. Oen, Bjørn G. Kalsnes, Anders Solheim, Gerd Lupp, Francesco Pugliese and Séverine Bernardie

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 986; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020986 - 19 Jan 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3012

Abstract

Impacts in the form of innovation and commercialization are essential components of publicly funded research projects. PHUSICOS ("According to nature" in Greek), an EU Horizon 2020 program (H2020) Innovation Action project, aims to demonstrate the use of nature-based solutions (NBS) to mitigate hydrometeorological hazards in rural and mountainous areas. The work program is built around key innovation actions, and each Work Package (WP) leader is specifically responsible for nurturing innovation processes, maintaining market focus, and ensuring relevance for the intended recipients of the project results. Key success criteria for PHUSICOS include up-scaling and mainstream implementation of NBS to achieve broader market access. An innovation strategy and supporting tools for implementing this within PHUSICOS has been developed and key concepts forming the basis for this strategy are presented in this research note. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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22 pages, 889 KiB

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Living Labs—A Concept for Co-Designing Nature-Based Solutions

by Gerd Lupp, Aude Zingraff-Hamed, Josh J. Huang, Amy Oen and Stephan Pauleit

Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010188 - 28 Dec 2020

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 7113

Abstract

Living Labs are recognized as a progressive form to foster innovation and the strengthening of collaborative planning. The concept has received strong attention by the European Union (EU) research and innovation agendas recently. This contribution investigates how a Living Lab approach could be used for the design and implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). NBS are gaining acceptance as a more sustainable solution for reducing the exposure to natural hazards and vulnerability to events, such as increased flooding in changing climate. However, a lack of collaborative approaches hinders their broader implementation. A literature review on the theoretical aspects of the Living Labs concept in the context of NBS is conducted, and we compare the theoretical findings with practices that were observed by case studies implementing NBS in a collaborative manner. The Isar-Plan River Restoration in Munich, Germany, and the Mountain Forest Initiative (Bergwaldoffensive). Both of the case studies have already started well before the concept of Living Labs gained wider popularity. Both award-winning cases are recognized good practice for their exemplary in-depth stakeholder involvement. The paper discusses the concepts and approaches of Living Labs and reflects on how it can serve and support in-depth participatory stakeholder involvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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23 pages, 2157 KiB

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Stakeholder Mapping to Co-Create Nature-Based Solutions: Who Is on Board?

by Aude Zingraff-Hamed, Frank Hüesker, Gerd Lupp, Chloe Begg, Josh Huang, Amy Oen, Zoran Vojinovic, Christian Kuhlicke and Stephan Pauleit

Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8625; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208625 - 18 Oct 2020

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 25126

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are inspired and supported by nature but designed by humans. Historically, governmental stakeholders have aimed to control nature using a top-down approach; more recently, environmental governance has shifted to collaborative planning. Polycentric governance and co-creation procedures, which include a large spectrum of stakeholders, are assumed to be more effective in the management of public goods than traditional approaches. In this context, NBS projects should benefit from strong collaborative governance models, and the European Union is facilitating and encouraging such models. While some theoretical approaches exist, setting-up the NBS co-creation process (namely co-design and co-implementation) currently relies mostly on self-organized stakeholders rather than on strategic decisions. As such, systematic methods to identify relevant stakeholders seem to be crucial to enable higher planning efficiency, reduce bottlenecks and time needed for planning, designing, and implementing NBS. In this context, this contribution is based on the analysis of 16 NBS and 359 stakeholders. Real-life constellations are compared to theoretical typologies, and a systematic stakeholder mapping method to support co-creation is presented. Rather than making one-fit-all statements about the “right” stakeholders, the contribution provides insights for those “in charge” to strategically consider who might be involved at each stage of the NBS project. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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22 pages, 14338 KiB

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Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydro-Meteorological Risk Reduction in Small Mediterranean Catchments: The Case of Portofino Natural Regional Park, Italy

by Laura Turconi, Francesco Faccini, Alessandra Marchese, Guido Paliaga, Marco Casazza, Zoran Vojinovic and Fabio Luino

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031240 - 08 Feb 2020

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5633

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are usually defined as complementary or alternative solutions to “grey infrastructures” (traditionally made with cement) aimed at conserving and regenerating the functionality of natural and semi-natural ecosystems. The research to date shows a considerable potential of NBS to address the current challenges related to climate change and geo-hydrological risks. Despite significant interest in NBS by researchers and practitioners, knowledge concerning their practical implementation, monitoring, and evaluation is still lacking. This is particularly true for large-scale NBS. The present paper discusses how such solutions can be implemented in the context of hydro-meteorological risk reduction in small Mediterranean catchments with a strong tourist vocation. The work presented here is situated within the RECONECT Project (Regenerating ECOsystems with Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk rEduCTion), which aims to contribute to a European reference framework on NBS by demonstrating, upscaling, and replicating large-scale NBS in rural and natural areas. The Italian case study of RECONECT is the Portofino Natural Regional Park, which represents a unique natural landscape element with high ecologic, social, and economic (touristic) value, which is threatened by a range of geo-hydrological hazards, such as flash floods, hyper-concentrated floods, shallow landslides, rockfalls, and storm surges. This paper also presents details of NBS interventions in two pilot catchments (San Fruttuoso and Paraggi) visited by thousands of tourists throughout the year. It addresses some of the key aspects related to monitoring meteorological and hydrological processes, as well as remote sensing activities (i.e., LiDAR surveys), which are necessary for the identification of critical-instability areas along waterways and the reconstruction of dry stone walls. Lastly, a discussion of relevant mitigation and adaptation strategies that are potentially replicable at national and international levels is also provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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38 pages, 6454 KiB

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A Methodology of Policy Assessment at the Municipal Level: Costa Rica´s Readiness for the Implementation of Nature-Based-Solutions for Urban Stormwater Management

by Veronica Alejandra Neumann and Jochen Hack

Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010230 - 26 Dec 2019

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5220

Abstract

Nature-based-solutions (NBS) pursue a combination of economic, social, and environmental benefits that can meet municipal goals on stormwater and rapid urbanization problems. However, NBS have fallen behind in reaching to the political and legal framework, and with this, to a policy mix for urban stormwater sustainability. When looking closer at NBS, it becomes evident that they are loaded with many barriers, including institutional and political ones, as well as those that exist in the urban area social context. These barriers are also deepened by the lack of policy guidelines and few demonstration projects. In this respect, this paper combines the concepts of urban experiments and the policy feedback cycle (PFC) into a singular assessment tool. It´s goal is to assess Costa Rica’s municipal readiness in the implementation of NBS within the context of policy design and implementation. Therefore, this paper focusses on the first two stages of the PFC of an existing urban experiment to extract its policy insights for the successful replication of NBS projects. This novel method aims to contribute to the ongoing debate with respect to the ability of experimentation to prompt scalability and transferability of results. Hence, the New York City Green Infrastructure plan is considered as an urban experiment that promotes sustainable policy initiatives; while the PFC can identify and (re)formulate these policies initiatives and barriers into an adaptable policy guideline. Results indicate that sustainability policies at the municipal level should incorporate incentive mechanisms policies on (i) community involvement and communication; and (ii) transdisciplinary knowledge transfer between specialists and stakeholders. Finally, this paper suggests the inter-municipal cross-institutional collaboration and the recognition of external trigger events to incentivize a sustainable urban transition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions—Concept, Evaluation, and Governance)

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