The science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions: An interdisciplinary perspective

TLDR

The paper examines the implications of Nature‑Based Solutions for science, policy, and practice in Europe and proposes a framework of questions for stakeholders to guide NBS projects. The authors analyze NBS in comparison to related concepts, link it to sustainability, and develop a general framework of questions for funders, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. They conclude that NBS must involve all stakeholders to meet all sustainability dimensions and that expectations should be moderated, recognizing that NBS are not cheap or easy in the short term.

Abstract

In this paper, we reflect on the implications for science, policy and practice of the recently introduced concept of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), with a focus on the European context. First, we analyse NBS in relation to similar concepts, and reflect on its relationship to sustainability as an overarching framework. From this, we derive a set of questions to be addressed and propose a general framework for how these might be addressed in NBS projects by funders, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. We conclude that: To realise their full potential, NBS must be developed by including the experience of all relevant stakeholders such that 'solutions' contribute to achieving all dimensions of sustainability. As NBS are developed, we must also moderate the expectations placed on them since the precedent provided by other initiatives whose aim was to manage nature sustainably demonstrates that we should not expect NBS to be cheap and easy, at least not in the short-term.