Identifying principles for the design of robust impact evaluation frameworks for nature-based solutions in cities

Dumitru, Adina; Frantzeskaki, Niki; Collier, Marcus

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2020.05.024

Cited by 82 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 67 publications

(101 reference statements)

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“…In 2015, a final report was produced by this expert group, entitled "Towards an EU Research and Innovation Policy Agenda for Nature-Based Solutions & Re-Naturing Cities" (European Commission, 2015a), which has since become one of the most important documents guiding and driving NBS research and operationalisation (Dumitru et al, 2020). It comprehensively examines how NBS can address a variety of environmental, social and economic challenges facing human society.…”

Section: Nbs In Eu Publicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: A review

Davies

Chen

Sanesi

et al. 2021

Environmental Science & Policy

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The present paper traces a chronological history, or roadmap, of the documentation produced by the European Union (EU) to promote and implement nature-based solutions (NBS) as an innovation action aiming to establish a socially inclusive, economically vibrant and ecologically resilient society. The EU's ambition is to position Europe as the world leader in NBS Research (via scientific research aiming at generating knowledge and theories) and Innovation (NBS implementation via identifying innovative approaches and best practices), as well as in a global market (for sharing, communicating, collaborating and promoting NBS). Considerable efforts have been made by the European Commission (the executive branch of the EU) as featured in a number of documents, funding programmes and Horizon 2020 (Research and Innovation) projects that span the period from 2012 to 2020. While the European Commission's commitment to promoting NBS within its Member States and beyond is still an ongoing process, we aim to review the efforts undertaken, knowledge gained, and practices accomplished. This roadmap intends to provide interested practitioners, policymakers, researchers, as well as civil organisations with an updated understanding of the leading role of the EU in NBS conceptualisation and operationalisation. This can inform future directions of NBS Research and Innovation actions, which in turn address environmental and societal challenges prompted by urbanisation/re-urbanisation, globalisation/de-globalisation, climate change and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Nbs In Eu Publicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: A review

Davies

Chen

Sanesi

et al. 2021

Environmental Science & Policy

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“…Numerous review articles have covered several approaches for the assessment of HMH and their management strategies. A majority of these articles focused on the monitoring methods for NBS assessment ( Kumar et al, 2021 ), HMRs mapping and damage assessment ( Teng et al, 2017 ; Khan et al, 2020 ; Sahani et al, 2019 ), life cycle appraisals including the economic valuation of ecosystem services ( Newman et al, 2017 ; Eckhardt et al, 2019 ; Ovando and Brouwer, 2019 ; Nguyen et al, 2020 ), assessment frameworks for NBS ( Dumitru et al, 2020 ; Shah et al, 2020 ), upscaling and replication of NBS ( Saleh and Weinstein, 2016 ), and real-time forecasting of HMHs and/or HMRs. Zhang and Chui (2019) reviewed and presented models to evaluate the performance of green infrastructure in reducing runoff.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature-based solutions efficiency evaluation against natural hazards: Modelling methods, advantages and limitations

Kumar

Debele

Sahani

et al. 2021

Science of The Total Environment

112

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Nature-based solutions (NBS) for hydro-meteorological risks (HMRs) reduction and management are becoming increasingly popular, but challenges such as the lack of well-recognised standard methodologies to evaluate their performance and upscale their implementation remain. We systematically evaluate the current state-of-the art on the models and tools that are utilised for the optimum allocation, design and efficiency evaluation of NBS for five HMRs (flooding, droughts, heatwaves, landslides, and storm surges and coastal erosion). We found that methods to assess the complex issue of NBS efficiency and cost-benefits analysis are still in the development stage and they have only been implemented through the methodologies developed for other purposes such as fluid dynamics models in micro and catchment scale contexts. Of the reviewed numerical models and tools MIKE-SHE, SWMM (for floods), ParFlow-TREES, ACRU, SIMGRO (for droughts), WRF, ENVI-met (for heatwaves), FUNWAVE-TVD, BROOK90 (for landslides), TELEMAC and ADCIRC (for storm surges) are more flexible to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of specific NBS such as wetlands, ponds, trees, parks, grass, green roof/walls, tree roots, vegetations, coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses, oyster reefs, sea salt marshes, sandy beaches and dunes. We conclude that the models and tools that are capable of assessing the multiple benefits, particularly the performance and cost-effectiveness of NBS for HMR reduction and management are not readily available. Thus, our synthesis of modelling methods can facilitate their selection that can maximise opportunities and refute the current political hesitation of NBS deployment compared with grey solutions for HMR management but also for the provision of a wide range of social and economic co-benefits. However, there is still a need for bespoke modelling tools that can holistically assess the various components of NBS from an HMR reduction and management perspective. Such tools can facilitate impact assessment modelling under different NBS scenarios to build a solid evidence base for upscaling and replicating the implementation of NBS.

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“…Examples of NBS include ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation, ecodisaster risk reduction, green/blue infrastructure [8], and natural climate solutions [4]. The benefits of implementing NBS to solve environmental challenges−as opposed to traditional approaches−have led to the adoption of the concept by policymakers, however, not universally and to varying degrees of success [9]. In the EU, NBS have been part of the research and innovation funding agenda since 2014, aligning the strategy for biodiversity and ecosystem services with goals of innovation for growth and job creation [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovating with Nature: From Nature-Based Solutions to Nature-Based Enterprises

et al. 2021

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Nature-based solutions (NBS) to address societal challenges have been widely recognised and adopted by governments in climate change and biodiversity strategies. Nevertheless, significant barriers exist for the necessary large-scale implementation of NBS and market development is still in its infancy. This study presents findings from a systematic review of literature and a survey on private sector agents in the planning and implementation of NBS, with the aim to identify them. In this study, we propose a typology for organisations delivering NBS and a categorisation of their economic activities. The most common organisation type found is nature-based enterprise which offers products or services where nature is a core element and used sustainably and engages in economic activity. Moreover, eleven categories of economic activities were identified, ranging from ecosystem restoration, living green roofs, and eco-tourism to smart technologies and community engagement for NBS. Nature-based enterprises contribute to a diverse range of sustainable economic activities, that standard industry classification systems do not adequately account for. The recognition of the value created by these activities is essential for designing effective policy support measures, and for market development of the sector and its potential to facilitate the wider adoption of NBS.

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Identifying principles for the design of robust impact evaluation frameworks for nature-based solutions in cities

Cited by 82 publications

References 67 publications

The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: A review

The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: A review

Nature-based solutions efficiency evaluation against natural hazards: Modelling methods, advantages and limitations

Innovating with Nature: From Nature-Based Solutions to Nature-Based Enterprises

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