This domain will initiate and sustain dialogue among the various stakeholders (private and public sector, architects, practitioners, policy maker), on nature-based solutions in the context of sustainable urbanization in cities and human well-being. The dialogue will address the available opportunities for existing and new NBS associated with materials, buildings and infrastructure in cities. The incorporation of NBS in building and at district level will also be explored. The generation of co-benefits through greening cities in relation with climate change adaptation and mitigation will be examined as well as the role of cultural heritage in renaturing cities and how to incorporate existing knowledge from historic buildings and districts in restoration with nature. The role and effectiveness of NBS in advancing sustainable and resilient infrastructure development and upgrade will be explored together with replication strategies for renovating cities with nature. Methods for robust monitoring of the performance and assessment of the impact of deployed NBS will be examined.
Do small green roofs have the possibility to offer recreational and experiential benefits in a dense urban area? A case study in Helsinki, Finland.
Growing and densifying cities set challenges for preserving and enhancing sufficient and good quality green urban environment. Rooftops offer vacant room for additional urban greening that may contribute to the well-being of people and the liveability of cities, but this potential lacks empirical support. In spite of the fact that even small green spaces produce, for example restorative experiences, the literature concerning the experiential and recreational benefits of green roofs is still scarce.
Nature-Based Solutions
The idea of ‘nature-based solutions’ (NBS) is now being used to reframe policy debates on biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, and the sustainable use of natural resources, among other issues. While interesting and potentially useful for those debates, it is a concept that still needs to be clearly defined; its use is not confined to discussions about ecosystem services and natural capital.
The science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions: An interdisciplinary perspective
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:
The URBES project wins the BiodivERsA Prize for Excellence and Impact
The URBES project has been awarded the opportunity to present their work in an animated video as part of the BiodivERsA Prize for Excellence and Impact.
The URBES project demonstrated, for the first time at this scale, the importance and the value of ecosystem services and nature-based solutions provided by urban biodiversity in European cities, enabling the authorities to work with these concepts in their urban planning strategies.
Solutions inspired by nature
Nature-based solutions (NBS) aim to help societies to address a variety of environmental, social and economic challenges in sustainable ways. They are actions which are inspired by and supported by nature. Some involve using and enhancing existing natural solutions to challenges, while others are exploring more novel solutions, for example, based on how non-human organisms and communities cope with environmental extremes. NBS are energy and resource-efficient, and resilient to change, but to be successful they must be adapted to local conditions.
KPIs Report-Extended version_Sep 2018
This Report provides a description of the procedure and the outcomes of the work performed within the domain of NBS Impact Evaluation Framework.
KPIs Report-Summary-Sep 2018
This Report provides a description of the procedure and the outcomes of the work performed within the domain of NBS Impact Evaluation Framework.
Workshop with Horizon 2020 SC5 programme committee representatives and Member States and Associated Countries (MS/AC) experts
Workshop with Horizon 2020 SC5 programme committee representatives and Member States and Associated Countries (MS/AC) experts
NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS
2 June 2017 9:00-16:00
(CDMA building, SDR1-2, Rue du Champ de Mars, 21, Brussels)
Case 11: Urban green infrastructure in Vienna - Nature-based solutions to enhancing quality of life
The world is urbanising. Since 2005 more than half of the world population lives in cities, and by 2050 this figure is projected to be two-thirds of all people. Seventy-five per cent of Europeans already live in urban areas. City landscapes generally experience higher temperatures than the less built up areas around them, due to the absorption and retention of heat by roads and buildings and the disruption of airflow by structures, with differences of temperatures ranging from 4°C up to 10°C.
Including Nature in Engineering Decisions for Sustainability
This article describes methods and concepts for emulating and including nature's role in engineering activities, with the expectation that they will contribute to sustainable engineering. Existing nature-inspired methods function at different levels ranging from individual products to large integrated networks.