Speaker
Description
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are intentional, strategically planned, and evidence-driven approaches that replicate, harness, or draw inspiration from natural processes to tackle societal challenges. These solutions are grounded in scientific principles and prioritize the integration of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and sustainable resource management to foster environmental, social, and economic benefits, particularly within the realm of urban development and governance.
Although NbS have been present in academic literature for over fifteen years (Sowińska-Świerkosz and García, 2022), and various frameworks and inventories have been proposed to guide the choice of the most appropriate NbS to address specific challenges, research exploring their application in urban and regional planning has only gained prominence in the past decade. However, relatively few studies focus on wetlands, which are recognized as NbS that contribute to flood control (Liu et al., 2023) and disaster mitigation (Sutton-Grier and Sandifer, 2019), possibly driven by climate change, as well as urban wastewater management (Rath and Mohapatra, 2023) and broader nutrient retention (Hughes et al., 2022; Wirth et al., 2021). These characteristics of NBS are particularly essential in fostering regional and urban circular economies, as they enable water reuse, for instance for agriculture or for irrigating green urban areas, hence minimizing the consumption of fresh water, and ultimately contributing to climate adaptation.
For this reason, this study examines the role of NbS in nutrient retention and reduction by integrating a review of both scientific and grey literature with case study analysis, with a particular emphasis on transitional areas such as wetlands and riverine floodplains. A taxonomical classification of NbS for nutrient retention is developed, outlining key characteristics for each category. These include the appropriate spatial scale and management level, associated benefits and limitations, and an overview of the ecosystem services provided. This approach underscores the co-benefits and multifunctionality of NbS in addressing nutrient retention.
The taxonomical classification developed in this study, supplemented where possible with examples of existing implementations, serves as a valuable framework for informing planning decisions and strengthening the environmental resilience of both urban and regional landscapes.
The study is developed within the project “e-INS” (Project Code ECS0000038), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.5 - Call for tender no. 3277 issued by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
References
Hughes, A. D., Charalambides, G., Franco, S. C., Robinson, G., Tett, P. (2022) Blue nitrogen: A nature-based solution in the blue economy as a tool to manage terrestrial nutrient neutrality. Sustainability, 14(16), 10182, pp. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610182
Rath, S. and Mohapatra, B. (2023) Blue-green nature-based solutions for urban wastewater - enabling a circular economy.Urbanism. Architecture. Constructions, 14(2), pp. 147–162https://uac.incd.ro/Art/v14n2a4.pdf (Accessed: 30 January 2025).
Sowińska-Świerkosz, B., García, J. (2022) What are Nature-based solutions (NBS)? Setting core ideas for concept clarification. Nature-Based Solutions, 2, 100009, pp. 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100009
Sutton-Grier, A. E., Sandifer, P. A. (2019) Conservation of wetlands and other coastal ecosystems: A commentary on their value to protect biodiversity, reduce disaster impacts, and promote human health and well-being. Wetlands, 39(6), pp. 1295–1302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-018-1039-0
Wirth, M., Vobruba, T., Hartl, M., Kisser, J. (2021) Potential nutrient conversion using nature-based solutions in cities and utilization concepts to create circular urban food systems. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 1(3), pp. 1147–1164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00081-6
| Keywords | Nature-based solutions, NbS, nutrient regulation, urban and regional resilience. |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
