Short answer
When designing or evaluating nature-based solutions, move beyond single-benefit metrics to a more holistic, multi-benefit assessment that includes social, economic, and ecological dimensions, and actively involve a broad range of stakeholders.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Sustainability Nexus Forum (2025)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Sample
- 111 studies
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Current assessments of urban nature-based solutions often fail to capture their full range of benefits due to fragmented evaluation methods and limited stakeholder involvement. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Sustainability Nexus Forum. Using Systematic literature review with 111 studies, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing or evaluating nature-based solutions, move beyond single-benefit metrics to a more holistic, multi-benefit assessment that includes social, economic, and ecological dimensions, and actively involve a broad range of stakeholders.
Urban Nature-Based Solutions Underestimate Multi-Benefit Potential
Current assessments of urban nature-based solutions often fail to capture their full range of benefits due to fragmented evaluation methods and limited stakeholder involvement.
Sustainability Nexus Forum · 2025
Key Findings
- 01Assessment parameters for NbS collectively address multiple benefits but remain fragmented and narrowly focused.
- 02There is a lack of genuinely integrated multi-benefit assessments for urban NbS.
- 03Stakeholder involvement in NbS assessment methodologies remains very limited.
- 04Frameworks addressing global interconnected challenges (e.g., SDGs, Resource Nexus) are difficult to apply as evaluation tools for NbS.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing or evaluating nature-based solutions, move beyond single-benefit metrics to a more holistic, multi-benefit assessment that includes social, economic, and ecological dimensions, and actively involve a broad range of stakeholders.
How to apply
When proposing or evaluating a green infrastructure project, explicitly map out and quantify all potential benefits (e.g., water management, biodiversity, social well-being, air quality, recreation) and consider how to involve community groups in the assessment process.
Project actions
- 01When evaluating your design, consider a wide range of benefits beyond its primary function.
- 02Think about how different user groups might benefit from your design and how you could gather their input.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Systematic approach to literature review.
- +Focus on a critical aspect of NbS implementation (assessment).
Limitations
It can be challenging to quantify all the benefits of a nature-based solution, and involving a wide range of stakeholders can be time-consuming.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the review depends on the systematic search strategy and inclusion criteria. Validity is supported by the analysis of a substantial number of peer-reviewed studies, but may be limited by the scope of the review (water-related NbS in urban settings).
Think critically
How can designers develop assessment tools that are both comprehensive in scope and practical for implementation in real-world design projects?
Design Principles
"Integrated multi-benefit assessment is crucial for the effective implementation and evaluation of nature-based solutions."
For designers and engineers, this highlights a critical gap in how the effectiveness of green infrastructure and other nature-based solutions is measured. A more holistic approach is needed to ensure that these interventions deliver on their promise of enhanced urban resilience, sustainability, and well-being.
What This Means for Your Design
When designing green solutions for cities, we often only look at one or two benefits, like managing water. This study shows we need to look at all the good things these solutions can do, like helping wildlife and making people happier, and involve more people in figuring this out.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for a comprehensive evaluation of your design's multi-faceted benefits.
- 2.Refer to this study when discussing the limitations of narrow assessment criteria in design projects.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that urban nature-based solutions are often assessed using fragmented methods that fail to capture their full multi-benefit potential. A lack of integrated assessment frameworks and limited stakeholder involvement contribute to this issue, underscoring the need for designers to adopt a more holistic approach that considers a wider spectrum of ecological, social, and economic advantages.
Source
Sustainability Nexus Forum
Are water-related nature-based solutions (NbS) assessed for their full multi-benefit potential? A review from an urban perspective
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about urban nature-based solutions underestimate multi-benefit potential?
- When designing or evaluating nature-based solutions, move beyond single-benefit metrics to a more holistic, multi-benefit assessment that includes social, economic, and ecological dimensions, and actively involve a broad range of stakeholders. Evidence: Sustainability Nexus Forum (2025).
- Why does "Urban Nature-Based Solutions Underestimate Multi-Benefit Potential" matter for design?
- For designers and engineers, this highlights a critical gap in how the effectiveness of green infrastructure and other nature-based solutions is measured. A more holistic approach is needed to ensure that these interventions deliver on their promise of enhanced urban resilience, sustainability, and well-being.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing or evaluating nature-based solutions, move beyond single-benefit metrics to a more holistic, multi-benefit assessment that includes social, economic, and ecological dimensions, and actively involve a broad range of stakeholders.
- What were the main findings?
- Assessment parameters for NbS collectively address multiple benefits but remain fragmented and narrowly focused.. There is a lack of genuinely integrated multi-benefit assessments for urban NbS.. Stakeholder involvement in NbS assessment methodologies remains very limited.. Frameworks addressing global interconnected challenges (e.g., SDGs, Resource Nexus) are difficult to apply as evaluation tools for NbS.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review with 111 studies.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2025 journal from Sustainability Nexus Forum.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When proposing or evaluating a green infrastructure project, explicitly map out and quantify all potential benefits (e.g., water management, biodiversity, social well-being, air quality, recreation) and consider how to involve community groups in the assessment process.
- What are the limitations?
- The review focuses on water-related NbS and urban contexts, and the difficulty in applying global frameworks may limit their practical utility in current assessment practices.