Short answer
When designing Nature-based Solutions, prioritize landscape-level application and ensure they are integrated into policy and planning from the outset to maximize their effectiveness and scalability.
- Field
- Human Factors
- Source
- Environmental Science & Policy (2019)
- Method
- Comparative analysis of principles
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Successful implementation and upscaling of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are enhanced by applying them at a landscape scale and integrating them into policy design, distinguishing them from other ecosystem approaches. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2019 study published in Environmental Science & Policy. Using Comparative analysis of principles, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing Nature-based Solutions, prioritize landscape-level application and ensure they are integrated into policy and planning from the outset to maximize their effectiveness and scalability.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) require landscape-scale integration and policy alignment for successful implementation
Successful implementation and upscaling of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are enhanced by applying them at a landscape scale and integrating them into policy design, distinguishing them from other ecosystem approaches.
Environmental Science & Policy · 2019
Key Findings
- 01NbS principles show substantial alignment with other ecosystem-based approaches.
- 02NbS can be implemented alone or integrated with other solutions, distinguishing it from other approaches.
- 03NbS should be applied at a landscape scale, a key differentiator.
- 04NbS are integral to the overall design of policies, measures, and actions to address societal challenges, a unique emphasis.
- 05Concepts like adaptive management, effectiveness, uncertainty, multi-stakeholder participation, and temporal scale are less detailed or absent in NbS principles compared to other frameworks.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing Nature-based Solutions, prioritize landscape-level application and ensure they are integrated into policy and planning from the outset to maximize their effectiveness and scalability.
How to apply
When developing a green infrastructure project (e.g., urban parks for flood control), ensure the design considers the entire watershed or urban catchment area (landscape scale) and advocate for its inclusion in municipal master plans and zoning regulations (policy integration).
Project actions
- 01When proposing a Nature-based Solution in your project, clearly define the scale of its application (e.g., 'this solution will address water quality across the entire river basin').
- 02Show how your NbS integrates with existing or proposed policies and urban development plans.
- 03Discuss how your NbS can work alongside other solutions (e.g., 'this green roof complements the existing stormwater drainage system').
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a clear definition and set of principles for NbS.
- +Offers a comparative analysis with related frameworks, highlighting unique aspects of NbS.
- +Identifies key areas for improvement in NbS principles for future development.
Limitations
This paper is theoretical; it doesn't provide practical steps for implementation, only guiding principles. It also doesn't address the socio-economic barriers to implementing NbS at scale.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of this study comes from its systematic comparison of established principles. Its validity is strong in identifying conceptual distinctions between frameworks, though it doesn't empirically validate the impact of these distinctions on project outcomes.
Think critically
How might the lack of explicit detail on adaptive management and multi-stakeholder participation in NbS principles hinder their long-term success compared to frameworks that prioritize these aspects?
Design Principles
"Landscape-scale integration enhances Nature-based Solution efficacy."
Human well-being and biodiversity are intrinsically linked to healthy natural resources. NbS offer a framework to address societal challenges by leveraging nature, but their effectiveness hinges on strategic application and clear integration into broader planning to reverse environmental degradation.
What This Means for Your Design
For Nature-based Solutions (like planting trees to stop floods), it's really important to think big (the whole area, not just one spot) and make sure they're part of government plans, not just one-off projects.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this paper when discussing the importance of 'scale' and 'integration' in your Information Architecture for environmental management systems or smart city dashboards that incorporate NbS data.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Cohen-Shacham et al. (2019) emphasize that successful Nature-based Solutions require application at a landscape scale and integration into policy design.
Source
Environmental Science & Policy
Core principles for successfully implementing and upscaling Nature-based Solutions
journal · 2019
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about nature-based solutions (nbs) require landscape-scale integration and policy alignment for successful implementation?
- When designing Nature-based Solutions, prioritize landscape-level application and ensure they are integrated into policy and planning from the outset to maximize their effectiveness and scalability. Evidence: Environmental Science & Policy (2019).
- Why does "Nature-based Solutions (NbS) require landscape-scale integration and policy alignment for successful implementation" matter for design?
- Human well-being and biodiversity are intrinsically linked to healthy natural resources. NbS offer a framework to address societal challenges by leveraging nature, but their effectiveness hinges on strategic application and clear integration into broader planning to reverse environmental degradation.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing Nature-based Solutions, prioritize landscape-level application and ensure they are integrated into policy and planning from the outset to maximize their effectiveness and scalability.
- What were the main findings?
- NbS principles show substantial alignment with other ecosystem-based approaches.. NbS can be implemented alone or integrated with other solutions, distinguishing it from other approaches.. NbS should be applied at a landscape scale, a key differentiator.. NbS are integral to the overall design of policies, measures, and actions to address societal challenges, a unique emphasis.
- What research method was used?
- Comparative analysis of principles.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2019 journal from Environmental Science & Policy.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing a green infrastructure project (e.g., urban parks for flood control), ensure the design considers the entire watershed or urban catchment area (landscape scale) and advocate for its inclusion in municipal master plans and zoning regulations (policy integration).
- What are the limitations?
- The study is a conceptual analysis of principles, not an empirical evaluation of implemented NbS projects. It highlights gaps in principles rather than providing solutions for their integration.