Nature-based solutions


Neo-spaces for urban livability? Urbanites' versatile mental images of green roofs in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland

Submitted by Marja Mesimäki on December 10, 2018 - 4:11pm

Within the context of enhancing sustainable and livable urban environments, one aim is to establish multifunctional green infrastructure (GI). We argue that in order to successfully plan and manage the development of GI, an inclusive and future-oriented stance concerning the needs and expectations of urbanites is required. By using green roofs as an example, the aim of this paper was to offer insights into how people envisage novel GI in urban environments and to reveal the scope of meanings and values people attach to these kinds of green infrastructure.

Do small green roofs have the possibility to offer recreational and experiential benefits in a dense urban area? A case study in Helsinki, Finland.

Submitted by Marja Mesimäki on December 10, 2018 - 3:55pm

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.

Earth Observation to support Nature Based Solutions - The FAST Project Documentary

Foreshore Assessment using Space Technology (FAST, 2014 - 2018) is a project funded by the European Union's (EU) Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement number 607131. FAST is developing down-stream services for the European Earth Observation Programme Copernicus to support cost-effective, nature-based shoreline protection against flooding and erosion.

Mangroves : Reducing the Risk of Disaster through Nature-Based Solutions

The coastal mangrove forest is the buffer between land and sea, playing the critical role of protecting the land and coastal communities from storms, wind and erosion. The short documentary takes us to an island in Southern Thailand illustrating how mangroves have depleted greatly in the last 50 years, how people have been affected, and shows what is being done to restore these habitats to secure a more sustainable future.

Webinar: The MI SAFE package

MI-SAFE is a package of services designed to help with meeting the requirements of managers and engineers who may be looking to implement nature based flood defence strategies in order to meet the challenge of reducing the cost of flood protection as well as assisting efforts towards a more wide-spread and successful restoration and conservation of coastal ecosystems. MI-SAFE includes a free viewer based on open source standards

Cache La Poudre River Restoration through Partnerships

This video showcases the work of the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department's restoration at McMurry and North Shields Ponds, lowering unnaturally steep riverbanks and removing an abandoned diversion structure which improved the habitat on the Cache la Poudre River. In 2014, the Natural Areas Department received two Blue Grama awards from the Colorado Open Space Alliance for their outstanding conservation work.

Medmery managed realignment scheme

Medmerry is the largest UK sea realignment scheme project. The new sea defences will significantly reduce the risk to 350 homes, local infrastructure and the main road into Selsey. This groundbreaking project has also provided the opportunity to create more than 180 hectares of important new wildlife habitat which compensates for the loss of similar conservation areas in and around the Solent.