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. 2021 Aug;50(8):1446-1461.
doi: 10.1007/s13280-020-01365-1. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Planning nature-based solutions: Principles, steps, and insights

Christian Albert  1   2 , Mario Brillinger  3   4 , Paulina Guerrero  3   4 , Sarah Gottwald  3   4 , Jennifer Henze  3   4 , Stefan Schmidt  3   4 , Edward Ott  5 , Barbara Schröter  5
Affiliations

Planning nature-based solutions: Principles, steps, and insights

Christian Albert et al. Ambio. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) find increasing attention as actions to address societal challenges through harnessing ecological processes, yet knowledge gaps exist regarding approaches to landscape planning with NBS. This paper aims to provide suggestions of how planning NBS can be conceptualized and applied in practice. We develop a framework for planning NBS by merging insights from literature and a case study in the Lahn river landscape, Germany. Our framework relates to three key criteria that define NBS, and consists of six steps of planning: Co-define setting, Understand challenges, Create visions and scenarios, Assess potential impacts, Develop solution strategies, and Realize and monitor. Its implementation is guided by five principles, namely Place-specificity, Evidence base, Integration, Equity, and Transdisciplinarity. Drawing on the empirical insights from the case study, we suggest suitable methods and a checklist of supportive procedures for applying the framework in practice. Taken together, our framework can facilitate planning NBS and provides further steps towards mainstreaming.

Keywords: Ecosystem services; Environmental planning; Framework; Lahn river; Landscape planning; Spatial planning.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual framework of principles and steps for planning nature-based solutions (NBS) as well as key NBS criteria. Framework implementation needs to be specifically adapted to the respective biophysical and governance context. Iterative implementation, both between and across all planning steps, is crucial to ensure the incorporation of emerging knowledge
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Location of the Lahn River landscape (a), Lahn River and technical infrastructure (b), and impressions from the LahnLab Workshop Series, depicting a Geodesign-workshop using a touch table and spatial decision support tools (c) and a weighing task as part of a participatory multi-criteria analysis (d)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Inspirational checklist of procedures supportive to implement planning principles and address nature-based solutions criteria
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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