Skip to main content

NBS Design and Implementation in Urban Systems: Dimensions, Challenges and Issues to Construct a Comprehensive Evaluation Framework

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2023 Workshops (ICCSA 2023)

Abstract

The paper explores the recent challenge of implementing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in urban systems, as they represent an opportunity to address social, economic, and environmental issues.

Furthermore, the design and implementation of NBS in the urban context are also supported by international and national policies, such as the European Green Deal, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). However, despite the growing attention on this topic, there are some critical aspects still unexplored. The European Commission discuss in-depth about these aspects, declaring them as the key points to set future research. Specifically, it has been pointed out that one of the main critical issues to be investigated concerns the development and test of Decision Support Systems (DSS), evaluation tools and models to comprehensively assess NBS interventions to support their design and implementation in urban systems. According to this scenario, this paper is inserted into this research topic. More in detail, the present dissertation is a position paper that underlines the main criticalities concerning the NBS evaluation and identifies a methodological framework and some evaluation techniques that could be used to structure an evaluation framework to overcome the highlighted gaps to answer real operative requirements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    United Nations, 2016, p. 39.

References

  1. Faivre, N., Fritz, M., Freitas, T., de Boissezon, B., Vandewoestijne, S.: Nature-based solutions in the EU: innovating with nature to address social, economic and environmental challenges. Environ. Res. 159, 509–518 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.032

  2. Gómez Martín, E., Máñez Costa, M., Egerer, S., Schneider, U.A.: Assessing the long-term effectiveness of nature-based Solutions under different climate change scenarios. Sci. Total Environ. 794, 148515 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Davies, C., Chen, W.Y., Sanesi, G., Lafortezza, R.: The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: a review. Environ. Sci. Policy 121, 49–67 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.03.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Calfapietra, C., Whiteoak, K., Innovation, Bulkeley, H., Naumann, S., Vojinovic, Z., Wild, T.: Nature-based solutions : state of the art in EU-funded projects. (T. Freitas, S. Vandewoestijne, & T. Wild, Eds.). Publications Office of the European Union (2020). https://doi.org/10.2777/236007

  5. Sowińska-Świerkosz, B., García, J.: A new evaluation framework for nature-based solutions (NBS) projects based on the application of performance questions and indicators approach. Sci. Total Environ. 787, 147615 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Dumitru, A., Wendling, L., Eiter, S., Pilla, F.: Evaluating the Impact of Nature-based Solutions: A Handbook for Practitioners (2021). https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10757.47843

  7. Hanson, H.I., Wickenberg, B., Alkan Olsson, J.: Working on the boundaries—How do science use and interpret the nature-based solution concept? Land Use Policy, 90, 104302 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104302

  8. Cohen-Shacham, E., Walters, G., Maginnis, S., Janzen, C.: Nature-based solutions to address global societal challenges. (E. Cohen-Shacham, G. Walters, C. Janzen, & S. Maginnis, Eds.). IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature (2016). https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2016.13.en

  9. Bauduceau, N., Berry, P., Cecchi, C., Elmqvist, T., Fernandez, M., Hartig, T.: Noring, L. (2015). Towards an EU research and innovation policy agenda for nature-based solutions & re-naturing cities: Final report of the horizon 2020 expert group on’nature-based solutions and re-naturing cities’

    Google Scholar 

  10. Nesshöver, C., et al.: The science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions: an interdisciplinary perspective. Sci. Total Environ. 579, 1215–1227 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Frantzeskaki, N., et al.: Examining the policy needs for implementing nature-based solutions in cities: Findings from city-wide transdisciplinary experiences in Glasgow (UK), Genk (Belgium) and Poznań (Poland). Land Use Policy 96, 104688 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Dumitru, A., Frantzeskaki, N., Collier, M.: Identifying principles for the design of robust impact evaluation frameworks for nature-based solutions in cities. Environ. Sci. Policy 112, 107–116 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.05.024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Raymond, C.M., et al.: A framework for assessing and implementing the co-benefits of nature-based solutions in urban areas. Environ. Sci. Policy 77, 15–24 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.07.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. European Environment Agency. Nature-based solutions in Europe: Policy, knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. EEA Report (2021). https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/nature-based-solutions-in-europe

  15. United Nations. New Urban Agenda Habitat III: Summary. Habitat III Secretariat (2016). 978-92-1-132731-1

    Google Scholar 

  16. European commission. Communication from the commission to the european parliament, the council, the european economic and social committee and the committee of the regions an eu strategy on adaptation to climate change (2013). Brussel

    Google Scholar 

  17. Delbeke, J., Runge-Metzger, A., Slingenberg, Y., Werksman, J.: The Paris Agreement. In: Towards a Climate-Neutral Europe, pp. 24–45. London: Routledge (2019). https://doi.org/10.4324/9789276082569-2

  18. UNISDR. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. UN World Conference (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Di Pirro, E., et al.: The embeddedness of nature-based solutions in the recovery and resilience plans as multifunctional approaches to foster the climate transition: the cases of Italy and Portugal. Land 11(8), 1254 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Raymond, C., et al.: An impact evaluation framework to support planning and evaluation of nature-based solutions projects. Report prepared by the EKLIPSE Expert Working Group on Nature-based Solutions to Promote Climate Resilience in Urban Areas. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kabisch, N., Korn, H., Stadler, J., Bonn, A. (eds.): Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation in Urban Areas: Linkages between Science, Policy and Practice. Springer International Publishing, Cham (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Giordano, R., Pluchinotta, I., Pagano, A., Scrieciu, A., Nanu, F.: Enhancing nature-based solutions acceptance through stakeholders’ engagement in co-benefits identification and trade-offs analysis. Sci. Total Environ. 713, 136552 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Sowińska-Świerkosz, B., García, J.: What are Nature-based solutions (NBS)? Setting core ideas for concept clarification. Nature-Based Solutions 2, 100009 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Douglas, I., Goode, D., Houck, M.C., Maddox, D.: The Routledge Handbook of Urban Ecology. Taylor & Francis (2010). https://books.google.it/books?id=5J%5C_HBQAAQBAJ

  25. Sax, D.L., Nesbitt, L., Quinton, J.: Improvement, not displacement: A framework for urban green gentrification research and practice. Environ. Sci. Policy 137, 373–383 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.09.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Pluchinotta, I., Kazakçi, A.O., Giordano, R., Tsoukiàs, A.: Design theory for generating alternatives in public decision making processes. Group Decis. Negot. 28(2), 341–375 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-018-09610-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Colorni, A., Tsoukiàs, A.: Designing alternatives in decision problems. J. Multi-Criteria Decis. Anal. 27(3–4), 150–158 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/mcda.1709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Mahmood, R., Zhang, L., Li, G.: Assessing effectiveness of nature-based solution with big earth data: 60 years mangrove plantation program in Bangladesh coast. Ecol. Process. 12(1), 11 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00419-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Salo, A., Keisler, J., Morton, A. (eds.): Portfolio Decision Analysis: Improved Methods for Resource Allocation. Springer New York, New York, NY (2011)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  30. Dell’Anna, F., Bravi, M., Bottero, M.: Urban Green infrastructures: how much did they affect property prices in Singapore? Urban For. Urban Greening 68, 127475 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Axelrod, R.: Structure of decision: The cognitive maps of political elites. Structure of Decision: The Cognitive Maps of Political Elites (2015). https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85016362307&partnerID=40&md5=fc296bd0c6fcbb681e0ac7c5545189a5

  32. Bottero, M., Datola, G., Monaco, R.: The use of fuzzy cognitive maps for evaluating the reuse project of military barracks in Northern Italy. In: Calabrò, F., Della Spina, L., Bevilacqua, C. (eds.) ISHT 2018. SIST, vol. 100, pp. 691–699. Springer, Cham (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92099-3_77

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  33. Forrester, J.W.: Lessons from system dynamics modeling. Syst. Dyn. Rev. 3, 136–149 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Bala, B.K., Arshad, F.M., Noh, K.M.: Systems thinking: system dynamics. In: System Dynamics. STBE, pp. 15–35. Springer, Singapore (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2045-2_2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  35. Assumma, V., Datola, G., Mondini, G.: New Cohesion policy 2021–2027: the role of indicators in the assessment of the SDGs targets performance. In: Gervasi, O., et al. (eds.) ICCSA 2021. LNCS, vol. 12955, pp. 614–625. Springer, Cham (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87007-2_44

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. Nika, C.E., Gusmaroli, L., Ghafourian, M., Atanasova, N., Buttiglieri, G., Katsou, E.: Nature-based solutions as enablers of circularity in water systems: a review on assessment methodologies, tools and indicators. Water Res. 183, 115988 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.115988

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Sandin, L., et al.: Working with nature-based solutions. Nordisk Ministerråd (2023). https://doi.org/10.6027/temanord2022-562

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This study was carried out within the Agritech National Research Center and received funding from the European Union Next-GenerationEU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR) – MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 1.4 – D.D. 1032 17/06/2022, CN00000022). This manuscript reflects only the authors’ views and opinions, neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be considered responsible for them.

Furthermore, the authors wish to thank Professor Alexis Tsoukias for his support in reflecting on which methodologies should be examined in addressing NBS design and implementation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giulia Datola .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Datola, G., Oppio, A. (2023). NBS Design and Implementation in Urban Systems: Dimensions, Challenges and Issues to Construct a Comprehensive Evaluation Framework. In: Gervasi, O., et al. Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2023 Workshops. ICCSA 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14108. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37117-2_30

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37117-2_30

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-37116-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-37117-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics